The unit debuted at the PGA Show in Orlando and The Hackers Paradise got a first look at it there. Here are some of the features we learned about at the show.
* LCD screen with backlight
* Easy to Use Interface, Distance at a Glance
* Distance to Center, Front, & Back
* Store up to 10 courses
* Bag/Belt clip
* Auto Shut off/ Sleep Mode After 30 Minutes
* Rechargeable Li-Ion battery
* Battery Life up to 15 hours
* USB PC interface for downloads
Bushnell was kind enough to send one over on loan to review and we were delighted to give it a test drive. We will base this review on four things.
1. Accuracy – What good is a GPS device that is not accurate.
2. Ease of Use
3. Durability
4. Features
Once armed with the device we headed out to play a few rounds of golf with it. We used it two golf courses both with built in GPS on the carts to compare accuracy. We also had a Skycaddie with us to use in comparison as well. For 5 rounds of golf we used these devices and in terms of accuracy, the Bushnell Yardage Pro was spot on. Never more than 1 yard difference between any of the devices. Ease of use was a complete breeze. You really only ever use a single button interface to move to the next hole. Each time you move, the correct yardages were displayed for front, center, and back of the green.
So I guess that is what you will have to ask for at your local sporting goods store if you are inspired to take a look at one of these units after reading this review. Me, I'd have named it the "Legend" and left it at that. In fact, for simplicity (and to save myself some typing) that is how I am going to refer to the Bushnell Laser Rangefinder Yardage Pro Legend throughout the rest of this article.
A focusing eyepiece costs a little more to produce than a fixed focus eyepiece, but the Legend is not a bargain basement unit. It is a medium priced model, retailing for 9 at Midway U.S.A. as I write these words, and for that sort of money the consumer certainly deserves to see a sharp image of whatever he or she is trying to range.
In the standard mode you just press the power button to turn the unit on. A LCD crosshair appears. Put the crosshair on whatever you want to range and press the power button again, holding it down until the range (in yards or meters) appears in the viewfinder. After the power button is released the range will continue to be displayed for 6 seconds. You can press the power button again at any time to measure the distance to a new target.
Yes, I find it gets a bit more tricky to hit the flag from about 220 and beyond, but I've found tricks to get better at that and you will too. Plus, if I'm over 200, I just make sure that I have some clue where I am as a sanity check. If Bushnell figures out how to incorporate optical image stabalization into these units, that'll make them even better. But for now this is just fine.
Some people wonder if having to look through the binoculars as opposed to looking down at a GPS unit is a disadvantage. For me it's a non-issue in part because the LRF locks on target so quickly.
Check out more optical rangefinders advice at opticalrangefindes.com. You can also read some great guides on the Bushnell Yardage Pro Legend there as well.























