Equipment

GolfWRX Spotlight: Vortex Optics laser rangefinders

Published

2 months ago

Feb 29, 2024

Vortex Optics, a player in the hunting space since 1986, is breaking into the golf world with three rangefinders. The Barneveld, Wisconsin-based company just announced its Blade, Blade Slope, and Anarch laser rangefinders.

In addition to riflescopes, spotting scopes, and binoculars, Vortex Optics has been producing rangefinders for years, so they’re anything but novices. The customer-first, family-owned business is leveraging what it already knows about making great rangefinders and applying its technology and Clear View optics to products designed for the fairways, rather than the forest or field.

“Entering the world of golf rangefinders was a natural choice for us,” said Vortex CEO Joe Hamilton. “When our customers, dealers, and team members – all part of Vortex Nation- unanimously called for our expertise in optical quality, technology, innovation, and customer service to elevate their golf experience, it became a clear path forward. We’re excited to bring our proven success to the golfing community.”

Vortex Optics Blade

An impressive laser rangefinder.

Featuring 6x magnification and a black LCD display, the Vortex Optics Blade is reflective up to 1,400 yards and to the flag at up to 350 yards. The minimum range is six yards and accuracy is +/- one yard. The linear field of view at 100 yards is 37 feet 6 inches. Measuring time is one second.

The Blade and Blade Slope rangefinders are slightly smaller than the Anarch, measuring 3.9 inches by 3.0 inches by 1.5 inch. The Blade weighs 6.5 ounces.

Range modes include line of sight and scan and Pin Spotter Mode (vibration when the pin is locked onto) is an additional feature. Handily, the Blade rangefinder is equipped with a cart magnet.

Built from a polymer chassis, the Vortex Optics Blade rangefinder is waterproof and shockproof.

The Vortex Optics Blade retails for $299.

Vortex Optics Blade Slope

A laser rangefinder with slope functionality.

Just like the Vortex Optics Blade rangefinders, the Blade Slope features 6x magnification and a black LCD display and is reflective up to 1,400 yards and to the flag at up to 350 yards. The minimum range is six yards and accuracy is +/- one yard. The linear field of view at 100 yards is 37 feet 6 inches. Measuring time is one second.

Slope mode, of course, is the distinguishing feature between the Blade and Blade Slope. Slope mode accounts for the changes in gradient, i.e. a downhill shot plays shorter, an uphill shot plays longer. Presently, slope mode is not legal in tournament play, but the Vortex Optics Blade Slope allows users to toggle it on/off.

As mentioned earlier, the Blade Slope rangefinders is slightly smaller than the Anarch. It measures 3.9 inches by 3.0 inches by 1.5 inch and weighs 6.5 ounces.

Again, range modes include line of sight; Pin Spotter Mode is an additional feature. The cart magnet — essential for riders — is present in the Blade Slope.

Polymer chassis. Waterproof. Shockproof — just like the Blade.

The Vortex Optics Blade Slope retails for $399.

Vortex Optics Anarch

An image-stabilized laser rangefinder.

The Vortex Optics Anarch features 6x magnification and a red illuminated LCD display. It is reflective up to 1,400 yards and to the flag at up to 450 yards (100 yards more than the blade). The minimum range is 10 yards and accuracy is +/- one yard. The linear field of view at 100 yards is 31 feet 8 inches. Measuring time is one second.

The Anarch is slightly larger and heavier than the Blade models, measuring 4.0 inches by 3.0 inches by 1.6 inch. It weighs 9.2 ounces.

Range modes include slope, line of sight and scan and Pin Spotter Mode is an additional feature as well as image stabilization. A cart magnet is present here as well.

Like the other rangefinders in the lineup, the Vortex Optics Anarch is waterproof and shockproof. While the blade models feature a polymer chassis, the Anarch is crafted from a magnesium chassis.

The Anarch retails for $599.

In addition to the rangefinder, all packages include a case with a carabiner, a ball marker, and a lens cloth.

All rangefinders are backed by Vortex Optics’ VIP warranty — a lifelong, fully transferable promise to repair or replace your rangefinder should it become damaged.

Rangefinders are available now. For more purchase details, head here. You can catch up with the company on social media: Instagram, X, Facebook, YouTube.

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Equipment

Why Rory McIlroy will likely use the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper at the RBC Heritage

Published

2 hours ago

Apr 17, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.

It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.

When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”

“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”

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According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.

Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:

“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.

“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.

“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.

“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.

“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”

So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.

His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.

See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here

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Equipment

Spotted: TaylorMade P-UDI driving iron

Published

3 hours ago

Apr 17, 2024

Brian Knudson

It seems like the RBC Heritage is full of new gear to be spotted, and you can add TaylorMade’s P-UDI utility irons to that list.

We spotted a 17-degree P-UDI 2-iron in Nick Dunlap’s bag yesterday, and now have some photos of both the 3- and 4-irons. Nick has his P-UDI 2-iron setup with a Project X HZRDUS Black 4th Gen 105g TX shaft.

From what we can tell, this new P-UDI utility iron looks to have some of the usual TaylorMade technology as we can see the Speed Slot on the sole of the club for additional face flexibility. A toe screw is usually used to close off the hollow body design that will probably be filled with a version of TaylorMade’s Speed Foam that is present in the current iron lineup. This hollow body, foam-filled design should offer additional ball speed, soft feel, and sound, as well as an optimized CG for ball flight.

“Forged” is etched into the hosel, so we can assume that either the face, body, or both are forged for a soft and responsive feel. The club looks good from behind and at address, where we can see just a little offset and a topline that I would consider medium thickness. We don’t have the full details on what is under the hood or how many loft options will be available yet.

TaylorMade P-UDI 3-iron – 20°

TaylorMade P-UDI 4-iron – 22°

Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage

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Whats in the Bag

Collin Morikawa WITB 2024 (April)

Published

3 hours ago

Apr 17, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Collin Morikawa what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. More photos from the event here.

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 LS (9 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 60 TX (45 inches)

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX

Check out more in-hand photos Collin Morikawa’s clubs here.

5-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 80 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P770 (4), P7MC (5-6), P730 (7-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue Mid 115 X100 (4-6), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (7-PW)