Best Golf Rangefinders for 2023 to Slash Your Scores!

Bushnell Pro XE Rangefinder

The best golf Rangefinder ever made

The top of the line golf rangefinder from Bushnell, the Pro XE is the very best rangefinder I've ever seen or used or experienced.

The prior model X2 was a bit lighter than this big piece of gear. But the Bushnell XE is the most accurate and quick golf rangefinder I have ever had the pleasure of using. My caddie, Bret, at Pebble Beach had one of these bad boys and I had to try it out all round long. They give the most accurate distances of all rangefinders.

It's vividly clear when looking through the viewfinder if you do not wear lenses over your eyes. I noticed Bret would shift his sunnies onto his forehead when he used it. I had to do the same but it was really so quick to shoot a distance to a pin. What's even crazier is that is takes into account temperature and barometric pressure to give you a 'feels like' distance on top of the slope reading.

It’s an expensive piece of equipment but if you play a lot of golf or golf at a high level and want distances lightning fast then this rangefinder is top of the crop. It's trusted by the tour pros who work in fractions of a yard. There are so many new features that yes, if you are a serious golfer, use a cart, need full info in split seconds, you can rest easy with one of these.

Overall, his device is not made for the beginner. If you’re breaking 80 regularly and looking at the low 70s more often, this will be the best rangefinder for you. If you're playing regional and national events, it's a must. 

Bushnell Tour V5 Rangefinder

Best compact size rangefinder for everyone

• 6x magnification this has increased from 5x in the prior V4

• Compact design. Very easy to fit in hands even as small as mine
• Visual jolt technology. Vibrating pulses and a flashing red ring to confirm that you’re locked on to the flagstick.  
• True “play as distance.” With its new slope algorithm you now get even better accuracy to account for uphill and downhill shots.  
• More clarity than the V4. Magnification, color, and more definition when you hit any target.  
• Bite magnetic cart mount. You can easily attach this device to a cart for easy transport without spending money on additional accessories.  
• Bushnell golf app included for even more information. This smartphone app will show you 3D flyovers, hole layouts with distances and has over 36,000 courses available!  
• Two-year warranty, battery, and hard cover carrying case included.  

Nikon make no other golf products worth talking about except this rangefinder. The focus in this rangefinder is in the stabilization for steadier measurements. it can be a pain to lock onto a target when your hands are not super steady with most rangefinders.

With the Nikon Coolshot Pro, the stabilization is built into the design. You get extra help locking onto the target because of a contrasting background on the OLED display. You can hit the [in much easier even if you have something behind the pin distracting your rangefinder. 

I got to use this rangefinder with Pro Mo on my channel. His sister, Bo uses it and it does a great job. It's a much easier to use upgrade from the prior model which to be honest did not have the best bullseye or crosshair to hit the pin with. 

The new model Nikon Coolshot Pro is much more stable in the hands and provides readings first time instead of having to shoot it 2 or 3 times. 

• Brightness levels of the viewfinder can be adjusted

• Slope function which is turned on and off easily
• Stabilization is the priority which is unique compared to every other model focusing on jacking up the feature combo
• Weather resistant This can be used in every weather you can imagine

• Only one color. I love the color scheme but some may not

The Precision Pro NX9 is an excellent trade off between price and quality. You get one of the best golf rangefinders that does the job without the excessive price tag.  

The Precision Pro NX9 did great when I compared it to my Bushnell V5 which compared well to Bret's Bushnell XE I mentioned above at Pebble Beach. One of my subscribers in Arizona let me use the NX9 for a round after my battery died in the Bushnell.

That round in Arizona with the NX9 was the first time I saw someone putting the magnetic laser rangefinder onto the cart. I don't play cart golf much in Thailand so rangefinders are kept in the bag or with the caddy. Luckily the colors are also bright so you never have to look for your rangefinder when it is on the cart.

The optics and feel are not as premium as the Bushnell of course, because the price tag is significantly lower but the Precision Pro delivered my accurate distances compared to the Bushnell (+/- 1 yard) and it was the quickest in the value category. The only competitor I found similar in quality and speed is the Inesis Tour 900. 

It's tough to create products that compete in a part of the market that requires high end features and function. It's even tougher to race to the bottom on price. The NX7 from Precision Pro is a good example of what can be done, within limits, to provide a decent enough laser rangefinder without breaking the bank.

It's what I would call a decent rangefinder. I'm not going to rave it about it like it's the second coming of Bushnell. It's not as fast, as easy to lock onto pins, and the vibration function doesn't feel as 'Steve Jobs" as the Bushnell or the Garmin. That's the issue though, we are not comparing it to those models because it's not even close to the same price category.

And in the sub 200 category, there is not much better than the NX7. The fact that, like the Inesis Tour 900 model, you can actually get

Most advanced full of tech rangefinder

Garmin Approach Z82 might make you think of a Garmin Approach watch like the S40 I reviewed. They have created one of the best golf rangefinders, absolutely bursting with tech and features. I am quite surprised myself.

The Garmin Z82 rangefinder is half rangefinder, half GPS unit like a watch. There is even a full color display to see what's happening on the hole. You can of course, shoot with the laser to get the pin distance, but you can also get the quick reference front, middle and back readings for those tricky shots. This feature alone just cuts out so much doubt especially on a new course.

The GPS rangefinder has a video screen unlike the normal viewfinders which we are used to. Just like on the watch you can also find distances to and over hazards. What makes it even better is there are wind readings!

Tectectec VPRO500

Milessey

So instead of only measuring distances to the pin, you can also use the rangefinder to determine how long your drives are. What I like to do is pick a tree, or marker or bench in line with the tee box and then once I reach my drive, measure the distance from where my ball is back to the preselected bench, tree, ball washer, concrete marker.

This will help you when you measure a distance to a hazard from the tee and know exactly which club to use. You’ll be able to swing with total confidence knowing that you’ll be safe.

For full information on how to use a golf rangefinder, check out my article here. 

When looking through the rangefinder, you’ll see your target, magnified so it’s similar to looking through a monocular. There’s usually a crosshair in the middle of the display that you point onto the target and generally when you press a button on the top of the device, a distance will pop up on the display once the rangefinder has settled on how far you are.

The tricky part comes when you have a pin in front of a row of trees because it can be difficult for the rangefinder to pick up the pin. That's why when looking for a rangefinder it’s always good to find one with a technology that finds the pin and puts the priority on the closer object. That’s why I always recommend rangefinders made exclusively for golf - like all the devices in this list.

This is the big difference between hunting and golf laser rangefinders. Hunting laser rangefinders will put the priority on the moving object which is very often behind trees and bushes whereas in golf, the priority is on the item in front of the bushes - the pin.

How accurate is a rangefinder?

Rangefinders are incredibly accurate distance measuring devices and most of the top professionals use them during their practice rounds to calculate the distances so if it's good enough for guys earning millions per shot it's definitely good enough for us.

The only time it’s difficult to use a rangefinder will be when you can’t see the pin because you’re behind trees in the deep trouble.

The very cheap models that copy their design and accessories to look similar to the top brands...avoid avoid avoid. They usually are very inaccurate. 

What’s the difference between GPS watches and rangefinders?

GPS watches use satellites to pick up your location in relation to the middle, front or back of the green. You’ll generally only you get a reading to those three points and in some of the higher end models, you’ll get readings to a selection of hazards.

A rangefinder shoots a laser directly toward your target and once it hits the target it sends back the message to give you the exact distance. These distances are accurate to 1 yard and you can select the target yourself, while GPS gives you distances to spots on the course that you have no control over.

So while a GPS will tell you how far it is to a bunker, it doesn’t tell you how far it is to carry the bunker. A rangefinder allows you the freedom to select the target and get multiple customized targets for distances.

Should I get a rangefinder with slope or no slope?

Some rangefinders come with a “slope” function which calculates the true distance to the pin taking into account the elevation changes up or down. So an uphill shot might be 170 yards in distance but factoring in the angle of elevation, the true distance might 183 yards. That can make a massive difference to your score if you’re choosing the wrong clubs.

During tournaments, you’re not allowed to use the slope function though. But in general play you may use it so it depends on your goals and what you’re looking to achieve.

If you’re a really good amateur player who plays in national or regional competitions, you can use the slope function during practice rounds to calculate the actual distances based on elevation and take down some notes for your competition rounds.

If you’re a casual golfer who doesn’t play tournaments, the slope function is something you can use all the time. If you play weekend competitions, you can use the slope function in the week and switch it off on weekends. That’s the best part, all golf rangefinders with the slope function give you the ability to switch off the function at any time.

The slope models are a bit more expensive, so there is that to consider.

What To Look For in a Rangefinder?

Accuracy

You need accuracy to give yourself a committed idea of what you are going to do. Some of the very cheap models can put doubt in your mind. Better optics and features means better, more accurate distances. 

Ease of Use 

Mostly you will find a rangefinder has two buttons. one to switch between meters and yards and the other is to get the distance. Usually the button for distances is clicked once and it will find the flag as long as you hold the bullseye on the target steady. Then you can hold the button down to scan. These are the easiest to use and most models go this way.

Distance Range

This one is only important to about 300 yards so you can plan your next 2 shots. Beyond 300 yards, no one is hitting the green, or making intricate plans on a 400 yard hole. The number for distance range is largely for marketing to seem like it's better than the next. You need to have a rangefinder that will be able to pick up the distance from 220 if you can hit it that far. 

Price 

You get what you pay for in the optics world, whether it's cameras or telescopes, binoculars or rangefinders. Lower your expectations if you go cheap, and raise your expectations as you go more expensive. 

Battery Life 

The more features a rangefinder has, the more the battery will die quickly. Most standard rangefinders that provide straight out distances without any special tricks like wind or pressure measurements, will last a long time. I replace my battery in my rangefinder twice a year and that's an average of 2-3 rounds a week.

Water Proof  

If you play in watery conditions, this is important. One of the tough ones is humid conditions. Sometimes they may fog up internally and a waterproof one will not do that. 

Display Technology 

If you are color blind, avoid the red display. Some viewfinders use red digits and this can be bad on green backdrops. The standard black digits work well and the less clutter the better. Sometimes manufacturers want to put all sorts of stuff on the screen that you don't need. You need a flat distance and a slope distance and that's all. 

Slope Measurement Capabilities  

Get slope. You can turn it off. But get it because it will teach you in your normal rounds how much a slope affects the playing distance of the shot. The prices are coming down for everything and let's be realistic here. You want to have all the features because Jimmy and Johnny also have slope and you're hamstringing yourself if you think you can get by without it. I will never use a rangefinder without slope

Who should buy a golf rangefinder?

Golf rangefinders are suitable for every level of player and there's not a single golfer who won’t benefit from a golf rangefinder.

Benefits of having one of the best golf rangefinders

• Learn the distance you carry every club in your bag
• Calculate true distances in practice rounds before competitions
• Calculate your real driver and fairway wood distances off the tee
• Never be short on an approach again
• Have confidence you know the distance to a hazard and select a club to avoid it
• Essential equipment for breaking 90 and 80
• If you follow a strategy like my breaking 90 or 100 guides and want to calculate distances to split your shots.

Prices are coming down as more competitors enter the market of rangefinders making it one of the best times to buy right now. 

You can get a good rangefinder for between $200-250 that works as good as anything on the market.

At $400-550 you get features and more features. Mostly you'll enjoy the pin-lock, vibration, slope function but the speed difference is quite noticeable.