Get the Best Golf Rangefinder for Your Game

The Best Golf Rangefinders of 2023

If you're looking for the best golf rangefinder, you're in luck. There are some very affordable state-of-the-art golf rangefinders available on the market today. If you're a golfer, you know that a high-quality golf rangefinder can make an enormous difference in picking the right club. It's just as important as the clubs you choose, the ball you hit, or the golf course you play. You can make the right choice with a little research - we're here to help you with a run down of the best rated golf range finders. The list below includes a wide array of rangefinders, from top of the line to a wide array of budget rangefinders.

Top 10 Golf Rangefinders

Best Overall - Bushnell Pro XE
Bushnell V5
Nikon Coolshot Pro
Precision Pro NX10
Cobalt Q6 Slope
Tectectec Klyr
Blue Tees Series 3 Max
Precision Pro Nx7 **Best Budget Rangefinder**
Garmin Approach Z82
Precision Pro R1

What to Look for In a Golf Rangefinder

Best Overall Golf Rangefinder – Bushnell Pro XE

 

The Bushnell Pro XE is our top pick for the best overall golf rangefinder. It is incredibly accurate and has a number of features that make it perfect for high and low handicappers alike. It has the best combination of capabilities that you can find on the market today and it is from one of the top manufacturers of optics and launch monitors on the market.

Bushnell's Slope-Switch toggle lets the golfer easily switch the Pro XE in and out of Slope mode. That means the Pro XE is legal during tournament play when Slope is disabled. Finding pins is even easier as a pulsing red ring now compliments JOLT vibration to reinforce you have locked onto the flag.

No more magnetic case add-ons are required as it has an integrated magnetic mount that makes attaching the Pro XE right on a cart bar easy. High-quality optics deliver superior clarity and resolution, complimented with 7x magnification to allow quick and easy focus on your target. The Pro XE comes with rubber-armored metal housing and is IPX7 fully waterproof. That means it can be submerged up to 1 meter in water for 30 minutes - taking the Pro XE way beyond being merely water resistant.

The Bushnell Golf App provides additional value as you can find useful information like hole layouts with distance, 3D flyovers with distance, and wireless course updates. It comes with a two-year warranty. Although some of the newer rangefinders use a USB charging port, the Pro XE requires a three-volt lithium (CR-2) battery. It has the ability to read slope, temperature, wind and barometric pressure. It has a range of up to 1,300 yards.

Pros

Cons

• Best rangefinder of 2023
  
• Fully waterproof, rugged housing
• Magnetic golf cart attachment
• 7x magnification
• Exceptional optics and visual clarity
• Quickly acquires and locks onto target with Jolt technology
• Adjusts for climate and temperature
• Slope toggles on and off easily
• Two-year warranty

• Not rechargeable if that is important to you
  
• A bit on the pricey side
  

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Bushnell Tour V5

 

The Bushnell Tour V5 laser rangefinders construction is compact and easy to fit into the palm of your hand. In addition to a number of improved capabilities over prior models, the Tour V5 is even lighter and smaller than the V4, which was 30% smaller than the V3. This makes it easier to grip, aim, and point your device to get your reading.

It comes with Jolt technology which let's you know when the rangefinder has locked onto the pin and has read the distance. Jolt technology makes it easier to know when you have an accurate distance. The V5 has 6x magnification, making it easier to pick out the pin from distance and to see other features you might miss. It also comes with the magnetic bite technology that lets you easily attach it to the cart.

While this model does not come with compensation for temperature, wind and barometric pressure, it can adjust for slope. It also comes with the Bushnell Golf App that provides additional functionality as you can find useful information like hole layouts with distance, 3D flyovers with distance, and wireless course updates. It comes with a two-year warranty.

The Tour V5 requires a three-volt lithium (CR-2) battery. It has a range of up to 1,300 yards (almost twice that of the blue tees rangefinder). This is on our list of the best golf rangefinders as it is a great option with many features at a reasonable price.

Pros

Cons

• A lot of features for the price
  
• Magnetic golf cart attachment
  
• Quickly acquires and locks onto target with Jolt technology
• Range of 1300 yards
• Slope toggles on and off easily
• Compact design
• Two year warranty

• Does not adjust for climate and temperature
• Not waterproof
• Not rechargeable (you must replace the CR-2 battery)

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Nikon COOLSHOT PROII Stabilized

 

The COOLSHOT PROII is Nikon's flagship golf rangefinder and it is packed with advanced technologies. It is waterproof, fog-proof, and competition compliant. Borrowing technology from Nikon’s innovative cameras and lenses, the Nikon COOLSHOT PROII counteracts hand shake and environmental factors to steady both your view and the ranging laser.

It’s easier to find your target, and it’s easier to lock onto it. The Nikon golf rangefinder has a slope adjustment they call ID (incline / decline) that you can toggle on and off during tournament play. It also boasts near instant measurements and a bright OLED display. The Nikon has 6x magnification and dual indicators that you've locked onto the pin with a echo vibration and a visual queue.

The most innovative feature of the Nikon Coolshot is the continuous measurement. Press and hold the power button for continuous measurement mode to see distances in real-time as you survey your surroundings for up to 8 seconds. This would let you know the exact distance of trees, water features, sand traps, front and back of the green as well as other hazards. It also comes with a 5 year warranty on new products.

Pros

Cons

• Continuous measurement mode
• Five year warranty
  
• Water-proof and fog-proof
• Slope toggles on and off easily
• Compact design
• 6x magnification
• Stabilization (vibration reduction)
• 1,200 yard range

• Does not adjust for climate and temperature
• Not rechargeable (you must replace the CR-2 battery)
• Does not have magnetic cart attachment

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Precision Pro NX10

 

The NX10 is an affordable rangefinder that includes the ability to customize the look with different graphics. It has skins that can be applied to the rangefinder in a wide variety of designs. The NX10 comes with an extra strong magnetic cart grip that allows you to store it on the golf cart bar. The NX10 includes several important features that include: Adaptive Slope Technology, Tournament Legal Slope on/off Switch, Magnetic Cart Grip, Accurate Distances, HD Optics, 999 Yard Range, Pulse Vibration Technology, 6X Magnification, and a 2-Year Warranty.

The customization kits cost $20 for the limited edition sets and $10 for some of the plain colors. It is a durable rangefinder that feels solid in your hands. The optical quality is good and the distances are precise. The NX10 is a great choice for anyone looking for a quality and affordable rangefinder.

Pros

Cons

• Customizable look
• Adaptive Slope distance adjustments
  
• Visual Slope on/off Switch
  
• Magnetic Cart Grip
  
• Pulse Vibrations – vibrates when laser hits the target
  
• 999 Yard Range
  
• 6X Magnification
  
• Water Resistant
  
• 2-Year Warranty
  

• Does not adjust for climate and temperature
• Not rechargeable (you must replace the CR-2 battery)
  

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Cobalt Q6 Slope

 

Our Cobalt rangefinder review found that the Q6 comes with a lifetime warranty, premium optics, and has a fully waterproof (IPX7) aluminum housing on a magnesium chassis. It is build for those looking for the ultimate golf rangefinder. Featuring the SmartSwitch, the Q-6 Slope easily toggles Slope Mode on and off. That means no more fumbling around with complicated or time-consuming menu navigation when you need to turn off Slope Mode for regulation play. SmartSwitch lets you use the precise slope-compensation calculations during normal play and allows you to easily disengage the Slope Mode to conform to USGA regulations during tournament play.

PinSense and Surge technologies effectively distinguish the pin from background information, automatically filtering out obstructions, eliminating false readings, and providing you with a visual target lock-on. Once the lock and distance have been acquired, Surge give a haptic response in the form of a vibration. Together, these features provide visible, physical, and audible feedback so you can be confident in your ranging.    

The Q6 comes with a lifetime warranty, premium optics, and has a fully waterproof (IPX7) aluminum housing on a magnesium chassis. It is build for those looking for the ultimate golf rangefinder. Featuring the SmartSwitch, the Q-6 Slope easily toggles Slope Mode on and off. That means no more fumbling around with complicated or time-consuming menu navigation when you need to turn off Slope Mode for regulation play. SmartSwitch lets you use the precise slope-compensation calculations during normal play and allows you to easily disengage the Slope Mode to conform to USGA regulations during tournament play.

PinSense and Surge technologies effectively distinguish the pin from background information, automatically filtering out obstructions, eliminating false readings, and providing you with a visual target lock-on. Once the lock and distance have been acquired, Surge give a haptic response in the form of a vibration. Together, these features provide visible, physical, and audible feedback so you can be confident in your ranging.   

Pros

Cons

• Lifetime Warranty
  
• Slope compensation and easy on/off toggle
• Pulse Vibrations – vibrates when laser hits the target
• 7X Magnification
• Fully waterproof, rugged housing

• Does not adjust for climate and temperature
• Not rechargeable (CR-2 battery)
  
• No magnetic cart attachment
  
• 600 Yard Range (more than enough for a shot, but lower than most on the list)

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Tectectec Klyr Rangefinder

 

The Tectectec Klyrion Golf Rangefinder is a high-quality, feature-rich rangefinder that is perfect for golfers of all levels of experience. This rangefinder is extremely easy to use, and it provides accurate measurements to help you improve your golf game. It also features a scan mode that allows you to quickly measure the distance to multiple targets.

The Tectectec KLYR is pocket-sized and has a belt clip for convenience. It has slope capability, a ball marker, a case, and a two-year warranty. The KLYR is accurate up to 250 yards.

Pros

Cons

• 30% smaller than the average rangefinder
• Belt clip and magnetic cart attachment
  
• Slope that toggles on and off to be tournament legal
• Target lock vibration
• Two-year warranty

• Does not adjust for climate and temperature
• Not rechargeable (you must replace the CR-2 battery)
• Shorter range than most competitors
  
• Not waterproof

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Blue Tees Series 3 Max

 

Probably one of the most stylish rangefinders out there, the Blue Tees Series 3 Max golf rangefinder is one of the best on the market. It is able to provide accurate readings up to 1,000 yards, making it perfect for use on a variety of courses. The Series 3 Max also features a 6x magnification, making it easy to get an accurate reading no matter where you are on the course. Additionally, the device is able to provide fast readings, so you can get back to your game as quickly as possible.

The Blue Tees Series is a very popular model with hundreds of reviews on some of the most popular online golf retailers. One really innovative feature of the Blue Tees Series 3 is the auto-ambient display technology. It senses the lighting and conditions to adjust the color of the display to create the maximum contrast and clarity for the user.

All this with an affordable price makes the Blue Tees a rangefinder worth consideration.

Pros

Cons

• Auto-ambient display
• Magnetic cart attachment
• 6x magnification
• Slope that toggles on and off to be USGA tournament legal
• Target lock vibration
  
• Two-year warranty
• Trade-in program to get credit for trading in older models

• Does not adjust for climate and temperature
• Not rechargeable (you must replace the CR-2 battery)
• Not waterproof

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Precision Pro Nx7 - Best Budget Rangefinder

 

With nearly 3,000 reviews on Amazon and a 4.5 star rating, the Precision Pro Nx7 Golf Rangefinder is a very popular golf model. It is a great budget golf rangefinder and is incredibly affordable given the list of features it provides. It has been redesigned with a more ergonomic shape.

The entry level model for this brand has a focus adjustment that allows you to better see the pin. The redesign also improved the laser speed for faster distance assessment. Given its strong brand and low price, we've rated it the best budget golf rangefinder in our review.

It is very accurate and has a jolt feature to let you know when you have hit your target. It has a very durable design and many owners report dropping it and having no issues with it after. It is an affordable model that packs the key features you want in a rangefinder, though it may not have every bell and whistle there is on the rangefinder market.

Pros

Cons

• Water resistant
• Adaptive slope technology
• Target lock vibration
• Accurate up to 650 yards
  
• Two-year warranty

• Does not adjust for climate and temperature
• Not rechargeable (you must replace the CR-2 battery)
• Not waterproof
  

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Garmin Approach Z82

 

The Garmin Approach Z82 is a golf rangefinder that is perfect for those who are looking for an easy to use and reliable device. This rangefinder is simple to use, and it can be easily operated with just one hand.

The Garmin Z82 is touted as the most accurate rangefinder on the market. The Z82 also has a fast focus system, which makes it easy to get a clear image of the target. Plus, the rangefinder is waterproof, making it perfect for use in all weather conditions.

When paired with the Garmin Golf app, this GPS rangefinder is like having a supercomputer for a caddie. It can give you all sorts of data besides the distance to the target. For example, the map overlays show the hole layout, so you know the distance to the back, middle, and front of the green. Another example is the laser range arc. The Laser Range Arcfeature draws an arc on the 2-D CourseView map at the distance the laser ranged, so you can see everything in play at that distance.

Pros

Cons

• Accurate to 10 inches from 450 yards
  
• Compatible with the Garmin Golf app
  
• Find my Garmin feature to help you locate a lost device
  
• 6x magnification
  
• "Plays like" slope feature that you can toggle on and off for tournaments
  
• Target lock vibration
• Wind detection

• Rechargeable, but needs to be charged frequently
• A bit steeper learning curve with the GPS and app compatibility

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Precision Pro R1

 

The Precision Pro R1 is an excellent golf rangefinder for the price. It is very accurate, measuring distances to one yard, and it is easy to use. It also has a slope feature that gives you an accurate reading based on the slope of the terrain.

The R1 includes GPS so you can get every distance. See distances to the front, center, and back of the green. You'll be able to assess how close the pin is to the edge of the green and make the appropriate club choice to minimize risks.

It also has a wind assist technology that lets you measure the wind with every shot. Measuring the wind by harnessing real-time weather data. Wind Assist™ calculates the effect of the wind on every shot, displaying the number of yards to add or subtract to your distance.

Last, but not lease, with the "Find my Precision Pro" you'll never lose another rangefinder.

Pros

Cons

• Slope technology toggles on and off
• Wind assist technology
  
• GPS tech to see the front, middle, and back of the green distances
  
• Magnetic cart mount
  
• Target lock vibration
  
• Rechargeable
  
• Durable shock proof design
  
• Two-year warranty
  

• Does not adjust for climate and temperature
• Water resistant, but not water-proof

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What to Look for In a Golf Rangefinder

 

There are many factors you should consider when purchasing a golfing rangefinder. Top rated golf range finders come with a wide array of capabilities. Paying attention to key specifications, some of the key features in the best golf rangefinders include:

• Ease of use
• Accuracy
• Range
• Slope Toggle
• GPS
• Battery Life
• Water Proof
• Display Technology / Brightness Levels
• Case and Clips
• Zoom / Magnification
• Stabilization

Ease of Use
The best golf rangefinder should be easy to use. You don’t want to have to spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to use the functionality of your rangefinder. The best rangefinders are easy to use and allow you to get the information you need quickly. This includes getting a read on the distance to the pin quickly and consistently.

Accuracy
You are using a range finder to get an accurate distance, so the best golf rangefinder should be accurate. You don’t want to purchase a rangefinder that is not accurate. Accuracy is important when trying to determine the right club to hit to be on the green, or to clear a hazard. Specifications of the most accurate range finders are to within a half a yard at over 500 yards distance.

Range
The best golf rangefinder you select should have a good range - meaning how far away they can measure. Most on the market can exceed the distance of any human golfer's driving distance. The range should allow you to determine the distance to the green from a variety of distances. You don’t want to be limited in the distances you can measure.

Slope Toggle
If you play in tournaments you probably know you often can't use the slope setting during tournament play. You want to buy a model whose specifications include being able to turn off slope so you can use yours during tournament play.

GPS
Some rangefinders include GPS. This allows you to see the front, back, and middle of the green, distances to hazards and more for golf courses mapped in the software that comes with the GPS. If this is important, make sure your course is mapped in the GPS software.

Battery Life
A golf range finder runs on a battery. They tend to last a long time. The longer they last, the less frequently you'll need to replace them. It is also worth looking at what kinds of batteries are used so you are ready with a replacement.

Water Proof
You play golf out in the elements. A range finder will get wet - either from rain or from damp grass when you set it down (you may not think you would do this, but I assure you that you will). Having a better degree of water resistance will ensure you don't ruin your investment in bad conditions.

Display Technology / Brightness Levels
Some rangefinders will display distances in the viewer you look through. They would be super-imposed on the item you are scoping. Others have LED readouts on the side of the rangefinder. This is a matter of personal preference and you can get the one that best suits your needs. You will also want to evaluate the brightness levels as it will make a difference in being able to see the data in bright sun.

Case and Clips
Rangefinders may have a storage case, a protective case, clips to secure them to your bag or magnets to secure them to a cart post. Get the case and clip features most suited to the way you play and will use the rangefinder.

Zoom / Magnification
Range finders usually feature a small amount of magnification: between about 5 and 10x. Being zoomed in a bit makes it easier to range a specific target when it is slightly magnified - particularly when it can be over 200 yards away.

Stabilization
Shaky hands make it difficult to get an accurate distance with even the most high-quality range finder. Some of the new state-of-the-art devices come with picture stabilization to make it easier to get an accurate distance.

Rangefinder FAQ's

How Do Golf Rangefinders Work?

Golf rangefinders work by emitting a laser and then measuring the time it takes for the laser to reflect back to the device. This time is then used to calculate the distance between the device and the target. Some models incorporate slope into the calculation and can give you a slope adjusted yardage. For example adding yards on an uphill shot and subtracting on a downhill shot to improve your accuracy.

What is the Difference Between Laser Rangefinders and GPS Rangefinders?

The two main types of rangefinders are a laser rangefinder and a GPS rangefinder. A laser rangefinder works by emitting a laser beam and measuring the time it takes for the beam to return to the device. This calculation is used to determine the distance between the device and the object. GPS rangefinders work by using satellites to calculate the distance between the device and the object. Both types of rangefinders have their pros and cons, but ultimately it comes down to personal preference.

Are Expensive Rangefinders Worth the Money?

Some golfers feel that rangefinders are worth the investment, while others believe that cheaper options such as GPS devices or apps on phones are just as good, if not better. The expensive units tend to be more accurate and reliable, but not always. They will also come with features like slope adjustment that you may note get in the lower end models. Ultimately, it is up to the individual golfer to decide whether or not an expensive rangefinder is worth the money.

Is Slope Necessary on a Rangefinder?

Slope technology is not necessary on a golf rangefinder. However, it can be a useful feature to have. With slope technology, the rangefinder will be able to calculate the incline or decline of the course and provide the golfer with an adjusted yardage. This can be helpful in making sure you are playing the correct distance on each shot. You may want to make sure slope can be turned off during tournament play.

How Long Will a Rangefinder Last?

In general, a rangefinder should last for several years if it is used infrequently and is well maintained. Keep it clean, replace dead batteries, don't leave it in a hot trunk, and keep it dry to make it last longer.

What is Flag Lock on a Rangefinder?

Flag lock is a feature on a rangefinder that helps you lock onto a flag to get an accurate yardage. This is a great feature to use when you are playing on a course with a lot of trees since it can be difficult to get an accurate reading when there are obstacles in the way.

Why do Some Rangefinders Have Three Lenses?

The three lenses on a golf rangefinder are used to calculate the distance to the target via triangulation.

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Thanks for reading - you may also enjoy our golf simulator forum on Reddit:

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