I’ve tested over 40 golf rangefinders here at Breaking Eighty. And if there’s one golf product category that you’d expect to be a bit of a commodity, this is it.
I mean, all you really want is to get a distance to the pin as quickly as possible, right? How many different features can you add? Why is one rangefinder $100 and another is $600?
Well, it’s pretty amazing how many different nuances there are. And the good news is that depending on what you’re looking for, you may not need to spend a ton of money to get a device that works great.
I’ve tested every single one of these rangefinders. I’ve played at least 3 rounds with each one, and in most cases many more. There’s likely not another person on the planet who has so much experience with all of these different brands and products.
My goal with this post is to help you find the right rangefinder for your needs and budget. I don’t care which one you pick, or if you buy one at all. I just want you to have the best information you can, based on my hundreds of hours of testing.
I update this list every time there’s a new product worth adding (or removing).
But let’s not waste any more time, and jump right into it.
Table of Contents
Best for Most People: Voice Caddie TL1
The Voice Caddie TL1 is one of the best all-around rangefinders I’ve ever used. When I first reviewed it, it cost $449.
At that price, there’s a lot of stiff competition.
But then they dropped the price to $349.
And then they dropped it again to $280 just for Breaking Eighty readers.
This device is fast, accurate, has a dual color OLED screen (rare), a magnet, and excellent build quality.
At this price, I think this is the best rangefinder value currently on the market.
- Retail Price: $449
- Target Price: $280. Once or twice a year you may find it for under $250.
- My Rating: 9.4.
- Full Review: Voice Caddie TL1 Review: A Wonderful Golf Rangefinder
- Where to Buy: Buy from Voice Caddie.
- Solid Alternative: Precision Pro NX10
Related: 5 Best GPS Rangefinders for Every Budget.
At this special Breaking Eighty reader price of $280, there's no other rangefinder that provides this level of quality at such an affordable price. Hands down the best option under $300.
My Favorite GPS Rangefinder: Precision Pro Titan Elite
The new Precision Pro Titan Elite essentially fixed all the things that were wrong with both the NX10 and their GPS-enabled R1 – and combined them into a new device.
The Titan Elite is hands down the best rangefinder Precision Pro has ever made and it’s one of my favorites I’ve ever used.
It’s waterproof and dustproof, very well constructed, fast and accurate, has great optics – oh, and it has GPS distances built into it.
I’ve been extremely pleased with how seamless the GPS works, and if you don’t want to use those high-tech features? It’s still an excellent rangefinder in its own right.
The downsides are that it’s only a 6x magnification, there’s no dual color display, and its not compatible with Android phones yet. But I think these are going to be worthy tradeoffs for a lot of people, considering this device performs as well or better than products that are far more expensive.
It may not be for everyone, but when it comes to value, performance, and features – I think the Titan Elite is hard to beat right now.
- Retail Price: $399
- Target Price: $369 or less is a great price for this.
- My Rating: 9.8
- Our Review: Precision Pro Titan Elite Review: A Truly Game-Changing Rangefinder
- Where to Buy: Buy from Precision Pro here
- Solid Alternative: Garmin Approach Z30
The Titan Elite improves upon other Precision Pro rangefinders in nearly every way. The GPS integration is well done, yet it's also a great high-end rangefinder in its own right. Highly recommended.
Money is No Object: Bushnell Pro X3
Last year, Bushnell released the Pro X3 as their flagship rangefinder – and it’s one of the very best rangefinders we’ve ever tested.
This year, they released a follow-up to it: The Pro X3+.
It’s essentially the same device, but it adds real-time wind data built into the viewfinder – the first device ever to do so.
Everything about it is great: build quality, optics, speed, and accuracy are all best in class.
Personally, I don’t love the new wind feature. It’s cool, yes, but not for the added hassle of pairing it with the Bushnell app.
That said, even without the wind, this is the best all-around rangefinder on the market.
And it better be at $600. So if money is no object? Go for it, this is as good as it gets. But just know that you don’t need to spend anywhere near this much to get a reliable rangefinder that’s enjoyable to use.
- Retail Price: $599.
- Target Price: $499 – I’ve seen periodic sales dropping this as low as $499.
- My Rating: 8.5
- My Review: Bushnell Pro X3+ Review.
- Where to Buy: Buy it from Amazon or Golf Galaxy.
- Solid Alternative: Voice Caddie TL1. Nearly all of the benefits, but significantly cheaper.
Bushnell updated their flagship Pro X3 rangefinder to include launch monitor data from Foresight launch monitors. Not only that, if you buy a GC3 or GC3s, you get one of these units included for free.
Best Hybrid Rangefinder: VoiceCaddie SL3
The retail price on a Voice Caddie SL3 is steep at $599.
But considering it’s got one of the best, most accurate lasers I’ve tested (the same as the TL1), and has a built in external screen with GPS data – with no subscription?
Some will argue it’s the best rangefinder out there (and it’s certainly one of the best-looking).
The good news is you won’t need to pay anywhere close to retail if you’re interested in picking one of these up.
Voice Caddie has hooked it up for Breaking Eighty readers, and we’re the only spot online where you can get it for the discounted price of $387.
It won’t be for everyone, but if you love the idea of a hybrid laser and GPS? Thisi s absolutely one to consider.
- Retail Price: $599.
- Target Price: $387 – This is the only place you’ll get this price.
- Where to Buy: Buy from Voice Caddie
- Review: Voice Caddie SL3 Review: The Ultimate Hybrid Rangefinder
- Solid Alternative: Voice Caddie TL1. Similar performance, but a more traditional rangefinder experience.
Looking for the best hybrid laser rangefinder and GPS? Look no further. The Voice Caddie SL3 is the one you want. And the best part? You can pick it up for over $200 off retail as a Breaking Eighty reader.
Most Accurate: Cobalt Q6 Slope
The Cobalt Q6 Slope is one of the most underrated rangefinders in golf.
I’ve given it my “most accurate” title for two reasons:
- It gives consistent results down to the 1/10th of a yard. No one needs that amount of precision, and most devices that go down to the 1/10th bounce around. The Q6 does not. If it reads 100.4, it’ll keep reading 100.4
- Its flag lock vibration feature is the best I’ve used. It really only vibrates when it’s locked on.
These two things combined, make me have more confidence in the accuracy of the numbers when compared to any other device I’ve used.
And for what it’s worth, I’ve used this rangefinder for my personal use more than any other.
The two drawbacks? There’s no magnet, and you can’t get actual yardage, and slope-adjusted yardage at the same time, you’ll need to flip a switch to see each of them.
This is still one of my all-time favorites, and worth considering, and if you don’t care about fluff and just want something fast, accurate, and well-built – this is the one to get.
- Price: $450
- Target Price: $400 – It only drops down to this price a couple times a year.
- My Rating: 9.6
- My Review: Cobalt Q6 Review: The Most Underrated Rangefinder in Golf?
- Solid Alternative: Voice Caddie TL1.
This is one of the most well-built and most accurate rangefinders we've ever used. Yes, there's a premium price, but it comes along with premium performance.
Best for Shaky Hands: Nikon Coolshot ProII Stabilized
Despite having a bit of a tongue-twister of a name, I was pleasantly surprised by how good this device is.
Not that I should have been. After all, Nikon has spent decades building their reputation for having extremely high-quality glass in their lenses.
Fortunately, a lot of that tech and reputation has transferred well into the golf rangefinder market.
Optical quality is usually the biggest differentiator between a cheap rangefinder and an expensive one. And I can safely say that the ProII rangefinder has some of the best glass I’ve ever seen in a rangefinder. Everything looks crystal clear.
But in the 4 years since this was released, many competitors have caught up on optics.
What others haven’t done, is provide image stabilization. Nikon added the same tech they use in their image-stabilized camera lenses to make it easier to lock onto the flag. So if you have shaky hands or have struggled to use a rangefinder in the past?
This is definitely one I’d recommend.
- Price: $449.
- Target Price: $385. You can usually find it on Amazon under $400. The cheapest I’ve ever seen (very rarely) is $335.
- My Rating: 8.4.
- My Review: Read my Nikon Coolshot ProII Stabilized Review.
- Where to Buy: Buy it on Amazon here.
- Solid Alternative: Canon Powershot Golf
Nikon is known for world class camera lenses, so it's only natural their rangefinder will look crystal clear. Throw in image stabilization? And you have a very unique golf rangefinder that works great.
Most High-Tech: Garmin Approach Z82
The Garmin Approach Z82 is unlike any other rangefinder on the market.
For starters, it doesn’t have an optical viewfinder.
Rather, this GPS rangefinder has a video screen that gives you all kinds of additional information overlayed on your view.
Want to know distances to the front back and center of the green, along with your pin reading? It does that.
Want to know what direction and speed the wind is blowing? No problem.
Want accurate distances to every single hazard on the course? Yep, it does that too.
Oh, and want a GPS locating system, so that you never lose your rangefinder again? The Z82 has got you covered.
That isn’t to say this rangefinder isn’t without its drawbacks, but if you’re looking for the most high-tech and arguably feature-heavy rangefinder on the market? This may just be for you.
- Price: $599.
- Target Price: $500 or less. You’ll rarely see it discounted through Garmin, but often can find deals on Amazon or through other retailers.
- My Rating: 7.8
- My Review: Why the Garmin Z82 is the Most High-Tech Rangefinder I’ve Ever Reviewed
- Where to Buy: Buy on Amazon. Buy through Garmin.
- Solid Alternative: Garmin Z30
Looking for the most high-tech golf rangefinder on the market? Your search is over, get the Garmin Approach Z82.
Best Cart Path Only: Voice Caddie Laser Fit
This is one of my biggest surprises of the past year.
Not only is it the most compact rangefinder to make this list, but it’s also the only one that has triangulation.
If you’re playing cart path only, you can shoot the ball, then shoot the flag, and it will give you the distance between the two.
This means you don’t need to carry multiple clubs, or need to walk back and forth from the fairway just to get yardages if you play a lot of cart golf.
And the fact it does this and you can pick it up for $180? It makes it one of the very best values on this list.
The downside? For being a “cart path” rangefinder, there’s no built-in magnet.
- Price: $199.
- Target Price: $180. You can find for $180 through the link below.
- My Rating: 7.8
- My Review: Voice Caddie Laser Fit Review: It Has a BIG Trick Up It’s Sleeve
- Where to Buy: Buy through Voice Caddie
- Solid Alternative: TecTecTec KLYR
The Laser Fit has a better display than most rangefinders under $200. Add in the fact it has triangulation? And you have a very unique product that offers a ton of bang for the buck.
Best Under $150: Shot Scope Pro L2
I’ve been getting a lot of requests to review and recommend truly cheap rangefinders.
The problem with most of them is that they’re cheap for a reason.
The Shot Scope Pro L2 is what I’d call a “fair” rangefinder. It’s ok. It’s fine.
At $149.99 the Shot Scope Pro L2 falls into the “cheap” category. With the “BREAKINGEIGHTY” code it gets even cheaper as it drops down 15% to $127.49.
And at that price, you can’t be too picky.
But the build quality and design of it is great. It has both slope compensation and a built-in magnet. Maybe most importantly, it’s from a company that I know cares about their customers – so you’re going to get good support should things go sideways.
For all those reasons, as long as you’re ok with somewhat less-than-reliable speed and accuracy, I think this is the best rangefinder under $150.
- Retail Price: $149.99
- Target Price: $127.49 after using this Shot Scope coupon code). Seen as low as $110 after code, during major sales.
- My Rating: 7.4.
- My Review: Shot Scope Pro L2 review.
- Where to Buy: Buy from Shot Scope.
- Solid Alternative: Callaway 300 Pro
The Pro L2 not the best rangefinder ever. But it is the best that we've tested under $150. And with the "BREAKINGEIGHTY" code it gets even more reasonable at $127.49.
Best for Garmin Watch Users: Garmin Z30
Garmin’s newest rangefinder is awesome, for a very specific person.
Unlike its more expensive sibling the Z82, it’s a traditional rangefinder with traditional optics. But, it has built-in GPS. And instead of just giving you stock green distances, when you shoot the pin, it will tell you exactly how far the pin is to the front and back of the green.
Pretty cool.
But where this really shines is when you pair it with a Garmin GPS Golf Watch. It will automatically send that data to your watch, so the GPS distances on your watch adjust in real-time.
It’s very cool tech, and if you use a Garmin golf watch, I’d give this serious consideration.
If you don’t however, then I’d probably stick with the Precision Pro Titan Elite for a GPS rangefinder.
- Price: $399.
- Target Price: Anything under $399. Being brand new, I have yet to see a discount on this.
- My Rating: 8.8
- My Review: The Garmin Z30 is the GPS Device I Didn’t Know I Needed
- Where to Buy: Buy from Play Better. Buy from Amazon.
- Solid Alternative: Precision Pro Titan Elite
If you use a Garmin Smart Watch on the golf course, this is hands down the rangefinder you should buy. Combining the two is kinda like magic.
Editor’s Choice #2: Blue Tees Series 3 Max+
When the Blue Tees Series 3 Max came out, it was a solid rangefinder at a solid price.
But with so much increased competition, it got bumped off of this list for a while.
Now, they’re rolling out their newest Series 4 (I haven’t reviewed this yet), and they made some minor updates to the 3 when they released the + version.
So, why is it back on this list? Because the price has come down from $269, all the way to $197 when you use the code BREAKINGEIGHTY10.
And at $197, the Blue Tees Series 3 Max+ represents one of the best values under $200.
- Price: $199
- Target Price: $197 or less. Use the Blue Tees coupon code BREAKINGEIGHTY10 to get this price.
- My Rating: 8.3
- My Review: Is the Blue Tees Series 3 Max Any Good?
- Where to Buy: Buy from Blue Tees
- Solid Alternative: TecTecTec KLYR
While there's a lot of competition right now, at the discounted price of $179, this is one of the best rangefinder options under $200.
What to Look For in a Golf Rangefinder?
Everyone is going to be looking for something a little bit different, and it really comes down to a combination of 3 things:
- Price
- Performance
- Features
Any of the rangefinders on this list will do the job of giving you distances. But some will do it faster and more reliably. Some will have extra features, that while not always essential, can make for a more enjoyable experience.
Some questions to ask yourself before deciding on the best fit for you:
- What is your budget?
- How long do you plan to have this?
- Do you want a slope feature? This will give you a second “plays like” distance number that accounts for the flag being uphill or downhill.
- Will you be using it in tournaments?
- Is feel and quality more important, or price?
- Do you niche features like GPS or image stabilization?
If you have answers to these questions, it will narrow your choices down considerably.
One other question to ask, is “Do you even really need a golf rangefinder?”
There are other options that may be a better fit. Specifically, this could be a GPS golf watch or shot tracking sensors with GPS built into the app.
Any questions about any of this? Feel free to drop a comment below and I’ll do my very best to answer each one!
Take the Quiz! Which One is Right for You?
Still not sure which rangefinder is best for you?
I’ve testeddozens of rangefinders on Breaking Eighty, so I have a pretty good idea of what’s worth buying based on your goals.
Because of this, I spent hours putting together a quiz to help you figure out which rangefinder is right for you based on your needs.
It only takes about 20 seconds to do, so give it a shot. You’ll get my best recommendation for you, and then a link to my full review based on the results.
Take our 30 second quiz and I'll recommend the perfect golf rangefinder based on your budget, goals, and preferences.
Recent Updates
May 12th, 2025: Removed Voice Caddie SL2, as they have completely sold out of inventory. Updated “Best Hybrid Rangefinder” to Voice Caddie SL3 with special pricing.
March 6th, 2025: Added link to new post covering the 5 Best Smart Rangefinders.
December 19th, 2024: Updated pricing. Changed dates to 2025. Added alternative recommendation for Canon Powershot Golf.
October 30th, 2024: Added Voice Caddie SL2 as “Best Hybrid Rangefinder” for it’s insane value at the current price they’re offering it.
September, 3rd 2024: Added a video ranking my favorites from 10 to 1.
August 20th, 2024: Did a full post update. New introduction. Added “target price” for increased guidance on each product. Removed the Leupold GX-6C, TecTecTec KLYR, Voice Caddie SL3, Cobalt Q-4 Slope, and Precision Pro NX10. Removed GPS products, Garmin S70 and Bushnell Phantom 2. Added Voice Caddie Laser Fit, Blue Tees Series 3 Max+, and Garmin Z30. Updated comparisons and commentary based on current market and competition.
August 11th, 2024: Changed Subheadlines throughout posts. Removed links to other product round-ups, Changed the post title, Added Garmin Z30 as a “solid alternative” to the Garmin z82. Added a section for recent updates.
June 4th, 2024: Replaced Precision Pro NX10, with the Voice Caddie TL1 for “Best rangefinder for most people.” Added new video version of this post.
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16 Comments
I think Bushnell Tour Z6 is one of the best golf range finders… what’s more is that the Bushnell Z6 is among the first golf laser rangefinders from Bushnell to feature the Vivid Display Technology. Its most amazing feature is the fact that it can be used under any lighting condition. It also allows you to adjust the brightness levels of its display. That means you dont have to worry when natural light is not as bright you would want it
thanks for the review of the best golf rangefinders. I’m looking to get a rangefinder for golf myself, and I have a my eye on a few models. It’s no surprise that the Bushnell Pro X2 is on this list – I’ve heard really good things about it from friends. It’s interesting how you criticize TecTecTec; I tried it for 9 holes last year and I thought it performed great. It has a lofty status on Amazon for a reason… and it’s very affordable.
What type of batteries does these rangefinder require?
No doubt Bushnell makes a top notch range finder. Definitely an interesting take on TecTecTec, I have one on my bag that I picked up a few seasons ago and it hasn’t let me down yet. My normal playing partners have Leupold and Bushnell scopes and we rarely are more than 1 yard +/- of one another. Maybe I am lucky with mine, but I have yet to find a situation that has left me feeling like it is lacking in any way.
I originally has the TecTecTec Vpro 500, it’s the perfect entry level rangefinder. A few months ago I upgraded to the NX7 after reading another post. It was highly recommended and seems like good value for money.
The Nx7 was a great upgrade, it really does what it says on the Tin. It performs great, looks really cool and performed really well.
However I am now in a little bit of a dilemma. My brother has the Bushnell V4 and it seems to perform that bit better. It’s noticeable quicker at finding the yardage of pins and bunkers. I would be still getting the yardage and he’s selecting his club.
A few months ago this didn’t really bother me as I couldn’t justify the additional cost of the V4 ($380) compared to the NX7 ($269). But now the V4 is after coming way down in price and there’s only about $10 in the difference.
Is it worth selling my NX7 and upgrading to the Bushnell V4?
Bought. Tec tec tec last year, my first range finder. Liked the price. My golf buddies have other higher end brands. I had a more difficult time locking into the flag. Even when I felt I had it locked in it would read something in the background. Seems my golf partners could lock on quicker. In December approx 18 months after purchase it stopped working. Thought I needed a new battery but that didn’t fix the problem. Another issue I had was the silver plastic screw in covers that surround the lens. I had to super glue them in place. I just place an order for a Bushnell Prox2. The old saying “you get what you pay for”, couldn’t be more accurate. Now if I can remember to take it off the golf cart when I’m done.
I bought a Pinned golf range finder from a golf trade show recently and have been super impressed with the quality and accuracy. I had a precision pro before (it was okay but I left it in a cart :-[ ) and would definitely consider this an upgrade.
I have used both NX-7 & and Bushnell Tour V-4 Both are very good. Made the mistake of buying a TecTecTec VPro500. Worked fine for first 6-7 months, then would not lock on pin when over 125 yards. Then wouldn’t pick up anything past 110 yards, Just showed four black horizontal dashes on the read -out. The only thing worse than the rangefinder is the customer service. The absolute worst!!! TecTecTec is extremely difficult to contact via phone. I have been on hold 3 x past 45 min and they never picked up. Phone hours 8am-2pm M-F If you get a live voice – they say they will ask to see if you are a verified legit purchaser or request your orig Invoice # and once it is provided claim they will follow-up but never do. Multiple e-mails to them have gone unanswered. Avoid these guys.
The link for the BEST GOLF GPS UNDER $100: BUSHNELL PHANTOM GOLF GPS goes to a $228.93 device, not one for under $100. Not seeing that one…
Thanks for the heads up, Dave. The pricing has changed in the last couple months since they released the Phantom 2, which is $130.
I actually just got one in for review, that I’ll be writing about later this month.
But here’s the link in the meantime: https://www.bushnellgolf.com/products/gps/phantom-2-golf-gps/
I imagine everything I said about the original will hold true, and likely have a couple added features.
Why is the Leupold never reviewed? I’ve had my GX-4 for about 7 years. I think I’ve used 3 batteries, total. I’ve dropped it had it fall out of the cart onto cart paths, used it in pouring down rain, it shoots through glass and plastic windows and is always accurate. Scanning feature tells you easily if your hitting the pin or not and when you set it up properly tells you a club with altitude and temp selection. fog, rain…doesn’t matter. Works every time.
expensive. Yes, but you get what you pay for
I’ve reached out to them to try and get devices for review, but haven’t got much of a response.
Why no review on the Garmin Z80 or Z82?
It’s cominh soon! Have a Z82 in hand, and just waiting for the weather to get better so I can get out and test.
What is your opinion on the Callaway 300 Pro Slope rangefinder? If you haven’t used it, have you heard or read anything about it? I am looking at getting this one or the Precision Pro NX9 and was hoping for a little feedback as the Callaway is a bit cheaper right now. Thanks in advance for your response
Just read the 2023 update. Nice analysis, but why not add a comment on whether or not it has a built in magnet. This is one of the questions you ask if I am going through the “Pick the One for you “.