By Ed Travis
For the first time the PGA of America allowed rangefinders to be used at the PGA Championship on Kiawah island last month. Because of the possibility that balls may be hit into areas not previously measured, tournament organizers felt using the devices would speed up play.
Precision Pro, a leader in producing high-quality rangefinders at an affordable price, introduced their latest model the R1 Smart Laser, to coincide with the PGA Championship. This new product is slightly different because it aligns with an APP on your phone to link with GPS smartphone yardages. 
The R1 Smart Laser is much different than the normal laser rangefinders. It connects to a FREE APP on your smartphone, which allows the MYSLOPE feature to link with the phone’s GPS for more accurate uphill and downhill adjustments that are incorporated with the lasered distance, thus a more accurate and effective yardage is displayed. The APP also compensates for altitude, temperature, and humidity. The only thing it doesn’t do, is swing the club.
The Bluetooth link also overcomes the single largest laser rangefinder drawback namely distance to the front, back and center of greens, but with the phone’s GPS, these all-important yardages are shown as well.
The unit comes complete with a magnetic strip so the R1 can attach directly to your cart. The unit is shock proof, as well as, water resistant, for those rainy days on the course, plus as an added bonus, Precision Pro provides replacement batteries free of charge for life.
If you should lose the R1 on the course, the APP provides a tracking capability. The new unit just hit retail outlets this month at a suggested price of #319.99.
Fast Facts Precision Pro R1 Laser Smart Rangefinder
-GPS distances Bluetooth paired with smartphone
-6x magnification
-400 yard range
-Vibrates when locked on flag
-Slope adjustment with on/off capability to meet USGA regulations
-Calculates effect of wind
