Bushnell PinSeeker Tour V2 Rangefinder

WHY RANGEFINDER:  I decided to buy this rangefinder based on a number of reasons.  First, I wanted get consistent distance information when I play golf – no matter where I play.  Some courses provide yardage markers but I swear they are not correct (at least some of them).  I think different courses measured distances using different methods where some are consistently shorter than actual distances whereas others are consistently longer.  Second, I want to know how far holes are, when I am within 50 or 100 yards.  That is, many courses have markers every 25 or 50 yards but nothing within 50 or 100 yards of the hole.  Third, I need distance information to bunkers or trees, from tee boxes.  Yardage markers on courses generally do not provide that kind of information.  In addition, if I am cutting corners, I need to know what would be the straight-line distance to my target (As you may know, most of distance markers show distances following the centerlines of fairways).  Fourth, I want yardages to holes – not just to centers of greens.  Because greens come in all shapes and sizes, “back right” or “front left” type of information alone is not good enough.  Without a rangefinder, I used to simply add about 10 yards if I am hitting towards the back and subtract 10 yards if hitting towards the front.  I want to know exactly how far back, for example, if the hole location is in the back.  Fifth, I sure want to have pictorial representation of the fairways and greens, like SkyCaddie, but when holes are relocated everyday or even every-week, I wonder how devices like SkyCaddie would adjust its information.  Would you download all hole locations the day of play?  I doubt it.  And, how would someone or some organization update that kind of information every time hole location is changed?  Therefore, I’d thought Bushnell Tour V2 would eliminate that factor by giving the correct distance that you actually measure to the flag, every time.  Plus, rangefinders work on any course whereas devices like SkyCaddie has to have information the course you are playing.  Finally, the reason I picked this particular brand and model is that Bushnell is the leading manufacturer and Tour V2 model is pretty well known (i.e., via advertisements on TV, etc.); and, it is available through a number of reputable golf-equipment stores.

WHAT YOU GET:  In the box, you get a rangefinder, a 3-volt lithium battery, a protective rubber insulator (for damage protection), a heavy-duty nylon case, an operator’s manual, and a lens cleaning cloth.  The nylon case is bright orange (very visible on grass) and has a snap-hook to hang on your golf bag; it also has a loop that you can pass a belt through so that you can carry the whole case via belt.  Personally, I don’t see myself carrying the case this way because the case is bulky; it sticks out at least a couple of inches.  It can easily interfere with my swing or putting stroke, unless I hook it in the rear.  The lid has a zipper but you can live it open because it also snaps shut by magnets – an easy access.

HOW IT WORKS:  (Before using the rangefinder, you may want to adjust diopter ring to match the device to your eye.  By customizing this diopter, the rangefinder is fit for your eye or your eye with your eye-glasses.  One thing didn’t make sense to me.  By making this adjustment, the object that you see through the lens is in focus, which is great.  But by doing so, the LCD display goes out of focus.  If I focus on LCD display, then the object goes out of focus.  I asked one of my friends for an advice (He’s been using a rangefinder for a while).  He said I just have to find a happy medium.  Hmmm.  Why isn’t there two focusing mechanisms – one for objects and one for the LCD display?)

Once you customize the optics to your eye, you hold the rangefinder like you are holding a palmcorder – an eye to the eye-piece.  One hand will be fine but you can support it with the other hand for more stability.  It weighs about 7 ounces.  I wish it was smaller and lighter so that you can put the whole thing in your pants pocket or shirt pocket; I think the current device is too cumbersome to carry in your pocket.

The power button is on top.  Press it once to energize the unit.  You will see a target acquisition circle (or aiming circle) in the middle of the display.

Using the target circle, you aim at the object (e.g., flag or bunker) and press the power button until the device does its thing (i.e., shoots a harmless, invisible laser beam out and internal electronic measures the time the beam makes the round trip and calculates the distance.  During this process, the display shows “crosshair” around the aiming circle.).  Usually it takes about a second or two to display the distance information, using a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).  Once a distance information is displayed (e.g., “154 Y”), you can let go of the top button.  The distance information is retained for about 30 seconds, unless you activate it for another measurement.  After the 30 seconds of display, the device shuts itself off.

On the side of the device, there is another button and that is for mode changes.  If you press the mode change for a short period, it changes from “regular” to “PinSeeker” modes, and vice versa.  “PinSeeker” is what golfers usually use, and, the LCD display shows a flag to indicate that you’re seeking a “pin” or flag (One of my golfing buddies says there are no pins on golf courses.  “Pins” belong in bowling alleys.).  PinSeeker mode is especially useful because if your target circle moves about a flag, including background trees, the distance captured in the LCD display will be to the flag, the closest object.  Now if you press the mode button for a longer period (five seconds), you can switch the distance unit from yards to meters, and vice versa.  This is nice.  So, if you are more accustomed to metric system, you can use meters.  Metric system is more prevalent in the world; but, once you get used to yardages, I think, you will always use yardages even if a course displays meter information.

There is a threaded hole at the bottom for tripod, but I don’t think I will use a tripod when I play golf.

The manual also shows something about slope consideration (i.e., distance adjustments to uphill or downhill shots), but my model is not a “Slope Edition,” as far as I can tell.  I don’t know how to tell if you have the Slope Edition since the model number used is the same – “Tour V2.”  Anyway, I tried mode switches and I can never get slope features on the display on mine.

RANGE and ACCURACY:  Bushnell claims Tour V2 is good up to 1,000 yards, but only for a large reflective surfaces.  Although the rangefinder can magnify five times the size of object you view, I am not sure if you can even see a flag from 1,000 yards away – and why would you need to know that far away?  The manual states most object distances can be measured up to 700 yards, depending on things like color, brightness of the environment, reflectivity, angle of viewing, etc.  The shortest distance it will work is specified as 5 yards.  And, the accuracy specification is within +/- 1 yard.  Electronics is so good nowadays, I believe it.

POWER SOURCE:  Another battery powered device is what I didn’t want.  On top of that, the Bushnell requires 3-volt lithium battery, which may last longer than a typical “AA” or “AAA” battery.  The battery is about half the size of a “AA” battery but costs multiple times as much, and more difficult to find in tiny stores.  Why don’t rangefinders use solar panels like calculators?  I am assuming that there is a good reason – like our hand has to touch the outer body surfaces every time we use it.  Maybe, there will be solar-powered rangefinders in the near future.  Until then, I may have to replace the battery at a regular interval.  As stated above, the power button on top only turns it on; it doesn’t turn the device off.  A good thing that LCD display doesn’t use a whole lot of battery power.