Bushnell Golf has launched the new Pro X3 laser rangefinder which features a host of industry-first technologies and specifications.

The Pro X3 introduces an update to its ‘Slope with Elements’ technology which allows golfers to store their home elevation to reflect the Slope with Elements compensated distances at the elevation where they play their most golf.

It also features a new lockable slope-switch where the interacting locking mechanism significantly reduces the risk of accidentally putting your unit into Slope mode during tournament play – which is not allowed under the current Rules of Golf.

Other new features include the ability to measure flags at 600 yards, x7 magnification, and an enhanced backlit display to provide crisp, clear data output in the viewing screen.

RRP: £525, bushnellgolfglobal.com

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Over the past few years, rangefinders have become all the rage amongst golfers.

The PGA of America even made rangefinders legal in all three of its major championships back in May of 2021. The move was made by the governing body with the hopes of speeding up the pace of play on the golf course at these events.

I’ve been playing golf for several years and I’ll be the first to admit that I was slow to come around to using a rangefinder during my rounds. However, when I purchased my last set of golf clubs, the salesman kindly threw in a Bushnell Tour V4 rangefinder as part of the deal. Now I don’t know how I ever played a round of golf without it!

In the following review, I’ll go over what I like and dislike about the Bushnell Tour V4 rangefinder. Hopefully, after reading this, you’ll be able to decide if it’s the best rangefinder for you and your game. So, without further delay, let’s get to it!

Quick Overview of the Bushnell Tour V4

Bushnell has been making top-of-the-line rangefinders for over 25 years, so they have stood the test of time in the golf industry. The Tour V4 was first released in 2016 and it remains one of Bushnell’s best-selling rangefinders, even though the Tour V5 has been out for quite a while. The Slope Edition lets you toggle in and out of Bushnell’s special slope feature, which automatically adjusts its yardage based on the incline or decline of the slope.

The Tour V4 provides pinpoint accuracy and gives you a yardage number that you can be confident in each time you use it on the golf course. It also comes with Pin Seeker Jolt technology, which sends short vibrating pulses when you have correctly shot the laser to the flag. With the Tour V4’s 5x magnification, you’ll easily be able to see all of the key details of each green on the course.

What I Like About The Bushnell Tour V4

Since the Tour V4 has so many key features, it’s hard to decide which ones I value the most. However, here are some of my favorite things about this particular Bushnell rangefinder. These are in no particular order.

• Pinpoint Accuracy: Before using the Tour V4, I simply used a standard golf GPS app on my phone. While this worked okay to give me ballpark yardage on each of my shots, I quickly learned that the yardage it gave me was regularly three to five yards off the actual distance. I’ve never had this problem with the Tour V4 because its accuracy is always within 1-yard. It’s so refreshing to not have to second guess my club selection anymore!
• Pin Seeker with Jolt Technology: This is probably my favorite feature of the Bushnell Tour V4 rangefinder! With other brands, you may be left wondering if you correctly aimed the laser at the target. This is NOT the case with the Tour V4 thanks to its Pin Seeker with Jolt feature. Simply aim at the flagstick and the device will provide you with a tactile confirmation by lightly vibrating a few times! How cool is that?
• Fast Focus System: Some laser rangefinders or golf GPS apps can take quite a while to give you the desired yardage information. This can be due to a weak cell phone signal on a GPS app or a lengthy process on some off-brand rangefinders. Needless to say, it is super annoying when that happens! Thankfully, golfers don’t have to worry about that happening with the Bushnell Tour V4. It has a fast focus system that allows you to see your yardage number and degree of slope quickly and efficiently. No more waiting around to find your number and select your club.
• 2-Year Warranty: Let’s face it. Finding a company that stands behind its products with a solid warranty is almost a rare thing nowadays. This warranty means if you have any trouble with the Tour V4 in the way of manufacturing defects within two years of your purchase date, Bushnell will either fix the issue or send you a new rangefinder as a replacement.
• Compact Size: Some golf rangefinders are too bulky, which makes it difficult to keep a steady hand when trying to find out yardages. You won’t have this problem with the Tour V4. It’s a lightweight device with an ergonomic design, which makes it much easier to hold than other brands. Your thumb will easily wrap around the entire device and you’ll be able to easily hit the red button on top to start shooting yardages.
• Slope Mode: Being able to calculate the slope of each green is a remarkable advantage for amateur golfers. Thanks to the Tour V4’s ability to tell me the degrees of slope, I can decide the safest approach shot based on the hole layouts. This has helped me lower my handicap considerably.
• Water Resistant: This one is a biggie for me because, unlike some other golfers, I like playing in the rain (I know, I’m weird). The Tour V4 is water-resistant so you can use it without fear of damaging it. However, just to be on the safe side, I wouldn’t use it in a complete downpour though, as it’s not waterproof (only water-resistant). Be sure to keep the rangefinder in its premium carrying case when you aren’t using it.
• Access to Bushnell Golf App: Golfers of all levels will love the Bushnell Golf mobile app because of its helpful features. The app offers 3D flyovers of each hole as well as yardages to the front, to the flag, and to the back of the green. The app currently has a 4.8 rating on the App Store and a 3.9 rating on Google Play. Both of those impressive ratings just go to show that Bushnell spared no expense when it came to designing its mobile golf app.
• Extremely Long Battery Life: Another critical feature of the Tour V4 is its battery life. I’ve been using this rangefinder for over a year and haven’t needed to replace the battery. It takes a 3-volt lithium cr2 battery, which is easy to find at most shopping outlets. The battery door also easily slides open to make the whole replacement process a breeze.

What I Dislike About The Bushnell Tour V4

There’s not a whole lot to dislike about the Tour V4. The only complaint I have is that it doesn’t come with a magnet on it, which would make it easier to mount it on the side of the golf cart during a round. This would be much more convenient than having to take it in and out of the carry case throughout the entire round on the course.

However, I have heard that the new Bushnell Tour V5 comes with its new BITE magnetic technology, which allows you to just slap it on the side of the golf cart rails. It would probably be pretty easy to just slap a small magnet on the side of the Tour V4 though.

Overall Rating and Thoughts: 4.9 Stars

Bushnell has converted me into a customer for life. While I used to think rangefinders were overpriced and unnecessary, I now don’t know how I ever played a round of golf without one! If you are on the fence about which rangefinder to buy, I highly recommend the Bushnell Tour V4 Slope Edition.

Overall, I’d give the Bushnell Tour V4 rangefinder 4.9 out of 5 stars for a variety of reasons. It’s insanely accurate and I love the Jolt Technology, which vibrates a little bit when you have locked on to the flag. This gives me peace of mind that I have aimed the laser in the correct spot.

The slope option is incredibly helpful because it factors in the degrees of slope for you, which tells you what the shot is actually playing. This makes a huge difference in the way of club selection. After all, most golf shots have some sort of slope involved.

If you are not a fan of the slope technology and just want the actual distance or you are playing in a tournament that doesn’t allow it, you can easily shift between modes by rotating the small notch dial on top. Again, Bushnell hits a home run with this feature.

I also love how the Bushnell Tour V4 rangefinder fits comfortably into the palm of my hand. It was designed with stabi-grip technology, which means it won’t slip out of your hand and it’s easy to handle. It’s also lightweight, so your arm and hand won’t get tired of holding it during a round.

Lastly, Bushnell is the most reputable rangefinder brand on the market. Tons of professional and amateur golfers around the world trust Bushnell to give them accurate yardage readings. If you’re in the market for a new rangefinder, you can’t go wrong with the Bushnell Tour V4 Slope Edition.

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.

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Motocaddy is providing golfers with an even bigger incentive to buy its award-winning PRO 3000 Laser Rangefinder with the launch of a nationwide consumer promotion starting today (June 1),

Between today and July 12, golfers who purchase a new PRO 3000 Laser can claim a full refund if they return the product to the original place of purchase within 30 days (T&Cs apply).

“We’re so confident about the quality and performance of the PRO 3000 that we feel this no quibble, money-back guarantee will help boost sales for our customers at the start of a busy golfing summer,” said Motocaddy Sales Director Steve Morris.

“The reaction to the PRO 3000 has been amazing since it was launched last year. Heading into a busy summer period when everyone is excited to get out on the course, we wanted to give golfers the chance to see how easy it is to use and the difference it can make to their scores,” he added.

The PRO 3000 Laser Rangefinder is quick and easy to use, offering accuracy to less than a yard with class‑leading 7X magnification at a range of 1,300 yards. Featuring cutting-edge PinLock technology with vibration and visual confirmation, it ensures golfers can always trust the distance and better prepare for their next shot.

Viewed through a high-resolution LCD display, a pin can be locked on the PRO 3000 from 450 yards away. It also includes slope compensation to account for any undulations; background noise filtration to make it easier to lock onto a target; an adjustable eyepiece for clearer visuals; the ability to toggle between yards & metres; plus an automatic standby mode after 10 seconds.

The Pro 3000 laser has an RRP of £249 and can be bought online at www.motocaddy.com.

For more information, visit www.motocaddy.com/moneyback.

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If you have even hinted to your phone or computer that you like golf, chances are you have seen a Blue Tees ad. Blue Tees Golf  comes at you hard and fast with marketing and promotion. Hype or fact?

To find out, we put the Blue Tees Golf Series 3 Max rangefinder to the test as part of our 2022 Best Golf Rangefinder review.

The ads for Blue Tees make it seem like you are a cool golfer as soon as you own one of these rangefinders. As is our mandate, we were more concerned about the accuracy, speed, optics and features. In our Blue Tees Golf Series 3 Max rangefinder review, we will give you all the details you need to determine if this product is for you.

Blue Tees Golf Series 3 Max Rangefinder Details

The Blue Tees Golf Series 3 Max rangefinder is compact, affordable and has some features we see in more premium-priced rangefinders. One of the first things you need to know is that it is a “slope” rangefinder and you can quickly toggle that function on and off so you can use this in your next competitive event.

The Blue Tees Golf Series 3 Max claims to be accurate to within one yard from as far away as 900 yards. With the Blue Tees Golf Series 3, you will get a built-in magnetic strip and it holds on to the cart well. The water-resistant casing is a bonus.

Another important feature is the display. Even if you have trouble seeing through laser rangefinders, this is a clear display with black or red text options to choose from.

Pros

• Very easy to use
• Accurate to within one yard
• Built-in magnetic strip
• Comes with extra batteries and a two-year warranty
• The slope function is easy to turn on and off
• Seven-times magnification
• Short vibrating pulse to confirm target is locked in

Cons

• Accuracy not as good as premium models
• Slightly cheaper-feeling housing
• If the slope is turned on, only one number shows
• Anything over 200 yards may need to be measured more than once

How We Test

As part of our 2022 Best Rangefinder test, we looked at 24 rangefinders and tested them for a total of 24 hours. The products were used to get both long and far distances. Our main categories for rating the rangefinders were accuracy, speed, optics, display, features and a total overall rating.

Blue Tees Golf Series 3 Max Rangefinder Review

The Blue Tees Golf Series 3 Max rangefinder did not fare as well as we had hoped in the 2022 Best Rangefinder test. With all the marketing and positivity behind this product, its overall finish of 14th out of 24 was disappointing.

Accuracy

Blue Tees was 18th out of 24 for accuracy. These days, accuracy within one yard is not good enough. However, the problem with the Blue Tees rangefinder is not the accuracy from 150 yards in but once you move out of that range. The pin-seeker technology does not grab the pin quite as well as it should and users have a hard time trusting the number. If you primarily use your rangefinder inside 150, this may not bother you.

Speed

The speed rating was 12th out of 24. This is nothing to be alarmed about as we certainly didn’t feel like we were waiting for yardage to load up. It’s just not really quick. When the slope is turned on, this rangefinder tends to be even a little slower.

Optics

The optics scored 14th out of 24. Again, not great. One of the significant issues goes back to the model’s inaccuracy. Players often look for better optics to have a clear view and genuinely know they have hit the pin. Blue Tees optics are clear; it’s not difficult to see through but they don’t improve any of the accuracy or confidence when we needed it to. The seven-times magnification is a great feature.

Display

The display scored eighth out of 24, the best category for the Blue Tees Golf Series 3 Max rangefinder. With the display, you can choose between black or red and you will only see one number at all times. For those who want info delivered cleanly and efficiently, Blue Tees will do the trick.

Features

The features ended up right in the middle of the pack with a 12 out of 24 for their final spot. Honestly, this is where the Blue Tees Golf Series 3 Max rangefinder should be. There is nothing overly unique about the unit but it’s also not lacking in any major way. There are just no significant bells and whistles that can move the Blue Tees up the list.

Overall

The final placement of the Blue Tees Series 3 Max rangefinder was 14th with a score of 86 out of 100. Compared to the top finisher, the Bushnell Pro XE at 94.5, the performance was not that great. Again, the Bushnell and the Blue Tees are different price points but you have to consider what matters the most. Most golfers would agree the most critical feature is accuracy.

Tester Feedback

Here are a few things we noticed about the Blue Tees and its performance during the testing.

• The case felt a bit lower in quality than other rangefinders.
• Magnetic cart mount works quite well.
• Compact size of the unit is nice and it is easy to hold steady in the hand.
• If there is a bush or tree behind the pin, the pin-seeker technology struggles.
• The clean display helped pre-shot routine be a little quicker, especially for those with vision issues.

My Golf Spy Feedback

Bottom Line

This is not the most accurate model on the market. It’s got good features, a clean and sleek look and a simple-to-read display. The Series 3 is about half the price of some top rangefinders on the market and that affects accuracy when you are looking at golf rangefinders. Bottom line: If you mainly use your rangefinder for yardages less than 150 yards, this is a good tool.

FAQ

Can you turn the slope off on Blue Tees rangefinders?

The slope is easily turned off and on when using the Blue Tees Series 3 Max so this model is appropriate for tournament play.

Are Blue Tees rangefinders rechargeable?

Blue Tees Series 3 Max rangefinders are not rechargeable and need CR2 batteries.

Is Blue Tees a cheap rangefinder?

Blue Tees rangefinders don’t cost as much as options like Bushnell or Nikon. Still, Blue Tees is not the cheapest rangefinder out there.

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If you followed our 2022 Best Rangefinder test, it was likely no surprise that the Bushnell Pro XE took the top spot. It’s kind of what we expect from Bushnell these days. But how did it compare to the lowest-performing rangefinder in the test?

We will show you.

Verdict

The Bushnell Pro XE is the best rangefinder. Period. It earned a total overall score of 94.5/100, the top spot in accuracy and second place in speed and optics. It’s tournament legal, takes weather into account when it calculates slope and has a reading that you can trust.

The last-place finisher for golf rangefinders in 2022 was the Zoom Focus X with an overall score of 78.5/100. Its rating for things like features, accuracy and speed were some of the lowest across the entire test. Of course, there is a price difference between the Bushnell Pro XE and the Zoom Focus X that is worth mentioning. However, when it comes to functionality and a yardage you can trust, the extra money is often worth it.

How We Test

The best versus worst rangefinder test consisted of 24 products all tested by the same golfer. Keeping the same golfer in charge of all the testing allowed for an accurate comparison and the ability to do more head-to-head testing. A total of 24 hours were spent testing. Core testing factors included accuracy, speed, optics, display and features. Usability was also considered as well as the ability of the rangefinder to work in any conditions.

Performances

• The Bushnell Pro XE took top spot for accuracy. It is typically within half a yard of the pin even when there are trees or bushes behind the pin that could confuse other rangefinders. The Zoom Focus X took the 23rd spot for accuracy.
• When it comes to speed, most rangefinders are relatively quick. However, there was a considerable difference between the Pro XE and the Zoom Focus X when speed was tested, especially with the slope mode turned on. Zoom Focus X earned 23rd for speed.
• The optics brought another second-place finish for the Bushnell Pro XE and an 18th for the Zoom Focus X. This was one of the best stats for the Zoom Focus—maybe the name for the product is fitting!
• A sixth-place rating for display was the Bushnell Pro XE’s worst finish. Some other products have cleaner text or more customization. Display was the Zoom Focus’s best overall category, finishing in 16th place.
• The Bushnell Pro XE took third for features while the Zoom Focus finished 21st. It’s hard to even compare the Bushnell Pro XE against the Zoom Focus X considering the “slope with elements” technology found in the Pro XE.

Behind the Scenes of Best Versus Worst Rangefinder

Whether you think the Bushnell Pro XE or the Zoom Focus X could be a good fit for your game, it helps to know and understand some of these stats before you make your purchase. Here are the basics for what we determined were the best and worst rangefinders.

Bushnell Pro XE

• Perhaps the most impressive technology on the Bushnell Pro XE is the “slope with elements.”  The way this rangefinder can take in all factors that will impact your total yardage is incredibly impressive.
• Pinseeker with visual JOLT technology produces some of the most accurate readings.
• Slope can easily be turned on and off for tournament days and the 7X magnification makes it easy to see what you are faced with.
• The total range for the Bushnell Pro XE is 1,300 yards. This is a powerful piece of equipment.
• A strong magnetic cart mount technology is built in and it is strong. It will stay in place with no issues.
• The Bushnell Pro XE is one of the most expensive golf rangefinders but it has the technology to back up its price.

Zoom Focus X

• Zoom Focus X is an affordable rangefinder with slope. It allows golfers to turn the slope off when participating in a tournament.
• One of the features of the Zoom Focus X that received a high rating was the optics. This is due in part to the optical adjustment of up to +/- 5D. Those with poor eyesight or stability challenges will have no trouble with this unit.
• The micro USB charging allows for easy charging capability and a very long lasting unit.
• The real issues with the Zoom Focus X have to do with accuracy. It has a hard time picking up the target. When there is nothing surrounding the pin, expect a more accurate and quick yardage but that is not always the case.

Bottom Line

Rangefinders have quite a bit of internal technology as well as external features. Carefully considering the differences between units is highly recommended. The high ratings for Bushnell Pro XE came as no surprise but what took us aback was the very significant performance difference between it and the Zoom Focus X.

Take a look at the rest of our Best Rangefinders of 2022 test to see if there are other options that could work for your game.

*We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

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