It is no secret that companies in the US have outsourced manufacturing to developing nations to save costs. That is why it was refreshing to read a Leupold Golf Rangefinder Review that highlighted their commitment to manufacturing their scopes and launch monitors at their factory in Beaverton, Oregon.
In this post, we conduct a Leupold Pincaddie 3 golf rangefinder review. The only golf-specific rangefinders in their portfolio. We will identify the pros and cons to help you decide if it possesses everything you desire in a device.
What To Consider Before Buying a Rangefinder?
Pinseeker Technology
Pinseeker technology in laser rangefinders helps you save time and enhance the accuracy of readings. The technology enables the device to zero in on the flag and give you a read within seconds.
Rangefinders without this technology may struggle to pick up the flag if trees and bunkers are in the line of sight.
Although I recommend considering a rangefinder with pinseeker functionality, they tend to appear in premium devices at the higher end of the price spectrum.
Slope Mode
Slope mode is another premium feature that is worth considering. It enhances the accuracy of your measurement and factors in the gradient between your ball and your target. Depending on the incline or decline of the slope, you may need to hit one club more or less.
Slope mode is prohibited in tournament play per the USGA rule 4.3a. However, you are more than welcome to use this feature during practice rounds to help you improve your distance judgment.
Accuracy
The purpose of a rangefinder is to deliver accurate yardage readings. But the level of accuracy varies, depending on the device. Premium products are accurate to one degree of the actual distance. While more affordable options tend to be less accurate the further you are from your target.
Range
The range of a device determines how far it can give you readings. For example, a range of 1000 yards can give you the distance to a par 5, green. However, the further away your target is, the less accurate the read will be.
Magnification
Using a golf rangefinder with enhanced magnification speeds up the time it takes to identify your target and obtain the yardage. Higher-priced products like the Bushnell V5 feature 6x magnification, while affordable options run on 4x or 5x.
Jolt Technology
Surrounding trees or man-made objects can interfere with the measurements. That causes the rangefinder to calculate the distance to them and not the pin. That may lead you to receive the incorrect yardage and subsequently select the wrong club.
Flag-lock technology induces a light vibration on the device for you to know when it has detected and measured the yardage to the pin. Without having to spend time double-checking if you have locked onto the correct target, flag-lock technology does the work for you.
Leupold Company Overview
The Leupold company has been in business for 124 years, and the Oregon outfit is still going strong. Initially, they manufactured surveying equipment. But in 1947, shortly after the Second World War, they released their first rifle scope.
Since then, they have focused their efforts on hunting rifle scopes. However, in 2010 Leupold applied their knowledge and experience to release their first golf launch monitor.
Although the USA manufacturer lists various golf rangefinders on their website, only the Pincaddie 3 is still produced. You can still acquire some of their golf rangefinders on Amazon, but we will focus on the pros and cons of the Pincaddie 3.
Leupold Rangefinder Review
Leupold PinCaddie 3 Review
Pros
- Flag lock detects the pin among objects like shrubs and trees
- Scan mode provides yardage to hazards and landing areas in your line of sight
- Fog mode adapts to dull light to detect your targets as if it were a clear day
- Tournament legal
- Factors in slope to deliver accurate measurements
Cons
- It only detects the flag up to 300 yards out
- Accurate up to 2 yards from distances longer than 125 yards
The Leupold PinCaddie 3 offers everyday golfers an affordable and proudly American laser rangefinder device.
6x magnification combined with Line-of-Sight and Flag Lock technology reduces the time it takes to receive a measurement to your target. Plus, fog mode enhances the PinCaddie’s ability to detect targets in an undesirable light.
Although the rangefinder is tournament legal, it factors in the angle of an incline or decline between your ball and the desired target. Furthermore, it provides distances to any hazards or landing areas in your direct line to help you avoid trouble at all costs.
Finally, Leupold’s Flag Lock function easily detects the pin among trees or shrubs in your line. The technology ensures that you always get the yardage to your desired target to help you select the correct club.
Features & Benefits
Line-Of-Sight (LOS)
The PinCaddie 3’s LOS technology reads the distances to bunkers, water hazards, trees, and landing zone that appears in your line. That helps you ensure you have sufficient club to avoid the hazards and land your ball closer to your target.
The LOS feature also factors in the gradient of slopes to optimize the measurement’s accuracy from your ball to the target.
Flag Lock
Flag Lock performs the same as Pinseeker technology used in other laser rangefinders. The laser identifies the flagstick and locks onto it, delivering the yardage to your target and not to objects in your line of sight.
6x Magnification
The higher the level of magnification in a rangefinder device, the easier it is to detect your target from hundreds of yards away. The Leupold PinCaddie 3 contains 6x magnification and helps you focus on your target and receive the yardage instantaneously.
A challenge that I have faced in the past was getting measurements in overcast conditions. Fortunately, as scope specialists, their magnification solves this challenge in the PinCaddie 3, optimizing the performance and speed of reads in misty, foggy, or cloudy conditions.
Accuracy
Leupold’s PinCaddie 3 delivers exceptional accuracy up to 125 yards, on point to the nearest yard. However, distances exceeding 125 yards will be accurate to within 2-yards.
Even though 2-yards is not pinpoint accuracy, it is close enough for the average player to determine the best club to hit.
Leupold PinCaddie 3 Alternatives
1. Callaway 300 Pro Laser Rangefinder
The high functioning, affordable Callaway 300 Pro laser rangefinder exists to deliver accurate yardage readings. Precise Slope Measurement accounts for elevation changes to increase the accuracy of the read. And you can turn it off to avoid breaking USGA rule 4.3a. Like, the Leupold PinCaddie 3, this rangefinder features 6x magnification to help you detect the yardage to your target from hundreds of yards out. Furthermore, the 300 Pro provides readings that are accurate within one yard, from 1000 yards away.
To make it easier and quicker to detect the flagstick, Callaway employed Pin Acquisition Technology that locks onto the pin from 300 yards away. Once the device’s laser has locked onto the pin, it vibrates to notify you.
Finally, the Callaway 300 Pro Laser comes with a molded hard carry case and a quick close band for improved convenience.
Overall, it is an impressive rangefinder that could easily be a premium product. However, the affordable price is ideal for low to mid handicappers looking for more detailed yardage readings.
2. Raythor Pro GEN S2
The Raythor Pro GEN S2 rangefinder may be the best value for money on the market. It has premium features at an entry-level price, giving mid to high handicappers everything they need from a distance measuring device. The tournament legal rangefinder operates at 6x magnification to enhance the device’s optics and allow you to detect your target quicker. Furthermore, slope technology factors in the gradient between your ball and target, delivering a read that is accurate to 0.1 yards.
Flag lock technology helps the laser latch onto the pin and deliver an accurate reading from a maximum of 300 yards out. Finally, the Raythor Pro GEN S2 can also determine the speed of an object for you to know the wind speed, to account for it in your aim.
Ultimately, few laser rangefinders in the market can compete with The Raythor. Thanks to the quality of features and its insanely low price tag.
3. Precision Pro NX7 Pro
Precision’s Pro NX7 rangefinder is another example of an affordable device that punches above its weight. The adaptive slope edition of this model provides plays-like distance by factoring in the incline or decline of the gradient from your ball to the target. Precision Pro equipped the NX7 with 6x magnification to speed up the delivery of measurements in yards or meters.
Furthermore, the 600-yard range on the device provides accurate reading to the nearest yard. Plus, Pulse Vibration is activated when the laser locks onto the pin to inform you that it has calculated the distance.
The final positive of the Precision Pro NX7 Pro is its water-resistant design to repel drops away from the device in torrential rain.
In conclusion, the device contains premium features at an affordable price point, accessible to players of all abilities.
Final Thoughts
There is no disputing the reputation of the Leupold company. They have stood the test of time and evolved from surveying equipment to rifle scopes, and most recently, golf rangefinders.
During our Leupold rangefinder review, we learned that they discontinued several golf-specific devices, leaving the PinCaddie 3 as the last man standing. The Line-of-sight and Flag Lock technology combine to deliver exceptional accuracy and optics at an affordable price point.
If you are a mid-handicap golfer looking for detail on your yardage measurements for a reasonable fee. Take a closer look at the Leupold PinCaddie 3 here.
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Nick is the founder of GolfSpan and an avid golfer. He's not quite a pro but has over 15 years of experience playing and coaching golfers worldwide. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience when it comes to choosing the right golf gear and finding the right setup for your game.
