A golf distance finder gives you the most important piece of information on the course: the exact yardage to your target. This article will walk you through exactly how to use both laser and GPS distance finders, from просто getting a number to using advanced techniques that will help you make smarter decisions and shoot lower scores. We’ll cover the basics, share some pro-level strategies, and highlight common mistakes to avoid so you can swing with confidence.
Before we get into the “how,” it helps to know what tool you’re working with. Distance finders generally fall into two categories: laser rangefinders and GPS devices. While they both provide yardages, they do it in different ways and are suited for slightly different situations.
Think of a laser rangefinder as a high-tech tape measure. You look through a scope, aim a crosshair at a specific physical target - like the flagstick, a bunker lip, or a tree - and press a button. The device shoots an invisible laser beam at the target, which bounces back, and the device calculates the distance based on the travel time. It’s incredibly precise.
GPS devices work using pre-loaded maps of the golf course. Satellites track your location on the course, and the device simply tells you the distance from your position to key points that are already mapped out. Typically, this means you get distances to the front, middle, and back of the green, as well as major hazards like bunkers and water.
Using a laser rangefinder is the most common way golfers get their numbers. Once you get the hang of it, it becomes a quick and natural part of your pre-shot routine.
You can’t get a distance to something you can’t see. Walk to a spot where you have a direct, unobstructed line to the flag or whatever you’re aiming at. This seems obvious, but it’s easy to stand directly behind a tree or mound and wonder why you can’t get a reading.
This is where new users often struggle. A shaky hand can make it hard to lock onto a small target like a flagstick from 150 yards away. Here are a few tips to stay steady:
Look through the eyepiece, place the crosshair over the flag, and press the main button. Most modern rangefinders have a feature often called “Pin Seeker,” “Pin Hunter,” or something similar. This technology helps the device distinguish the flagstick from the trees or hills behind it. It will often give you a vibration (like a "JOLT") or a visual cue in the display to confirm it has locked onto the pin.
If you don't have this feature, try to “pan” across the area. Aim at the trees behind the green, press the button, and slowly move the crosshair down and across the flag. The smallest number that appears is your distance to the pin.
Once it zaps the target and gives you a number, that’s your official yardage. If the display reads 147, then you're 147 yards away. The first part of the job is done.
Getting the distance to the pin is just the start. The best players use their distance finders to gather more information and map out the entire shot.
Many modern rangefinders offer a “Slope” feature. This takes elevation changes into account and gives you a "plays like" distance. For example, a 150-yard shot that's significantly uphill might "play like" 162 yards. This feature is fantastic for practice rounds but is illegal in most tournament play, so make sure you can turn it off.
A more common (and legal) technique is to find your carry distance.Let’s say there's a bunker guarding the front of the green. You don’t want to know just the distance to the pin, you need to know the distance to fly the bunker. Aim your rangefinder at the front lip of the bunker and zap it. If it reads 135 yards, you know you need a club that carries at least 136 yards to be safe.
Don't just get the pin number, get the front and back edge numbers too.
Let's imagine the pin is 150 yards away. Zap the very front edge of the green, and you might get 142. Zap the very back edge, and you get 165. Now you have a clear picture in your head:
This helps immensely with club selection. If the pin is 15_0 right in the middle, you can swing freely. But if the pin is at 145 and the front edge is 142, you know you have almost no room for error if you come up short.
On a long par 4 or a par 5, sometimes the smart play is to layup to a specific yardage for your next shot. Instead of just hitting your 3-wood as far as you can, use your rangefinder to plan a better shot. Look down the fairway and find an object (a specific tree, a sprinkler head, the edge of a fairway bunker) near where you'd want to land. Zap that object to see how far it is. This way, you can hit a club that leaves you at your favorite full-wedge distance for your approach.
If you're using a GPS watch or handheld, your workflow is a bit different. Your focus is less on pinpoint accuracy and more on general strategy.
Owning a distance finder is one thing, using it effectively is another. Here are a couple of pitfalls to watch out for:
This is the most frequent laser rangefinder blunder. You’re aiming for the flag, but you accidentally hit the row of trees 15 yards behind it. Suddenly, your 150-yard shot becomes a 1_5-_yard shot. This is where a device with good pin-seeking technology is a huge help. If you do get_an odd number that _eels too long, take a second to shoot it again. Make sure you feel that "jolt" or see the confirmation that it's locked on the flag.
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