Nikon Coolshot 40i

Golf Monthly's Nikon Coolshot 40i review, a laser rangefinder that provides slope adjusted distances, ideal if you tend to play on hilly golf courses

Key technology The Coolshot 40i incorporates Nikon’s ‘Angle Compensation technology’, which calculates and displays the slope-adjusted distance, which Nikon says makes it ideal for hilly courses. The fact it calculates ‘slope’ means it is not legal for use in competition, so you are best using it for practice and social rounds only.

GM Review A compact, lightweight nifty piece of kit that fits perfectly in the hand. The pointer features additional diagonal sight lines when laser is employed and while there’s no indicator of when the nearest target has been found, it’s not difficult to work out which is the flag and which is the object behind it.

Ideal for practice rounds and finding out exactly what difference the slopes on your home course make to the yardages. The scan feature is especially useful off the tee when switching from hazard to fairway beyond. Battery indicator is a welcome addition so you know when it needs replacing and you don’t get left disorientated on an important shot.

Measuring steep slopes takes a certain amount of adding and subtracting, would rather the slope-adjusted distance was displayed. Reading longer distances to the nearest half a yard seems unnecessary but on the whole it was a joy to use.