When you know exactly how far you need to send the ball and the right clubs and swing to do it, you can shave several swings off your game and improve your handicap. The Callaway Tour-S Golf Rangefinder is an ideal tool for delivering exact range and elevation changes between your ball’s lie and the hole. It takes the guesswork out of estimating distances to the flag and works well under all playing conditions with a water-resistant case and fog-proof lenses.
The elliptical front end has a viewing lens on top and the rangefinder lens below that does all the hard work with laser-guided precision. A rubberized and sturdy cap protects the relatively fragile lenses in the front while rubberized and textured overlays on top and bottom improve grip and hand comfort while also protecting the rangefinder against minor bumps. A single eyepiece in the back protects the viewing lens while also making it more comfortable to rest against your eye.
Callaway Tour S Laser Rangefinder: Unique Rangefinder Modes
You get two rangefinders in one with the Callaway Tour S Laser Rangefinder. It has prism and laser modes that enable it to do different things very well. The prism mode works best when searching for the flag and gives you the best distance reading. The laser mode works best for scanning distant objects and getting different distance readings to get a better idea of the layout for the entire hole.
You can make the very far away look very up close with up to 7X magnification. The magnification works on objects as far as 1,200 yards away, and an OLED display in red provides the readout. When using the prism mode, the rangefinder zeros in on the flag and gives you the exact distance in your choice of yards or meters. It is accurate to within a half unit of either.
When you use the slope adjustment, it compensates for the elevation change and tells you the adjusted distance. It also tells you the degree of incline or decline to give you an idea of how steep that change is to the hole. That information helps experienced golfers to make proper club and swing adjustments to either roll the ball uphill toward the hole or put some backspin on it to stop it from rolling downhill and off the green.
Pros:
- Accurate to within a half-yard to the pin from up to 400 yards away.
- Separate prism and laser modes.
- Optional slope-angle compensation shows actual distance to the hole.
- 7X magnification up to 1,200 yards away.
- Durable construction and ergonomic design.
Cons:
- Cannot use slope angle adjustment during tournaments.
- Among higher-priced units.
Callaway Tour S Laser Rangefinder: Precise Distances to the Pin
The Callaway Tour S Laser Rangefinder’s special pin-acquisition technology provides exact distances to the flag while disregarding other objects. It disregards background trees, ball washers, benches and other objects that might be in the viewing frame. That makes it easier to quickly zero in on the exact target and give you the exact distance from up to 400 yards away.
Automatic Slope Adjustment
Most rangefinders do a good job of telling you the distance to the target but do not provide information on the elevation change. It is one thing to know how far the target is from your ball, it is another to understand how the slope will affect its flight.
Most golf courses are on varying terrain with significant elevation changes that greatly affect your golf shot. Hitting the ball up an incline reduces the distance traveled and might require a club that provides more elevation. On the other hand, a downward slope will cause the ball to carry further and possibly overshoot your intended target.
The Callaway Tour S Laser Rangefinder provides slope adjustment as well as distance so that you can choose the appropriate club and swing. The slope adjustment technology is so accurate that it actually is banned from organized tournaments. Fortunately, a slope-enable switch on the side lets you turn off the slope adjustment and make the rangefinder legal for tournament play.
Ergonomic, Compact and Light
The lightweight, ergonomically designed rangefinder is the perfect solution for getting exact ranges to the target and delivering the ball with your best club and swing combinations. A specially textured surface improves grip and comfort while using it. A sturdy carrying case comes with it and helps to absorb bumps and shocks while in transit or resting unused in a golf cart. If you bump it or drop it, the case will keep it in good shape.
An ambidextrous design makes the rangefinder perfect for right-handed and left-handed golfers alike. You hold the viewing lens to your right or left eye with the thumb underneath. The fore and middle fingers naturally rest on separate mode and zoom buttons on top. That lets you alternate between prism and laser viewing modes and obtain the exact dimensions of the golfing surface.
The rangefinder measures 4.5 inches by 3 inches by 1.65 inches and weighs about 12 ounces. That makes it small and light enough to carry in a golf bag or jacket pocket while on the course. You could wear it around your neck with a lanyard if you chose and it would be less intrusive than a small pair of binoculars.
An included lithium battery provides the power for a very long time before it requires replacement. So you do not have to worry about charging it before a round of golf. It is the same coin-shaped CR battery commonly used in watches, digital cameras and other compact electronics.
An indicator light says when the battery is getting low, and replacements are plentiful and affordable. The rangefinder has a battery-access port on the lower left side that makes it easy to remove and replace a weak or dead battery.
Should You Buy One?
The Callaway Tour S Laser Rangefinder is an ideal tool for any golfing enthusiast and especially serious players who regularly compete in tournaments and money events. The rangefinder represents the apex of rangefinder technology and especially those intended for the golfing industry. It has a price point to match but delivers exceptional value and is a great tool for lowering your handicap by delivering extremely accurate readings about distance and slope. Those who buy one likely never would need another — unless an accident breaks this model. If you are interested in learning about other options, consider the Precision Nexus, it’s another excellent option.
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