Advantages of laser rangefinders
Accuracy – The biggest advantage of laser models is that they are extremely accurate in providing yardage to visible targets. Plus, you'll get the exact yardage of the flagpole and better place it on the green for accurate shooting. What makes them so precise is their technique and how they operate.
Courses – These rangefinders do not need to be updated when you hit a new golf course. This is a major plus, as you don't have to remember to upload anything on your device before heading out and going home, as they work fine for all classes.
Magnification – Magnification plays an important role in the game as it allows you to more easily lock onto your target and see exactly what awaits you. Thanks to the magnifying feature, binoculars are also not required during the course, so fewer items need to be packed when heading to the course.
Learning Curve – Ease of use is important, as you certainly don't want to waste time learning to operate a rangefinder, but use that time to play an easy game of golf. It only takes a few minutes for you to find and familiarize yourself with all the settings and commands, so if you end up using a laser golf rangefinder, you shouldn't have a problem from that perspective.
Battery Life – Another great highlight of the laser model is its long lifespan. Depending on the specific rangefinder you buy and use, and depending on how often you use it, the device's battery may even last a year or more.
Disadvantages of laser rangefinders
Stability – Unfortunately, stability is required to operate a laser golf rangefinder. For some, this is a problem because shaking hands make life harder when using golf equipment.
Inaccurate targeting – When using laser equipment, it is possible to lock on to the wrong target. This usually happens when you are too far from the target, so the closer you are to the target, the more accurate the reading will be.
Obstacles - While this may not be a common problem, when it does, it can render golf equipment useless. Unfortunately, the laser model can't read distances or lock onto obstacles you can't see.
Advantages of GPS rangefinders
Hole Layouts – Some GPS rangefinders are able to provide the layout of all the holes on the court before you start a game. This is a major advantage when you are new to a new class.
Ease of use – Unlike laser units, GPS golf rangefinders don’t require you to be steady. These devices will provide accurate yardage without you having to aim them too precisely.
More Complete Distance - Another factor that gives GPS devices over laser devices is that they provide distance to the back, middle and front of the green. This basic information helps the user to aim more precisely.
Track targets you can't see - you won't see dangers and obstacles during the course. GPS devices can even provide accurate yardage for these targets, reducing the chance of obstacles cluttering your footage.
Additional Features – Contrary to laser golf equipment, GPS rangefinders have more features such as stats, shot measurement features, and more. These features ensure that you will learn more elements and therefore make a big difference in the quality of the game.
Disadvantages of GPS rangefinders
Course – As expected, not all golf equipment is perfect. Unfortunately, although they have many courses pre-installed, rangefinders sometimes require you to connect them to your computer to update them and load new courses, which can be a major inconvenience.
Accuracy – Don’t get me wrong, GPS units are very accurate, but the truth is, they are not as accurate as laser rangefinders. This is all due to interference with satellites such as trees, clouds, etc.
