Do Pinned Golf make the brightest rangefinder in the world? Review
Last updated:
-
At a glance
- TG Rating
- Owner Rating
What we say...
The Pinned Golf Prism+ is, quite literally, one of the brightest lasers I’ve ever used. But is this a case of style over substance?
When it comes to getting the attention of the golfing community, as a rangefinder company, now, it can be hard to find a way to stand out. You could, of course, throw everything at the wall when it comes to the technological aspect, as we’ve seen from some of the best lasers in the game, but that obviously will increase the cost. Alternatively, you could do what the Pinned Golf Prism+ rangefinder does, and find a clearer way to stand out…
A rangefinder personalized for your style
Pros
- Color options are great for a personal touch
- Target acquisition is impressively fast
- 4K Display is exceptionally clear
Cons
- Magnetic pouch is frustrating on a carry bag
- Overuse of branding might go too far
| RRP | $259.99/£199.99 |
| Finishes | 7 primary color options |
| Display | 4K OLED display with 7x Magnification |
| Waterproof | IPX54 Waterproof |
| Battery | USB-C Rechargeable 70-round battery |
| Range | 1000 Yards |
| Charger | USB-C included |
| Connectivity | No |
Looks and Design – 4/5
Let’s start with the obvious. Yes, it is quite a bright color, as far as most rangefinders go, not hidden in any way by the matching color of the case that it comes in. It’s so unapologetic, in fact, that I’d almost argue it borders on obnoxious, watching it dangle from the side of my otherwise-neutral black and white Titleist bag.
As a small side note, I do not like the carry case being magnetic over a zip or a latch. It’s not so bad when it’s at head/chest height on the back of a rideable cart, but pulling the tag on the front when using a carry bag requires more force than should be necessary, and I’m always worried I’m going to have the unit fly out and hit me in the face like some kind of Looney Tunes cartoon because of the sudden release.
To give the Pinned Golf Prism+ a fair reply back regarding the color scheme, however, the Ferrari-inspired red isn’t the only option available.
In truth, there’s a rather solid collection to choose from, including more classic Black and Navy models, as well as the bold ones (Barbie pink, anyone?). To go with this thought, the ‘Pinned’ logo on the side of the laser also seems to be more subtle when matched with the other colors, as opposed to the shade of cranberry I was sent, so I won’t hold the styling against it this time.
Beyond that, I like the simplicity of the actual design, with minimalist buttons, to avoid any confusion, limited to activating the laser and switching between Slope on/off modes.
There are some extra features hidden behind the looks, so we’ll get into those with tech and performance categories, but I will mention how much I prefer looking downrange with a high-quality lens in my rangefinders. The Pinned Golf Prism+ comes with a 4K OLED display, and it is incredibly clear when zapping a target.
Technology – 4/5
The best way I can find to rate the Pinned Golf Prism+ rangefinder for technology is just to take it as I imagine it was meant: straightforward and reliable.
We could certainly compare it to other companies’ ‘all singing, all dancing’ models that offer connections to branded apps or feedback from launch monitors, but it’s not what it was designed for, so would that really be fair?
The Prism+ will lose a little bit of marks for being so explicitly simple, but to lambast it for not offering the same options as a $700 rangefinder doesn’t make any sense for me, and likely, nor will it for you, as this laser isn’t pretending to be in competition with those.
Instead, Pinned Golf offers convenient, well-implemented core technologies that are reliable and easy to pick up and play with.
As mentioned, you get the expected features of Slope mode, which can be turned off for tournament legality, as well as a high-resolution, ultra-clear lens.
On the lens, Pinned say they have a never-before-seen First Target Acquisition system, which promises to lock on to the flagstick every single time over the trees that sit in the background. This is paired with 7x magnification and a 1,000-yard range for precision on every shot.
The other main feature is a USB-rechargeable battery. The Pinned Golf Prism+ can therefore offer more than 70 rounds of golf on a single charge, covering most golfers’ entire season of play after being plugged in for just 45 minutes.
The Prism+ is also IPX54-rated waterproof and comes with a magnetic side panel for easy attachment to a cart (be warned, this occasionally grabs onto the lip of the carry case if not open far enough, however, this is more of a personal gripe than an actual problem).
Performance – 4.5/5
Once I actually got out onto the course with the Pinned Golf Prism+ and started using it instead of sitting in the office arbitrating on the cherry-ness of the rangefinder, I really enjoyed my time !
Pinned have built a nicely balanced laser here, that has enough weight to be stable in stronger winds, as well as being light enough that it can work for any age group or individual golfer’s needs.
The laser itself is as fast as any I could compare it against, whether I chose a similar price point like the Blue Tees Series 3 or a more expensive, industry-leading model from Bushnell.
It’s not just fast either; it absolutely is as accurate as Pinned have promised, with barely any difficulty in picking up the pin before whatever happened to be in the background. I was particularly impressed by the accuracy when using the Prism+ on a double hole green, where the laser found my intended target despite the second flagstick being nearly directly behind the first on my line of sight.
The magnet is strong, keeping itself attached firmly to the metal frame of the cart I took it out on, despite me going over some quite bumpy tracks at more than a brisk pace.
That’s not much to comment on beyond the above, to be honest, so I won’t drag it out further other than saying I would wholeheartedly recommend the Prism+ for its on-course quality.
The one reason I have removed half a point from the final category score, however, is because of the display. There’s nothing wrong with the information it gives up; what’s been irritating me the entire time I’ve been testing, though, is the miniature logo at the top of the heads-up screen.
Above all the useful stuff shown in the glowing display is a quite obvious ‘Pinned’ branded moniker.
I just don’t understand the need for it. I know I’ve got a Pinned Golf product, I bought it, and even if it had been purchased as a gift for me, both sides of the laser have the same logo on anyway. It just feels like such an unnecessary addition, especially as you already own the device and therefore don’t need to be advertised to.
This may just be my personal taste, but I don’t like that a needless percentage of the viewfinder is being taken up with this silly placement. It’s just uncool.
Overall – 4/5
The Pinned Golf Prism+ rangefinder, as a laser, might be one of the best minimalist choices on the market, in my opinion. The speed and accuracy is great, and the price point isn’t unreasonable for what it offers the user.
Massive battery life from a rechargeable unit is convenient, as well as being impressive as a once-a-year thought for most, and having such a clear display from the 4k OLED is always a big, big plus for me when suggesting a laser to anyone that asks.
Unfortunately, it won’t be going into use for me due to my issues with the carry case or the silly logo on the heads-up (and to a lesser extent, the color), as petty as they might seem, but again, these are personal gripes more than strong faults with the model.
If my irritations don’t mirror your own feelings, however, I’ve no doubt that the Prism+ won’t let you down when it comes to a quality laser rangefinder.
