CaddyTalk Cube Laser Rangefinder — Review

CaddyTalk’s new laser rangefinder, simply called the Cube, reminded me of a quote I once saw daubed on the wall of a furniture emporium, the kind where you are herded like sheep through the store before getting fleeced at the check-out.

It said: “The little things in life add up to everything”.

Given the store was part of a global behemoth specialising in doing everything on a huge scale there did seem to be an ironic disconnect, but nevertheless I could appreciate and understand the sentiment.

The little things in life don’t come much littler than the new CaddyTalk Cube.

It’s one of the smallest and most compact laser range finders I have ever seen. But it adds up to everything you’d ever want in a rangefinder — and even an extra you never knew you needed.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The comically large box the CaddyTalk Cube came in certainly didn’t give any indication just how small and compact the unit actually was.

The Cube is about the size of a pocket-sized digital camera (remember those?) and weighs only 140g; the box, however, was so heinously large it was like using a 40 foot shipping container to transport a single pallet of feathers.

The extra space in the box did mean there was ample room for the Cube’s charging cable, carabiner bag clip and a tiny microfibre cloth, a speculative inclusion intended to help users keep the Cube’s 6x zoom lens clean and clear.

On the exterior, the Cube, which isn’t cube-shaped at all, exudes a cool, modern aesthetic.

I did wonder whether CaddyTalk had secretly consulted Mercedes Benz to design the Cube because it did look a bit like a C-Class wagon, to my eye.

The sharp lines and angular appearance of the Cube is a jolting contrast to the flowing curves and ergonomic consideration found in almost every other rangefinder.

And the black screws holding the unit together did grate a little against the unit’s sleek aluminium exterior, giving the Cube a distinctive industrial, old-school look.

The Cube was able to be slipped rather easily into a pocket and it was also effortlessly light to hold and use.

The button to laser your target was exactly where you’d expect it on top of the Cube, but it was interesting to see the mode button located underneath the unit, the perfect place for a dextrous thumb to switch between modes.

HOW IT PERFORMED

I must admit I hadn’t enjoyed playing with a cube this much since solving a Rubik’s as a kid (although I admit I did peel off the stickers for reallocation back then).

The Cube incorporates algorithmic insights from the ballistics field to produce CaddyTalk’s Magic Slope calculation, while the Cube’s E-Slope function integrates environmental factors, such as temperature, air pressure and humidity, into the equation to provide an alarmingly accurate distance assessment.

But it’s the Cube’s patented Caddy Mode that is arguably its most remarkable feature.

Caddy Mode uses triangulation (the geometry and trigonometry one, not the one that might have you calling a therapist) that enables users to stand anywhere to get the distance between their ball and the target.

All you need to do is laser your ball first, then laser the pin or your target. The Cube then crunches some Pythagorean-type calculations to determine your yardage.

The triangulation distance assessment is just as accurate as lasering from your ball, a fact I confirmed while out on the course.

I can see it being a big time saver on the course, particularly when you have to leave your bag or buggy somewhere before deciding which club to hit, or supply your mates with a distance from afar.

Switching between modes via the mode button underneath the unit was simple, as was turning the Magic or E-Slope function off to make the Cube legal for tournament use.

The Cube also features a tiny LCD panel on the side that relayed which mode was selected (red for no slope, green for E-slope and blue for Magic Slope) along with the most recent distance that had been lasered (it also shows when Caddy Mode is enabled).

Inside the OLED viewfinder, red and green crosshairs are a focal point while the lasered distance, and slope calculations, are both displayed underneath.

The Cube also has a Pin Seeker function, with the randgefinder buzzing when locating a pin.

FINAL WORD

There is a tonne of value shoehorned into the tiny confines of the CaddyTalk Cube and with an RRP of just $550, it should be a popular choice.

It offers excellent value when you consider its Caddy Mode is a world first; no other rangefinder has anything like it, and it will be a genuine time saver on the course.

Meanwhile, the Cube’s Environmental Slope function is one of the most accurate in the game and the unit is so light and small it’ll fit in your front pocket (although the included carry case also offers easy accessibility when attached to the bag.

The Cube will be popular given its user-friendly features, some of which aren't seen anywhere else, and it will appeal as one of the most functional, and good value, laser rangefinders in the game.

THE VERDICT

HIGH FIVES

Written by Jamie Martin Jamie Martin is currently locked in a battle to keep his handicap hovering around the mid-single digits. Despite his obvious short-game shortcomings, Jamie enjoys playing and writing about every aspect of golf and is often seen making practice swings in a mirror.