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The Best Golf Rangefinders 2022
Last updated: May 2022
Rangefinders have become hugely popular for golfers over the past few years, primarily because they are very simple to use, need very little maintenance and can be trusted to be accurate.
Although a lot of players have GPS golf watches these days to give them yardages on the course, many golfers prefer the simplicity of a handheld laser rangefinder that can be kept in their golf bag at all times and is always reliable.
Rangefinders can give you pinpoint accuracy on the distance between you and the pin, as well as the distance to any hazard or course feature you point it at â helping you select the right club, plot a strategy around the course and hopefully get a better score!
If you want to know which golf rangefinder will suit your needs better, we explain everything you need to know in our rangefinder buying guide below.
Best golf rangefinders
Use the quick links to see our analysis of the top golf rangefinders:
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Benefits â why use a golf rangefinder?
It used to be the case that golfers would have to rely on whatever distance markers the course had provided to gauge how far away the green was on approach shots. Some courses provide markers at 100 yards, 150 yards and 200 yards, while some only provide them at 150 yards.
This inconsistency, along with the difficulty in guessing the distance when between markers, has led to a surge in popularity for devices to give golfers accurate yardages.
This helps with club selection and can also determine your strategy around the course â when to lay-up, when to take on a bunker, when to (attempt) to hit a high fade and so on.
The benefits of using golf rangefinders over other similar devices like golf GPS watches is their simplicity. Most laser golf rangefinders are powered by battery, so do not need constant charging â they can be left in your bag at all times and only taken out when you need them.
They are also simple to use â just look through the viewfinder and line it up with your target i.e. the pin, bunker, water hazard etc. to get an accurate reading on how far away it is.
Top golf rangefinder brands
As rangefinders have increased in popularity on golf courses around the world, more and more brands have started developing models to cater for the demand.
Brands to look out for include specialist golf laser rangefinder company Bushnell Golf, who make several different rangefinder models as well as handheld GPS devices and a GPS golf watch.
Garmin also make a laser rangefinder as well as several golf watches and other handheld GPS devices, as do GolfBuddy and Shot Scope.
The well-known camera company Nikon make a wide range of golf laser rangefinders, and there are several more specialist rangefinder brands including TecTecTec, Inesis and Volvik.
What to consider before buying a rangefinder
Although one of the main benefits of using a golf rangefinder is their simplicity, there are still a few things you need to consider before buying. Whether youâre looking to upgrade your current rangefinder, or are buying one for the first time, hereâs everything you need to consider:
Laser or GPS golf rangefinder
GPS rangefinders either come as a separate handheld device much like a smartphone, or as part of a GPS golf watch. These work by receiving signals from a network of satellites to pinpoint your exact location in relation to pre-mapped golf courses.
Laser rangefinders are a bit more âanalogueâ and look more like binoculars than smartphones. You look through the viewfinder and line up the laser with your target â the pin, a bunker in the distance etc. â and the basic display will tell you exactly how far away it is.
GPS golf devices may give you more information and present it on a detailed graphic of the course or green, but laser rangefinders are thought to be that little bit more accurate. So if simplicity and accuracy are whatâs most important to you, then a laser rangefinder is probably the way to go.
However, if you already have a golf GPS watch or smartwatch with a golf app installed then the extra expense of a laser rangefinder is probably not worth it.
Usability
If you are thinking of buying a golf rangefinder, then their ease-of-use compared to other distance-providing devices is probably already important to you.
Although most golf rangefinders are very much easy to use and are simply a case of pressing a button and pointing it in the right direction, some can take a bit of getting used to â so itâs worth looking closely at the extra features each rangefinder has and whether you need them.
Distance the rangefinder covers
Golf rangefinders work by shooting a laser at a target and measuring how far the laser has travelled before it hit something. Therefore, they can only measure as far as the laser can travel, and some rangefinders are more powerful than others.
As most rangefinders can easily handle any target within 500 yards, it is unlikely that this will be a big factor in your buying decision. However, in terms of plotting a strategy on long par 5âs it can be useful to have a rangefinder that can handle longer distances.
Itâs worth noting here that the magnification rate of the rangefinder is also important, as thereâs no point being able to measure far in the distance if you canât actually see the target you want to measure. Look out for 6x or 7x magnification rates â anything less might not be good enough for long distances.
Battery life
Most laser rangefinders run on batteries, which makes them easier to deal with than handheld GPSâ or watches which need charging a lot.
The average battery life of a golf rangefinder is anywhere from six months to a year, depending on how often you use it, so this shouldnât be too much of an issue when choosing which rangefinder to buy.
Some rangefinders with lots of features use up the battery a lot quicker though, so if you opt for one of those make sure you are happy with the compromise on battery life. Thereâs nothing worse than picking up your rangefinder out on the course and realising it doesnât have power!
Slope measuring
As all golfers know, a green that is downhill plays shorter than one that is uphill. Therefore, a straight-line measurement to the pin might not be as much help in terms of club selection if it is on a slope.
Not all golf rangefinders have slope measuring capabilities, so itâs worth checking before you buy if this is important to you â just beware that you will probably have to pay a little extra for a rangefinder that can measure slope.
Rain protection
There is quite a big difference between a rangefinder being âwaterproofâ and âwater resistantâ, so if you play a lot in wet weather you might want to make sure the rangefinder you choose can deal with the inclement conditions.
Weight
A laser rangefinder is yet another thing to carry around with you in your golf bag, so itâs worth considering how much it weighs if you like to carry your bag when playing. Even if you use an electric golf trolley, the weight of the rangefinder might be an issue â especially if you use it a lot during a round.
Most golf rangefinders tend to be quite light, although some of the more feature-packed models can feel a bit more substantial in the hand.
Price
Perhaps the biggest consideration of all â price! Golf rangefinders can cost anywhere from ÂŁ100 up to ÂŁ500+, depending on the model and features it has. Some of the features in the top end of the price range include slope measuring, pin seeking and even 2D hole layouts.
At the cheaper end of the scale you get solid, dependable but pretty basic laser rangefinders that give you an accurate distance reading.
The best golf rangefinders
We compiled the below list following extensive research of all golf rangefinders available to buy in 2022. This research included hands-on reviews of golf rangefinders, detailed analysis of product specifications and customer reviews.
BOZILY GOLF RANGEFINDER
Best budget golf rangefinder
The Bozily golf rangefinder boasts a range of 1200 yards, 6x magnification, slope adjustment and a flag lock feature up to 350 yards.
With all of these features for less than ÂŁ100, you canât beat the Bozily for value for money.
Unlike some other cheap golf rangefinder models, the updated Bozily comes with a USB charger rather than batteries â so if that is an issue you can opt for the previous Bozily model which is battery-powered and also costs less.
In terms of accuracy, the Bozily is just as good as many of the top of the range models and will not let you down.
The only potential drawback is the Bozily doesnât have much in the way of water resistance, so using it a lot in heavy rain may be a problem.
Taking everything into account, the Bozily is the best cheap golf rangefinder for those either on a budget or just wanting a simple device you can trust.
GARMIN APPROACH Z82 RANGEFINDER
Best rangefinder for features
Garminâs latest rangefinder, the Approach Z82 provides 2D overlays for full-colour Course View and Green View when looking from the lens.
This means that when you look through the viewfinder, you see a 2D map on the left-hand side of the view shoeing distances to the green as well as hazards in front of you.
Thereâs also a flag finder feature that can automatically lock on to the flag and give a precise distance to it up to 450 yards away.
The Approach Z82 also features Garminâs PlaysLike Distance function, that takes into account slopes and hills when calculating the distance, and you can see wind speed and direction to help you make better decisions with club and shot selection.
Perhaps the most interesting feature is the Laser Range Arc, which draws an on the 2D Course View map at the distance the laser has targeted, so you can see everything that is in play at that distance as well as see if the pin is at the front, middle or back of the green.
Although these features donât come cheap (RRP at time of writing is ÂŁ499.00), the Garmin Approach Z82 is certainly the best golf rangefinder if you want the full functionality and extra features that can come with a rangefinder.
BUSHNELL PRO XE RANGEFINDER
Most highly rated golf rangefinder
The Pro XE is Bushnell Golfâs newest laser golf rangefinder and, in their words, is âsimply the best golf rangefinder ever madeâ.
That might sound like hyperbole, but spend a few minutes using the Pro XE and youâll see why they might just be right.
In terms of headline features, the Bushnell Pro XE boasts 7x magnification, a range of up to 1,300 yards, slope adjustment and an unrivalled accuracy.
However, as well as these top of the line features, itâs the little details that make the Pro XE so highly rated.
As well as slope adjustment, the rangefinder also makes adjustments for temperature and altitude â which can make all the difference with your club selection. It can also automatically detect the flag from up to 500 yards away, and vibrates slightly to confirm it has locked on to the target.
Thereâs also a magnetic mount included so you can easily attach the rangefinder to your trolley or cart.
Other golf rangefinders to consider
NIKON COOLSHOT PRO STABILIZED GOLF RANGEFINDER
If you have trouble locking on to a target with your current golf rangefinder, then Nikonâs Coolshot line of âstabilizedâ rangefinders might be for you.
The in-built vibration reduction system helps to reduce image movement in the viewfinder by up to 80%, and it also prevents you accidentally locking on to a target behind the pin as the rangefinder will always display the yardage of the closest target.
Itâs also waterproof and fog-proof, so can be trusted to give accurate readings in any weather.
TECTECTEC VPRO500 LASER RANGEFINDER
Currently retailing at a little over ÂŁ100, TecTecTecâs VPRO500 is a very stable and reliable laser rangefinder that guarantees value for money.
It can measure well over 500 yards and itâs pinsensor technology can quickly lock-on to the pin with 1-yard accuracy. Itâs also very lightweight and portable, and the viewfinder display is crystal clear.
It may not be as accurate or have as many features as the more expensive models, but itâs a very dependable rangefinder at a very good price.
PRECISION PRO R1 SMART LASER RANGEFINDER
If you like your golf gadgets, this smart rangefinder might interest you more than a standard laser rangefinder.
The Precision Pro R1 does everything a laser rangefinder does, and does it well, but it also connects to an app to offer personalised distances by using your launch monitor data and combines that with wind speed, temperature, altitude and humidity in real time to give you unrivalled accuracy and shot selection data.
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FAQs
Golf laser rangefinders allow you to view the distance to a given target on a golf course â usually the pin â and help you be more accurate with your club selection. Rangefinders work by:
- Emitting a laser, which then bounces off your target
- The rangefinder then measures the amount of time it takes for the laser to return to the device
- The amount of time is then quickly used to calculate how far away the object is, which is displayer on your screen.
This quick process gives you a highly accurate reading of how far the flag is, and can also be used to gauge the yardage on hazards like bunkers, trees and water.
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