As you step up to the first tee box of your local nine-hole course, you’re probably checking yardage and making sure the club you brought out is going to make it to where you’re aiming. Maybe you’re in the right rough, 20-30 yards away from the nearest marker. As you trek back to your ball, you have numbers, equations, and questions swirling in your head: “150 yards to the center of the green… 15 yards back of the white yardage marker… Is the flag in the front of the green or the back?” That’s a lot of calculation and contemplation.
Thanks to technology, golf rangefinders can do the calculations for you to scope the distance to the flag. With several manufacturers in this space and various price points across the industry, it might be challenging to locate the best rangefinder for golf on your own. But don’t worry, we’ve done the dirty work for you. Here’s a list of the Best Rangefinders of 2023 to help you narrow down your purchase:
Top 10 rangefinders for golf
- Staff favorite: Bushnell Pro XE
- Best smart technology: Precision Pro R1 Smart
- Best for first-timers: GOGOGO SPORT VPRO GS24
- Best current trend: Garmin Approach® Z82
- Best 3-in-1 technology: Shot Scope Pro LX+
- Best optics: Nikon Coolshot ProII Stabilized
- Best for accuracy: Cobalt Q6 Slope
- Best value: Blue Tees Series 3 Max
- Best for compactness: Bushnell Tour V5
- Best battery life: Decathlon Inesis Golf 900
Best rangefinders compared
| Rangefinder | Cost | Purchase Link |
|---|---|---|
| Bushnell Pro XE | $549.99+ | Buy Now |
| Precision Pro R1 Smart | $319.99+ | Buy Now |
| GOGOGO SPORT VPRO GS24 | $99.99+ | Buy Now |
| Garmin Approach® Z82 | $499.99+ | Buy Now |
| Shot Scope PRO LX+ | $349.99+ | Buy Now |
| Nikon Coolshot Pro II Stabilized | $449.95+ | Buy Now |
| Cobalt Q6 Slope | $450+ | Buy Now |
| Blue Tees Series 3 Max | $269.99+ | Buy Now |
| Bushnell Tour V5 | $249.99+ | Buy Now |
| Decathlon Inesis 900 | $199+ | Buy Now |
Staff favorite: Bushnell Pro XE
Bushnell Pro XE
Benefits
- Accounts for altitude, temperature, and barometric pressure in yardage calculation
- Red optical flash and vibration when locked in
- Bushnell Golf app compatibility
The best just got even better – the Pro X3 is one of the most advanced laser rangefinders yet.
Best smart technology: Precision Pro R1 Smart
Precision Pro R1 Smart
Benefits
- Considers slope and barometric pressure in yardage calculation
- MySlope™ feature uses your distances for personalized feedback
- GPS location capabilities help locate the device when misplaced
At a price point that will align with most golfers’ budgets, the Precision Pro R1 Smart has plenty of features, such as GPS tracking capabilities, the consideration of slope and barometric pressure in its yardage calculations, and a MySlope™ technology feature that combines your personalized data with environmental factors. This individualized feedback makes your rangefinder truly your rangefinder.
At just over $300, the cost also works into most consumers’ individualized checkbooks. The magnetic mount is always a benefit, but if you didn’t catch the metal bar when affixing, or you left the club without your device, GPS location services will help you find your rangefinder before it finds a new home.
Best for first-timers: GOGOGO SPORT VPRO GS24
GOGOGO SPORT VPRO GS24
Benefits
- Continuous scan mode
- Golf mode and speed mode
- Extreme value in this device
The GOGOGO SPORT VPRO GS24 is currently on sale for $119.99 — an incredible value and a perfect product for first-time users. The continuous scan mode allows you to get distance readings even if the object is in motion. Not needed for golf, of course, but this device is touted for hunters, as well.
Best current trend: Garmin Approach® Z82
Garmin Approach® Z82
Benefits
- Video screen rather than optical viewfinder
- Provides a plethora of information about your hole and current golf shot
- Provides wind speed and direction
The Garmin Approach® Z82 is raising some eyebrows and gaining traction in the industry. With a video screen that provides vital information about the golf course you’re playing, it does far more than derive your distance to the hole. It’s essentially an automated yardage book. Whether you want to know how far to clear the bunker or how far to clear the penalty area, it’s all in there.
Best 3-in-1 technology: Shot Scope Pro LX+
Shot Scope H4 GPS Handheld
$149.99
View Product
Benefits
- Exceptional battery life
- 3-in-1 technology: GPS, laser rangefinder for golf, and shot tracking
- Favorable ergonomic shape
The Shot Scope Pro LX+ offers 3-in-1 technology that includes a GPS, laser rangefinder for golf, and personalized shot tracking. With one of the longest-lasting battery lives on the market, this device will always be by your side. With its GPS-tracking capabilities, it’ll measure your distance per shot and provide an overall of potential danger in the course, including bunkers and penalty areas.
This device has a pleasing ergonomic shape that will keep your hands steady during use. It has, however, been known to have issues attaining the precise yardage against a busier-than-usual background. But sometimes, you have to sacrifice a little to get a whole lot more!
With this device, you can also track your shots and monitor your trends and tendencies. Most of us have limited time to practice, but practicing with a purpose is easier with the Shot Scope Pro LX+ rangefinder for golf.
Best optics: Nikon Coolshot Pro II Stabilized
Nikon Coolshot Pro II Stabilized
Benefits
- User-friendly display with stabilizing Nikon technology built-in
- Clear optics
- Visual jolt reassures an accurate reading
The Nikon Coolshot Pro II Stabilized rangefinder for golf provides the best optics and clearest display in the space. We shouldn’t be surprised by Nikon’s dominance in this area after decades of stellar optical tools with its still and video cameras.
This rangefinder has built-in stabilizing technology and a user-friendly display. The visual jolt on the screen tells you it’s OK to choose your club and knock that ball on the green. It’s also waterproof — a game-changer for many die-hard golfers who don’t like to shy away from a few clouds in the sky.
Best for accuracy: Cobalt Q6 Slope
Cobalt Q6 Slope
Benefits
- Consistently accurate to 1/10th of a yard
- Flag lock vibration when locked in
- Fast-reading and vibrant optics
The Cobalt Q6 Slope rangefinder for golf is stirring some buzz across the industry. With remarkably consistent yardage readings, often to within one-tenth of a yard of the target, the flag lock vibration tells you when you’re locked in on your target. Now go knock down that flagstick!
This fully waterproof rangefinder offers fast readings and vibrant optics that are easily adjustable using Cobalt’s SmartSwitch. You can adjust the brightness based on the amount of available light at the time. The performance of the Cobalt Q6 Slope rivals the big rangefinder names.
Best value: Blue Tees Series 3 Max
Blue Tees Series 3 Max
Benefits
- Flag lock and pulse vibration
- Metallic exterior for easy affixing to golf cart
- Auto-ambient display
Best value leads you to believe you get what you pay for, but with this rangefinder for golf, you get much more. As such, the Blue Tees Series 3 Max is better than this acknowledgment indicates. With flag lock, pulse vibration, and a metallic exterior that strongly affixes your golf cart, you can buy this device and likely still have some money left over for a lesson or a couple of dozen premium golf balls.
This rangefinder is water-resistant, and the auto-ambient display adjusts on its own to conform to the daylight level. This product is particularly great for golfers on a budget and even comes with a spiffy leather carrying case. Critics said the optics aren’t what you’d get from a higher-priced rangefinder for golf, but we say try one and see for yourself.
Best for compactness: Bushnell Tour V5
Bushnell Tour V5
Benefits
- PinSeeker technology: visual red indicator and physical vibrating jolt
- BITE magnetic cart mount
- Improved sightline view
In the lineup of golf rangefinders produced by the leader in the market today, the Bushnell Tour V5 is affordable and easy to use. Its compact frame makes it easy to handle, and the BITE Magnetic cart mount ensures you’ll never lose this trusted caddy. Bushnell has improved the sightline view, too, even though it didn’t seem to worry owners of the previous model. Coming in at right around $300, this rangefinder is waterproof and accurate within one yard of the hole — both pluses in our book!
Best battery life: Decathlon Inesis Golf 900
Decathlon Inesis Golf 900
Benefits
- Unbelievable value
- Exceptionally accurate
- Easy to use
With more than 5,000 measurements on its battery life, the Decathlon Inesis Golf 900 rangefinder is a sleeper buy. Hardly anyone has heard of it, but this rangefinder is crazy accurate, easy to use, and a bargain, to say the least, at under $200. Other devices have recorded over 5,000 measurements on battery life, but you’ll pay quite a bit more for those names.
This rangefinder is also slope-enabled when you want it to be and displays a clear view of the challenge in front of you. Get the number and proceed; we can confidently say you’ll be happy about this purchase. Whenever your friends ask you what the brand is again, let them try it out, and they’ll surely be hooked — even before learning the cost.
A rangefinder will up your golf game
Choosing the best rangefinder for golf really depends on you. Ask yourself: Is budget a concern? What features do I need? How durable do I want it to be? Do I need it to be waterproof? These questions and more go into the decision to improve your golf game with some of the best rangefinders out.
Golf rangefinders are not just for the single-digit handicaps and pros. A rangefinder for golf is more of a necessity than a luxury since the primary piece of information you need before every shot is the distance to your target. And let’s face it: They truly are affordable these days — just don’t get caught up in the unnecessary bells and whistles if you can’t afford them. You can find a new rangefinder for the price of a golf round at most middle- to high-end courses.
FAQ
What’s the best rangefinder on the market?
The Bushnell Pro XE is a staff favorite, but our editorial team has several of the models mentioned above in their bags. The “best” rangefinder on the market is the one that best suits your needs at your price point.
Who makes the most accurate rangefinder?
Today’s rangefinders are so good and so accurate, that you’d be hard-pressed to go wrong with any of the models we touched on. If we didn’t trust their accuracy, we wouldn’t have mentioned them for your consideration.
What rangefinder do the pros use?
A recent Darrell Survey revealed that Bushnell golf rangefinders are the top choice of the pros. More than half of PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions, and LPGA Tour players have a Bushnell rangefinder for golf affixed to their bag during practice rounds and permitted golf tournaments.