Callaway idTECH Rangefinder

Sometimes, simple is always better. In the competitive sport of golf, tools are supposed to help you out instead of make you scratch your head in bewilderment. The Callaway idTECH Rangefinder, Black/Silver, is a rangefinder designed to provide fast and accurate findings and distance readings. In this Callaway idTECH Rangefinder review, we will try to see how this Callaway Rangefinder fares and what past users of the device think about the user experience.

Callaway idTECH Golf GPS Key Attributes

This Callaway idTECH Rangefinder, Black/Silver has the following features and specifications:

• 6x magnification
• One-touch technology
• Measurement Range: 11 to 550 yards
• Nikon’s First Target Priority Mode
• Long eye relief
• Waterproof and fog-proof
• Calculates Up/Down Slope and adjusts it into distance
• LCD screen
• Single-button operation
• Battery: 3-volt CR2 lithium-ion battery
• Weight: 7.45 oz.
• Dimensions: 5.1 x 1.8 x 2.7 inches (H x W x D)

Aside from the unit itself, the box also contains a case, a removable cover (which is perfect for travel) and the battery.

Callaway idTECH Rangefinder Review

The design of this Callaway Golf GPS by Nikon certainly fits the definition of “user-friendly”. It will start measuring instantly after just one touch. It is compact and lightweight, so users can bring it with them practically anywhere, even if they have from one end of the golf course to the other. It could have been lighter, though, since the 7.4 oz. weight can be off-putting for those who prefer, or are used to, something lighter. Still, it is small and light enough to be popped into a pocket or even the pocket of your golf bag.

Eye relief is also guaranteed to users, up to 18mm. If golfers are wearing glasses or spectacles, the folding rubber eyecup fixes the problem immediately. The focusing diopter also comes in handy.

Encased in a two-tone silver and black finish, it is certainly easy on the eyes and looks sophisticated. The built-in external LCD screen displays digital readouts in a clear, crisp manner that you will not have a hard time getting the information you need. The lenses are multi-coated, further enhancing the brightness and clarity of users’ viewing experience. But it’s not all about the looks, because it also feels solid and durable. The plastic does not crack easily, and the texture of the unit is grip-friendly. No slipping accidents here that could result to dropping the unit.

The body of the Callaway idTECH Rangefinder is nitrogen-filled. That makes it waterproof and fog-proof, which essentially turns it into an all-weather rangefinder. Many are not able to play when the fog is thick, but that is not a problem with this unit. Just like the Callaway Golf Diablo Octane Rangefinder, it can also perform successive distancing up to 8 seconds with a single press of the button.

When it comes to finding distances, it does the job and accuracy can be relied on. However, when using the slope feature, you may find yourself doing your own calculations, taking into account the distance, the height, and the height differential, so you can get the correct distance of the shot. This is bound to be found bothersome by some golfers. Why do the math when there are units that will do it for you? This certainly takes a lot of precious time which you should spend playing, and it is a fact that not everyone relishes doing mathematical processes while in the middle of a game. As a result, the players end up calculating and computing instead of strategizing. This is one thing that buyers of the device were quick to note in user reviews.

Of course, if you are a whiz at math and can do mental calculations in seconds, then this should not be a problem for you at all.

What makes it even more troublesome is how it provides two distance readings, including the degrees. It will be up to you to calculate how many yards are involved. This is further complicated by the fact that it offers up .5-yard increment readings on the LCD display on the side.

Nikon also incorporated its First Target Priority feature in the Callaway idTECH Rangefinder. This mode allows the device to pick up the closest flags even if it has dense woods as its background. Even if the farther targets are larger, it would still pick up the closer ones, and so golfers can strategize accordingly. Its measurement range is 11 to 550 yards which, to some, may fall short of what they want or need.

Some users thought that this First Target Priority Mode is a hit-or-miss feature, at best. There are times when it fails to pick up a flagstick, which has a dense shrubbery or woods behind it. Instead of targeting the flagstick, which is closer, it focuses on the trees instead. Noticeably, this happens when the target is too far off, normally beyond 300 yards – a good distance away from the supposed maximum range, which is 550 yards.

It makes use of a single 3-volt battery which, although has a long life, does not really fall under exceptional. Understand that First Target Priority Mode is always on, and this could be a serious battery drainer. Still, you are sure to be able to enjoy multiple rounds before you have to replace the battery.

The price is certainly a sticky point with this Callaway Rangefinder. For its features and performance, the price is just a bit too steep, considering how there are other models that will provide the same features and performance at a much lower price. (And they won’t even have you calculating yardage!)

Should You Consider Buying A Callaway IdTECH Rangefinder

If you are to purchase a Callaway rangefinder, you might want to look for something other than the Callaway idTECH Rangefinder, Black/Silver. Despite Nikon’s multi-coated optics and the 6x magnification capability, it still leaves a lot to be desired, especially if you know for sure that there are better – and much cheaper – alternatives out there.

 

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