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Best Golf Rangefinders

Updated July 2023
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Garmin Approach Z82 Golf Rangefinder
Garmin
Approach Z82 Golf Rangefinder
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Expert Recommended
Bottom Line

An excellent rangefinder with premium features that provides accurate distance readings.

Pros

Image stabilization makes it easy to find targets and lock onto flags, and haptic feedback lets you know when you've locked on. Laser Range Arc draws an arc on the 2D field so you can see everything that s in play between yourself and the flag. ViewFinder offers over 41,000 courses.

Cons

The battery life is poor compared to other rangefinders.

Best Bang for the Buck
Callaway 300 Pro Laser Rangefinder with Slope
Callaway
300 Pro Laser Rangefinder with Slope
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Bargain Pick
Bottom Line

This offering from one of golf's most respected brands performed consistently in our user testing.

Pros

Carrying case easily attaches to golf bags. Magnahold feature sticks to bars on a golf cart. Pin-locking technology and slope measurement are intuitive. Viewfinder locks onto the target quickly and sonically confirms capture. Our tester says it gives the same readings as their friends' more expensive models do.

Cons

Rare reports of inconsistent readings. Be sure to aim for the flag.

GoGoGo Vpro Laser Rangefinder
GoGoGo
Vpro Laser Rangefinder
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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

This laser rangefinder is a great option for golfers who still want a breadth of impressive features.

Pros

Built to be versatile for golf and other outdoor hobbies. Detects range and angles with precision. Measures up to 650 yards away. Multi-coated optics reduce reflective lights. Tournament-legal for competitive golfers. Great for hobbyists looking to upgrade.

Cons

Some find it large and bulky. Somewhat steep learning curve.

Precision Pro Golf NX7 Pro
Precision Pro Golf
NX7 Pro
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Customer Favorite
Bottom Line

Precise functionality that ensures you lock in on the target every time.

Pros

Can toggle between slope and non-slope modes, all of which are USGA-legal. Accuracy within 1 yard. Waterproof features deal with tough course conditions. Has a 6x magnification level. It uses vibration to indicate it has locked in on the target.

Cons

The reaction time is a little slow at times. Struggles occasionally with hazard measurements.

Profey Golf Rangefinder
Profey
Golf Rangefinder
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Best for Beginners
Bottom Line

A quality rangefinder with precision technology for accurate readings on the course.

Pros

This rangefinder offers 6x magnification with slope management and continuous arc technology. The textured rubber gives it an ergonomic design, and the multi-layer green-coated lenses improve brightness and color contrast.

Cons

The battery dies quickly.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

After going through an intensive research process to narrow down our short list of top products in this space, we tested Callaway EZ Laser Rangefinder to be sure that it’s worthy of our recommendation. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter and test to verify manufacturer claims.

30
Models
Considered
97
Consumers
Consulted
20
Hours
Researched
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Buying guide for best golf rangefinders

A golf rangefinder is a tool that resembles binoculars and works similarly. They have a lens for zooming into objects far away, primarily pin flags. However, the main caveat is that rangefinders provide a distance measurement, giving you a better sense of what kind of shot you need to execute to get your ball as close to your target as possible.

Golf rangefinders are compact and lightweight, fitting easily in a golf bag pocket. They’re relatively easy to use, and many have advanced technologies that help you locate your target quickly. Some even account for incline and decline to provide an accurate distance.

We’ve tested one of the top rangefinders, the Callaway 300 Pro Slope Laser Rangefinder, for its accuracy and performance and narrowed down the best ones so that you can find one, no matter your skill level. Our top pick, the Bushnell Pro X3 Laser Rangefinder, boasts premium features and superior accuracy, making it ideal for experienced players. 

Best golf rangefinders

 

Garmin Approach Z82 Golf Rangefinder

This golf rangefinder is pricey but offers outstanding accuracy within 10 inches. of the flag. There are over 41,000 2D course overlays, and Laser Range Arc draws an arc on the course view from the distance between yourself and the flag so you can see everything that's in play. 

It has a range of up to 450 yards, and hazard view lets you quickly scroll through every hazard on the map. It has an external light that indicates when slope technology is active or when you're in tournament mode, and you'll get vibrational feedback every time you lock onto your target.

Callaway 300 Pro Slope Laser Rangefinder

The BestReviews testing team thoroughly reviewed and tested the Callaway 300 Pro Slope Laser Golf Rangefinder, one of the most popular and affordable rangefinders. It’s a terrific rangefinder for casual golfers or beginners looking to improve their games.

As most top-of-the-line rangefinders do, this model accounts for elevation changes and calculates the incline or decline for precise readings. It offers six-times magnification, has a range of 5 to 1,000 yards and is accurate within 1 yard. You can also toggle to have it display readings in meters if you prefer, and pin acquisition technology lets you lock onto targets up to 300 yards away. Also, it comes with a carry case, a carabiner and a quick-close band.

GoGoGo VPro Laser Rangefinder

If you’re reluctant to buy a rangefinder because you don’t think they’re worth the high price tag, you may be pleased to learn there are many terrific rangefinders for under $150. You can find the GoGoGo VPro Laser Rangefinder for $100, making it an excellent bargain pick for novice golfers or anyone who just wants a basic rangefinder that gets the job done.

It accurately measures distances from 5 to 650 yards, and the flagpole locking feature works with targets up to 150 yards away. Six-times magnification helps you locate your target quickly, and the multi-coated optics lenses effectively filter light to give you a clearer image. Also, it vibrates when you’ve locked onto your target.

 

Precision Pro NX7 Pro Golf Rangefinder

This rangefinder is a solid mid-tier option offering many premium features found on some of the more expensive options. It’s one of the best rangefinders for beginners or players with shaky hands since target acquisition technology helps golfers lock onto flags quickly.

Pro Slope technology makes it easier for golfers to choose the appropriate club for a shot and a 650-yard range with accuracy within 1 yard. Adaptive slope technology accounts for uphill and downhill differences to provide accurate readings, and you’ll feel a haptic pulse when the rangefinder locks onto a target. Its durable exterior is designed to withstand rain and other weather conditions.

Profey Golf Rangefinder

This is another excellent rangefinder perfect for anyone working with a tight budget. It’s equipped with six-times magnification and has a range of up to 800 yards. It locks onto targets up to 250 yards away and provides accurate readings within 1 yard.

The multi-layered green-coated optical lenses effectively filter scattered light for improved image brightness and clarity, and continuous arc technology provides accurate measurements after accounting for incline and decline angles. We also love this rangefinder because of its ergonomic build, which makes it feel comfortable in your hands and delivers short vibrating bursts when you’ve locked onto your target.

Blue Tees Golf Series 3 Max Rangefinder

Golfers looking for a rangefinder with long-range capacity will be impressed with this one. It works up to 900 yards away, and seven-times zoom can help you find your target quickly. You’ll get accurate distance measurements using adaptive slope technology, which accounts for incline and decline. However, you can quickly toggle this feature off during tournament play.

A neat feature of this rangefinder is that it automatically detects the amount of light in your environment, and the display adjusts accordingly. For example, on bright, sunny days, the text will be in a black font, and in darker environments, the font will be red to be more legible. Plus, it has a magnetic strip for attaching to a golf cart.

How we tested

We’ve researched the best golf rangefinders and tested the Callaway 300 Pro Laser Rangefinder to determine how it performs in the following areas.

Ease of use 

  • Operation: We tested the rangefinder’s primary functions using the two buttons on the device.
  • Instructions: We read the instructions front to back to determine how to tweak the rangefinder to suit personal preferences and perform at optimal conditions.

Quality 

  • Accuracy: We tested multiple targets several hundred yards away and compared readings with other rangefinders and cart GPS to determine accuracy.
  • Build quality: We tested the water resistance in the rain and the temperature resistance in desert weather conditions.

Advanced features

  • Slope technology: We tested slope technology on a Par-3 hole with an elevated tee box.
  • Lock-on: We tested how quickly the rangefinder can lock onto a target 5 to 1,000 yards away and whether it takes multiple tries to accomplish it.

What to consider before buying a golf rangefinder

How golf rangefinders work

Every laser rangefinder works in the same way. A laser rangefinder doesn’t need an eyepiece, but to be of practical use to golfers, some viewing or targeting apparatus is required. An eyepiece and screen combination is mounted above the laser projector in the same compact, handheld unit.

To use a rangefinder, you only need to look through the eyepiece and line up the reticle with a target. Once you’ve done that, press a button to project a focused beam of light toward the target, which travels in a straight line, hits the mark and bounces back. A digital clock inside the rangefinder records the time, which is used to calculate the distance.

Optics

The two considerations here are magnification and lens quality. Magnification should be between five times and seven times. Less than that, and you’re probably not getting the focus you need down range.

Lens quality is difficult to judge, but coated lenses are generally better than uncoated, though there are many different coating possibilities and not all manufacturers clarify this. Good optics are expensive, so it’s reasonable to assume that the lens quality is one factor differentiating a cheap golf rangefinder from premium brands.

Range

It’s essential to be careful when checking range information. Some rangefinders claim 1,000 yards or more but give a much-reduced distance for actual pin measurement. The headline figure indicates how far the laser will travel, while the pin measurement is how far it can maintain accuracy. One professional we consulted believed that no golf rangefinder was accurate beyond 300 yards, but that’s sufficient for virtually all golf shots.

Golf rangefinder features  

Accuracy

Even cheap golf laser rangefinders are usually accurate within one yard, but the best ones are accurate within half a yard.

Slope and elevation

Two golf-specific features, in particular, are available in better rangefinders. There’s a considerable difference between an uphill or downhill target, so better rangefinders offer the additional benefit of slope and elevation calculations. However, these features aren’t allowed in tournament play, so it’s essential to be able to switch them off.

Display

Most rangefinder displays are either LCD, LED or OLED. If you’re playing in poor light conditions, OLED displays are brighter and easier to read because each pixel is lit rather than using a backlit array.

Target acquisition or target lock technology uses terms like pin seeker, flag-lock, jolt or pulse to describe enhancements that help you focus on the target more quickly and then receive physical feedback through a haptic vibration through the device to let you know you’re successful.

Battery

Although the power consumption of these devices is relatively low, we prefer lithium batteries over alkaline counterparts because of their longevity.

Waterproof

Several golf rangefinders we looked at claimed to be waterproof and shockproof, but without an actual Ingress Protection rating, there’s no way to tell how well-protected they are or make comparisons between one model and another.

Tips

  • Get a protective case: Although many rangefinders are shockproof or durable, a case protects them from accidental drops and the lens from scratching.
  • Cleaning cloth: Dust and other debris resting on the lens can obstruct your vision, so it’s best to have a cloth to wipe it down and get a clearer view.
  • Lanyard: A lanyard is occasionally provided to enable you to attach your rangefinder to the outside of your golf bag.
  • Warranty: Look for a rangefinder with a two-year warranty, which is standard with most golf rangefinders.
  • Mounts or holders: Various golf cart mounts and holders are available at an additional cost. However, some rangefinders have integrated magnetic stripes, so you can quickly attach them to a golf cart.
  • Practice with your rangefinder. Like your swing or putting, using a golf rangefinder takes practice. You can pick any target at first to get used to the trigger action and hold the unit steady or try it on the driving range where distances are already known. Keep in mind that most inaccurate readings are caused by operator error.
  • Always choose a golf-specific laser rangefinder for golf. Golf rangefinders prioritize the flag, while hunting rangefinders prioritize a distance target. However, there are versatile rangefinders that are suitable for golfing and hunting.

FAQ

Q. How much do golf rangefinders cost?

A. If you’re a novice golfer, you can find a basic golf rangefinder for $75-$300. Mid-tier and advanced rangefinders cost $300-$600 and typically have a more durable build, premium features and provide more accurate readings.

Q. I can get a GPS golf rangefinder app for my phone. Is there any reason I shouldn’t?

A. There are accuracy issues since golf rangefinder apps can’t see the flag. Also, rangefinder apps often require updating, and many demand a regular subscription payment. It’s best to have a golf laser rangefinder to know precisely how far it is from where you’re standing to the pin.

Q. Are golf lasers safe?

A. All golf rangefinders use a Class 1 device, as specified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That means it’s safe under all regular use conditions and states that these devices are not an eye hazard.

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