Leupold GX 5i3 Rangefinder Review
The Leupold GX-5i3 rangefinder is the most advanced rangefinder on the market. Unbelievably fast, great display. TGR is amazing.
Introduction
In every industry, leading companies create flagship products. Think of a car like the Mercedes S Class. These aren’t products that everyone is meant to own; they’re demonstrations of the company’s prowess at pushing the envelope of performance. Leupold’s new GX-5i3 rangefinder is that kind of product. While many companies push out budget lasers, Leupold is choosing to show how much technology it can pack into a few ounces.
Setup & Ease of Use
Just like any other modern rangefinder, the GX-5i3 is simple to use. Push the button to turn it on, aim it, push the button again, and the distance pops up.
Unlocking the full potential of the GX-5i3 takes a little more work, though not nearly as much as you might think. Hold down the Mode button for a second and you enter the menus. With the two button interface, you can quickly and easily toggle Slope and TGR on and off or enter in temperature and altitude. Even for a first-timer, setting up TGR shouldn’t take more than two minutes.
Accuracy & Performance
One thing that I can’t overemphasize is how fast the GX-5i3 is. After using the GX-5i3 for a little while, using my older laser felt like waiting for a caddie to pace off the yardage.
In its basic operation, yardages are displayed simply and accurately to the tenth of a yard. You can also level up and turn on slope to let the GX-5i3 calculate how much the grade adds or subtracts from the shot. TGR is where Leupold pulls out all the stops factoring in slope, temperature, and altitude and recommending a club based on your distances.
Finally, one of the aspects of a rangefinders that’s often overlooked is the way the data is displayed. Especially in lasers that display more than one number, the way those numbers are displayed can seriously impact its usability. The Leupold GX-5i3 does a great job by putting the key data – the yardage – in the center of the display. It’s also worth mentioning that the GX-5i3 has Leupold’s red display which is extremely easy to read, particularly in darker conditions.
Value
The Leupold GX-5i3 can be purchased for around $550 (support PluggedInGolf, buy it HERE). If it’s not the most expensive rangefinder, it’s very close. This is obviously not a laser that you’re buying to save a few bucks, it’s the one you buy because you want every feature under the sun. If that’s what you want, this is money well spent.
Trust Leupold to come out with an all-in-one rangefinder to really lower your scores and get around the course faster. No more fiddle-farting around with face plates on this unit. It has everything you could ever want to maximize your stroke and your game while also having the ability to be a tournament legal unit at the press of a button.
The two-in-one rangefinder is more than just a two-in-one unit. Leupold recently upgraded their already advanced DNA (Digitally eNhanced Accuracy) engine to get you closer than ever – 1/10 of a yard closer!
With the new and advanced PinHunter 3 Laser Technology, you have an increased pulse rate for faster and powerful laser emissions to truly lock onto the flag. No matter the distance or the shake in your hands, PinHunter 3 will eliminate all user and weather error to quickly and precisely identify the flag and lock on for ultimate target acquisition!
With True Golf Range, Club Selector, Scan Mode, Prism Lock Technology, and an OLED Plus Point reticle, you won’t ever have to mess with GPS again! Welcome to the new era of the GX series!
PROs:
PinHunter 3 Laser Technology
DNA engine
1/10th yard accuracy
True Golf Range
Club Selector
CONs:
Price
Leupold GX-5i3 Rangefinder Q&A
Does the Leupold 5i3 have Slope Compensation?
Yes! The True Golf Range feature enables golfers to compensate for long distances on uphill shots and short distances on downhill shots. This feature can also be disabled to be permissible for tournament play use.
Can the Rangefinder Suggest Clubs for Play?
Not only does this sweet rangefinder suggest recommended clubs for play, it also suggests the clubs you should use for slope compensation, weather conditions, and personal hitting strength. With TGR and the Club Selector features, you have ultimate customization in the palm of your hand.
Does a Flapping Flag Affect Distance Readings?
While a flag flying around in the wind has been known to affect distance readings by a few tenths of a yard, the Leupold GX-5i3 eliminates these errors with every feature that’s loaded into the unit. Furthermore, if you’re playing a course with prisms, the Prism Lock Technology will lock onto the prisms versus the flag for extreme accuracy.
Is this a Compact Rangefinder?
The GX-5i3 is one of Leupold’s smallest rangefinders, second only to the PinCaddie 2. It’s smaller than the earlier GX models but measures in the same as the GX-3i2 and GX-4i2. It has a 22 objective lens, is 3.8 inches long, 3.0 inches in height, and 1.4 inches wide. If you are looking for something a bit bigger you can check out this page for a lot more options.
Is the GX-5i3 Lightweight?
The Leupold golf rangefinder is very lightweight at only 7.3 ounces. Although it has the same dimension specs as its GX siblings, it’s a few ounces lighter making it more comfortable to wield and hold while on the green.
How does this Rangefinder Stand up to Weather?
This is a lightweight beast that has been built with Leupold’s renown ruggedness, and it can withstand and endure even the worst weather conditions. It’s completely waterproof and has a built-in Fog Mode to cut through mist for impressive accuracy.
Why Choose the GX Rangefinder over a Golf GPS Unit?
While conventional GPS devices can only determine triangulated distances on the front, center, and back of the green, the GX can find the pin with extreme accuracy no matter where it is on the course. With a GPS unit, you’re dependent upon satellite calculated distances. With the GX series, you have the ability to incorporate elevation changes, atmospheric conditions, and hitting strength for a true distance to the flag.
Noteworthy Features:
Upgraded and advanced DNA Technology for faster and more accurate distance readings
New PinHunter 3 Technology for rapid target acquisition
One-Touch Scan Mode for faster readings while sweeping the course
Prism-Lock Technology for audible tones and faster “locking on” automatic readings
Club Selector feature to ensure you use the right club every single shot
Fully multi-coated lens with red OLED display for brighter, clearer, and scratch-proof images
TGR feature to compensate for uphill and downhill shots
Can determine hitting strength, atmospheric conditions, and elevation changes in one!
Waterproof and Fog Mode enable play in any type of weather
Lightweight, compact, and rugged for all golf play and conditions
Conclusion
If you want to buy the most advanced laser rangefinder in golf, the Leupold GX-5i3 is it. TGR is amazing, the yardages are spot-on, and the display is perfectly laid out. The GX-5i3 does everything you can ask a rangefinder to do, and it does it well.
To ping up the strokes, the Leupold GX-5i3 is a beaut of a machine. It can’t get any simpler to go between legal games and practice rounds with the ability to disable the slope and club suggestions.
While the GX-5i3 is well above budgets for many golfers, the GX-4i2 is a great option for a cheaper price.
However, Bushnell has streamlined their rangefinders with something new, the Pro X2 that can go between legal and slope measurements with a push of a button. Now, that’s something for the Leupold to vie with. Oh, did we mention it’s cheaper too?
But, if Leupold has always been the name of your game, then there’s nothing better that they have to offer than the GX-5i3!
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