Sport: Nikon LaserCaddy
Golf is a diabolical game. Just about the
time you think you have mastered a repeatable swing that lets you keep the
ball in the fairway, someone comes up with a new goal. One of those next
levels is knowing the exact distance you can hit each club with a full,
three-quarters and half swing. But the only way that skill can contribute
to better scores is if you know exactly how far you are from your target.
Unless you’re a fanatic about finding sprinkler heads, pacing off the
distance and squinting hard to see precisely where the flag is positioned,
it can be pretty much a guessing game to determine just what that
distance is.
Nikon, the maker of some of the finest cameras and
lenses in the world, has taken the guesswork out of judging distances. The
Japanese firm has entered the golf range finder market with a bang. Not
only is the new Nikon LaserCaddy golf range finder compact, but the Nikon
optics offer an extremely crisp, clear view of the object you are trying to
measure.
The range finder is not much bigger than a pack of
cigarettes, has a comfortable eyepiece and displays the distance on your
screen with ease. You depress the button once, which brings up the aiming
device on the internal screen, and then you push it again to activate the
laser measurement beam. In a couple of seconds you have your
distance—within half a yard.
According to the strict rules of golf, however,
these devices should not be used in any formal tournament sanctioned by the
U.S. Golf Association. But in that regular Saturday match with your
buddies, or when you’re out for a fun round on a weekend,
there’s no crime in using a range finder. In fact, during practice
rounds at pro tournaments, you’ll see caddies with range finders
locking in exact distances for use later. It’s also a great method to
accurately judge if you really can hit a 9-iron 150 yards. And, of course,
there’s always that even greater benefit of knowing if that water
hazard is 120 yards away or only 100 yards.
At $299, the Nikon LaserCaddy competes with similar
devices from Bushnell, which has dominated the category for years. One
caveat: like all range finders, it’s not the easiest thing to use
after a long night out drinking with your buddies; any shaking can move the
aiming crosshair off your desired target.
Visit www.nikon.com.
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