Best Laser Rangefinders
We pick out the best laser rangefinders the market has to offer, all of which are designed to give you accurate distances to the flag and fit perfectly in your hand
Best Laser Rangefinders
Laser rangefinders give golfers pinpoint flag accuracy and that’s one of the reasons many golfers favour them over more simplistic GPS watches and other smaller units.
They also usually run on batteries and so can be left in your bag between games for a much more hassle-free user experience than GPS units, which need regular charging.
- Best GPS Devices – prefer GPS over a laser?
- Best GPS Watches – wearable yardages and much more
- Best Golf Bags – need an upgrade?
If you’re specifically on the lookout for a new laser rangefinder, we’ve got you covered with this guide to the best models on the market. They do come at a cost, but then so does a new top-end driver, and some of the new technology is a life-saver out on the course.
Our video testing eight of the best laser rangefinders 2020 has to offer out on the course
Below are some of our favourites. With some of the products you’ll see a ‘Buy Now’ link. If you click on this then we may receive a small amount of money from the retailer when you purchase the item, but this doesn’t affect the amount you pay.
Best Laser Rangefinders
Bushnell Tour V5 Shift Laser Golf Rangefinder
New for 2020 comes Bushnell’s Tour V5 and V5 Shift laser rangefinder. Both come packed full of technology such as Bite technology which is a magnetic mount and Pinseeker with visual JOLT technology which is a red ring that flashes as JOLT vibrates to give the golfer even greater feedback and confidence to know they have locked onto the flag. Both also have a Fast Focus System and are accurate to within one yard. The difference between the Tour V5 and the Shift is that the Shift comes with a new and improved slope algorithm and Slope-Switch technology which allows the user to turn the slope function on or off.
US Buy Now at Worldwide Golf Shops for $399.99
UK Buy Now at American Golf for £359
Nikon Coolshot 80 VR Laser Rangefinder
This laser’s Vibration-Reduction function keeps the target stable in the viewfinder to reduce measuring errors. It appeals for a number of reasons, not least because it’s so compact and sits comfortably in your hand – something that sounds simple, but is crucially important. The display is simple, easy to see and is assisted by a focus underneath the eyepiece.
UK Buy Now at Amazon for £537.87
GolfBuddy Laser 1 Rangefinder
The Laser 1 and Laser 1S provide laser measuring performance at a lower price point. Both models are lightweight with an ergonomic and sporty design. They offer 6 x magnification and a wider LCD screen to ensure better visibility of measurements, and feature three different targeting modes standard, scan, and pin. With vibration option to confirm target lock and a one-click scan feature, simplicity of use is at the heart of the design. The Laser 1S differs by featuring a Slope function to account for any slope in the terrain between golfer and target.
US Buy Now at Rock Bottom Golf for $189.99
UK Buy Now at Scottsdale Golf for £199.99
Bushnell Pro XE Laser Rangefinder
Laser rangefinders now offer even more features than ever before and none personify this trend better than the Bushnell Pro XE. There are many factors that influence the distance the ball will travel and how far the pin is away from you. The new Pro XE takes even more of these into account, including temperature and altitude as well as Slope, to give you an unprecedented level of accuracy on compensated yardages. Admittedly these features aren’t legal for competition use, but a button on the side quickly and easily disables them for your monthly medal. In tournament play, you can benefit from the improved PinSeeker with Visual Jolt feature, on which a red ring now appears through the viewfinder along with a vibrating burst when the flag has been detected from the background. This extra reassurance should boost your confidence as to the club required for the upcoming shot. Another unique feature of the Pro XE is the Bite magnetic mount. This allows it to be stuck to almost anything metallic, the most convenient of which being the frame of a buggy.
US Buy Now at Worldwide Golf Shops for $549.99
UK Buy Now at American Golf for £449
Volvik V1 Golf Range Finder
Volvik introduced its V1 rangefinder last year and it comes with a range of technologies to help you get the right yardage every time. First, it features a Pin Finder function, which is capable of calculating distances from five to 1,200 yards to within a yard. Additionally it comes with ‘Slope Compensation’ mode which takes into account elevation changes to ensure you are always getting the right yardage. Finally, Volvik has introduced ‘Priority First Goal’, which allows the user to measure to specific objects like flags and bunkers.
Volvik V1 Laser Rangefinder Review
UK Buy Now at Golf Support for £184.95
Garmin Approach Z82 Rangefinder
The Approach Z82 provides 2-D overlays for both full-colour Course View and Green View detail through the lens. When looking through the viewfinder, a full-colour 2-D Course View mapping is displayed on the left-hand side of the lens view, showing distances to hazards and the green. The flag finder feature will lock on the flag and give precise distances to the pin. The Laser Range Arc will be drawn on the green at the distance ranged to the flag, so the golfer can see if the pin is in the front, middle, or back of the green. The arc can also be used to see what else is in play when ranging other targets on the course. There’s also a PlaysLike Distance feature that accounts for slopes and Pin Pointer feature, which points to the middle of the green on blind shots.
US Buy Now at Worldwide Golf Shops for $599.99
UK Buy Now at American Golf for £579.99
Easy Green 1,300 Yard Golf Rangefinder
With a range of 1,300 yards and accurate to within one yard, EasyGreen’s 1300 model is an entry level laser that comes with ‘Slope Compensation Technology’ which allows greater accuracy when measuring inclines and declines. It also vibrates when locking onto the flag, comes with a premium carry case, and with an RRP of less then £200 it is considerably cheaper than most of its competitors.
UK Buy Now at Amazon for £159.82
Bushnell Hybrid Rangefinder
The Bushnell Hybrid combines laser and GPS yardages together. Exact distances to the pin are provided through the Hybrid’s laser function powered by a CR2 battery, while a GPS display on the side, powered by a USB rechargeable lithium ion battery, delivers front, middle and back yardages to help when golfers have blind shots or need quicker, more general information. The Hybrid also boasts PinSeeker with Jolt Technology, providing short, vibrating bursts to isolate the target and lock onto the flag.
US Buy Now at Worldwide Golf Shops for $399.99
UK Buy Now at American Golf for £379
Shot Scope Pro L1 Laser Rangefinder
We tested the Shot Scope Pro L1, the company’s first ever laser rangefinder, and found it a very decent first stab into the market. While the Pro L1 isn’t the perfect laser rangefinder, it offers more than enough features as well modern styling to justify the price tag and was easy to use overall.
Shotscope Pro L1 Laser Rangefinder Review
UK Buy Now at Online Golf for £199.90
Nikon Coolshot Pro Stabilized Golf Rangefinder
The Coolshot Pro features the stability of the Coolshot 80’s vibration reduction in a more streamlined design, helping golfers find their target faster. Locked On Technology means overlapping targets are never an issue, with a green circle confirming the target, which means users aren’t guessing at the flag and getting an ‘incorrect’ reading. Meanwhile, ID Technology calculates incline and decline to display a slope-adjusted distance for how far the user should hit their ball.
Nikon Coolshot Pro Stabilized Laser Rangefinder Review
US Buy Now at Worldwide Golf Shops for $449.99
UK Buy Now at Amazon for £499.99
Fazer Lazer Rangefinder Pro
With a range of 1000 metres, the Fazer Lazer Rangefinder Pro has immense distance capabilities as well as several modes to help you get the right yardage. Pinseeker Mode allows you to lock onto the target, Golf Distance Correction Mode allows for slope at the same time. Fog Mode makes it easier to gain a yardage when visibility is difficult. Speed Mode also allows you to measure how fast something is moving. All in all, considering the price, this is an absolute bargain.
GolfBuddy Aim L10V Rangefinder
The Aim L10V is the brand’s most advanced laser rangefinder to date but it also incorporates simplicity of use. The unique audio option in the L10V gives spoken confirmation of distances, providing extra confidence and ease of use to the golfer. This combines with three targeting modes – standard, scan and pin – and 6 x magnification to ensure precision and clarity of results through the wider LCD screen. Additionally it comes with a slope on/off option to provide increased accuracy for various elevations.
US Buy Now at Rock Bottom Golf for $299.99
UK Buy Now at American Golf for £269.99
Precision Pro NX7 Golf Rangefinder
GM Says: Built with a shock-proof and water resistant design, the Pro NX7 by Precision Golf has Pulse Vibration Technology to help pick out the flag whilst the Target Acquisition Technology allows even those with the shakiest of hands to get an accurate reading. It’s a great option for those looking to save a few pounds who just want simple distances to the flag.
US Buy Now at Amazon for $169
Inesis Golf 900 Laser Rangefinder
Competitively priced at £129.99, this unit boasts a Slope Compensation toggle that turned on and off slope-adjusted distances easily for practice and competition play. A First target priority function isolates the flag while measurements are confirmed by vibration. It is accurate to +/- 1 yard and can measure in yards or metres.
UK Buy Now at Decathlon for £129.99
Zoom Focus X Rangefinder
New rangefinder brand Zoom has introduced it’s first product, the Focus X. It has a multitude of premium features, such as the premium optics and six times magnification as well as Slope adjusted distance technology that measures distances adjusted to compensate for the elevation of the target. Given the quality of the product it is surprising to see it come with a modest RRP of £219.99.
Zoom Focus X Laser Rangefinder Review
UK Buy Now at Golf Support for £179
Nikon Coolshot 20 GII Laser Rangefinder
Compact and weighing just 130g, it features a First Target Priority algorithm that measures the distance to the closest of overlapping subjects to pick out the flag and other hazards more easily. It can also measure continuously for up to eight seconds when scanning the terrain.
Nikon Coolshot 20 GII Laser Rangefinder review
US Buy Now at Amazon for $196.95
UK Buy Now at Amazon for £156.24
Bushnell Tour V4 Shift
Compared to other lasers we’ve tried, it is really lightweight and quick to lock on, with a helpful vibration confirming you’ve measured the flag and not a tree in the background. This laser also features what Bushnell calls Slope-Switch Technology, which makes moving between normal distances and those compensated for gradient (legal for non-competitive golf only), effortless. It means you’re getting two lasers in one, and you can’t argue with that. There’s no need to worry either, because this unit still conforms to the Rules of Golf.
US Buy Now at Amazon for $380
For more information, read our full reviews and watch our videos. We’re certain you’ll find a laser rangefinder that gives you all the features you need, and at the right price.
This article Best Laser Rangefinders appeared first on Golf Monthly.