Review on Dr.meter Golf Rangefinder: Laser Range Finder, 656 Yards, Distance Measurement, Flag Lock Vibration, Speed/Angle Measurement, High Precision +/-0.45 Yard. Ideal for Golf & Hunting. by Matt Heringer

This range finder is very handy and easy to use despite the low price. Inside the box you'll find the main unit itself, a battery, a handy hard-shell carrying case with attached belt loop and carabiner, a cleaning cloth, and an instruction manual. The device has a focus adjustment wheel around the eyepiece and offers a comfortable magnification. Using the different functions is very simple. There are two buttons on the top of the device. One turns the device on and enables metering, the other allows you to toggle between modes (range, range and tilt, range with flagpole, and speed). The mode button can also be held down for a few seconds to toggle between meters and yards as the unit of measurement. To measure, simply turn on the device, point the crosshairs at a distant object, and press the measure button. You can immediately see the distance to the displayed object and, in tilt mode, also the angle and the corrected distance. Tilt mode simply calculates the angle at which you hold the device along with the distance to the target. It can then calculate the corrected arc distance to the object (see my image with instructions for a better understanding of how this calculation works). Speed measurement is fast and can be used for cars and even people. You need to be at a very high angle to the object being measured, either sideways (like roadside) or directly in line with what you are measuring. Unfortunately, the speed measurement is only available in km/h, not in miles per hour. I've mainly used the device to estimate distances when hiking, so I haven't had a chance to try the flagpole feature, although the instructions make it sound like it's just a simple way to scan an area, and the device gives you one Measurement of the total distance to the area. I found the device to be pretty accurate. You won't want to use it to build your new home or do other things that require precision, but it works great for random guessing. You must hold the device very still if your target is small or far away. I've found that repeatedly measuring the same target gives a discrepancy of up to about 0.5 meters, which isn't bad at long ranges. I was also able to measure distances to 950 yards or more. The included pouch comes in handy to protect the device, especially when you put it in a backpack. It can be a bit large if you're taking it to a golf game, so you can try to find a padded bag or just toss it in another protective part of your golf bag instead of using the bag that came with it.