Golf Rangefinders Reviews: As a golf blogger, I get to review a variety of items. And for some reason, golf range finders are one of the most familiar products to me. A rangefinder is meant to tell you how far you are from the pin. It’s Remarkable how many various versions and pricing points there are for something with such a simple duty. This golf rangefinder evaluation was last updated in January 2022 and will be updated as new models are released throughout the year.
BUYING A GOLF RANGEFINDER
Keep in mind that I’ve personally used and tested each product in this rangefinder review. While many of the rangefinders listed here will give you distances, some are faster, more fun to use, and contain capabilities that aren’t always necessary but are good to have.
So the ideal rangefinder for you will depend on your particular preferences:
- Price
- Performance
- Features
Before choosing the greatest suit for you, consider the following:
- Your budget?
- How long do you want it?
- Do you need a slope? If the flag is uphill or downhill, you get a second “plays like” distance.
- Is it for tournaments?
- Is it more about pricing or quality?
A Rangefinder is tool for amateurs on golf courses
Measuring the distance to hazards, greens, and pins precisely allows you to choose the best club to use and how hard to swing to get your ball close to the target. Using a golf rangefinder properly will improve distance management and eventually score. It also helps during your rounds. Getting yardage can be tough without a rangefinder, which is why we recommend investing in one if you can afford it. But with so many rangefinder options from so many different brands, it can be tough to decide which model to buy. You’ve come to the perfect location to buy a golf rangefinder.
BUSHNELL PRO XE GOLF RANGEFINDER
The Pro XE from Bushnell is the best rangefinder we’ve tested. The Bushnell Pro X2 was wonderful, and it has several advantages over the XE – it is lighter, and I enjoy the way it looks. A unique magnet function that clips to everything from a cart to an iron, makes the Bushnell XE our overall winner (which was surprisingly handy). Not to mention they include temperature and barometric data in the slope calculation to give you the most realistic “plays like” distance. The $550 price tag for all this stuff is steep, but this thing is sweet.
- $549.
- 8.8 Bushnell Pro XE Review
- Buy it on Amazon here. Bushnell.com has it.
- Bushnell Tour V5 Shift
Guidance
There are various rangefinders on the market, and choosing one might be difficult, especially if you are unfamiliar with them. This guide will teach you how to use a rangefinder.
Longevity
Durability is a factor to consider. First, does the rangefinder come with a case? If a protective case is available, we recommend using it during your round and storing it after each use for maximum protection. Second, is the rangefinder solid or cheap? Super-light rangefinders may sound appealing, but they are more prone to damage and are difficult to aim. We think 0.5 lbs is a nice compromise.
Aspects to consider while choosing a golf Rangefinder:
Acuity: This is the key to golf rangefinders. Ultimately, excellent accuracy will reduce guesswork and enhance club choices. You want your distance readings to be as exact as possible when measuring a flagstick, hazard, or other golf course feature. A few yards can mean the difference between a birdie and a double bogey. Regardless of your handicap, we recommend avoiding rangefinders with accuracy ratings less than 1 yard. Fortunately, most modern rangefinders are accurate to one yard or greater.
- Show
- A rangefinder’s sight view can make or break it. In a perfect world,
- optics that shine
- a 5x magnification
- a display that contrasts well with the background image
- diopter adjustment for sharp pictures
- Ideally, you want a rangefinder that checks all of these criteria.
- A good display will assist you to locate the flag and other landmarks, especially when playing in the sun.
- Batteries
Lithium CR2 3V Batteries: It’s also worth noting the rangefinder’s battery. The battery’s life, rechargeability, and cycle life are important questions. Nowadays, most golf rangefinders use CR2 batteries, which last 6-12 months. The long-lasting CR2 batteries are rechargeable, but a pack of regular CR2 batteries is cheap enough to keep in your bag just in case. Make sure the rangefinder you want doesn’t require an expensive or hard-to-find battery.
Ability to Slope
To use a rangefinder for recreational golf, we strongly recommend one that can detect slopes. This will calculate the slope from your position to the flagstick and generate an adjusted distance reading. This is based on the idea that higher elevation targets require more distance, while lower elevation targets require less distance. For non-slope models, the price difference is around $60. If you can afford it, go for it. Without a slope rangefinder, you must compensate for elevation changes by feel or rule of thumb. To use a rangefinder legally in tournaments, simply turn off the slope feature on most rangefinders. Avoid rangefinders without a toggle, such as the Blue Tees Series 2 Pro Slope.
Rangefinders can only work so Far
Range: A rangefinder’s accuracy is limited by the distance it can read. The rangefinder may produce inaccurate or no readings outside of this range. Some rangefinders claim 1000-yard ranges or more, which sounds cool but isn’t practical and is a gimmick. Because you should never need to measure a distance less than your next shot. Not unless you’re a long-drive golfer. Almost all rangefinders have a 400-yard range, which covers most situations on the course. So while a rangefinder’s range is important to consider, it is not the most important.
- Cost
Of course, your budget is very important when shopping for a golf rangefinder. For example, some people don’t want to spend more than $200 on a rangefinder. That’s fine they have options. And there’s really no reason to get a rangefinder that costs more than $500-$600. With that said, some rangefinders are cheap for a reason: they may be less accurate, have a cheap construction, have poorer optics, lack flag pulses, have less range or magnification, or something similar. In this guide, we’ve tried to include quality rangefinders over a range of budgets that golfers might have. But even for something like a rangefinder, you may be able to access financing for your purchase. Various online golf shops that sell rangefinders also offer to finance here, here, and here.
Conclusion
Eyeballing it out on the golf course will only get you so far. If you’re serious about developing your distance control and improving your scores, a laser rangefinder will be one of the most important accessories in your bag. A rangefinder can be a huge boon to your golfing toolkit. And finding one that does its job reliably is actually pretty easy if you know what you want. Each of the rangefinder models listed above delivers exceptional performance. We’ve given you the information you need; now it’s up to you to determine which one suits your needs and which one you prefer the most.
