When was the last time you or a playing partner walked to a yardage marker in the fairway, checked the daily pin sheet and walked off a distance by eye? Chances are it’s been awhile, and the reason is these days almost every semi-serious golf enthusiast now owns a rangefinder to give them an instantaneous, dependable yardage reading to the flag.
If you’ve yet to enter the world of getting immediate yardages, or if you’re looking to upgrade the equipment you’re currently using, chances are your head’s spinning shopping for rangefinders. It’s hard to discern the differences between them online, they’re expensive with significant price spreads and everyone claims to be “fast and accurate.”
For the most part, they are. There are best-in-class models to be found in each price range, though, and my goal in this article is to help you clear some of the noise and hone in on the device best suited for your game and checking account.
To do that, we’ll look at the industry’s almost-complete offering by price and features, and by providing as much information as we can about our personal impressions on each while tapping into the dozens of rangefinder reviews the team at WiscoGolfAddict.com and I have posted over the past few years.
The rangefinder industry
Five to ten years ago, it was relatively easy to determine which rangefinder was the right choice for you: Probably Bushnell. There were very options on the market, and while brands like Precision Pro and Cobalt were making initial in-roads they had yet to gain a significant footing in this massive sub-industry. If your playing partners had a rangefinder, chances are they had a Bushnell.
Golf has soared in popularity, and the rangefinder industry has become far more fractured than it was with new entrants entering the market on a regular basis.
I always enjoy looking at the bags and accessories of my playing partners, and these days I’m more inclined to see Blue Tees, Precision Pro or TECTECTEC hanging from their bags (or magnetically attached to the crossbar on their cart) than I am Bushnell. It’s not because Bushnell isn’t still the best rangefinder in golf – it’s right up there – but along with more options has come the ability to personalize gear and buy something effective that’s in a lower price range.
Most rangefinders have very similar performance and functionality these days, and very few can boast a “Better” statement when it comes to the key features they provide. Garmin’s Z82, for example, basically puts a small laptop in your hands. Precision Pro offers one of the fastest, most consistently accurate and easy-to-target experiences in the industry, and Blue Tees has done a fantastic job of marketing their high-quality rangefinder to infiltrate golf’s mainstream.
Rangefinders no longer need to be well-known brands, either, as companies like GoGoGo now offer feature-rich products like the GS19 and GS34 that include slope and, for the GS34, even a scan mode with pin lock. You will sacrifice a little by way of accuracy, consistency and ease to lock on to a target, but for the price it’s tough to beat especially if you don’t play often.
Features and benefits
There are a number of key features and benefits to look for with rangefinders, including:
- Speed – no rangefinders these days are slow, but the key is finding one that’s fast and easy to lock on to the right target and not the trees behind the pin
- Accuracy – again, all are now very close in terms of accuracy when a pin is locked in. And again, the biggest goal here is the ease of locking on to a target – especially for players with unsteady hands, there can be a big difference!
- Optics – allowing a different view, sometimes a different color, depending on the background being viewed (eg: Cobalt’s Adaptive Contrast Display allows users to choose between a red/black or black-only display and features a useful brightness modifier). Blue Tees’ Series 3 Max, TecTecTec’s ULT-S Pro and Shot Scope’s Pro LX models also all have nice red readouts. In another way, Garmin’s Z82 model features incredible optics that provide a high-definition TV-type viewing experience.
- Pin lock/haptic notification – the rangefinder will vibrate or visually signal when a pin is locked onto. Bushnell’s Tour V6 Shift has the best visual queue I’ve seen, flashing a red circle around the optics when a pin is effectively sited.
- If used in tournament play, does the rangefinder allow you to turn OFF slope to comply with USGA regulations? If you are a competitive player, you’ll want to make sure it does. The tables that follow call out models that are and are not tournament legal.
- Scan – the ability to see “live” yardages as you scan through the viewfinder. Most rangefinders only lock onto pins/objects that are sited, but having a scan feature can especially be useful when viewing a landing zone off the tee (eg: What’s the range I’ll want to hit to avoid cross-bunkers and have the best chance of hitting a fairway?).
- Magnetic mount – many rangefinders can now attach to a golf cart crossbar, always keeping it within arm’s reach. This is awesome but can also be a negative as it makes it easy to leave at the course (I’ve admittedly lost several this way). I could not go back to a rangefinder that doesn’t magnetically mount, though.
- Are you looking to add magnetic mounting to a rangefinder without it? Strapped Golf provides great options at excellent price points.
- Steadiness – if your hands get a little shaky, you will want a rangefinder that is stable in order to allow you to effectively lock onto pins and not get distances to trees and other objects in the distance. To me, this is the #1 factor in selecting a rangefinder.
- Slope – slope provides a “plays-like” yardage, factoring in elevation (see image below)
- During tournament play, does the rangefinder allow you to turn OFF slope to comply with USGA regulations? If you play competitively, make sure it does. The tables below call out models that are and are not tournament legal.
Slope
“Slope” gives a realistic plays-like distance factoring in elevation. In this case, an ~ 29-foot rise from the tee to the green on the 7th hole at North Hills Country Club will affect your club selection. If hitting an 8-iron because of the 150-yard distance, chances are a well-struck tee shot will land short, potentially in the front-right bunker or at the base of the elevated green. A 7-iron, on the other hand, should reach the 29-foot height nearer to the 150-yard shot distance you’re looking for.
This also works opposite. A significantly downhill shot will travel farther because the ball will continue its downward arc longer.
If you’re not great at math or don’t want to consider elevation in club selection, a rangefinder with slope functionality will provide realistic plays-like distances quickly and effectively.
$400 & up
The two most well-known competitors in the “Best” category of golf rangefinders have always been Bushnell and Garmin. There was a time, in fact, when Bushnell owned 98% or more of the market, and while that’s likely reduced in recent years they are still a dominant force.
Garmin’s Z82 is an unbelievably feature-rich competitor against Bushnell’s X3 and V6 Shift, and in some ways outperforms Bushnell by providing so many bells and whistles.
The premium rangefinder you may not have heard of is Cobalt. Cobalt has been around a long time, and has been long-known as a Tour-level product that to me outperforms everything else on the market today.
While it’s not as well-known as Bushnell and Garmin, the Q-6 Slope is quite possibly the best rangefinder in golf at a price point significantly lower than other top-end models.
You can always go with the industry leader, Bushnell. They make a fantastic product that’s fast, dependable, easy to use and accurate – it’s no wonder they demand such a massive presence in the rangefinder marketplace after having used a handful of them.
Brand | Model | MSRP | Link to Buy | Discount | Review | Speed | Accuracy | Magnet | Slope | Tourn Legal | Scan | Zoom | Steadiness |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Garmin | Approach Z82 | $599.99 | Link | – | In progress | Best | High | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6X | Medium |
Voice Caddie | SL3 | $599.99 | Link | – | – | Fast | High | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6X | High |
Bushnell | Pro X3 | $549.99 | Link | – | – | Best | Best | No | Yes | Yes | No | 6X | Best |
Cobalt | Q-6 Slope | $450.00 | Link | – | Link | Best | Best | Strap included | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7X | Best |
Leupold | GX-6C | $449.99 | Link | – | – | Fast | High | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6X | Medium |
Voice Caddie | TL1 | $449.99 | Link | – | – | Fast | High | No | No | Yes | Yes | 6X | High |
$250-399
Rangefinder pricing has come down significantly over the past few years as more manufacturers have entered the market, creating a very competitive industry. This has brought some excellent products into very reasonable price ranges, including my top recommendation: The Precision Pro NX10 Slope. This rangefinder has it all at an affordable price point of $269.99.
If you’re looking for something really high-end without paying $500 or more, you will also love the Bushnell Tour V6 Shift. This beauty has the aesthetics and feel of an ultra-high-end product and comes in just under $400.
I talked about the Q-6 Slope in the high-end price range, and will now touch on the Q-4 Slope by Cobalt for the $250-400 range. This is another fantastic rangefinder that gives up very little to its more expensive counterpart. What impresses me so much about Cobalt rangefinders is the feel and experience. There’s just something about the read-out, the feel in your hand (sturdy, easy to center), and the quickness and consistency of these units that I appreciate.
Brand | Model | MSRP | Link to Buy | Discount | Review | Speed | Accuracy | Magnet | Slope | Tourn Legal | Scan | Zoom | Steadiness |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bushnell | Tour V6 Shift | $399.99 | Link | – | In progress | Best | Best | No | Yes | Yes | No | 5X | Best |
Nikon | CoolShot Pro II Stabilized | $399.95 | Link | – | – | High | High | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6X | High |
Shot Scope | Pro L2 | $349.99 | Link | 15% code: WISCO | Link (Pro L1) | Fast | High | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7X | Medium |
TecTecTec | ULT-S Pro | $349.99 | Link | – | Link | Fast | Medium | No | Yes | Yes | No | 6X | Medium |
Bushnell | Tour V5 Shift | $319.99 | Link | – | – | Fast | High | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 6X | High |
Cobalt | Q-4 Slope | $299.99 | Link | – | Link | Best | Best | No | Yes | Yes | No | 6X | Best |
SkyGolf | SkyCaddie LX5 | $299.95 | Link | – | Link | Medium | Medium | No | No | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A |
SureShot | PinLoc 6000iPSM | $299.00 | Link | – | Link | Fast | Medium | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6X | Medium |
Blue Tees | Series 3 Max | $269.99 | Link | 10% code: WISCO | Link | Fast | Medium | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7X | Medium |
Precision Pro | NX10 Slope | $269.99 | Link | – | Link | Best | Best | No | Yes | Yes | No | 6X | Best |
$150-249
Is price your most important deciding factor? You’re lucky as the industry is saturated with feature-rich products that are now priced for everyday golf enthusiasts.
Keep in mind that at a certain price point you will be sacrificing some quality for low cost. In most cases this sacrifice involves the product’s sturdiness and accuracy, and typically takes away nice-to-have features like scan modes, slope functionality and high-end optics.
Some of my top recommendations in this category include the Precision Pro NX9 (like the Cobalt Q-4 Slope, it does not take away much from its big brother NX10 Slope), Pinned Prism (be sure to check out WiscoGolfAddict Contributing Writer Rich Bauer’s fun article on this high-quality low-priced option) and Laser Link GS1 Slope. The Pro L1 by Shot Scope also has a very high-end feel at a price point that comes in just under $200, and I’ve been impressed with all the products I’ve tested from TecTecTec (although they have been more challenging for me to lock onto pins with).
Brand | Model | MSRP | Link to Buy | Discount | Review | Speed | Accuracy | Magnet | Slope | Tourn Legal |
Scan | Zoom | Steadiness |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Omada | Atlas | $249.99 | Link | 10% code: WISCO | Link | Fast | High | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6X | High |
Precision Pro | NX9 Slope | $249.99 | Link | – | – | Fast | High | No | Yes | Yes | No | 6X | High |
TECTECTEC | ULT-X | $249.99 | Link | – | Link | Fast | Medium | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6X | Low |
Blue Tees | Series 2 Pro Plus | $229.99 | Link | 10% code: WISCO | Link | Fast | Medium | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6X | Medium |
Precision Pro | NX9 | $219.99 | Link | – | – | Fast | High | No | No | Yes | No | 6X | High |
Shot Scope | V3 Watch | $219.99 | Link | 15% code: WISCO | Link | Medium | Medium | No | No | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Blue Tees | Series 2 | $199.99 | Link | 10% code: WISCO | Link | Fast | Medium | No | No | Yes | Yes | 6X | Medium |
Callaway | 300 Pro Slope | $199.99 | Link | – | – | Fast | Medium | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6X | Medium |
One Under Golf | BR650 | $199.99 | Link | – | Link | Fast | High | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6X | Low |
Pinned | Prism | $199.99 | Link | 15% code: WISCO15 | Link | Fast | Medium | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6X | Medium | |
Shot Scope | Pro L1 | $199.99 | Link | 15% code: WISCO | Link | Fast | High | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6X | Medium |
TECTECTEC | KLYR | $199.99 | Link | – | Link | Fast | Medium | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6X | Medium |
Laser Link | GS1 Slope | $199.95 | Link | – | Link | Fast | Medium | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | Medium |
Nikon | CoolShot 20 GII Slope | $196.95 | Link | – | – | Fast | Medium | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6X | High |
Callaway | 200S Slope | $179.99 | Link | – | – | Fast | Medium | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6X | Medium |
Laser Link | RH Fore | $149.95 | Link | – | Link | Fast | Medium | No | No | Yes | Yes | N/A | High |
IZZO | LZ-i | $119.99 | Link | – | – | Fast | Medium | No | No | Yes | Yes | 6X | Medium |
Gogogo | GS19 | $99.99 | Link | 5% code: WISCO5 | Link | Fast | Medium | No | Yes | No | Yes | 6X | Low |
Gogogo | GS34 | $89.99 | Link | 5% code: WISCO5 | Link | Fast | Medium | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6X | Low |
“The Omada Atlas has been my first experience using a non-pistol grip rangefinder, and I’ve been really impressed with its great value. The model comes with all of the features and benefits you would expect from a high-end rangefinder – multiple modes, slope adjustment, quick readings, a built-in magnet that strongly attaches to a cart, and a long-lasting battery. The OLED display and magnifying scope are especially nice, helping me hone in on the pin quicker and with great stability. And the best part – the price! At $249, the Atlas is a phenomenal deal compared to other high-performing models.”
– WiscoGolfAddict Contributing Writer Brian Murphy
No matter what rangefinder you buy, using one will make your golf game more efficient, helping you choose clubs more quickly and with enhanced confidence.
Do you have a favorite rangefinder or have one you would or would never recommend? We want to hear your thoughts in the comments.
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