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Over the course of the test, golfers lasered flagsticks from three different distances. The flagsticks were outfitted with reflective prisms to best evaluate the laser’s effectiveness at capturing a distance to a flag.

To establish whether the distance produced was consistent and accurate, testers shot each distance ten times with each device.

We found that some products struggled to pick up the target from our longest distance. If a product failed to acquire the correct target in three tries, the incorrect distance was recorded.

Accuracy (45 Points) – The goal was to test the consistency of the distances provided. Products that performed well here time and time again provided the same distances. While minor variations, +/- one or two yards, were fairly regular some entries provided distances that varied more than five yards or failed to pick up the flagstick at all.

Naturally, in a sport described as the “game of inches” it is imperative to be provided with a consistent distance. If you practice believing that a club distance is one thing, then even if the actual distance is different your club distances should correlate to what you believe the distance to be. In other words, a consistent distance is more important than the correct distance.

Speed (15 points) – How quick you can get from a blank display to an accurate distance. We found rangefinders with pin-sensing technology were more efficient because they notify the golfer when the distance has been captured. Units without the pin-sensing technology place a greater burden on the golfer to decide when the distance is correct. We also found non-sensing rangefinders were more likely to pick-up foreground and background objects instead of the intended target, creating a lack of trust in the measurement.

Optics (25 points) – How clear is the visual field?  Is it possible to easily see the course’s topography? Can you make out invalid blades of grass and grains of sand? While this level of detail may seem insignificant, it can be helpful in assessing the layout of the golf course during play. The slopes of the fairways and greens can be better-taken advantage of when they can be seen clearly.

Display (15 points) – How prominently is the distance displayed? Is the layout overly complicated or too basic? Does the font design and color help or hinder the effectiveness of the display?

Final grades were awarded based on total scores. The Best Overall is our highest scoring rangefinder, with additional awards given to the top five rangefinders. Additionally, more specific Best in Class recognition is awarded to rangefinders that push the industry envelope in in certain categories (optics, accuracy, display, and speed).