How much should you spend on a rangefinder?

Every rangefinder does the core job: point it at the flag, get a number. A £120 model and a £500 one will give you the same yardage to the same pin. So what are you paying more for? Three things, in order: how quickly and confidently it locks onto the flag, the quality of the optics, and extras like slope, stabilisation and vibration feedback.

At the entry level you get accurate distances and a flag-lock that works — genuinely all most golfers need. Step up to the middle and the glass gets clearer, the lock gets faster and steadier (a real help with shaky hands or in low light), and you'll usually get image stabilisation, which is the single upgrade most people actually feel.

At the top you're paying for tour-grade optics, lightning lock-on at long range, and slick design. It's lovely, but it's diminishing returns — the number isn't more accurate, it just arrives a fraction faster through nicer glass. The genuinely new idea this year is connectivity: a laser that talks to your GPS watch so the yardage lands on your wrist.

Our honest steer: buy in the middle unless budget is tight (then the entry tier is fine) or you play serious competitive golf (then splurge). And whatever you buy, if you ever play medals, make sure slope can be switched off — it's not legal in competition.