Product Review: Leupold GX-I Rangefinder

Leupold also have a GX-II available which takes slope and wind into calculation, while providing a club selection recommendation. The GX-II is not tournament legal.

The following review discusses the features and benefits of the GX-I, how to use it effectively, GPS versus rangefinders, and also the general pros and cons of having a rangefinder in terms of speed of play and its impact on the overall walking golf experience.

The Walking Golfer has been playing with the easy to use and lightweight Leupold GX-I for the past month.
Leupold GX-I Features:

– 6x Magnification
- Pinhunter(TM) Laser Line of Sight Measurement
- Scan Mode
- Weatherproof
- 7 Selectable Aiming Reticles
- Yards/Meters Distance Measurement Option
- Quick Set Menu(TM)
- 6.8 Ounces

Maximum Range:

Pin:  350 Yards
Trees:  600 Yards
Reflective Target:  750 Yards

Leupold is a family-owned Portland, Oregon based company that has been designing, machining and assembling precision optical instruments and other products for over 100 years. During WWII, Leupold worked with the Army and Navy to design rifle scopes, binoculars and ship based optical equipment that needed to be water-proof and durable under extreme conditions. When rangefinders began to gain traction in the golf industry, it was only logical that Leupold would put a strong foot forward.

The GX-I, which is Leupold’s “Tournament Legal” site distance measurement device, is easy to use right out of the box. The rangefinder is light-weight and can be held in one hand, although you may need two to stabilize the cross-hairs on the pin. It comes with a CR-2 Lithium battery, a carrying case with a clip, and a lanyard. To set up the GX-I just insert the battery, use the Quick Set Menu to choose your reticle of choice, yards or meters for distance, and then hit the links.

As seen below, there are seven different reticle options. I enjoy using the Plus Point or Diamond because they are easy to aim once you get used to holding the unit on target.

The GX-I has two object measuring modes – individual and scan. To shoot the pin, just press the power button once to activate the reticle, click again when the cross-hairs are on the pin, and look at the yardage number located above the cross-hairs in the scope. To scan, just press the power button once to activate the reticle, then hold it down and point it at objects of interest. It is easy to scan distance to water hazards, trees, bunkers, the front and back of the green, and the pin.

The GX-I is a very efficient design.

It took me a few tries to get used to holding the GX-I steady, especially on 200+ yard measurements, but after a couple of holes I could pull out the rangefinder and shoot my target very quickly. A hat and/or sunglasses can make using the GX-I a little trickier because your eye is not flush with the scope. I always wear sunglasses so I made a simple adjustment of turning on the unit, aiming the reticle at the flag and then shifting the rangefinder slightly so I can see the yardage information. Again, after a few tries it becomes simple.

When using a rangefinder it is important to make sure that you are in fact measuring your target and not something in the background. If a distance seems “off” then scan again to double check that you are not getting the distance to a tree or other object behind the pin.

I believe a rangefinder can be beneficial in several ways:

1) At the range, it is great to know the distance to all of the flags so you know how far each club is going.

2) If you spray your ball into the rough or an adjacent fairway off the tee, it is easy to figure out distance provided you have a clear line to the pin.

3) Generally, there is no need to scurry around the fairway looking for sprinkler heads or yardage markers, which is often followed by a calculation from middle of green yardage to current pin position yardage.

4) Knowing your exact yardage to the pin can instill confidence and optimize club selection before a shot, and as we all know, the mental side of the game is about 90% of performance.

5) It is nice to be able to have accurate distance to water hazards, bunkers, trees on doglegs, etc. before committing to a challenging shot.

In terms of use, on my home course, where I am rarely at a loss for distance, I only tend to pull out the GX-I a couple of times each round. However, I enjoy having the option, especially if I am unsure about distance to a tricky pin position. If I am playing an early morning or late evening round without anyone in front of me, I leave the rangefinder in the car and play by feel to ensure that I finish in no more than a little over two hours.

While playing in a larger group, I may shoot distance while waiting for my turn to play. On new courses, or those that I have not played for a long time, I tend to use the GX-I more often to help with strategy off the tee and approaches to the green. In this situation, a rangefinder is very helpful.

The GX-I will probably be more beneficial to low handicap golfers who have solid distance control versus high handicappers who should probably just aim for the middle of the green on every approach. However, as mentioned, from the rough or an adjacent fairway, it is a lot easier to laser your target than run around trying to find the closest sprinkler head. Off the tee, it is beneficial for every golfer to know the distance to the optimal landing or lay up area so proper club selection can be made.

What concerns me the most about the use of any distance measuring devices is speed of play. If you can shoot your target in the same amount of time as it would take to find a sprinkler head and make a few calculations about pin position and total distance then a rangefinder will speed up your game. If not, then please do us all a favor and do not buy one because the average round on most North American courses is long enough already.

As more rangefinders and GPS devices come to market the debate about which is better for a golfer will continue to heat up.

Quite simply, the advantage of a rangefinder is exact yardage to a pin regardless of cloud cover, satellite positioning, course availability or subscription fees.

The advantage of a GPS device, provided your course is available and the data is accurate, is quick reference to hazards along with the front, middle and back of the green. Some GPS devices can also help you track “stats” during each round such as score, driving distance, fairways/greens in regulation, etc.

At the end of the day, every golfer is different. Many will choose to forgo the use of a GPS device or rangefinder, while others will migrate to the technology which best suits their game.

If you are looking for a rangefinder, then I would encourage any walking golfer to visit the Leupold Golf Website for more information.

MSRP:

- Leupold GX-I -  $299
- Leupold GX-II – $399

Review by Rob Rigg
Photos by Rob Rigg or provided by Leupold