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The key to powerful shots is knowing where and, more importantly, when to create pressure in your swing.

I have an easy way to explain both by using a homemade training aid (a streamer wrapped around the hosel of my driver) to explain.

At the start, the takeaway, the clubhead moves back, away from the target, and by the end of the backswing, it has traveled back toward the target. The secret to applying pressure to create power is moving your pressure with the clubhead. So, as you take the club back, away from your target, your pressure (or, if you prefer, your weight) should do likewise.

In the photo above, you can see (with the help of the streamer) that the club is moving away from the target and that I’ve matched this move by shifting my pressure away from the target, into my trail leg.

As soon as your club reaches parallel to the ground in your backswing, however, the clubhead actually starts its journey toward the target, culminating at the top of your backswing. So it’s at this point — the first time the club gets parallel to the ground — when you need to begin shifting forward.

This might be earlier than you’ve ever imagined. Timing this pressure shift (from back to front) turns on the jets on your down-swing. Bombs away!

Dom DiJulia is director of instruction at Jericho National GC in New Hope, Pa.

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If you’re new to golf, you may not know how to operate a rangefinder.

I didn’t even know what a rangefinder was when I first started playing golf. I thought the gentleman I was paired with was looking through binoculars the entire round!

This guide will break down what range a rangefinder is and how it works. I’ll also let you know which rangefinder I use and recommend to help improve your accuracy on approach shots into the green.

How a Golf Rangefinder Works

Golfers use rangefinders to get the exact distance of their target. Most of the time, rangefinders are used to determine how many yards away the pin is.

Here are some highlights of how a rangefinder works:

• Look through the rangefinder with one eye
• Hit the button on top to increase the magnification and zero in on your target area (flag, bunkers, water hazards, etc.)
• The button sends a laser beam to lock on whatever you are pointing it at
• The rangefinder will then calculate the yardage for you by measuring how long it takes for the laser to reach your target and shoot back to the device
• The device will then show you the yardage to your target

Another helpful feature that some rangefinders have is called “Slope Mode”. As the name implies, this function tells you the elevation change of the green and factors that into the overall distance. This is a massive advantage for the golfer and can lead to accurate distances on approach shots.

Are Rangefinders Accurate?

Yes, golf rangefinders are incredibly accurate. Most brands are accurate to within one yard of the actual distance. This high level of accuracy gives golfers an extra boost of confidence when deciding which club to hit.

Just how much yardage can you measure with a rangefinder? Most brands will give you pinpoint accuracy for up to 500 yards. That means you can trust a rangefinder’s accuracy from the tee on every hole on the golf course.

However, laser rangefinders aren’t perfect, and certain circumstances can lead to a decrease in accuracy. For example, the laser beam of the rangefinder will be negatively affected by any type of rain or fog. Remember that if you are playing golf in any kind of harsh weather conditions.

Which Is Better – A Golf GPS or Rangefinder?

Both rangefinders and golf GPS devices are helpful tools to use while on the golf course. Both devices have slope measurement capabilities and can provide accurate readings. Both are also easy to use and have a high level of durability.

So, with all that being said, which one is better? The answer is different for every golfer. Let’s examine which device is better based on what category is most important to you.

Price

If you are trying to save money, go with a GPS device. Some golf GPS phone apps are even available at no cost. These apps utilize satellites to give you a layout of each hole on the golf course.

Golf GPS watches are also affordable for golfers on a tight budget. They can be bought for as little as $90 and the battery will usually last around 12 hours before needing to be recharged.

A laser rangefinder works quite well, but they’re usually more expensive than golf GPS devices. The cheapest models start in the $150 to $200 range.

Accuracy

If it’s premium accuracy that you are after, you can’t go wrong with optical rangefinders. These are more accurate than GPS devices and can provide you with the correct yardage more quickly. Also, the slope technology option on a rangefinder is typically much more accurate than a golf GPS watch.

Just how much more accurate is a rangefinder? Remember how we said earlier that most rangefinders are accurate to within one yard? Most GPS golf devices are only accurate to within four yards.

For the average golfer, this accuracy difference won’t matter much. Mid and high handicappers are going to use the same club if a shot is 80 yards or 84 yards. However, advanced golfers may use an entirely different wedge in this instance.

Ease of Use

This attribute, like many others, comes down to the personal preference of the golfer. Rangefinders and golf GPS devices are both reasonably easy to use on the course.

Some golfers prefer the rangefinder because the autofocus camera makes it easy to aim at their targets. However, folks with shaky hands may not be able to hold steady enough to lock onto their targets.

Along those same lines, some people like the convenience of a golf GPS watch. They find it kind of nice to not have to zero in on a target but simply look down at their wrists to get the yardage to the pin.

The Rangefinder I Use and Recommend

If you are ready to buy a rangefinder, I highly recommend the Bushnell Tour V4. It’s been one of Bushnell’s most popular rangefinders over the last six years. It’s even legal for tournament play as long as the slope mode is turned off.

When it comes to rangefinders, Bushnell is the king! Here are some of the benefits of the Bushnell Tour V4.

• Amazing Accuracy: You’ll have more confidence in your club selection because it’s always accurate to within one yard.
• Long Battery Life: I’ve been using the Tour V4 for over a year and a half, and the battery is still going strong.
• Pinpoint Slope Calculation: You’ll know the exact degrees of slope and just how much it will affect your shots. This is incredibly helpful on both uphill and downhill shots, especially if obstacles like water hazards are involved.
• Jolt Technology: This feature is probably the most incredible. If you are properly locked onto your target, the Tour V4 will lightly vibrate as a signal. No more guessing as to whether or not you are aiming at the correct spot
• Fast Focus System: The Tour V4 rangefinder lenses work quickly to provide you with the correct yardage. Some Golf GPS devices can lag if the signal is weak or the weather is bad. That won’t happen with the Tour V4.
• Ideal Size: The Tour V4 isn’t too big or too small. It fits perfectly in the palm of your hand. It’s also lightweight, which means you shouldn’t have a problem zeroing in on your target.
• Warranty: Bushnell stands behind the quality of its products. Each type of rangefinder that Bushnell offers is covered by a two-year warranty.
• Water Resistant: Unlike some other rangefinders, the Tour V4’s performance isn’t affected by rain. The device is water resistant and will still give you accurate readings in a light drizzle. Just to be on the safe side, though, I don’t use it during any type of heavy rain.

I can’t say enough good things about the Bushnell Tour V4. I used to think that all rangefinders were overrated and overpriced, but Bushnell has converted me from a skeptic to a believer.

I can’t imagine playing a single round of golf without it in my bag. If you decide to give the Tour V4 a shot, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.

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My season prep with Maja Stark started a little later this year. And while we made some solid gains and good adjustments, there was still one shot that bothered her with the scoring irons: a kind of high, floaty shot that leaked a bit to the right. It lacked authority, and made setting up birdies consistently a challenge.

When I watched her warm up in Orlando during the week of the LPGA Tournament of Champions, something caught my eye. She kept fiddling with her left-hand grip, trying to get it comfortable on the club. Obviously, that affects everything — the takeaway started to feel wonky and impact wasn’t what she wanted on a consistent basis. When those pieces aren’t right, her confidence starts to dip.

Then the light bulb came on.

Between shots, Maja would chat and casually make some half-swings with her left hand only on the club. And every time she did, the grip looked perfect. So I kept watching, and it kept happening. (I might’ve even stretched out our conversations a bit to catch her in those moments when the grip went on just right.)

After a while, Maja asked if I had ever heard of the interlocking grip. I told her some guy named Jack Nicklaus did pretty well with it.

She smiled and said, “I’m going to try a couple shots with that.”

From the very first swing, her left-hand grip was fixed. I watched her left hand settle onto the club properly — turned slightly to the right of center, with the butt end of the club under the heel pad of her left hand, not off to the side of it. As she started hitting shots, I knew we’d solved that pesky floaty right miss.

In Maja’s words: “The takeaway felt so much simpler. Impact was solid, and the clubface felt way more under control.”

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Shamble, scramble, and best ball are constantly confused by amateur golfers.

Working in the golf industry for more than a dozen years taught me that most amateur golfers have no idea what the difference is between these events, and some just think the word shamble is a mispronunciation of scramble.

Rest assured, the shamble is a real thing.

In fact, it’s kind of a fun format and can be a great team event. Here’s what to expect when you play in a shamble tournament.

What is a Shamble Tournament?

A shamble tournament is where each golfer hits a drive, the best drive is chosen, and then all players play their ball into the hole from there. The shamble is different from a scramble or a best ball event.

When you play in a shamble, you will be using some of your own golf drives as you make your way around the golf course, but it can be beneficial if you run into a bad hole to have another drive that you can play off of.

The shamble tournament is great for those who struggle off the tee box but can play the hole on their own.

Many shambles have different variations, and sometimes one team score is all that is needed; sometimes, there are gross and net scores collected, and other times it is two net scores at the end of the hole. It will be up to your tournament committee to decide which is the case for your event.

Differences Between a Golf Shamble vs. Scramble

There are a few main differences between a scramble and a shamble, and it’s important to understand them. Not only do you want to ensure you are following the rules, but it’s also essential to think about strategy when playing in these events.

Shamble Requires More of Your Own Shots

In a scramble, you will continue to choose the best shot from the golfers in your group the entire time you play the hole. This results in some holes where none of your shots are selected as the best ones.

In a shamble format, you may not be playing from your own drive, but you will undoubtedly be playing your ball into the hole.

The nice thing about this for golfers that play in a shamble is that they can enjoy seeing more of the course and get more of a full round in. The downside, of course, is that it’s much harder for higher handicap golfers.

More Than One Score at The End of a Shamble

Most shambles will have you take at least one best gross and one best net at the end of a hole. However, sometimes it can be the two best net balls of the group.

With a scramble tournament, only one score is recorded as all players keep moving to the best shot throughout the hole. When you play a golf shamble format, you will have a more accurate idea as to what your score would have been if you played your own golf ball.

Number of Drives

Most of the time, with a scramble, each of the team members in the foursome needs to contribute at least two drives. Considering the drive is such a vital part of the shamble, this same rule is typically in place.

Make sure that you are paying close attention to this as you move through to ensure that you have the best chance of winning this golf tournament format.

Two Person Formats

The 2-person shamble is rarer, but it is a format that can work. In addition, you can play a 2 person scramble tournament. However, most of the time, this works best with a group of four.

The pace of play for the shamble on the scramble is comparable. However, I can tell you that the scramble will usually be a bit shorter. It really depends on the golfer’s handicaps in the group to be able to estimate the pace of play.

Can You Handicap a Shamble?

Handicapping for shambles will vary based on what your tournament committee decides is the best fit. For the majority of shambles, the handicap of every player will be reduced by about 20 to 25%.

If you are a 20 handicap, you will get 15 shots that day. Considering you will have the chance to play from the best drive out of four, this is pretty fair.

A golf shamble handicap can sometimes be based on player handicap where the lower player gets less of their handicap, and the higher player gets more of their handicap, but this makes things more complicated.

Some tournament committee that is unsure of anyone’s handicap will just play a gross shamble. This is when only a gross score tournament result is collected.

Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children. Current Handicap: 1

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