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Are slope rangefinders legal in competition?
Updated
A rangefinder is allowed under the Rules of Golf unless the Committee adopts a Local Rule that bans distance-measuring devices. The slope function is different. Rule 4.3a lists measuring elevation changes as not allowed. So in a competition round, slope has to be off.
What Rule 4.3a allows and does not allow
| Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| Getting distance or direction information, such as from a distance-measuring device | Measuring elevation changes |
| Interpreting distance information, such as a device that recommends a club based on where your ball lies |
A Committee can go further. Model Local Rule G-5 lets it ban electronic distance-measuring devices for the whole round. Read the terms of each competition.
The penalty
Under Rule 4.3, the first breach is the general penalty: two strokes in stroke play, loss of the hole in match play. A second breach, after an intervening event such as the next stroke, is disqualification. The Southern California Golf Association answered a reader's question about this: a player used slope by accident for several holes of a club championship. The first use was two strokes. Because he kept using it, the result was disqualification.
What that means when you shop
- Pick a model with a visible switch or indicator, so you and your playing partners can see slope is off. The Callaway 300 Pro, Bushnell Tour V6 Shift, Blue Tees Series 3 Max+ and REDTIGER Golf Rangefinder listings all describe a slope switch.
- The Gogogo GS24 listing says only the MTL version has the switch. Make sure that is the one you order.
- If you mostly play events, a non-slope model like the Bushnell Tour V5 (non-slope) removes the risk.
- Newer features can matter too. A unit that suggests a club for your ball's position would fall under "interpreting distance information".
This is a plain summary of the Rules of Golf, not a ruling. The Committee running your event has the final word.
Match a pick to your game with the rangefinder checker, or compare all six on the roundup page.