If you are unsure of the best golf rangefinder to purchase reading more reviews should help you narrow down your choices. Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the marketing from manufacturers while not getting a real idea of the performance of the device.
Many of the insights on this page came from sifting through thousands of reviews. Here are some good resources for reviews on golf rangefinders:
MyGolfSpy.com
Amazon.com
criticalgolf.com
twogolfguys.com
GolfWRX.com
Simply put, a rangefinder is the easiest way to access accurate distances on the golf course. You have the measuring power in the palm of your hand – all you have to do is aim the device, press the button, and take note of the yardage. Once you are comfortable with using your rangefinder, you should be able to obtain a distance to the pin or another object in just a matter of seconds. These devices can help pace of play by eliminating the need to look around for markers in the fairway, and they can help you play better golf by providing you with reliable, accurate numbers.
Golf is meant to be fun, and for most people, owning a rangefinder will make the game more fun. Do you enjoy the process of walking all around the fairway to find a sprinkler head you can use as a distance reference? No – probably not. With a rangefinder, you can pick out your yardage in just moments, and you can get back to the task of actually playing golf. Some players have been resistant to pick up a rangefinder simply because it is relatively new to the game, but change is no reason to stay away. Every advancement is a bit odd at first, until it becomes universally accepted and used. Golf rangefinders make the game better, and you should strongly consider adding one to your collection of golf equipment.
For more info on what to consider when buying a rangefinder, click here.
So, if all the points in the section above are true, are there any good arguments against using a rangefinder? It is tough to find much bad to say about these devices, but we will give it a try, just for argument’s sake.
First, we can talk about the cost. Golf is already an expensive game, so you may not feel like spending hundreds of more dollars on a piece of equipment you technically don’t need in order to play golf. You could use that money on a new driver, or even on greens fees for several rounds. Any place you can save money in your golf game should be seen as a positive, so skipping a rangefinder for the time being might do your bank account some good.
Another argument in favor of passing on a rangefinder is the appeal of keeping technology safely away from your golf game. One of the things many people like about playing golf is the opportunity to get outside and spend some time with nature while not worrying about text messages, emails, and the like. Of course, you won’t get those messages on your rangefinder, but it is still a technological device – and you might feel like a break from anything with a battery. To keep your experience on the golf course as ‘pure’ as possible, you could decide to obtain your yardages the old fashioned way.
One last point which can be used to argue against rangefinders is some of the limitations they have compared to GPS units. If you do want a measuring device in your bag, some golfers will be happier with what is provided by a modern GPS device. Such devices will provide distances to the front, middle, and back of the green, which is something a rangefinder can’t do. Also, many GPS units have maps with distances to a variety of hazards and other notable spots, which is again a function not offered by a rangefinder.
In the end, we think laser rangefinders are tremendous pieces of equipment. However, they aren’t perfect, and one or two of the reasons above may give you pause before making a purchase.
After testing dozens and sifting through thousands of reviews of the best golf rangefinders on the market, here are my picks –
Bushnell Pro X2 – The best rangefinder on the market
Bushnell Tour V4 – The best value rangefinder on the market
TecTecTec VPRO500 – The best cheap rangefinder
If you’re in the market for a rangefinder, you want an accurate way to determine distances on the golf course.
If you golf like we golf, you may be looking for the distance to the fairway… from the woods. If you’re a better golfer than we are, you might be looking for the distance to the pin, in yards. There are a variety of ways to determine these distances.
Besides distance to the pin, golfers also want to know:
A rangefinder is one of the easier ways to improve your golf game. Why? Well knowing accurate distances goes a long way in helping with club selection. Sure, it might not help your swing, but knowing the right club to use out on the course provides an advantage.
If you are one of those golfers that practices, you can use a rangefinder to dial in your yardages while practicing at the driving range.
If you want the best golf rangefinder on the market, you need to check out the Bushnell Pro X2 Jolt Slope Rangefinder. Yes, it is expensive – it retails for $500 – but it has the features to back up the price.
You will need a really nasty hook to take full advantage of the X2’s insane range. The only golf application I can think would require this type of range is seeing how far away the beverage cart is.
It can lock on to the flag from up to 450 yards away, which is handy for when you are thinking about driving the green.
The viewfinder offers 6x magnification, the product is fully waterproof, and there is a limited 2-year warranty.
The Pro X2 will give you a measurement with a precision of up to half a yard.
If you have used a laser rangefinder you know one of the main drawbacks is the uncertainty about what you are actually measuring. Are you measuring the distance to the flag or something behind the green instead.
To eliminate that uncertainty, Bushnell uses “Jolt Technology”. When the rangefinder does lock on the flag, you will feel a slight vibration in the unit to tell you that you are getting the correct measurement.
Instead of measuring two or three times to confirm your number, you can just measure once, feel the Jolt, and move on with your shot.
The Bushnell Pro X2 has “Vivid Display Technology”. This means an MBA found a fancy way to say the viewfinder has improved brightness and resolution.
In addition to measuring basic distance, this model can adjust your yardage automatically to factor in the effect of any changes in slope.
So, if the shot you are measuring is going to be played uphill or downhill, the Bushnell Pro X2 will make the necessary adjustments to the number and provide you with a distance needed to hit the target successfully.
The Bushnell Pro X2 is designed to be fully waterproof.
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It’s was tough to put two Bushnell devices at the top of this list, but they are the top dog in the rangefinder business.
The Bushnell Tour V4 is among their best models, with a price tag that usually comes in right around $300.
One of the great features of this model, and many others in the Bushnell line – is the ‘Pinseeker’ technology. When the laser catches onto the flag, this system will quickly vibrate the unit, telling you that you have found the target successfully. Also, you can use this unit to measure up to 1,000 yards, and the viewfinder features 5x magnification. Simply put, this is among the top rangefinders on the market today.
Features:
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This rangefinder boasts measurements to within 1 yard from up to 550 yards away with excellent 6x magnification, kept clear and in focus through incredible performance from its optics.
If you are budget-minded and want to keep the purchase price on your rangefinder to a minimum while still getting a quality piece of gear, the TecTecTec VPRO500 is worth careful consideration.
Saving money is nice, but buying cheap crappy golf gear sucks.
The VPRO500 does not have all of the bells and whistles of the top-line rangefinders but it will give you accurate yardage from your ball to the target, which at the end of the day is the main feature golfers are looking for in a rangefinder.
With a total weight of just 185g, you won’t be adding anything noticeable to your bag. The rangefinder is designed to be dust and water resistant, and it can easily be used with a single hand. With just a little practice, you will be able to pick this unit up, measure your target quickly, and put it back down to proceed with your shot.
TecTecTec may not be a brand you have learned to trust. To help with this, the company offers a 100% money-back guarantee. If you aren’t happy with your purchase for any reason, the unit can simply be returned for a full refund. With this protection in place, it is much easier to try out a model that comes from a brand which isn’t as well-recognized as some of the others on the market.
Features
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There are a handful of solutions available on the market. Which golf distance finder is best for you, is up to your personal preference.
There are a couple of popular types of GPS devices on the market. I break them down into two categories Handheld Devices and Wearable. They all essentially serve the same purpose with the difference being how the course details are displayed and how you carry them around with you. Handheld devices can be carried in a pocket or on the golf cart whereas wearables like a GPS Golf Watch are worn on your wrist or wearables like a Skycaddie may be worn on the brim of a hat.
Click here to see a break down of Rangefinders vs GPS Devices
Similar to Google Maps or other navigation apps on your smartphone, there are GPS Golf Apps which allow you to gauge the distance to the pin or course features using the builtin GPS on your iPhone or Android device. Are you looking for the cheapest option? The cheapest form of golf rangefinder is a smartphone app.
Click here for more on rangefinders vs apps.
Typically what people think of when they hear golf rangefinder are laser rangefinders. These look similar to binoculars. You use an eyepiece to aim a laser at the object you want the yardage to. These devices are typically more accurate than GPS Devices and Smartphone apps but are also more difficult to use.
Click here for all of my rangefinder reviews.
For more info on what to consider when buying a rangefinder, click here.
The Rules of Golf are often slow to permit the use of new technologies, such as rangefinders. While laser rangefinders have been used for many years in a variety of applications – such as hunting, – they are relatively new to the world of golf.
Traditionally, there were a couple of ways to obtain yardage on the golf course. The first was through markings on the course such as on the cart path, sprinkler heads, and more. For years, it was common to see players ‘walking off’ the distance between one of these markers and their ball in order to get a yardage. While this system worked fairly well, it is time-consuming and something of a hassle. Also, depending on the ability of a given golfer to pace off their yardage, the final number that is determined may or may not be entirely accurate.
When the rangefinder arrived on the scene, all of that changed. Rather than pacing around the course, players were now able to obtain an extremely accurate (in most cases) yardage within just a fraction of a second.
However, there is a small point that most golfers do not understand – rangefinders are still illegal under the rules of golf. Despite the fact that they are commonly seen on golf courses all across the country, rangefinders are disallowed under Rule 14-3 which restricts the use of ‘any artificial device or unusual equipment for the purpose of gauging distance or conditions which might affect play’.
So how are so many people using rangefinders when they are explicitly ruled out in the Rules of Golf? In 2006, the USGA allowed for the use of a Local Rule which can permit the use of distance measuring devices, as long as they only measure distance (not slope, wind, etc.).
When the Local Rule is in effect, players can freely use their distance-only rangefinders without penalty. Models that include slope or other features are always illegal under the rules, no matter what kind of Local Rule is put in play.
If you are playing a casual round with your friends, feel free to use your rangefinder to obtain all of the distances you need. However, if you are playing in a tournament, you will need to check to ensure that the Local Rule regarding rangefinders has been put into use. Most tournaments do allow them to be used, but it is smart to double-check anyway before you head to the first tee.
On the PGA Tour, the Local Rule has not been adopted, so players at that level are not able to use rangefinders during competition. They do, however, use them in practice rounds to record important yardages for use later.
When shopping for any product – such as if you’re on the lookout for the best mallet putter or anything else – there is always the temptation to buy an off-brand in order to save some money. Nearly every name brand product in existence faces competition from an off-brand imitator who offers to provide the same basic functions for a lower cost. When it comes to rangefinders, is it a good idea to go in this direction in order to save a few bucks? Well, that all depends on your needs, your budget, and more.
First, the basic function of a golf rangefinder is extremely simple – to measure the distance, in yards, between two locations. So, as you stand in the fairway next to your ball, the rangefinder is tasked with measuring the distance between your ball and the flag (or any other object that you are going to use for a target). With that in mind, it might seem like any old rangefinder could do the job. After all, if it can measure distance, that’s the end of the story – right? Not necessarily.
You might be able to locate an off-brand rangefinder which can measure distance accurately, but there are other capabilities that need to be considered. First, how durable is the product? You aren’t going to intentionally ‘beat up’ your rangefinder, but it is likely to get knocked around a bit during the course of a round (especially if you walk the course). You don’t want to purchase a rangefinder only to have it break down after a couple of rounds, so durability is a real concern with lesser brands.
Also, you want to think about the lifespan of the battery included with the rangefinder at purchase. If you are going to have to buy a new battery in short order, you might end up spending just as much money as you would have spent buying a model from a respected brand leader. To determine how long the battery may last in a given model, you can use the reviews found online from previous buyers to gain some insight. If battery life – or any other specific point – seems to be a problem, you might want to think twice about your purchase.
The last thing to think about in this debate is the matter of just how much money you stand to save. Is the savings really going to be worth dealing with a lower quality product? For example, if you are considering two options – a brand name model at $200 and an off-brand option at $150 – is saving $50 enough to make it worth downgrading to a lesser product? Only you can make that choice for yourself, but the answer is often going to be ‘no’ for many golfers. If you are going to bother investing in a rangefinder to improve your experience on the course, it usually will make sense to buy a product from a trusted and respected brand.
Well, yes, it does. However, those distances have some limitations. First, they are only provided at certain increments – often at 100/150/200. So, if you are around 125 yards from the green, you are going to have to walk 25 yards in either direction to confirm your yardage. Also, those numbers are only measured to the middle of the green, as they cannot take into account the location of the flag on that particular day. While some yardages will be provided on the course, a rangefinder is better.
Generally speaking, rangefinders are quite easy to use. Once you have a little bit of time to get comfortable with the device, you should be able to pick out distances quickly and easily. With that said, there are a few tips we can offer to help you get the most out of owning one of these units. Check out the advice below to make sure you are using your rangefinder to its full potential.
Check out similar buying guides –
Best Golf Push Carts
Best Golf Training Aids
Best Golf Swing Analyzers
Best Golf Balls for Distance
Golf GPS Devices and laser rangefinder serve the same purpose but use different technologies. The technology behind each allows for slightly different benefits.
The costs are essentially the same. A GPS watch like the Skygolf Skycaddie Linx sells for $140 on Amazon and the Nikon Coolshot 20 is $180.
GPS Devices give the yardage to the front, middle and back pin positions. Laser Rangefinders can the exact yardage (within a yard or two) as long as no obstacles obstruct the view.
GPS Devices rely on maps that are loaded onto a server somewhere whereas rangefinders can give yardage from actual course conditions.
This also allows you to use a laser rangefinder while out on the driving range or during practice sessions.
Instead of guessing the yardage of your target on the range or trusting the course’s yardage markers, you can know within a yard or so the exact yardage using a laser rangefinder. This is one advantage for laser rangefinders over GPS watches or GPS golf apps.
A GPS watch is fairly easy to use. All you need to do is load the course and the watch does the rest by advancing hole by hole. When you are at your ball, check the watch for the yardage. Operating a laser rangefinder is a bit more involved. It takes a bit of practice and precision to aim the rangefinder at your target and not mistakenly capture something in the foreground/background.
As long as you capture the correct target, a laser rangefinder will be more accurate than a GPS watch for golf. Instead of relying on satellites and previously loaded front, middle and back pin locations, you are dealing with actual course conditions at the time of play.
Laser rangefinders also have the ability to calculate slope… if that’s your thing. As far as I am aware, no GPS devices on the market are able to accurately calculate slope into a suggested yardage.
Click here for our list of the best GPS Golf Watches on the market.
In addition to GPS Golf Watches or Handheld GPS Devices, GPS Golf Apps are a popular way to get yardages out on the course. GPS Golf Apps have all the same downsides listed above for GPS Watches in addition to a few more relating to cell coverage on the course and the need to have your phone out during your round.
I prefer to unplug from emails, phone calls and text messages while on the course. If you are on your phone the whole round you are bound to get distracted by push notifications from your inbox, SMS, or your favorite non-golf apps.
There are tons of Golf Apps that offer a lot more than just course maps and yardage. Some apps offer discount tee times, handicap tracking or even pair you with other golfers.
Two popular GPS Golf Apps are:
Golfshot
GolfLogix
SwingxSwing
Many of these GPS Golf Apps are compatible with Apple Watches and Android Wearables. Assuming you already have a smartwatch, your phone has decent coverage on the course and you don’t mind being distracted by push notifications from Facebook making sure you don’t miss that your aunt just posted a picture of her salad, a GPS Golf App is an inexpensive solution to getting a rough sense of yardage out on the course.
GPS Golf Apps suck a ton of power. App developers have been integrating power-saving features in their GPS Golf App, but if you aren’t careful your phone will die before the end of your round and you will be left in the dark on yardage. Also, most cell phones are not water-resistant. You will need to get a protective case for any wet days out on the course.
GPS Golf Apps are not able to calculate the slope. If you want slope, you will need to get a laser rangefinder.
Considering how popular golf rangefinders have become, it is no surprise that there are a number of different brands offering their own version of this popular golf device. When you set out to buy your own rangefinder, you are quickly going to discover that you will have to sort through a number of brands to eventually settle on a winner. To help you do just that, we have included a bit of information below about each of the major players in the rangefinder game.
Here we find a brand name that is well-recognized around the world – and not for just rangefinders. Nikon is a Japanese company that was founded nearly 100 years ago, meaning they have built up a ton of customer trust and loyalty in that time. If you like making purchases with respected brand leaders, a Nikon rangefinder may be the way to go. The Nikon COOLSHOT line of rangefinders is quite popular in the golf world, and these devices are respected for their impressive accuracy.
Bushnell could very easily be considered the leader in the golf rangefinder business. This popular brand was one of the first into the market when rangefinders began to sweep the golf world, and they are respected for their quality and reliability. These products are seen in the hands of many Tour pros and caddies while they prepare for events, which should tell you everything you need to know. Some of their most popular models include the Tour V4, the Tour X, the Pro X7, and the Tour V3. Depending on the features you are looking for and the budget you have in mind, there is a good chance that one of these models will fit your requirements nicely.
Tectectec is a French company which offers two laser rangefinders for your consideration – the VPRO500, and the VPRO500 Slope. Again with this brand, we see a rangefinder that can do everything you need in terms of distance measurement on the course. With 6X magnification when looking through the viewfinder and a ‘Pinseeker’ mode to track down your yardage accurately, you should be able to get your number and be on your way in no time at all. Also, the unit is built with rainproof technology to enable it to work well even on those damp days.
Callaway is a brand that is known to golfers around the world, as it has been producing quality gear for decades – including clubs, balls, shoes, gloves, and much more. Naturally, Callaway also has a significant presence in the rangefinder market, where their distance measuring devices have become quite popular.
While Callaway offers traditional rangefinders with all of the necessary features, they also offer GPS units and even a hybrid GPS-Laser Rangefinder model which gives you the best of both technologies. As a brand, Callaway provides buyers with one of the most diverse product lines available, meaning you will have plenty of models to pick from when you stick with this respected name.
While Izzo is a popular golf brand which offers products in a variety of categories, they do not actually offer a laser rangefinder in their lineup. They do, however, offer a number of GPS distance-measuring devices, including the SWAMI 4000+. Also, one of their newest products, the SWAMI GT, has the ability to both provide distances as well as tracking your play in terms of how far you hit each club, etc. The SWAMI GT is one of the more exciting new products on the market, and it is worth a look if you are interested in learning as much as possible about your own game.
If you are looking for selection above all else, look no farther than GolfBuddy. This brand offers up an incredible number of distance measuring devices, meaning you can be picky in choosing the exact model which will suit your needs. Included in their product line are GPS watches, talking GPS devices which tell you the distance to your target audibly, laser rangefinders, handheld GPS models, and more. The GolfBuddy lineup runs the gamut from affordable to high-end, so they should have a product to suit just about any budget.
In terms of ease of use, it doesn’t get much more convenient than the VoiceCaddie. Their flagship product is a simple device that can be attached to your hat prior to starting a round. Once it is turned on and ready to go, you simply tap the unit and it reads you the distance that you have remaining to the target. It’s just that easy. In addition to this creative distance measuring solution, the VoiceCaddie brand also offers some more traditional distance measuring options, such as a GPS watch and a laser rangefinder.
Golfers looking to pick up a handy piece of technology to aid in distance measuring on the course are going to be lacking for options. The brands listed above are some of the most popular in the game, although there are even more out there to explore. In the end, the goal of your shopping experience should be simple – to settle on a product from a quality brand name that offers all of the features you need for a price you can afford.
Read more about: What is the Best Cheap Golf Rangefinder For You?
Laser rangefinders are one of the best ways to accurately determine distances to the target out on the golf course. In fact, these days, it seems like all golfers have one of two pieces of technology in their bag – either a laser rangefinder or a GPS unit. Each of these options is able to accurately measure distance, so the choice is up to you with regard to which is going to make its way into your collection of golf gear.
In this article, we are going to cover laser rangefinders. More specifically, we are going to cover laser rangefinders with the capability to measure slope. Rangefinders that can measure slope are able to automatically adjust the distance to the target for you, based on the slope of the ground. So, if you are facing an uphill shot, the rangefinder will calculate how far uphill you are playing, and distance will be added to the ‘raw’ number in order to give you a yardage that should lead to an accurate club selection.
For example, if you have 100 yards to the hole, but are playing well uphill, the rangefinder might tell you that you need to hit the ball 115 yards. You can pick your club accordingly, and hopefully the ball will wind up right next to the cup. Obviously, if you are playing downhill, the rangefinder will subtract distance as needed to leave you with an appropriate number.
To Slope or Not to Slope?
There are pros and cons to picking out a rangefinder with a slope function. On the positive side, owning this kind of device is like having a real caddie right there at your side. It is easy to get a raw distance number, but calculating slope and adjusting the yardage accordingly is a more challenging task. If your rangefinder can do the math on your behalf, all you need to do is read the distance and make a great swing.
On the downside, most golf competitions do not allow the use of a rangefinder with a slope function. At the very least, you likely won’t be allowed to have the slope function in operation while you play in a tournament. Or, in stricter events, you won’t even be allowed to use the unit at all, even if slope adjustments have been turned off. So, if you are a golfer who likes to play in a number of competitions throughout the year, you may be better served with a rangefinder that does not include slope capability.
At this point in the article, we are going to take a look at some of the top laser rangefinders on the market which include slope adjustments. If you have decided to go ahead with a slope-enabled model, those listed below are some of your best options.
We start off our list with a model from one of the top names in the rangefinder business – Bushnell. The Tour V4 Slope Rangefinder is among their best models, with a price tag that usually comes in right around $300. One of the great features of this model, and many others in the Bushnell line – is the ‘Pinseeker’ technology. When the laser catches onto the flag, this system will quickly vibrate the unit, telling you that you have found the target successfully. Also, you can use this unit to measure up to 1,000 yards, and the viewfinder features 5x magnification. Simply put, this is among the top rangefinders on the market today.
Features:
Another option from Bushnell, this is the Tour X Jolt Golf Laser Rangefinder. This model has many of the same features and capabilities as the previous option on our list, only it goes even a little bit further. Instead of 1,000 yards, this unit is capable of measuring up to 1,300 yards. Also, it has 6x magnification in the viewfinder, rather than 5x. If you are looking for a rangefinder that can be considered the best of the best, the Tour X Jolt is an easy pick.
Features:
Going in a different direction, we find another trusted brand name – Nikon. While you might think of Nikon first with regard to cameras rather than golf equipment, they have proven their ability to produce a quality rangefinder. This model, the COOLSHOT 40i, takes readings in approximately half a second, which is quick for this type of unit. It can read distances up to 650 yards, it is adept at picking out the right target, and it can adjust properly for slope to help you pick the right club. Even with all those great functions, this Nikon usually sells for less than the Bushnell models listed above.
Features:
The name Leupold might not be familiar to you, but this rangefinder option is still worth your consideration. The Gx-2I2 is an advanced rangefinder which is able to deliver accurate and quick measurements to the user. This rangefinder is waterproof so it can be used safely on a rainy day, and it can pick up distances as far as 800 yards out (300 to the pin).
Features:
When only the best rangefinder on the market is going to do for your needs, the Bushnell Pro X7 Jolt Slope Rangefinder is the model you are going to want to turn to. Yes, this is an expensive item – it usually retails for $500 – but it has the features to back up that sticker shock. Incredibly, this rangefinder can measure distances all the way out to one mile, making it useful for applications other than golf. It can lock on to the flag from up to 550 yards away, which is handy for when you are thinking about driving the green – on a par five or trying to track down the beverage cart girl. The viewfinder offers 7x magnification, the product is fully waterproof, and there is a limited 2-year warranty.
Features:
To wrap our list, we have another option from Leupold. This model is nearly as expensive as the Bushnell X7 above, and it has nearly as many features as well. It ranges up to 700 yards, it has technology to help you find the pin with ease, and there is a one-touch scan mode as well. Notably, this model also includes a club selector system which will recommend the right club for each shot. If you want a top of the line rangefinder, and have decided against the Bushnell, the Leupold GX-4iA2 makes for a great choice.
Features:
I put together a guide on the best golf rangefinders. Check it out if you want more info before buying a rangefinder.
The most important piece of information you need to have for any given shot out on the course is the distance between your ball and the target. Without this crucial number, you will have no way of knowing which club you should take from your bag, or what kind of swing you should make. Yes, there are other factors to consider such as the wind and perhaps elevation change, but the yardage you are facing is by far the biggest piece of the puzzle. With an accurate yardage for every shot throughout the round, you will be a big step closer to improved performance.
Fortunately, since we live in an age of incredible technology, there are now a number of different ways to get yardages quickly and easily on the golf course. For many golfers today, the technology of choice is a GPS device. By using a GPS unit that has been designed specifically for golf, you can get the yardage to the middle of the green (and other important points on the course) in an instant. GPS devices are affordable, highly accurate, easy to use, and they even save time as you play. In other words, adding one of these devices to your collection of golf equipment is an easy decision.
But which one should you buy? Well, that decision is not so easy. Fortunately, we have done a bit of the work for you. Below, you will find a list of six of the best golf GPS devices on the market today. After reviewing this list, there is a good chance that you will know which one you would like to purchase for yourself.
If it is simplicity that you are looking for in a golf GPS device, this first option on our list should grab your attention. The Bushnell Neo Ghost Golf GPS is compact, very easy to use, and offers all of the information you need. More than 30,000 golf courses come preloaded on this unit, which offers distances to the front, center, and back of greens. You can play up to three rounds on a single charge, and the whole thing will even fit in your pocket. Thanks to its compact design, this is also one of the least expensive options on our list, as you can frequently find it for less than $50.
Features:
Moving on to a GPS device from Izzo, this next option is slightly bigger than the Bushnell Neo Ghost, but it is still a compact, handheld unit. You will also find more than 30,000 courses loaded on this model, which is called the Izzo Swami 5000 Golf GPS Rangefinder, and you will find the display easy to read even in the middle of the day. Again here you will see distances to the front, center, and back of the green, and there is a function that you can use to measure the distance of your shots.
Features:
SkyCaddie was one of the very first players in the golf GPS space, so it only makes sense that they would be included on our list. This model, the Skygolf Skycaddie Touch GPS, is one of the most expensive on our list, but you get a long list of features for that price. To start, there is a 3’’ color display to provide you with all of the information you need to plan successful shots. You get an ‘eagle eye’ view of every hole as you play, so you can access distance information to a variety of points around the course, rather than just the green itself. Things like bunkers, water hazards, layup areas, and more are all marked within the Skycaddie system, meaning you will have more information at your disposal than with other, less-expensive devices.
Features:
If you are someone who likes to put your trust in respected brand names when you make a purchase, it is hard to go wrong with Garmin. This is a company that has long been a leader in the area of GPS devices, and they have been using their experience to provide quality golf GPS units for several years.
The Approach G8 Golf Course GPS is one of the best devices in their line, and it comes with a premium price tag to match its performance. Among the many benefits that you will find when using this device includes the ability to adjust for slope, club advice based on your recorded shot distances, and automatic course updating with a Wi-Fi connection. You will likely need to spend well beyond $300 to purchase this golf GPS, but you will receive one of the very best units on the market in exchange for your money.
Features:
To take advantage of many of the great features offered in the Garmin Approach G8, while also saving a bit of money, you may want to consider choosing the Garmin Approach G6. This model has a lot to like, including a 2.6’’ touchscreen display, an adjustable backlight, and more than 25,000 courses preloaded. This is still one of the more expensive GPS options on the market – with a retail price around $200 – but it does offer the kind of performance that you would expect for that cost. This is a GPS device meant for the serious golfer who doesn’t want to quite spend the cash required for the Approach G8.
Features:
For the final product on our list, we are going to go in a bit of a different direction. Rather than a simple GPS device which provides you with yardage information as you play, this last product is a game tracking system which aims to make you better over time. It is called Arccos, and it works together with your phone to gather data about your game from the first hole on through to the last. Sensors are connected to the grip end of each of your clubs, and those sensors transmit information about your shots back to the app that you have downloaded on your phone (Android and iPhone compatible). If you are committed to improving your game over the long haul, you are going to need information about your strengths and weaknesses on the course – and this system can gather all of that data for you, without interfering with your enjoyment of the round of golf.
Features:
The GolfBuddy VS4 Golf GPS is a talking GPS device. Click the button and hear the distance to the front/middle/back of the green. You can click the device on your hat or bet or keep it in your pocket and look at the screen.
There are a lot of attachments that allow for versatility with the GolfBuddy. You can hang it from your belt, wear it like a watch, clip it to your hat, etc.
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I put together a guide on the top golf rangefinders. Check it out if you want more info before buying a rangefinder.
Technology has an incredible way of both making our lives easier and more complicated all at the same time. When you add a piece of technology into your life – no matter what it is – it usually will help you in some ways while also giving you another chore to take care of on a regular basis. Such is the case with distance measuring technology on the golf course. Things like GPS units and laser rangefinders are great for providing you with the numbers you need to hit quality shots, but they also give you another gadget to keep track of throughout your round.
With that said, the best distance measuring devices are those that balance giving you the numbers you need without really getting in the way. For its part, the Bushnell Neo XS Golf GPS Rangefinder Watch does a great job of information delivery without standing in the way of your game. Worn around your wrist, this device is always there when you need information and yet you can easily forget about it when not looking for a yardage. If you are used to wearing a watch in other walks of life, wearing this product on the course will quickly become second nature.
A Modern GPS
Many golfers turned to laser rangefinders and never looked back when they were faced with the prospect of having to download courses and pay membership fees to use a GPS device. However, the GPS landscape has changed, so you should consider one of these units once again if you had previous sworn them off. With the Neo XS Golf GPS Rangefinder Watch, as is the case with most modern GPS devices for golf, there is no membership to maintain, and there are no courses to download prior to hitting the links.
When you purchase this product, it will come preloaded with more than 33,000 courses in more than 30 different countries. The database of courses is almost sure to include your own course, and you should also be covered if you decide to travel to play golf. The only active role you really need to take in the management of this device is making sure that it is charged before your round – which is pretty easy, as a single charge is usually good for at least three rounds of golf, if not more. You can charge the watch with a USB cable, and you can download any available software updates through the same cable. It comes with a limited warranty, and is backed by the well-respected Bushnell name.
The Watch Design
As you know, most distance measuring devices don’t come in watch form. When it comes to rangefinders, they are simply handheld devices with a viewfinder that can be used to select a target and receive a yardage. For other types of GPS devices, there are a number of shapes which are usually meant to be mounted either on the side of a bag or to a cart. However, this watch design from Bushnell has plenty of advantages, and it is certainly worth consideration.
For one thing, you will never have to wonder where your GPS is when you are getting ready to hit your shot. It will also be close at hand (literally), but yet it will never require you to pick it up in order to get a reading. Just glance down at the display like you would with any other watch and you will have to distance you need to plan your shot. As long as you are comfortable making swings with a watch on your wrist – which is something you can get comfortable with after a bit of practice – you should be good to go with this design. When the round is over, simply put the watch away somewhere safe and pull it back out when you arrive at the course once again.
The Inevitable Drawbacks
No matter how well-designed a GPS distance measuring device may be, it will always have one drawback – it isn’t a laser rangefinder. Simply put, laser devices can do things that GPS units can’t do. That’s just the way it is. Specifically, you won’t be able to pick out various targets on the course to measure when you use a GPS. With a laser rangefinder, you can measure anything that will reflect your signal, meaning you can map out distances to trees, bunkers, slopes, and much more. When you choose to go in the GPS direction, you will be giving up that option. Of course, you will get accurate distances to the front, middle, and back of the greens, – which is great – but your available information will not go much beyond that.
With the Neo XS Golf GPS, you will also get some information regarding the distance to bunkers and other hazards, but you will not have control over that information. In other words, if the distance to a specific hazard is not already programmed into the unit, you will not get a measurement for that part of the course. This is a subtle negative that can be quite frustrating when you are unable to get a number to a hazard that just so happens to be in your way.
Whether or not you are going to get hung up on the limitations of GPS units as compared to laser rangefinders is up to you. The ability to measure everything on the course might be a nice bonus for you, or it might not be a big deal at all. Think about the way you play the game and decide what information you are going to want to have available in order to play your best.
If you do decide to go with a GPS device, the Bushnell Neo XS Golf GPS Rangefinder is a quality pick. The watch design means it will always be right where you left it after the last shot, and it will take only a moment to get your distance for a given shot. With a great price and a solid track record, you are unlikely to be disappointed with this handy device.
For a pro golfer, getting an accurate yardage to the green is easy. They turn to their caddie, ask for the number, and get it in return. Of course, you don’t have that luxury as an average amateur player, but you can have the next best thing when you employ the use of a device like the Bushnell Neo Ghost Golf GPS. This small device is affordable, extremely simple, and provides you with the information you need with just a glance.
If you have been weighing the pros and cons of various distance measuring devices, you might be a little confused as to what you actually need and what is just an extra feature designed to get you to spend more money. With the Neo Ghost Golf GPS, you can be confident that you will not be paying for any bells and whistles that drive up the price. This is a simple product which does its just effectively without requiring you to break your budget. This device is frequently available for well under $100, which means you stand to save significantly as compared to buying a distance measuring device with more features.
Three Numbers Every Golfer Needs
Even if you don’t think of yourself as a very good golfer, you should still be interested in getting three specific numbers on each approach shot. Those numbers are the distances that you have left to the front, middle, and back of the green. The front is important because it tells you the minimum distance you need to hit the shot in order to set up a putt. The middle is often used because it puts you safely away from the edges, and the back yardage is important to make sure you don’t send the ball clear over the green. Once you have all three of these numbers in mind, you can then make a smart club selection for your shot.
To make sure you have all of the info you need, the Bushnell Neo Ghost Golf GPS gives you all three of these numbers in just a fraction of a second. In one display, the Neo Ghost will show you the middle number in the center of the screen, with the front and back numbers smaller on the bottom of the display. This is information that you couldn’t get from a laser rangefinder, as you would only really be able to measure the flag itself with a laser (and perhaps the front of a bunker). There are pros and cons to both lasers and GPS units, but having front, middle, and back distances is definitely positive for the GPS option.
Pre-Loaded and Ready to Go
One of the complaints that many golfers used to have against earlier GPS units was the amount of work that was required to use them properly. For example, courses would have to be manually loaded to the device one at a time, meaning there was an amount of time that had to be spent just getting the unit ready for play. Of course, that was a major downside, and it was a big plus for the pro-rangefinder argument. However, this problem has been alleviated in recent years, as can be seen in the way the Bushnell Neo Ghost Golf GPS functions.
You don’t really have to do anything to get the Neo Ghost ready for your next round. It comes preloaded with more than 30,000 courses, meaning it is almost certain that your own favorite courses are included right out of the box. So, there is nothing to download, and there are no membership fees to pay either. Just make sure it is charged before your round, turn it on, and you are ready to go!
Once you are on the course, the simplicity continues throughout your round. Instead of asking you to select the hole that you are playing, the device will automatically detect where you are on the course so it can display measurement for the right hole without any help from you. In addition to the three yardages highlighted above, the Neo Ghost will also show you up to four hazard distances per hole so you can hopefully keep your ball out of trouble.
Pocket-Sized
If you don’t want to carry around a large rangefinder while you play, the Neo Ghost GPS is a unit that you should carefully consider. This is a small device that can easily be slipped into your pocket while you are hitting your shots. Or, of course, you can keep it in your golf cart and just give it a quick glance before you pick a club and get down to the business of making a swing. Some of the laser rangefinders and GPS units on the market today are unnecessarily large, but this is not a product that falls into that category.
Making Your Pick
It is true that the Bushnell Neo Ghost Golf GPS is a quality product that can supply you with the information you need while on the course. However, it is also true that there are a number of other great distance measuring products available. So, how do you pick? In the end, it comes down to functions and your own personal tastes. Are you someone who likes to have all of the bells and whistles in your gadgets, or do you like to keep it simple? This is definitely a product that lands squarely in the ‘keep it simple’ category. There aren’t really any extra features, and that is a good thing in the eyes of many.
Only you can pick out the device that is going to work best for your needs/preferences/budget, but it is safe to say that this product is one that warrants your consideration. It is a simple and reliable device that will give you the numbers you need from the first hole to the last. With plenty of great reviews and the Bushnell name to its advantage, you will likely be thrilled with the performance you receive if you do choose to go in this direction.
Check out my guide on the best golf rangefinders before purchasing a rangefinder.
