2016 Guide to Golf Lasers

Post by Golf Journalist Josh Carr

Although rangefinders cannot give you advice on your game, they are quickly becoming key in both amateur and professional golfer’s bags. This is because the information you get from these devices will help a lot as they allow you to get the correct distance to pins and hazards. Therefore, eliminating any sense of doubt, especially when you play an unfamiliar course.

Here are the best products on the market for the 2016 season.

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Bushnell Tour V4 Slope

The Bushnell Tour V4 Slope offers the perfect combination of speed, accuracy, slope and JOLT. If you weren’t aware from previous Bushnell models, JOLT technology provides the golfer with a short vibrating pulse to give tactile confirmation that the laser has locked onto its target. The device uses Bushnell’s patented Slope Technology to provide distances based on the hole’s incline or decline.

Some key features of Bushnell’s 2016 offering includes accuracy to one yard, ranges 5-1000 yards and 400+ yards to a flag. It also features a fast focus system and an ergonomic design with Stabi-Grip technology to help you quickly lock onto those pins.

Price: £323.24

Bushnell Tour X

The Bushnell Tour X is currently top of Bushnell’s laser range and it is no wonder why. One cool feature is the 6x magnification screen with HD Optics as it also comes with Dual Display Technology that allows the user to toggle between the bright red Vivid Display or sharp black display based on lighting conditions.

The device comes with Slope Technology when you want it, therefore it is tournament legal when you need it to be. This is done by using the Exchange Technology. When the red faceplate is installed it allows you to use the patented Slope Technology and when the black faceplate is installed you Bushnell functions as a USGA conforming device.

Like all new models in the Bushnell range, the device comes with JOLT Technology and is also accurate to ½ a yard. The E.S.P.2 (Extreme. Speed. Precision) system will have you locking onto pins in no time at all.

Price: £419

Callaway Hybrid

As the name suggests, the Callaway Hybrid combines the both the pin-seeking precision of a laser and the convenience of a GPS in one device.

The features of the laser include 6X magnification and a range of 5-1000 yards (5-300 yards to pin), as well as the ability to measure in yards or meters to +/-1 accuracy. You can scan the landscape to acquire multiple targets and it also features exclusive Birdie Technology meaning the device will “chirp” when the laser locks onto a pin.

The GPS is preloaded with 30,000+ golf courses worldwide and there are no download or subscription fees. It also gives you accurate distance to the front, centre and back of greens as well as accurate distances to hazards and doglegs.

Price: £249.99

Read Golfshake Ambassador Matt Holbrook’s review here.

GolfBuddy LR5

GolfBuddy has expanded its laser rangefinder line with the introduction of the GolfBuddy LR5 rangefinder. The device has is a lot more compact, lighter and easier to use than last years LR4 model. This rangefinder has 6x magnification and gives an accuracy of +/- one yard.

The LR5 has three targeting modes – standard, scan and pin and unlike many of GlfBuddy’s competitors, the LR5’s scan and pin mode is used with just one click. The battery lasts for between 3,000 and 5,000 actuations and has automatically shuts off after 10 seconds when left unattended.

The ergonomic body design makes the device easy to use and there is even a dioptre adjustment (eyepiece adjustment) in order to help focus the laser depending on your eyesight.

Price: £219.95

Leupold GX-2i2

The GX-2i2 is Leupold’s latest offering and has redefined lasers by customising the laser to the individual golfers needs. But how? Well the GX-2i2 adds the benefit of True Golf RangeTM (TGR) and the Club SelectorTM. TGR recommends a club that is matched to your personal hitting strength, the slope of the shot and current environmental conditions.

The laser also comes with exclusive PinHunter 2 Laser Technology and Fog Mode to make sure the laser is accurate in any weather condition, as well as Prism Lock Technology to allow you to lock onto a pin, even with unsteady hands.

Price: $429.99

Lofthouse ProScope 400

If you’re not looking to spend a lot of a new laser then you should definitely consider the ProScope 400. The device is a compact, full-featured laser rangefinder equipped with pin seeking technology.

It has a powerful 6x magnification and is capable of measuring distances of up to 400 yards. It is pinpoint accurate within +/- one yard and is also tournament legal so you don’t have to worry about changing settings during a tournament in order to comply with the rules.

Price: $169.99

Nikon Coolshot 40i

The Coolshot 40i rangefinder is Nikon’s leading laser and has some clever new features to make sure you get a measurement with in 0.75m/yds of the actual distance. The easy operation system enables measurement of actual distance, horizontal distances, height and slope adjusted distance and when set in golf mode, displays the slope-adjusted distance.

Another cool feature of the Coolshot 40i is the Target Priority Switch System, which has two settings. The First Target Priority mode displays the distance of the closest subject, which is useful when getting a distance to a pin when there is a wooded area in the background. The Distance Target Priority mode displays the distance of the farthest object, which comes in handy if you happen to find yourself in a wooded area. This device also features Hyper Read, which gives you quick and stable measurement response regardless of distance.

The Coolshot 40i has a compact, lightweight and ergonomic design so you don’t need to worry about the device weighing down your golf bag, as well as a high-quality 6x monocular with multilayer coating for bright and clear images.

Price: £299.99

Nikon Coolshot 40

The Nikon Coolshot 40 is regarded as a simpler version of the Coolshot 40i but still offers a high standard of performance. This device debuts Hyper Read, which gives you quick and stable measurement response regardless of distance. The Coolshot 40 works on the First Target Priority mode meaning that the distance to the closest subject is displayed on the screen.

Distances are +/- 0.5m/yd to the actual distance and your target is clearly visible due to the high-quality 6x monocular with multilayer coating. Again like the Coolshot 40i, the device is compact, lightweight and has an ergonomic design and even includes a long eye relief design that affords those who wear glasses easy viewing.

Price: £269.99