How Does a Laser Rangefinder Work?

Golf is one of those activities renowned for bringing people of all ages together, for it’s an easy-going sport that suits all abilities. Bringing the best of both worlds, golf combines exercising and socializing; practicing focus and relaxing; and offering a fun challenge that’s also calming at the same time!

While the most famous golfing tools everyone knows about include golf bags, clubs, gloves, markers, and a golf cart… a golf range finder is a very helpful piece of equipment that every golf enthusiast should own. A Golf range finder is important to help determine the distances of your targets on the golf course.

Although there are various models available on the market, the three main categories are GPS, optic, and laser rangefinders. Laser rangefinders help both beginners and professionals improve their game and make the most of it. If you are considering buying one for your next play, we recommend you do some research to find the best laser rangefinder that fits your budget before making your purchase. In this article, we will shed some light on how a laser rangefinder works, for you to better understand this useful tool.

What it Does

Laser rangefinders essentially use light beams to get distance readings from a set target. Although light speed varies depending on different temperature conditions, golf is normally played on relatively clear days, so the drawbacks are minimal in this case.

Now onto the mechanism; the beams of light zoom in on the target and the rangefinder clock measures the amount of time it takes the beam to hit the target and bounce back. Once the speed of the beam is determined, the rangefinder records the time measurement and calculates the total distance traveled, which is then displayed on the screen for you to check.

How to Use It

  1. First of all, you pinpoint the intended target – easy!
  2. After that, you aim the rangefinder directly at your target.
  3. Pull the trigger as the target comes into view, releasing the laser beam onto the target.
  4. This should give you a readable distance on the display screen.
  5. If there is no reading, you have to adjust and steady the instrument, before repeating the steps.

Tilt Angles

For games that take place on a hilly golf course, you will need to use the tilt angle for more accurate distance readings. By doing so, you will be able to locate and measure the angles of the object produced by the difference in elevation.

Bring Your a-Game

Now that you have a better understanding of how a laser golf rangefinder works, you know how it needs less time to decide your distance to the exact hole. And if you’re playing a tournament where you don’t have to play the track holes in order, you are able to manually select the next hole – or even target for the unit to calculate the distance from. It is the perfect addition for professional golfers as well as those doing it just for fun.