GolfBuddy aim Quantum rangefinder review
GolfBuddy’s new aim Quantum pocket rangefinder is set to be “sleeker, faster, and rechargeable”. But what’s it like out on the golf course?
GolfBuddy aim Quantum Review: NCG Summary
NCG SUMMARY
GolfBuddy are producing some very fine rangefinders and the easy to use, compact, but high-quality aim Quantum only continues this trend.
PROS
- Large display and healthy jolt make it clear when you’ve successfully locked on to your target.
- Standard, Pin, and Scan modes excel in helping you identify different targets.
- Sliding slope button makes it very easy to know whether you’re playing to the Rules of Golf.
- The carry case is of very high quality indeed.
CONS
- Nothing of which to speak.
GolfBuddy aim Quantum: First Impressions
GolfBuddy know how to make a compact rangefinder, don’t they? The aim Quantum is one of the premium lines in the company’s collection but what immediately hits you on unboxing is just how tiny it is.
It fits right in the palm of your hand and while it might not be as miniature as the Atom, it’s a small piece of kit.
I like that. This will fit easily in your pocket, without adding a huge amount of weight, and if you’re one of those golfers that doesn’t like constantly moving to your bag to get your rangefinder out of its case then the aim Quantum will be right up your street.
That said, the case is of extremely high quality. Leather and magnetic, it is very sturdy but isn’t fully enclosed – with gaps at the front and back for the lens and eyepiece.
The bag clip doesn’t feel as hardwearing as the Atom’s equivalent, but you will still be very confident that it will hold the case in place on the bag.
Simplicity seems to be the key with GolfBuddy’s latest models and there are just two buttons on top of this unit – the first to cycle through the modes and a red button to activate the laser.
A huge plus on the aim Quantum, compared with the Atom and some of GolfBuddy’s other products, is the sliding feature at the front of the rangefinder that activates slope.
Slide it to the left to turn make the feature inactive and a clear ‘red’ off sign appears. You’ll never be confused if you’re complying with the Rules of Golf in competition.
GolfBuddy aim Quantum: NCG Review
Point and press. It really is that simple. A neon light on the side of the laser displays a deep red and it vibrates satisfyingly when it picks up the target.
GolfBuddy reckon the measurement speed is 0.15 seconds thanks to ZST technology. I can’t promise you that I’ve timed the reaction but I can tell you it’s super speedy indeed.
I’ve doubled checked the numbers in testing at York Golf Club with the Atom and a GPS device and they are spot on. That’s really all you want but with the aim Quantum there is more.
Three different modes aid range-finding: Standard – the distance to the target, Scan – the distance to various targets, and Pin – the distance of the nearest target between two.
When you cycle through the modes by pressing the M button, they appear in the upper left of the screen so it’s clear what you are in.
You’ll probably have to adjust the focus of the lens on first use, but this is easily achieved – the dial isn’t as stiff as on some rangefinders you might use – and with a bit of tweaking you can soon find a crystal clear image both of your intended target and the vital numbers.
Some products I’ve used in the past have had difficulty in locking on to a small target from a distance away, or have struggled with a particular coloured flag against a busy background, but it’s been first time with the GolfBuddy aim Quantum. I’ve tested mainly in cold, but dry conditions, and it will be interesting to see how it does with another major fail for other rangefinders – mist and rain. But the signs look promising.
GolfBuddy aim Quantum: Final thoughts
Everything about the GolfBuddy aim Quantum feels premium – from the leather case, the feel of the unit in your hands, to the way it delivers quick and easy numbers.
The size is a huge plus – portable without being bulky – and it will be as at home in your hand and pocket as it will attached to your golf bag.
GolfBuddy say you’ll get up to 5,000 measurements out of one charge, but they’ve even made that simple too. Gone are the days of fiddling around trying to find a battery. Plug it in through USB – like you probably do with most of your electronic gadgets – and wait for time to take its course.
They’ve done the little things really well. The clear slope button is really handy and you even receive a microfibre cloth to clean the lens. The uncluttered and sleek design really appeals too.
I’m not sure you can go wrong with this. It’s a top class product that’s surely going to be a mainstay of my bag for some time to come.
GolfBuddy aim Quantum: The Details
Available: Now.
RRP: £299.99
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Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
