Bushnell GOLF HYBRID - Laser/GPS Rangefinder Manual

Table of Contents

Contents

1 INTRODUCTION
2 ABOUT THE BUSHNELL HYBRID
3 USING THE LASER RANGEFINDER
4 LASER RANGEFINDER SPECIFICATIONS
5 USING THE GPS RANGEFINDER
6 GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
7 TROUBLESHOOTING
- 7.1 If target range cannot be obtained
- 7.2 If GPS display shows "999" for all distances
8 Documents / Resources
- 8.1 References
- 8.2 Download manual

INTRODUCTION

Care and Maintenance
To help ensure reliable operation, the following care and maintenance guidelines are recommended:

Avoid exposing the unit to extreme environmental conditions for a prolonged period of time. The unit is IPX4 rated and resistant against water splashes from any direction, but is not fully waterproof and should not be submerged in water at any depth, or exposed to heavy rain or other strong streams of water.
Avoid severe impacts on the unit.
You may clean the unit occasionally with a soft, damp cloth.
DO NOT expose the unit to strong chemicals such as gasoline and alcohol, as they will damage the unit.
Store the unit in a dry place when it is not in use.

Do not attempt to open the Hybrid.
Risk of explosion if battery is replaced with incorrect type.

Do not attempt to open, disassemble or service the internal battery. The battery must be replaced by a qualified technician.
Do not crush, puncture or short the battery's external contacts. Do not expose to temperatures above 140º F (60º C).
Properly recycle or dispose of the battery. Do not dispose in fire or water.

Legal Disclaimer
By using this product, you agree that Bushnell Outdoor Products will not be held legally responsible for any injury or damage to you or any person or property caused by the user's improper operation and/or poor judgment while using this product. Note: See Limited Warranty for other limitations to our liability.

Additional Information
The Global Positioning System (GPS), a network of 32 satellites orbiting Earth, is operated and maintained by the U.S. government. This GPS device requires at least 3 satellites to be acquired to accurately determine your position. Any change made to the system by the government could aff ect the accuracy and performance of this product.

Bushnell Golf Website
www.bushnellgolf.com is the best online resource for all our Golf GPS and laser rangefinder product owners, including product support, FAQs, etc. It also serves as a portal to access iGolf.com GPS course files to use with the Bushnell GPS products. Registering your Hybrid via www.bushnell.igolf.com is not required, but will ensure you have access to the latest updated GPS course data.

Overview

GOLF Button/GPS Power
MENU Button
UP Button
DOWN Button
SELECT Button
GPS Display

Laser Monocular
FIRE Button/Laser Power
Laser Display Diopter Adjustment
Laser Eyepiece
Battery Compartment Cap (Laser Battery)
USB Port (GPS Battery Charging)

ABOUT THE BUSHNELL HYBRID

Your HYBRID is Bushnell's newest addition to its line of rangefinders for today's golfer. It combines the tournament proven Bushnell laser technology with the latest golf course GPS database access in a single compact, convenient unit-truly the best of both worlds. View the distances to the front and back of a hole automatically, at the same time as you verify distance to the flag (or anything else) with 1-yard "Pinseeker" accuracy. Check the distance to nearby hazards, preview the stats for the next hole, even "walk off" your shot distance quickly and easily. The Hybrid not only gives you the choice of laser or GPS rangefinding, it lets you experience the synergy of using both at the same time.
NOTE: the Laser and GPS rangefinder sections of the Hybrid each have their own independent battery, due to the high current requirements of the infrared laser circuitry. The laser is powered by a powered by a non-rechargeable, replaceable 3V lithium CR2 battery (provided and installed). The GPS section is powered by an internal rechargeable lithium ion battery, which must be charged prior to using the GPS functions, using the provided USB charger.

USING THE LASER RANGEFINDER

INTRODUCTION
Your HYBRID features PinSeeker^™ technology with JOLT™, allowing the golfer to easily and quickly "zero" in on the flag without acquiring background targets. The HYBRID weighs a mere 6 ounces and is made to fit into the palm of your hand. HYBRID also features an adjustable eyepiece, 5X magnification, and is capable of providing range measurements from 5 to 1300 yards (300 yds to a golf flag) with incredible one yard accuracy! Like other Bushnell laser rangefinders, the HYBRID is not dependent upon reflectors, and will provide distances to trees, bunkers, and virtually any object on any golf course in the world.
Note: You will get both longer and shorter maximum distances depending on the reflective properties of the particular target and the environmental conditions at the time the distance of an object is being measured. The color, surface finish, size and shape of the target all affect reflectivity and range. The brighter the color, the longer the range. Red is highly reflective, for example, and allows longer ranges than the color black, which is the least reflective color. A shiny finish provides more range than a dull one. A small target is more difficult to range than a larger target. The angle to the target also has an effect. Shooting to a target at a 90 degree angle (where the target surface is perpendicular to the flight path of the emitted energy pulses) provides good range while a steep angle on the other hand, provides limited ranging. In addition, lighting conditions (e.g. the amount of sunlight) will affect the ranging capabilities of the unit. The less light (e.g. overcast skies) the farther the unit's maximum range will be. Conversely, very sunny days will decrease the unit's maximum range.

HOW OUR DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY WORKS
The HYBRID emits invisible, eye safe, infrared energy pulses. The HYBRID's Advanced Digital microprocessor and ASIC chip (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) results in instantaneous and accurate readings every time. Sophisticated digital technology instantaneously calculates distances by measuring the time it takes for each pulse to travel from the rangefinder, to the target, and back.

OPTICAL DESIGN
The HYBRID monocular features 5x magnification and multi-coated optics. A liquid crystal display (LCD) is mounted within the optical system and when activated, displays a reticle for targeting, yards/meters, and Pinseeker (flag icon) indicators. Inherent in the manufacturing process are small black spots that may appear in the laser optical system. These are a natural characteristic of the LCD and cannot be fully eliminated in the manufacturing process. They do not affect the ranging performance of the unit.

BATTERY REPLACEMENT
Your HYBRID comes with a battery already installed, but you need to remove a red plastic disc (contact protector) before it will work. To do this, remove the battery compartment cap (11) by lifting the battery cap tab and then rotating counter clockwise. Remove and discard the red plastic disc, then replace the battery cap.
When the battery needs replacement, insert a CR2 3-volt lithium battery into the compartment negative end first, then replace the battery cap.
NOTE: It is recommended that the battery be replaced at least once every 12 months.
Low Battery Indicator: When one bar is shown on the battery icon in the laser display (to left of the central aiming circle), the battery is low Full Charge and should be replaced. If the battery goes below the safe operating level (affecting accuracy of readings), the battery icon will flash and the unit will not range. Note: the "BATTERY" item in the GPS system menu only indicates the state of charge for the internal rechargeable battery that powers the GPS circuitry, and has no connection to the CR2 battery that powers the laser section of the Hybrid.

Full Charge
Low Battery

ADJUSTING THE EYEPIECE
Your HYBRID includes an adjustable diopter control that allows you to focus the LCD display for your eyesight, relative to the image. Simply rotate the diopter adjustment dial (9) located above/behind the eyepiece (10) until the reticle and object distanced to are both in focus to your eye.

OPERATIONAL SUMMARY
While looking through the eyepiece, depress the Power/FIRE button (8) once to activate the in-view Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). Place the aiming circle (located in the center of the field of view) upon a target at least 5 yards away, depress and hold the FIRE button down until the range reading is displayed near the bottom of the in-view display. Crosshairs surrounding the aiming circle indicate that the laser is being transmitted. Once a range has been acquired, you can release the FIRE button. The crosshairs surrounding the aiming circle will disappear once the FIRE button has been released (i.e. the laser is no longer being transmitted). Once activated, the LCD will remain active and display the last distance measurement for 10 seconds. You can depress the power button again at any time to distance to a new target. As with any laser device, it is not recommended to directly view the emissions for long periods of time with magnified lenses. The maximum time the laser is transmitted (fired) is 10 seconds. To re-fire, press the FIRE button down again.

ACTIVE LASER
Crosshairs surrounding the aiming circle indicate that the laser is being transmitted. Once a range has been acquired, you can release the POWER/FIRE button. The crosshairs surrounding the circle will disappear once the FIRE button has been released (i.e. the laser is no longer being transmitted).

UNIT OF MEASURE (YARDS/METERS)
Distances in the laser rangefinder are displayed in yards or meters (indicated by Y or M next to the distance readout). To select your preferred units, start with the unit powered off. Press and hold down the Power/FIRE button until you feel the "Jolt" vibration (about 7 seconds)-the "Y" (Yards) will blink. Continue to hold the FIRE button until you see the units switch to "M" (meters), then release it. Note: you can also use the YDS/MTR option under the SET UP menu in the GPS display, which also sets the units shown in the Laser display. Please see "Using the GPS Rangefinder" in this manual for more details..

FRONT/BACK OF HOLE DISTANCES (VIA GPS DATA)
In addition to the main distance to the flag at the center of the hole (or any other object you want to check with the laser rangefinder), distances to the FRONT and BACK of the current hole are also indicated at the top of the display, provided the GPS section of the Hybrid has been activated (internal battery charged, GOLF power switch pressed, satellite signal lock achieved, and a course selected). Please see "GPS Status/Data in the Laser Display" in this manual for more details.

ABOUT JOLT
The Hybrid's JOLT feature provides a vibration signal (similar to setting a cell phone to "vibrate") that will be felt when the Pinseeker technology indicates the flag has been detected and the distance to it is displayed in the LCD.

CLEANING THE LASER OPTICS
Gently blow away any dust or debris on the monocular objective (7) and eyepiece (10) lenses (or use a soft lens brush). To remove dirt or fingerprints, clean with a soft cotton or microfiber cloth, rubbing in a circular motion. Use of a coarse cloth or unnecessary rubbing may scratch the lens surface and eventually cause permanent damage. For a more thorough cleaning, photographic lens tissue and photographic-type lens cleaning fluid or isopropyl alcohol may be used. Always apply the fluid to the cleaning cloth – never directly on the lens.

LASER RANGEFINDER SPECIFICATIONS

Ranging Accuracy: +/- 1 yard
Minimum Range: 5 Yards/4.6 Meters
Maximum Range: 1300 Yards/1189 Meters (to a highly reflective object)
Range to Golf Flag: 300 Yards/274 Meters
Magnification: 5x
Objective Diameter: 20 mm
Optical Coatings: Multi-Coated

USING THE GPS RANGEFINDER

CHARGING THE BATTERY
The internal lithium ion battery must be charged prior to using the GPS rangefinder for the first time, or when the battery charge level is low. To charge the battery, pull the rubber cover up from the USB port on the back of the unit (12). Connect the provided USB cable. Connect the other end of the cable to any standard smartphone charger and plug it into an AC outlet (110-120 volt). You can also charge the Hybrid GPS via an open USB port on your computer, a powered USB hub (these methods will charge the battery more slowly than smartphone chargers). A scrolling battery icon on the BATTERY level display screen (selected from the PLAY GOLF or SET UP menu) will indicate that your HYBRID is charging. The GPS display indicates "Charging Complete" in approx. 3 hrs ( using a phone charger).
The rechargeable battery of the HYBRID GPS section is long lasting and provides up to 3 rounds of golf (based upon average of 4 hours per round). However, battery life may be reduced due to a variety of factors (external temperature, etc). All rechargeable batteries lose their effective charge length over time. Charging your Hybrid's GPS battery before the charge level drops below 20% will guarantee that you will be able to make through the entire next round. To check your remaining battery life at any time, press the MENU button (2) and select BATTERY (press DOWN button to highlight it, then press SELECT).

GETTING STARTED AND USING THE MENU SYSTEM

First, be sure the battery has a full charge (see previous section). If you are using it for the first time, it should be charged until full. Next, make sure you are outdoors, in a location with a clear view of the sky overhead, to ensure good reception of GPS satellite signals. Now, you're ready to power up and use your Hybrid GPS features.
Press and hold the GOLF button (1) on the side of the unit until it powers on. Press and hold the GOLF button again to turn off the power.
The GPS display (6) will show the Main Menu, with three items listed: PLAY GOLF, BLUETOOTH and SET UP.
To navigate through the display menu system, use UP/DOWN buttons (3/4) to highlight the desired menu item, then press SELECT (5). Highlight the desired option or preference using UP/DOWN, the press SELECT to confirm/activate the new setting.

USING PLAY GOLF MODE
As you might expect, you will spend most of your time in "PLAY GOLF" mode when using the Hybrid's GPS rangefinder section.

Make sure you are outdoors, with an unobstructed view of the sky. Press and hold the GOLF button (1) until the GPS display powers on.
With PLAY GOLF highlighted on the display (6), press the SELECT button (5). The GPS display will show "SEARCHING" as the Hybrid looks for multiple available GPS satellite signals and locks onto them. Once locked (note that this can take several minutes the first time you use the Hybrid, but will be faster when used in the same general area in the future), you'll see a list of course names.
Use the UP/DOWN buttons to select (highlight) the course you want to play from the list of nearby courses (closest course at top of list), then press SELECT.
The display then shows: Current hole # (at upper left), Par for the hole (upper right), and distances to the center (large number at top center), front (lower left) and back (lower right) of green. Press UP or DOWN buttons to manually advance to the next hole (useful for "shotgun" starts), or go back to the previous hole.
From this main PLAY GOLF screen, press SELECT again to view distances to up to 4 Hazard callouts per hole (varies depending on the number of significant hazards located near the currently selected hole on this course). See "Hazard Glossary" for a list of all abbreviations used to designate various hazards.
From the Hazards screen, press the SELECT button to display the ROUND INFO screen. Here you can view the elapsed TIME OF PLAY or DISTANCE.
Press SELECT once again to return to the main PLAY GOLF screen.
To use the SHOT DISTANCE feature, press the GOLF (power) button (1) while at the tee (this is your start "point A")-then as you walk towards your ball, the display will update to indicate distance from point A to your current location. This is useful to measure the length of your shot. Press SHOT again to set a new starting point (reset distance to "0").

USING THE PLAY GOLF MENU

From the main PLAY GOLF screen, press the MENU button (2) to view the PLAY GOLF MENU.
Select item from menu (as listed below) using the UP or DOWN button to highlight it, then press the SELECT button.
If multiple options are available for a setting, use UP/DOWN to highlight your choice, then press SELECT.

PLAY GOLF MENU ITEMS

RESUME: from any screen, returns to the main PLAY GOLF screen, showing current hole and distances based on your current position on the course.
BATTERY*: view battery condition (charge %). (*also provided in the SET UP menu-see "Using The Set Up Menu")
NEW COURSE: allows you to select another golf course from the list.
EXIT ROUND: stops GPS course tracking, ends current game.

BLUETOOTH
The Hybrid can connect to the BUSHNELL GOLF smartphone app via Bluetooth. Once connected the app can be used to configure the Hybrid and wirelessly update the Hybrid's internal golf course database. The BUSHNELL GOLF app can be obtained from the Apple Store and Google Play store for iPhone and Android devices, respectively. Download and install the app on your mobile device. Go to the mobile devices' settings page to turn on Bluetooth, then launch the BUSHNELL GOLF app. To connect your Hybrid to the smartphone app follow the steps below:

On your smartphone, make sure you have Bluetooth turned on.
On your Hybrid, use the UP/DOWN buttons to highlight BLUETOOTH from the Main Menu display, then press SELECT.
Select "ON" to turn Bluetooth on (use UP/DOWN buttons to highlight "ON", then press SELECT).
Your Hybrid will then give you a code. Enter that code into the smartphone app when requested.
Once paired correctly, your smartphone app will display a confirmation. The Hybrid is now paired with your smartphone.

USING THE SET UP MENU

Highlight SET UP from the Main Menu screen (if you are in PLAY GOLF mode, press MENU and select EXIT ROUND to go to the Main Menu) and press SELECT.
Select an item from the SET UP menu using the UP or DOWN button to highlight it, then press the SELECT button.
If multiple options are available for a setting, use UP/DOWN to highlight your choice, then press SELECT.
A solid checkbox to the left of a setting indicates the current setting (to change it, highlight a different setting and press SELECT).
Press the MENU button (2) to return to the SET UP menu screen.

SET UP MENU ITEMS

YDS/MTR: press SELECT. The solid (filled in) checkbox indicates the current setting (default=YDS). To change how distances are displayed, highlight YARDS or METERS, press SELECT. This sets the unit display preference for both GPS and Laser sections of the Hybrid.
AUTO OFF: press SELECT. Solid checkbox indicates current setting. Use UP/DOWN buttons and press SELECT to change the setting. DISABLED (default setting)=unit will stay powered on until user manually powers off by holding PWR button. 1.5 HOUR to 9 HOUR=unit will automatically power off after the selected time period if no buttons have been pressed (or if unit has not auto advanced to next hole as you walk the course). NOTE: selecting an AUTO OFF time such as "8 HOUR" can help avoid running down the battery charge if you forget to power off after a round-but there is the possibility of losing GPS satellite contact, along with all data generated since your start of play if you select a time shorter than it takes to play your round.
BACKLIGHT: Select ON to turn on the display backlight. The display will remain backlit for about 10 seconds, then go out until any button is pressed.
BATTERY*: press SELECT button to see battery condition (charge %). (*also provided in the PLAY GOLF menu)

LANGUAGE: The Hybrid GPS display features 5 menu language settings (ENGLISH, SPANISH, GERMAN, FRENCH, ITALIAN). By default, the GPS menus are in English. Press SELECT, use UP/DOWN to scroll between options on the Language menu, then press the SELECT button to confirm and set all menus to your preferred (highlighted) language.
GPS STATUS: diagnostic use only, displays #, position and signal strength of each satellite after GPS signal lock.
ABOUT: press SELECT to display your unit's firmware version, date of manufacture and other internal info.
RESET DEVICE: to restore the unit to all of its original settings, press SELECT, then select DEFAULT SETTINGS and confirm you want to do this. The other two options under RESET DEVICE (CHECK UPDATE and REFORMAT) should only be used by qualified service technicians.

iGOLF HAZARD GLOSSARY
Hazards provided by the iGolf database for a course are shown as abbreviations. The HYBRID will provide up to 4 hazard callouts per hole. The abbreviations used to identify common hazards are as follows:

LFB- Left Fairway Bunker
MFB- Middle Fairway Bunker
RFB- Right Fairway Bunker
LFW- Left Fairway Water Layup
LFWC- Left Fairway Water Carry
MFW- Middle Fairway Water Layup
MFWC- Middle Fairway Water Carry
RFW- Right Fairway Water Layup
RFWC- Right Fairway Water Carry
FGB- Front Green Bunker

RGB- Right Green Bunker
LGB- Left Green Bunker
BGB-Back Green Bunker
RGW- Right Green Water
FGWC- Front Green Water Carry
FGW- Front Green Water Layup
LGW- Left Green Water
BGW- Back Green Water
CRK- Creek Layup
CRKC- Creek Carry
EOF- End of Fairway

GPS STATUS/DATA IN THE LASER DISPLAY
At the top of the Laser Rangefinder display (as viewed in the eyepiece), data provided by the GPS section of the Hybrid can be seen. This is the key "synergy" advantage of the Hybrid. Here is a guide to what will be seen at the top of the display, based on the current status of the GPS system:

GPS Powered Off: nothing will be shown at the top of the display (no dashes, distances or hole#). The laser rangefinder will continue to work normally when the GPS is powered off.
GPS Powered On, not searching for GPS signal (Fig. 1): Front and Back distances and hole # data shown as "static" dashed lines (motionless). Laser funtions normally.
GPS Powered On, searching for GPS signal: After user selects "PLAY GOLF", dashed lines for Front and Back distances start scrolling. Laser funtions normally.
GPS Powered On, GPS signal locked, course not selected or too distant (Fig. 2): Until user selects a valid course, labels "FRONT" and "BACK" are visible, with distances and hole # shown as static dashes. After selecting a course, Front and Back distances read "999" if current location is too far from the course. Laser funtions normally.
GPS Powered On, GPS signal locked, course selected, user on the selected course (Fig. 3): The top of the laser display now shows all valid GPS information, indicating the current hole# and your distance to the front and back of the hole (based on GPS course data and your location). The laser rangefinder is still used to determine and display (below the aiming circle) the distance to the center (flag) or other objects of interest.

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions: 4.1 x 2.8 x 1.6 inches/ 105 x 72 x 41 mm
Weight (inc CR2 battery): 6.1 oz/173g
For a list of applicable patents for this product, go to: http://patents.vistaoutdoor.com.

TROUBLESHOOTING

LASER RANGEFINDER SECTION
If laser does not turn on - LCD display in eyepiece does not activate:

Depress FIRE button.
Check and if necessary, replace battery.
If unit does not respond to key presses, replace the battery with a new CR2 3-volt lithium battery.

If unit powers down (display goes blank when attempting to power the laser):

The battery is either weak or low quality. Replace the battery with a new CR2 3-volt lithium battery.

If target range cannot be obtained

Make sure LCD is illuminated.
Make sure that the FIRE button is being depressed.
Make sure that nothing, such as your hand or finger, is blocking the laser transmit/receive lenses (front of unit, below monocular objective lens) that emit and receive the laser pulses.
Make sure unit is held steady while depressing the FIRE button.

NOTE: The last range reading does not need to be cleared before ranging another target. Simply aim at the new target using the LCD's reticle, depress the FIRE button and hold until new range reading is displayed.

GPS RANGEFINDER SECTION
If unit does not receive a GPS signal/does not lock onto GPS satellites:

Make sure you are using the Hybrid outdoors, with no overhanging roofs, trees, or other obstructions that might be blocking a clear view of the sky.
The laser rangefinder will continue to function (assuming its battery is good). See "GPS Status/Data in the Laser Display" for a detailed description of how the current GPS status is indicated in the laser rangefinder's display.

If GPS display shows "999" for all distances

The GPS rangefinder makes its calculations of distance based on your real time location. If you are 1000 yards or more from the golf course you have chosen, then the device will display '999'.

If the internal lithium ion battery charges slowly or will not charge:

Use the supplied AC charger, or your smartphone's charger. Charging via connection to a computer's USB port or a USB hub is possible, but will charge the battery more slowly than using a dedicated charging device that plugs into an AC outlet.
Under the vast majority of circumstances, the battery used in your Hybrid will provide years of trouble free use, and will not need to be changed. The warranty on the Hybrid will be void if the consumer tries to change the battery. If you feel that your battery is going bad, please contact Bushnell Customer Service at customersupport@bushnell.com.

If unit shuts off before you are finished playing a round:

"Auto Off" may be set to a time period that is too short. In the GPS main menu, select "SET UP", then scroll down to "AUTO OFF" and press SELECT. Highlight a time period that is somewhat longer than the time you expect to play golf (then press SELECT), or select "DISABLED" if you prefer to manually power off the Hybrid when you are done with the round.

If unit does not auto advance when moving to the next hole:

This is usually caused by an inaccurate map of the course being stored in the device. Downloading the latest version of the course map should fix this problem. Or, you can press the "Up" button to manually advance the hole if this happens.