In a world of ever-increasing prices, the laser rangefinder is an anomaly. Clubs, for example, have not only crept, but leapt in price in the last ten years. While there are certainly premium-priced rangefinders on the market, the Amazon Effect has influenced this segment unlike almost any other in the golf industry. Not only are there a number of no-name low-cost options available, but even reputable companies are offering more affordable versions of their products.
Voice Caddie’s L6 Laser Rangefinder is a perfect example of a company with a track record of quality, making its best technology available to value-conscious consumers. At $249, it’s not the cheapest of the cheap, but it has a set of features that set it apart in an increasingly crowded market.
From Voice Caddie:
The new L6 is a full-feature laser rangefinder that is designed for maximum performance and durability on the course. In its scope is OLED display that emits bright red readings for maximum visibility in all conditions. The L6 utilizes best-in-class optics for robust clarity and visuals at all distances. With a super high speed processor, the L6 laser signal speed is designed for rapid fire and target locking throughout the course. Equipped with slope distance compensation and advanced stabilization, the L6 is designed for use by professionals and golfers of all skill levels. The integrated Pin Tracer combines multi-point shooting and precision filtration to provide rapid and accurate readings from all distances. While laser rangefinders in the market utilize low grade optics and signal output systems without filter and stabilizer assistance, the L6 is a complete and premium device designed for total performance.
MAIN FUNCTIONS
- Auto Slope (Slope function can be turned on/off)
- Pin Tracer™ Technology with Vibration & Visual Indicator
- V-Algorithm™
- 1,000 Yards Range
- 6x Optical Magnification
- Speed-Detecting Booster
- 1-Touch Pin Mode
- Strong & Durable Body
- Continuous Scan Mode (Normal Mode)
- Vibration on Target Capture (Pin Mode)
Performance
At around four inches long and three inches tall, the L6 is a compact unit that fits perfectly in the hand, and it’s quite light at 6oz, making one handed operation easy. The light weight is mostly due to the polycarbonate-ABS (thermoplastic) material it’s made from, and this also contributes to its lower cost. The textured and somewhat tacky outer shell encourages a solid grip, even with wet hands. While the L6 lacks some of the refined aesthetics we see on Voice Caddie’s premium TL1 and SL3, it’s attractive in hand and doesn’t feel like it might break at any second.
With 6x magnification and a 1000-yard measuring range, it would be difficult to encounter an object or location out of the L6’s reach. While the chances of any golfer needing to utilize the unit’s full measurement range are slim, this does ensure the ability to reach out to hazards and lay up points at longer distances. We spent a great deal of time lasering various objects at distances in excess of 300 yards and found the L6 to be accurate, consistent, and responsive.
The L6’s red OLED display features the ability to adjust brightness at 6 different levels with each click of the Mode button. The display was easily visible in conditions ranging from overcast to bright and sunny. The ability to clearly see distance readings even when wearing sunglasses was highly appreciated. The amount of information available on the OLED display varies, depending on which mode the user selects.
With only two buttons needed to operate the Voice Caddie L6, it is worth taking some time to read the manual prior to using it. Switching between meters and yards is accomplished with two clicks of the Mode button, while turning the slope feature on and off requires a long press.
Acquiring distance can be done in two ways. Spot mode is accessed by clicking the power/measure button. This brings up a reticle, and after situating it on the target another click almost instantly displays the distance. The speed at which the L6 returns a distance is impressive. Voice Caddie claims you can spot measure in 0.1 seconds, which is impossible to verify. However, we can confirm the L6 is lightning fast. It almost feels as if you haven’t finished clicking the button before a number is there in the OLED display.
For those situations when picking a flag out from a crowded background is a challenge, Voice Caddie’s Pin Tracer technology comes in handy. After powering on the L6, you simply hold the power/measure button and scan around the pin. Once Pin Tracer can recognize the pin, the L6 vibrates to let you know it’s acquired the target. In our testing, we found this feature incredibly useful. Many people know the frustration of obvious misreads of surrounding objects like trees and hills. Over time, we defaulted to the Pin Tracer mode when measuring flags, as the standard spot measurement did produce occasional misreads. The added security of Pin Tracer gave us a great deal of confidence that we were making correct measurements.
While testing the accuracy of rangefinders can be an imprecise undertaking, we were sufficiently convinced that the Voice Caddie L6 was providing accurate measurements after comparing to other rangefinders and GPS units. Most telling was the consistency in the measurements. One of the most frustrating aspects of using the low-cost units discussed earlier is their tendency to deliver completely different numbers from one click to the next. While we understand that the difference between 101 yards and 104 yards isn’t the most impactful thing, seeing varying measurements from the same location doesn’t exactly instill confidence. Thankfully, the L6 didn’t suffer from this. V-Algorithm, which provides slope measurements, is based on years of data from PGA and LPGA use, and it appeared to be very accurate, even on severely downhill tee shots.
Details
- Dimensions – W 1.64” x D 2.81” x L 4.3”
- Weight – 5.63oz
- Includes – Unit, pouch, battery, user manual, cleaner
- Magnification – 6x
- Measuring range – 5 yards to 1000 yards
- Margin of Error – Within 1 yard
- Battery – Lithium CR2
- Price – $249.99
For more information on the Voice Caddie L6, check out their website at www.voicecaddie.com.
