The question of whether professional golfers can use distance finders - those handy laser or GPS devices - isn't a simple yes or no. The rules are specific, varying from tour to tour and even from one major championship to another. This article will break down exactly when and where pros can use them, the specific features that are allowed, and most importantly, how these rules apply to your own game.
To understand the situation, we have to look at the official Rules of Golf. Under Rule 4.3a, the use of any artificial equipment or "unusual equipment" is generally prohibited. This broad rule includes devices designed to gauge or measure distance or other conditions that might affect a player's round. So, by default, the main rulebook says “no, you can’t use them.”
However, the governing bodies of golf - the USGA and the R&A - understand that technology can enhance the game. They created an "out" clause called Model Local Rule G-5. This provision allows a tournament committee to adopt a local rule that specifically permits players to use devices that measure distance only. This is the entire foundation for distance finders in pro golf, it’s not an inherent right but a special exception that a tournament must choose to activate.
This is why you see so much variation. One tour might adopt the local rule, while a major championship might stick with the traditional rules. The most important restriction within this local rule is that the device can only measure distance. Any feature that gauges other factors, such as:
...is strictly forbidden during competition rounds. If a device has these features, they must be disabled.
For a long time, the unwritten rule on pro tours was simple: distance finders were for practice days, and caddies were for tournament days. Caddies armed with meticulously detailed yardage books were the only "distance measuring devices" allowed. However, that has changed significantly in recent years.
The PGA Tour and its European counterpart, the DP World Tour, were some of the most visible holdouts for years. Play during their flagship events was a showcase of player-caddie teamwork, involving walking off distances from sprinkler heads and calculating yardages by hand. The switch began not on the PGA Tour itself, but at the PGA Championship.
The PGA of America, a separate organization from the PGA Tour which runs the PGA Championship, announced in 2021 that it would allow distance finders for its marquee event. The primary reason aited was to improve the pace of play. Shortly after, the PGA Tour followed suit, permitting the devices in all their tour-sanctioned events, including the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR Champions, and on their international tours.
This was a huge cultural shift. Suddenly, players and caddies could get an exact number to the flagstick with the push of a button. The limitation, of course, is that they must be distance-only devices. You’ll often see a player laser the flag and then immediately consult their yardage book to confirm front/back and side yardages, as the laser only gives one piece of the puzzle.
The ladies of the LPGA Tour have often been more progressive when it comes to adopting new policies, and this was no exception. The LPGA had already approved the use of distance-measuring devices (DMDs) in competition well before the men's tours made the full-time jump. They recognized the practical benefits early on and integrated the technology smoothly into their professional competitions, operating under the same distance-only restrictions.
This is where it gets interesting and shows that the rules aren’t unified across the board. The four men's major championships are run by four different organizations, and they don't all agree.
The number one reason cited by every governing body that allows rangefinders is to improve pace of play. The logic is compelling. Instead of a caddie pacing off 28 yards from a sprinkler head marked 155 to get a yardage of 183 to the center, then trying to judge the pin depth, they can get an instant, precise number.
In theory, this shaves seconds, if not minutes, off the pre-shot routine for every approach shot. When you multiply that by hundreds of shots per day among all the groups, the potential time savings could be substantial.
But has it really worked? The debate is ongoing. Some players and caddies argue that they now "double-check" everything. They’ll get the laser number to the pin, but then they'll still walk off the distances from the book for carries over bunkers or to the front and back edges of the green. In some cases, waiting for a clear shot at the pin with the laser an be just as slow as the traditional pacing method. While the intention was to speed things up, the real-world impact is still a topic of discussion among tour professionals.
This discussion about the pros is interesting, but how does it impact you, the amateur golfer? Fortunately, the rules for amateurs are much simpler and more consistent. For almost all daily play, you are allowed to use a distance-measuring device, but you need to know these two things.
Most popular laser rangefinders sold today come equipped with a "slope" feature. This technology is fantastic for casual rounds, as it measures the change in elevation between you and the target and provides a "plays like" yardage. For example, if a pin is 150 yards away but significantly uphill, the device might tell you it "plays like" 162 yards.
However, using the slope function is illegal in any round posted for handicap puposes or in most "official" competitions like a club championship. That is, unless the feature is physically turned off.
If you plan to play in any events where the Rules of Golf matter, you must buy a device that either:
While DMDs are allowed for almost all handicap-posting rounds (with the slope feature off), a specific tournament you play in may still forbid them through a local rule. This is rare at the amateur level these days, but it can happen. Before teeing it up in a special event, always read the notice to competitors or the rule sheet. Assuming they are allowed is usually safe, but it’s always best to be sure.
Getting a precise yardage is an advantage that every golfer, professional or amateur, should embrace. It removes doubt and allows you to commit to your swing, which is the foundational first step to hitting good golf shots.
So, the next time you see a PGA Tour pro laser a flagstick, you'll know that it is indeed legal in most events, though it's still forbidden at iconic traditional tournaments like The Masters and The Open. For your own game, getting an exact number with a conforming device is one of the best ways to eliminate guesswork and play with more conviction.
Getting that exact number is only half the battle, committing to the right club and strategy is what turns that information into a great shot. For all those moments where you have the yardage but are second-guessing your plan, we developed a tool like Caddie AI. Our app is designed to provide you with tour-level strategic insights on club selection, shot shape, or how to handle a tough lie, building on that simple distance number to help you create a confident plan of attack for every swing.
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