Presented by Bushnell Golf — makers of the Pro X3+LINK laser rangefinder with slope-compensated distances and LINK-Enabled Technology.

1. Mapping the Green, Not Just the Pin: Shooting to the front, middle, and back of the green gives you an understanding of depth and safe zones. In practice rounds, this habit pays dividends when pins move. At the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont, Dustin Johnson’s wedge approach spun back off a front ridge—a clear example where knowing front yardage could change shot shape and spin control.
2. Learning Your Carry Distances: Use course landmarks to measure real drive distances. Laser back to the tee from your ball to build a personal distance chart. At the 2019 British Amateur, a contender came up 10 yards short on a drivable par-4 in match play—not knowing his true 3-wood carry hurt him.
3. Planning to Stay Out of Trouble: In practice rounds, identify where long or short is dead. Use your rangefinder to define safe misses and club accordingly. At the 2023 NCAA Championship, a top player flew a green into penalty area trouble on a tucked pin—shooting to the middle instead could have secured the team title.
4. Laser the Trouble, Not Just the Target: Knowing the distance to bunkers, hazards, and OB stakes can change your strategy entirely. Off the tee or on approach, this habit keeps big numbers off your card.
5. Building a Pre-Shot Yardage Routine: Make it a rhythm: walk to your ball, get the number, evaluate slope and wind, commit. It keeps you calm and focused.
6. Aiming for the Right Parts of Greens: In match play or tight situations, your goal isn't always the pin. Laser safe targets and aim to the fat side when needed. Jordan Spieth’s 2015 Open Championship near-miss showed the cost of being too aggressive on Sunday pins at St. Andrews—scouting zones matters.
7. Choosing Smart Layup Targets: Rather than hitting to a round number, use your rangefinder to find the best angle or widest landing area for your next shot.
8. Prepping for Uneven Terrain: Elevation changes can fool you. Practice rounds are the time to test “plays like” yardages, even if slope isn’t tournament legal.
9. Punching Out with a Purpose: When in trouble, laser to a specific fairway spot. Laying up to a number is one thing—laying up to a number and angle is smarter.
10. Understanding Wind's True Impact: Most players guess. Use a model or an app to correlate how wind affects your clubs at real yardages. At the 2021 U.S. Women’s Amateur, gusty winds at Westchester CC flipped club selections by up to two clubs—those who relied on tech adapted faster.
11. Integrating Rangefinder Use with Course Strategy: On tight courses or firm greens, yardages help you plan roll-out zones or preferred distances for spin control.
12. Letting Technology Support, Not Lead: While tools like slope or wind display (in advanced models) are helpful, the rangefinder is only as smart as the player using it. Gather your data, then trust your instincts.

Small Edge, Big Impact: In competitive golf, the smallest details add up. Whether you're prepping for a qualifier or grinding in medal play, your rangefinder is more than a laser—it's your most consistent teammate.

Want to train smarter? The Bushnell Pro X3+LINK combines wind-adjusted slope data and launch monitor pairing to support your preparation—without replacing your decision-making.