Precision Pro R1 Smart Rangefinder

Golf gadgets have evolved to the point where it’s almost impossible to pick out the “right one”. Are you a GPS golfer? Do you prefer a watch or a handheld device? Or maybe there’s just something about GPS you don’t quite love and you prefer point-and-shoot options like lasers and rangefinders. Once you settle on which type of gadget you want, then you have to navigate price points and likely go through the whole process of sticker shock. Well, what if I told you there’s an option that covers all of those gadgets in one package at an affordable price point? Meet the Precision Pro R1 Smart rangefinder.

With basic rangefinder functions like point-and-shoot distances, slope adjustment based on YOUR personal performance data, and “Pulse Vibration technology”, the Precision Pro R1 also pairs with a smart phone app to provide additional information like Wind Assist, front/back/center distances, locating technology should you lose your rangefinder on the course. All of this is available at an affordable price point of $320.

Out of the Box

Generally speaking, setup out of the box for the Precision Pro R1 Smart rangefinder is pretty easy. Just slide open the packaging, plug in the USB cable to the device and a power source, and let ‘er charge. No pesky weird batteries here! While that’s taking place, take some time to read the provided manual to figure out next steps for setup. You’ll want to download the Precision Pro app from your preferred app store and get that setup on your phone. With the app on your phone, go to the “MySlope” section and start setting up your bag. You’ll select the clubs in your bag and associate specific shot data. This takes some time, but will allow the device to adjust slope based on YOUR game and recommend clubs accordingly. You don’t have to use this feature, but I like it!

When it’s time to hit the course, select “Golf” and search for the course you’re playing. Select the correct course, and then pair with your device via BlueTooth with a simple tap in the app.

Features

If there’s one thing I’ll say about the Precision Pro R1 Smart rangefinder, it’s extremely feature rich.

MySlope & GPS

There’s the MySlope feature I mentioned earlier which allows you a more customized experience on the course. Like any good slope rangefinder these days, you can turn slope off and use the R1 as a perfectly legal rangefinder. MySlope works by factoring in the temperature, humidity, and altitude of the course you’re playing (this is provided by real-time weather in the app) along with your typical launch angle, spin, and ball speed that you setup in the app earlier.

By utilizing the app on your phone, the R1 is able to provide you GPS distances to the front, center, and back. There are over 37,000 courses pre-loaded into the app so you can eliminate a lot of the usual guess work/assuming from pointing and shooting.

Wind Assist

Another nice feature is Wind Assist. The R1 utilizes that real-time weather data from the app to let you know how many yards to add or subtract to your next shot. I can’t tell you how exact this will be for every player, but it’s quite helpful in giving you an idea of what is happening in the air aside from flipping a few blades of grass and watching them blow. This feature is easily one of my favorites of the R1.

Find My Precision Pro

Let’s be honest, rangefinders are easily a top-three most lost piece of gear on the course. Maybe only second to headcovers. The difference is, rangefinders typically cost a fortune to replace. With the R1 being connected to your phone via BlueTooth, it will alert you when you’ve left your rangefinder behind and where it last checked in. That said, there’s also a magnet on one of the sides so you can stick it to the golf cart when you aren’t using it. But should your buddy drop it or you knock it off somehow, the app will help you find it!

On-Course Performance

There really is a lot to cover in this section, but I keep coming back to the “technology integration” first and foremost. I found myself regularly just depending on the Precision Pro R1 Smart rangefinder’s app more than the device itself. It gives you all of the distances you need at a quick glance and allows you to drag to different locations. It also helps with club recommendations based on the conditions and you data you entered in previously. Then it tells you what the wind is doing and a whole bunch of other useful shot data. This quickly became a big commodity to my whole group. “Hey, Bill, what does the app say the wind is doing?” Eventually, I just found myself going to the app for everything.

For kicks, I safely tested the “Find My Precision Pro” functionality. It performed as advertised. Admittedly, I didn’t leave it 7 holes away, but when I left it a hole behind, the app/BlueTooth integration brought me right back to where I left it. I don’t know…I thought that was pretty sweet.

From a basic rangefinder perspective, the R1 performed pretty well. With all of this tech packed into a $320 package, expectations should be more moderate in some areas. The optics are fine, but the display is somewhat lackluster and could be a little more crisp. While you can produce yardages quickly, you may sometimes hit unintended targets. I want to be clear, the R1 Smart rangefinder was more reliable than many other rangefinders I’ve tried in its class, but won’t be mistaken for $500+ competition from an optics and display perspective. That said, I feel what it lacks here, it more than makes up with the app integration that other competitors in this space just do not have.

Final Thoughts – Precision Pro R1 Smart Rangefinder

At the $320 price point, the Precision Pro R1 Smart rangefinder provides a pretty interesting option. The integrated technology is extensive with features and exceptionally practical on the golf course. Optics may not be top of the industry, but they are adequate and will give you accurate distances from all necessary yardages. For the money, you’ll be hard pressed to find a similar competitor in the market and the R1 Smart rangefinder is a useful and unique device to consider.

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