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Of all the products I’ve reviewed here on Breaking Eighty, the Precision Pro NX7 rangefinder is one of the most popular. It hits a sweet spot with price and features that make it an attractive option for people looking for a solid golf rangefinder, without breaking the budget.
That said, this market segment has been really getting competitive lately. Bushnell, Blue Tees, Nikon, and more are all making really solid products in the $300 price range.
So moving into three years after it’s release, do the Precision Pro NX9 rangefinder still hold up against the competition?
How does it stack up to the NX7? What about the best in show Bushnell Pro XE?
Read on to find out.
Precision Pro NX9 HD Rangefinder: First Impressions
One of the first things you’ll notice about the Precision Pro NX9 is how similar it looks to the previous model.
The color scheme is the same, the size is about the same, and the packaging is really well done.
Out of the box you get:
- The NX9 Slope Rangefinder
- High-Quality Canvas Carrying Case
- Microfiber Cloth
- Instructions
My go to rangefinder for the last few years has been the Bushnell Pro XE, so I think the first thing that surprised me when I took the NX9 out of the box was just how light it was.
It’s definitely smaller and lighter than the Bushnell, which for many people this will be a really good thing. The Bushnell is heavy. I attributed this mostly to the magnet that is built-in, but the NX9 has a built in magnet as well – so it must have more to do with build materials and some of the electronics than anything else.
Despite being heavier, I will say that the Bushnell feels much more expensive and durable than the Precision Pro. The NX9 build quality is great, it has a nice combination of plastic and rubber that is by no means cheap, but the Bushnell is a level above (that’s also why it’s over $200 more expensive).
Compared to the previous generation NX7 it feels about the same. If you’ve used one of those, then you have an idea of what to expect with their newest model.
But honestly, the biggest competitor to the NX9 these days is the BlueTees S3 Max. It’s right in the same ballpark in terms of price, features, and build quality.
We’ll get to that comparison more in a minute.
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What It’s Like to Use the Precision Pro NX9 HD Golf Rangefinder
As I mentioned above, the Bushnell XE is quite a bit bigger – which is what I was used to using. It’s easy to grip your entire hand around it comfortably, but the NX9’s smaller profile took a little adjusting to since I wasn’t used to it.
I have fairly large hands, and I found the button placement to be just a little bit too close to the viewfinder for my natural fit when using my whole hand to shoot.
However, after a hole I made the adjustment to just gripping it with my thumb and first two fingers, and everything fell into place perfectly.
I should note, this isn’t a detraction from the product itself, it’s mostly just recalibrating from being more used to a larger form factor.
One thing I was also pleased with, was with the NX7 the device had a tendency to give a false reading if your hand was hanging over the base of the device – which would happen when holding it naturally. Once you learned to adjust, it was fine, but at one point I actually sent mine back for a replacement, thinking there was something wrong with it.
I’m happy to report I’ve had zero issues like this with the NX9 Slope.
The viewfinder is easy to turn and focus for your eye, and the two simple two buttons make operation stupid easy.
There’s one button for shooting the flag, and another one for mode. If you press the mode button, it switches between slope and non-slope. If you hold the mode button you switch between yards and meters.
About halfway through my first round when I was comparing distances to the Bushnell XE, there was a particularly long, tricky shot that I was getting pretty wildly different numbers on, and I couldn’t figure out what the problem was.
It’s because I’d gotten the NX9 into “meters”. One quick hold of the mode button, and we were back to perfect distances.
The optics are quite good, and on par with the previous NX7 model. When comparing to the top-of-the-line Bushnell model, or even their newer R1 Smart Rangefinder, they aren’t quite on the same level – but you wouldn’t think much about it you weren’t directly comparing it.
One usability critique I do have, is when you’re using slope mode, the slope number shows up well above the actual distance, and above the target zone. This forced me to shift my eye and my view Bushnell models do well.
The display isn’t backlit like other models I’ve seen, but this rarely feels necessary and it’s easy to read the numbers.
Precision Pro NX9 HD Golf Rangefinder Performance
Let’s cover the most important thing first:
The Precision Pro NX9 gives you very accurate distances, very quickly.
That is the single most important factor in any golf rangefinder, and the NX9 does it well.
In comparing it to the NX7, there’s definitely a noticeable upgrade in speed. It gives you a reading almost instantaneously, which was great to see, and was on par with every Bushnell I’ve ever tested in terms of speed.
Speed is getting to be less a factor of price when it comes to rangefinders. These days all of the devices I’m testing over $200 are awfully quick, and any new products are going to need to be fast in order to keep up. Fortunately, the Nx9 delivers here.
The areas where it’s held back and shows its less expensive price point, come more in the way of some of the refinements to its use.
One knock I had with the vibration feature of the Bushnell Pro XE, is that I feel like it didn’t give it to me enough. I knew I’d be locked onto the flag but it didn’t give me that satisfying jolt every time telling me I did.
Well the NX9 goes the opposite direction. Every time I hit the button it vibrated, which is great at first, until you realize that you couldn’t count on the vibration to be telling you you’re 100% locked onto the flagstick.
While it’s generally very easy to find the pin with the NX9, there are times I hit the trees in the background, or other objects, and it’d vibrate just like it would if I’d hit the flag.
This really isn’t a big deal, especially since the NX9 is so fast. You could hit the target button 3 times in under 5 seconds to ensure you’re getting the right number. The speed at which it gives you a reading is truly impressive, but sometimes you just have to be a little careful to make sure you’re picking up the right target.
On top of the speed, the feature I’m most excited about with the NX9 Slope is the built-in magnet. I raved about what a game-changer this was with the Bushnell XE and I still feel the same way about it with the Precision Pro.
Being able to attach it to your cart, or even your golf clubs is a game-changer and a feature I love. Again, this is another feature we’re seeing on most new mid to high end rangefinders and is a welcome one.
The magnet doesn’t feel quite as strong as the Bushnell, but it also weighs significantly less, so it certainly is strong enough to keep it secured to whatever you want.
Precision Pro NX9 vs. BlueTees Series 3 Max
In the $250-300 price point there are four devices that I’d consider, but only two I think are direct competitors.
The first one I’d consider is the Bushnell V5. At $299 it’s slightly more expensive than the Nx9, but it’s frankly one of the best rangefinders I’ve ever tested. The optics are great, it’s blazing fast, the form factor is perfect.
But you’re spending $30 more, and getting less. It doesn’t have built-in slope calculations for instance. So if that’s important to you? Non-starter.
The second one to consider is the newer Precision Pro R1. It’s fantastic and gets my full recommendation. But, being a “smart device” there’s more to it than just point and shoot.
You’ll need to pair it with the app before each round to get access to the smart features, and more importantly, you’ll need to remember to charge it between rounds.
The optics are great, it’s fast, it’s rugged – but if you don’t care about GPS and know you’ll forget to charge it? Look elsewhere.
This brings us to the Blue Tees Series 3 Max.
I wasn’t shy about my complaints with the original Blue Tees devices – they weren’t great. But the S3 Max? It’s pretty darn good, and comes in $10 cheaper than the Precision Pro.
It’s got a similar feature set to the NX9, but also adds a backlit display and multiple color options.
Performance for both is pretty similar. So with that I’d say look at the sales pages for each and just decide which one feels best to you. In a lot of cases, it frankly may just come down to which brand or aesthetic you prefer.
Precision Pro Nx9 HD Final Impressions
Overall the Precision Pro NX9 is a fantastic rangefinder at a great price.
It’s definitely an upgrade from the NX7, and worth choosing it specifically for its increased speed and built-in magnet.
Does it outperform the high-end Bushnell XE? No, the Bushnell is better in just about all regards, except price
But here’s the thing, it’s not supposed to be better than the Bushnell. It’s almost HALF the price, and has nearly all of the same features.
Ok maybe it doesn’t have a built-in barometric pressure sensor. But really? That might be the most ridiculous feature ever on a golf rangefinder.
The Precision Pro NX9 will attach to your clubs or golf cart, and then get you the exact same distance in about the exact same time that the Bushnell will – at over $200 less.
When compared to it’s direct competitors? It also performs extremely well, and I wouldn’t say there’s anything definitively better than the NX9 as an all-around device at under $300.
I personally love what Precision Pro is doing. We’ve seen all sorts of boutique, smaller companies in the golf world – but most of them are in apparel and accessories. There aren’t nearly as many entering the hardware space, and I love that the Precision Pro team has continued to invest in and iterate their product.
They’ve taken it even farther in 2022 with their new R1 Smart Rangefinder, which is truly the first of its kind. And is one worth considering as well.
The Precision Pro NX9 is a solid step forward from their previous model, and if you’re looking for a full-featured rangefinder at less than a full-featured price, then I 100% recommend picking up the Precision Pro NX9 Slope – it’ll last you for many years to come.
Want to see more of our recommended rangefinders? Check out our comparison of the best rangefinders in golf.
The NX9 is like a "baby NX10" and feels very similar, making it a fantastic value. Use code "BREAKINGEIGHTY" for $20 off at precisionprogolf.com
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