Have you ever stood on the tee box of a par three and realized that two, or maybe even all three, of your playing partners had their golf rangefinders trained on the flag in the distance?
That you might only need one “number” as the yardage but at least two players were standing side by side, each with one eye closed and a distance-measuring device steadied to their face like an old-time sailor with a periscope?
Yes, rangefinders today are increasingly commonplace in the golf world, even with the popularity of watches, speakers, or apps that provide distances to the front, middle, or back of the green. There are a lot of good reasons. They not only eliminate guesswork by giving generally accurate yardages to any number of targets—from pins to trees, bunkers, water hazards, or another group in the fairway ahead—they speed up play by helping golfers from both a confidence and decision-making standpoint.
Pardon the pun, but the range in the rangefinder department is broader than ever, with new technologies, greater versatility, and a variety of price points. If you’re among those golfers who haven’t yet joined the distance-measuring craze, are looking to upgrade, left your last gadget stuck to a cart, or just want to try something different, here are a handful of the latest offerings in the category, listed in order by price.
Shot Scope PRO L2 ($129.98)
Shot Scope continues to expand its presence in the U.S. and the PRO L2 is another reason why, as not only one of the most affordable options on the market, but one that’s fast and accurate. Perhaps best known to some for its shot-tracking technology, the Scotland-based company also boasts a range of GPS watches and laser rangefinders. While the PRO L2 is Shot Scope’s least expensive entry in the latter category, it comes packed with features like adaptive slope technology, rapid-fire detection, and target-lock vibration. All that in addition to the magnet for those who attach the rangefinder to their golf cart and then hope they remember it coming off the 18th green. (BUY NOW)
Pinned Prism+ Rangefinder Bundle ($259.99)
The newest offering from Pinned, the Prism+ is an upgraded version of its most popular laser rangefinder. In addition to many of the usual features—4K OLED display, 7x magnification, slope switch technology, first target acquisition, and built-in magnet—the battery for this rangefinder (which claims to have a life span of 65 rounds) can be charged via USB-C cord. Notably, Pinned is also packaging the Prism+ with its popular Sound Stick speaker for free (a $150 value), for those golfers who also want to play DJ on the course. (BUY NOW)
Blue Tees Series 4 Ultra ($299)
When Blue Tees Golf moved into the market, the brand’s focus was making high-quality equipment more accessible and affordable, leaning on the founders’ backgrounds in technology and industrial design. While there are lower-priced models in the Blue Tees lineup, the Series 4 Ultra is the company’s latest entry in the high-end, premium laser rangefinder category. The OLED display has adjustable brightness plus 6x magnification and facilitates almost effortless target acquisition by automatically fine-tuning the focus and eliminating the background. It’s designed for various weather conditions, including a high rating for water resistance and dust, and has slope switch technology in addition to the powerful magnet that’s popular among golfers who ride. (BUY NOW)
Precision Pro Titan Elite ($349.98)
The Titan Elite combines many of the learnings and tech that have made Precision Pro’s other rangefinder offerings so popular. This product offers GPS in addition to laser distances, as users can connect (for free) to the Precision Pro app and get front, center, and back of green distances via GPS before they even hit the flag with the laser. The other usual bells and whistles are there—target lock, pulse vibration, adaptive slope, magnetic grip, 6x magnification—and it also has a super durable aluminum shell with some of the highest safety ratings in the category when it comes to the weather conditions, whether dust or water. (BUY NOW)
Bushnell Pro X3+ ($499.99)
For many golfers, Bushnell is the yardstick against which all others are measured. The Pro X3+ promises to be the brand’s most powerful and precise offering to date, with the market-leading innovations golfers have become accustomed to… along with a few added elements. Literally. Beyond the range of 600+ yards, 7x magnification, and PinSeeker with Visual JOLT technology, the Pro X3+ is now able to gauge wind speed and direction. Users can connect with the Bushnell Golf mobile app to equip themselves with added info in the display about headwinds, tailwinds, or crosswinds, and get a Slope with Elements advantage. (BUY NOW)
Voice Caddie SL3 ($549.99)
The polished metal and premium leather will catch some eyes right off the bat, but it’s the performance that really matters when it comes to the newest high-end option from Voice Caddie. The brand’s “spot measurement” technology can deliver accurate distance in 0.1 seconds and its Pin Tracer tech automatically captures the pin even when the user’s hand is shaking or the flag is waving. This hybrid GPS laser rangefinder also boasts a high-resolution touchscreen and provides dynamic and detailed green undulation data, course layout graphics (with an eagle eye overview), putt distance measurement, and GPS distance readings. (BUY NOW)
Mileseey GenePro S1 ($799.99)
The newest rangefinder from Mileseey Golf, the GenePro S1, introduces AI into the category. The brand, while not widely known in the U.S., has traditionally offered more in the way of entry-level laser rangefinders. The GenePro S1 is a departure, with a range of over 2,000 yards, a 7.5x magnification, point-to-point measuring technology that was first applied in professional surveying instruments, and SmartSlope tech that integrates environmental variables such as barometric pressure, temperature, and humidity. The AI component comes into play by automatically switching the display between low-light and bright light environments, as well as rain and fog settings. (BUY NOW)
Have you used any of these golf rangefinders?
The Bushnell Hybrid rangefinder is the best rangefinder I’ve ever had. I don’t know why they stopped making them. Having the GPS and laser ability in the same device is awesome. And being able to see all that info within the viewfinder gives me all the info I need in one place. I’m also surprised there aren’t more options like this on the market. People don’t know what they’re missing.