Equipment
Nikon’s new Coolshot rangefinders compensate for shaky hands
Keeping a steady hand is often easier said than done when using a laser rangefinder to figure out the distance to the flagstick. To make matters worse, a shaky hand can cause golfers to get the yardage to the trees behind the green instead of the pin.
Getting the wrong yardage kind of defeats the purpose, doesn’t it?
Nikon’s new Coolshot 80 VR and 80i VR rangefinders may just have the answer with its new Vibration Reduction (VR) technology that’s made “to compensate for the human body’s physical inability to be completely still,” according to the company.
The vibration reduction built into the Nikon Coolshots works by keeping the target on the rangefinder view steady, even if the body of the rangefinder is moving or vibrating inadvertently. That means the user will have an easier time keeping the image steady, and obtaining the correct yardage.
The VR function is not a setting, but rather built into the laser system. After holding down the “ranging button,” users can continuously scan for up to 8 seconds, and Nikon’s “Hyper Read” system provides measurements within a half of a second, measuring between 8-1000 yards in increments of 0.1 yards.
The Nikon Coolshot rangefinders, which use 6X monocular, also have a “Locked On” setting that can help users determine when they’ve captured the distance to the flagstick, and not to trees behind the green. When the laser is “locked on” the flagstick, a circle will appear in the image, as pictured on the right above.
Nikon’s Coolshot 80/80i VR rangefinders both come with a lightweight body and rubber armor for a better grip and waterproofing. The Coolshot 80i VR, which comes with Incline/Decline technology* that factors elevation changes into shot distance, is now available for $449.95, while the Coolshot 80 VR is available for $399.95.
*Incline/Decline can be disabled for USGA compliance.
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- Steve Stricker WITB accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, C4 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 7.2 X
3-wood: Titleist 915F (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist 816 H1 (17 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 9.2 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (3, 4), Titleist T100 (5-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8 (46-10F @55), Titleist Vokey SM10 (54-10S @53), Titleist Vokey SM4 (60 @59)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 w/Sensicore
Putter: Odyssey White Hot No. 2
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Grip Rite
Check out more in-hand photos of Steve Stricker’s clubs here.
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- Alex Fitzpatrick what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 TX
Irons: Ping iCrossover (2), Titleist T100 (4-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 9 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-12F, 56-12D, 60-08M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Bettinardi SS16 Dass
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Alex Fitzpatrick’s clubs here.
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In our forums, our members have been discussing Mini-Drivers and accompanying shafts. WRXer ‘JamesFisher1990’ is about to purchase a BRNR Mini and is torn on what shaft weight to use, and our members have been sharing their thoughts and set ups in our forum.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- PARETO: “New BRNR at 13.5. Took it over to TXG (Club Champ but TXG will always rule) in Calgary for a fit. Took the head down to 12, stuck in a Graphite Design AD at 3 wood length and 60g. Presto- numbers that rivaled my G430Max but with waaaaay tighter dispersion. Win.”
- driveandputtmachine: “Still playing a MIni 300. The head was only 208, so I ordered a heavier weight and play it at 3 wood length. I am playing a Ventus Red 70. I play 70 grams in my fairways. I use it mainly to hit draws off the tee. When I combine me, a driver, and trying to hit a draw it does not work out well most of the time. So the MIni is for that. As an aside, I have not hit the newest BRNR, but the previous model wasn’t great off the deck. The 300 Mini is very good off the deck.”
- JAM01: “Ok, just put the BRNR in the bag along side a QI10 max and a QI10 3 wood. A load of top end redundancy. But, I have several holes at my two home courses where the flight and accuracy of the mini driver helps immensely. Mine is stock Proforce 65 at 13.5, I could see a heavier shaft, but to normal flex, as a nice alternative.”
Entire Thread: “What’s the perfect Mini-Driver/Shaft combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
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Steve Stricker WITB accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, C4...
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Alex Fitzpatrick what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
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Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees...
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View this post on Instagram A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx) Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)...
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Mike
Oct 14, 2016 at 2:27 am
These should be banned. Its cheating and everyone who uses one slows the pace of play.
Mat
Oct 16, 2016 at 6:57 am
Wrong. They speed play. If you have a jerk taking too much time, they would be the guy that steps off 35 paces from a sprinkler and waste time without it.
john
Oct 13, 2016 at 12:50 pm
When you’re too stupid to know that 182 is to the trees in the back. Geez.
wkndHacker
Oct 12, 2016 at 4:35 pm
Go get the Precision Pro Model… It has the scanning and is super cheap!
cgasucks
Oct 12, 2016 at 1:49 pm
Bushnell already has that technology for shaky hands years and years ago called Pinseeker Technology…I know, I’ve had my first one with that technology a decade ago…
Mr. Wedge
Oct 12, 2016 at 11:40 am
The new rangefinders with slope readings and all this other crap is too much. Get an older model Bushnell, (2 or 3). They are accurate to within 1 yard, have the quality you’d expect out of a name like Bushnell, and you can get them now for around $200. What more do you really need?
Jonah Mytro
Oct 12, 2016 at 11:18 am
$399 and $449 for a Nikon Rangefinder.. They now have 4 models – 20,40,60,80….Too expensive….flop
D
Oct 13, 2016 at 3:18 am
And yet you’re happy to pay the same price for a new driver every year or two, or for a new Scotty. Duh
Scooter McGavin
Oct 12, 2016 at 9:42 am
Two questions. 1. How does this affect battery life? 2. Does it actually work?
Matt
Oct 12, 2016 at 9:40 am
I have used several of Nikon’s VR lenses and the technology works great for photography. Makes sense that I would work well here too.