Help me pick a Rangefinder!

[rjp322]

I am in the market for a new rangefinder.  Money is not an issue but at the same time, no need to throw it away either.  Bushnell Pro X3 or the new  X3+ is at the top of my list but are the extra features worth it in the sense they actually work such as the barometric pressure etc?  The main things I care about are just quick locking of pin (I do not want it to vibrate every time it locks onto something) and then slope.   If the X3 features work the way they say, that would be a no brainer but I wonder if some of that just makes a 1/2 yd difference, etc.  Open to suggestions!

[Jheri]

In my usual foursome, we have a Precision Pro NX10 (mine), Bushnell Pro X3, Nikon CoolShot Pro2, and one of the phone GPS apps (I believe 18Birdies).

 

My person experience trying all 3 of them: 

Accuracy - Majority of the time, they all read the same yardage (with/without slope). At times one them would read 1-2 yards different but not to the extent where it felt 'off.' Unfortunately I've only tested them in pretty clear/dry weather so can't really tell how accurate the barometric pressure reading was.

Feel - The Bushnell definitely felt the most premium and solid in hand. Precision Pro felt the cheapest and plasticy. Nikon was in between. 

Optics - Nikon looked the cleanest for me, then bushnell (but not by far), and then precision pro. 

Value - I still feel like the Precision Pro is the best value. The Bushnell is nice and the barometric feature is a cool concept and could be a peace of mind for some but personally, overcomplicates things for me. I'd rather just know the slope yardage and account for weather/wind by feel. The Nikon has a really nice lens and the stability feature is helpful if you have shaky hands but didn't justify the extra cost for me. 

[Pat in Rescue]

I have used just about all methods - from Golfshot on my iphone to Bushnell Rangefinder and a Garmin on my wrist to the distance measuring units that are supplied on the golf carts.

 

My favorite is a Golf Buddy.   Accurate enough, cheap, convenient as heck - it's on the bill of my cap.  

 

I'll probably get booed.

 

 

 

[03trdblack]

I've had really good success with the Shotscope Pro ZR, especially for how much it costs compared to some out there. 

 

I'm sure you'll get 20 different suggestions based on what people have used 😂

[LUMA]

Love my Pro XE. Best rangefinder 'Ive owned. Pro X3 is no exception. I also happened to get mine for half price. Someone bought 2 of them for a tournament to be safe and didn't use one of them a returned it open box to Edwin Watts. I heard the conversation go down and asked how much they would sell it open box after the guy left the store. Right place at the right time.

[sdaileyiii]

Check out Vortex. I was familiar with them from rifle scopes and was always impressed with the quality for the money. They also offer a LIFETIME warranty that I have used before and they replaced with new updated product without issue. Standup company and products. https://vortexgolf.com/

 

I just got the Blade Slope and love it. Smaller profile, clear optics, precise and great features. 

[2_PuttBirdies]

Leupold is the only one I'll ever buy. 

 

I've been using a GX3i for around 10 years that looks like its lived in a war zone, but still functions flawlessly. Feels 10x more solid in hand versus the other brands.  Friends of mine have had to buy 3-5 plastic Bushnells in the time period I've had my Leupold. 

[mikewohlwend]

I switched to a Shot Scope Pro LX+ and have been very happy with it. I have owned/still own a Leupold GX3i2 and Precision Pro NX7 Pro, and have used a Bushnell Pro X3 in the past. I love the built in GPS that the Pro LX+ offers, haven't tried out the performance tracking features yet.

[DocBrown3887]

On 4/16/2024 at 9:39 AM, sdaileyiii said:

Check out Vortex. I was familiar with them from rifle scopes and was always impressed with the quality for the money. They also offer a LIFETIME warranty that I have used before and they replaced with new updated product without issue. Standup company and products. https://vortexgolf.com/

 

I just got the Blade Slope and love it. Smaller profile, clear optics, precise and great features. 

 

Vortex warranty is insane. Not a fan of their red dots but their rifle scopes have some good value options and I have heard many stories like yours of them sending people upgrades/newer versions with warranty claims. This may be the way to go...

Edited June 25, 2024 by DocBrown3887

[RustySteele]

Vortex is worth a look.  I also have the blade slope and it’s been very good so far.  Lifetime, no questions asked warranty was a big plus for me. I think battery life is pretty average; I went through a Chinese CR2 battery in 25 rounds plus practice.

[Pexeter]

I've switched between Caddytalk cube, Voice caddie TL1, and now a Vortex Anarch recently...The cube was great rangefinder..reliable, compact, bright display, but no magnet..I like the VC over the Vortex, it is by far the fastest I've ever used..the Vortex works well but is noticeably slower and the image stabilization is so so, I still have movement.  I have a Maven hunting rangefinder and it is premium for sure so Im betting the praise the Cobalt gets is deserved, but it is a very bulky unit with no magnet..

[ephmen]

Once you go stabilized, you never go back. Coolshot Proii Stabilized ftw. I can't even use non-stabilized rangefinders anymore. Urge you to try a stabilized one in person. Totally better experience...

[BrendanH]

6 hours ago, ephmen said:

Once you go stabilized, you never go back. Coolshot Proii Stabilized ftw. I can't even use non-stabilized rangefinders anymore. Urge you to try a stabilized one in person. Totally better experience...

 

Up until recently I used to think exactly that. My hands are not the most stable tools in my arsenal, so I picked up a Coolshot Pro Stabilized some time back and I loved it. The stabilization really helps for sure. Recently though I had a hankering for something new and I tried the Cobalt Q-6 Slope. I wanted the 7x magnification and a more defined and reliable pin lock. I was also very interested in the Cobalt as it allows independent adjustment of the focus and eye relief. That's a big deal for anyone that wears glasses. To be honest I'm not sure why they don't lean into that more in their marketing. I have the eye relief adjusted so that I can rest the viewfinder surround right on my glasses lens and I still get a nice full field of view.

 

The Q-6 is a satisfyingly chunky build with some good weight to it. I think the size and weight make it easier for me to hold steady. I really don't have a problem holding it steady enough to get a good lock, and boy that lock is a no-questions-asked trust-it-every-time kind of experience. All I have to do is start shooting something behind the pin and then move on to the pin until I get the lock vibration. It is super fast and gives me the right numbers every time. I found myself shooting multiple times with any other rangefinder I've used in the past, just to be sure I had the right number, but the Cobalt is so definitive and accurate that once I get the lock-on I am totally certain of the number.

 

All that and a lifetime warranty makes it an easy choice as far as I'm concerned.

Edited August 2, 2024 by BrendanH