Updated in May 2023 to add the Bushnell Tour V6, Tour V6 Shift, and remove the
There’s a reason Bushnell golf has earned the title “King of Rangefinders.”
Their products are consistently good across the board.
I’ve never used a bad Bushnell product.
From their top-of-the-line Bushnell Launch Pro launch monitor, all the way down to the Phantom 2 GPS.
But as it sits right now, if you’re in the market for a Bushnell golf rangefinder, you have a handful of options that on the surface all seem very similar.
They all have magnets.
They all have great optics.
They’re all fast and accurate.
So if you’re in the market for a new rangefinder and you’ve decided Bushnell is the brand for you, how do you decide which one to get?
I’ve got you.
In this post, I’m going to give you an overview of each of the 4 current Bushnell rangefinders on the market and help you figure out which one to buy.
I’m also going to provide an alternative option for each one, if you’re open to going with a brand other than Bushnell.
Let’s do this thing.
Best Overall Bushnell Rangefinder: Pro X3
The Bushnell Pro X3 is the newest Bushnell rangefinder and their current flagship model.
It’s fantastic and is our pick for the best rangefinder on the market.
While it’s not quite the massive leap forward that it’s predecessor the Pro XE was when it came out, they’ve made small improvements that improve the experience.
The locking slope toggle will provide confidence for tournament golfers, and the easy display button on the side works great. The “jolt” feature is more reliable than the
Overall, this is for people who live by the motto “Buy nice, or buy twice.”
That’s not to say the other rangefinders we’ve tested aren’t reliable, but if you’re looking for something that will last you for hundreds of rounds and many years to come – this is the rangefinder for you.
But at $600, you’ll be paying for that privilege.
- Our Review: Bushnell Pro X3: Still King of Rangefinders?
- Review Score: 9.2
- Where to Buy: Buy from Play Better. Buy from Bushnell. Buy from Amazon.
- Solid Alternative: Cobalt Q6 Slope. This was my biggest surprise of 2022. It’s just as fast and accurate as the Bushnell, and it’s the only rangefinder I’ve tested where the build quality feels comparable to the Pro series from Bushnell – as it’s also fully waterproof at IPX7. It lacks the magnet, but it also clocks in at $150 less for similar quality.
The Bushnell Pro X3 improves upon it's flagship Pro XE in subtle, but meaningful ways. If you want the best of the best, the X3 is the rangefinder for you.
Best Bushnell Rangefinder for Most People: Tour V6 Shift
In April 2023, Bushnell released their latest devices in the “Tour” series, the V6 and V6 Shift.
And honestly? If you take price into consideration, the new Tour V6 Shift may be the most well-rounded Bushnell rangefinder of all time.
Its Jolt feature is very accurate. The build quality is the best yet on a “Tour” model. And it’s a fraction of the price of the top-of-the-line Pro X3.
Don’t get me wrong, the Pro X3 is a wonderful device with a ton of high-end features.
But for most people, it’s overkill.
The Tour V6 is going to be the best move for the majority of people who want a full-featured device for the most respected laser rangefinder company in golf.
- Our Review: Bushnell Tour V6 Review: Better than the Pro X3?
- Review Score: 9.4
- Where to Buy: Buy from Bushnell. Buy from Play Better.
- Solid Alternative: Precision Pro NX10. Comes in at less money, and has slope built in. Feels as good, and Precision Pro has great customer service.
This may be the all around best rangefinder Bushnell has ever made when you take price into consideration. Excellent device, and highly recommended.
Best Budget Bushnell Rangefinder: Tour V6
The Tour V6 is Bushnell’s workhorse “budget” rangefinder.
I use the term budget in quotes, because at $300 it’s more expensive and has fewer features than some lower-priced competitors.
I reviewed the outgoing V5, and remember handing it to a friend and going “just try this.”
“Damn, this feels good.”
While I haven’t reviewed the Tour V6, I have reviewed the slope-enabled Tour V6 shift, and it’s excellent.
The Tour V6 doesn’t have built-in slope, which will be a dealbreaker for some.
But me personally? I don’t really use or care about slope that much for my personal use.
With the V6 you’re paying for the Bushnell name, as well as build quality and reliability synonymous with the brand.
And quite simply, it’s an incredibly enjoyable rangefinder to use.
You can read our V5 review below, which will be largely similar to the new V6.
- Our Review: Bushnell Tour V5 Review: It’s Second Only to the Pro XE
- Review Score: 9.6
- Where to Buy: Buy on Play Better. Buy through Bushnell.
- Solid Alternative: Precision Pro NX10. Comes in at less money, and has slope built in. Feels as good, and Precision Pro has great customer service.
The Tour V6 is the most affordable Bushnell rangefinder on the market. But it's still incredibly fast, accurate, and if you don't care about slope features? This is the one for you.
Best Bushnell Golf Watch
Bushnell is most well-known for its rangefinders, but they also have some very accurate GPS rangefinding devices as well.
And their best golf watch? The iON Elite.
It’s less expensive than all of their laser rangefinders, yet it’s still extremely accurate.
Throw in full GPS course maps, and an easy to use interface and you’ve got a great GPS watch value.
It pairs with the Bushnell golf app, which I’ve continued to be impressed by.
If you’re in the market for a reliable GPS watch that will easily give you distances and allow you to keep score – I’m not sure there’s a better option in this price range.
- Our Review: Bushnell ION Elite Review: A Solid $200 GPS Golf Watch
- Review Score: 8.8
- Where to Buy: Buy from Bushnell. Buy from Amazon.
- Solid Alternative: Bushnell Edge – Busnell’s entry level GPS watch is just as accurate and comes in at under $100 right now.
The Busnell ION Elite is a full color GPS golf watch with some great features for the price. It's not as robust as more expensive Garmin models, but is an excellent watch for the money.
Best Bushnell GPS Device: Phantom 2
Don’t need the precision of a laser rangefinder, and don’t want to wear a GPS watch?
Then you might be into the Bushnell Phantom 2.
This is our pick for the ‘best rangefinding device for golf carts.”
It’s not as convenient if you’re carrying, but the magnet which attaches to a golf cart makes it a super easy (and accurate) device to use.
- Our Review: Bushnell Phantom 2: Worth an Upgrade Over the Original?
- Review Score: 9.4
- Where to Buy: Buy from Bushnell. Buy from Amazon.
- Solid Alternative: Garmin G12 – If you’re a walking golfer and want a GPS device, we’d take a look at the G12.
Final Thoughts on Bushnell Golf Rangefinders
Despite the competition getting much stiffer over the last couple of years, Bushnell remains at the top of the rangefinder heap.
The quality across the board is still higher than any of its competitors, and as I mentioned at the beginning of the article, after using close to 20 Bushnell products over the years, I have yet to ever use a bad one.
There are some solid golf rangefinders out there for less money, but if you want to go with a name you can trust, it’s worth the premium to pick up a Bushnell device.
But looking for more options?
Then check out our full recap of the best golf rangefinders on the market.
This page contains affiliate links. This means that if you click a link and buy one of the products on this page, I may receive a commission (at no extra cost to you!) This doesn’t affect our opinions or our reviews. Everything we do is to benefit you as the reader, so all of our reviews are as honest and unbiased as possible.
