I have been busy testing Bushnell’s lineup of rangefinders, they’re pretty awesome! But, they can be a bit pricey.
They basically offer 3 different models, each with additional features as you move up the stack.
Tour V5/V6 – Base model that will just give you distance.
Tour V5/V6 Shift – Simply add elevation to the base model.
Pro X3 – The Cadillac of Bushnell rangefinders
Bushnell Rangefinders Side-by-side Comparison
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Bushnell Pro X3 | Bushnell Tour V5 | Bushnell Tour V5 Shift | Bushnell Tour V6 | Bushnell Tour V6 Shift | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSRP | $599.99 | $249.99 | $329.99 | $299.99 | $399.99 |
Weight (Ounces) | 12 | 8 | 8 | 8.5 | 8.7 |
Waterproof | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Bluetooth | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Slope | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Slope Switch | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Magnification | 7x | 6x | 6x | 6x | 6x |
Total Range (yards) | 1,300 | 1,300 | 1,300 | 1,300 | 1,300 |
Accuracy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Warranty (years) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Magnetic Mount | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Home elevation adjustment – set your home elevation and get adjusted distances | Pin lock with jolt vibration to give you confidence you are locked onto your target | Pin lock with jolt vibration to give you confidence you are locked onto your target | Pin lock with jolt vibration to give you confidence you are locked onto your target | Pin lock with jolt vibration to give you confidence you are locked onto your target | |
Dual Display settings for a better view in all light settings | Slope | Improved weather resistant design. | Improved weather resistant design. | ||
Pin lock with jolt vibration to give you confidence you are locked onto your target | |||||
Temperature and Altitude features for compensated distances |
How to Choose Which Bushnell Rangefinder is Right for You
I think it really depends on your budget and the features you want.
If you have the budget for the $600 X3, will you get the value out of the compensated distances for elements? Will you actually use the “home elevation” capability?
If so, go for it…Otherwise, take a look at the shift model.
What is the difference between the shift and the “non-shift” model? The shift model offers slope-compensated distances, while the non-shift model does not. This means that if you have a hole that is elevated, the shift model can tell you how much additional distance you should add to your shot to compensate for the slope.
What is the difference between V5 and V6? The V5 was only water resistant, the V6 is waterproof. The V6 also utilizes newer electronics, which would be expected. The V6 is also slightly larger, but not enough to notice too much.
If you typically play relatively flat golf courses, you’ll really never need to add or subtract more than a couple of yards due to slope. So you may not need the shift model in that case.
But, if you are playing courses with tons of fluctuation, it might be much more convenient to pay the extra $80 – $100 for that feature and get more accurate distances on the golf course.
Why would I buy the V5 instead of the newer V6? The V5 is pretty damn good! They are “last year’s model” and are currently available at a discount. You won’t be disappointed with the V5, there is not a huge jump in capability to the V6. They are both incredibly accurate and some of the highest-quality laser rangefinders you can get.
Bushnell Pro X3 Rangefinder
If you are a golfer who is willing to pay a premium for the best and highest quality products on the market – this is definitely the best of the best!
For the golfer who wants to have the latest technology, you are certain to geek out on the new features of the X3.
Read my full Bushnell Pro X3 Rangefinder Review.
Features
Slope Technology
Bushnell’s patented slope algorithm to deliver you the most accurate “play distance”
Dual Display
Quickly switch between bright red or black based on your lighting conditions.
Magnetic Mount
Built-in magnet that allows you to stick it right to the cart bar.
Locking Slope-Switch
Allowing you to easily switch in and out of slope mode, making it legal for tournament play. The “locking” part of the switch helps to ensure it does not accidentally get placed into slope mode.
PinSeeker and Visual JOLT
When your rangefinder locks onto the pin, a red ring flashes, letting you know the yardage captured is from the flag.
Elements Compensation
Temperature, altitude, and barometric pressure are added in, along with slope, in order to deliver the best possible “playing distance”.
Bushnell Tour V5 Shift
If you are a golfer who is willing to pay a premium for the best and highest quality products on the market – this is definitely the best in its price range.
If you are looking for a more compact design and one that calculates slope, this fits the bill.
Read my full Bushnell Tour V5 Shift Review.
Features
Slope Technology
Bushnell’s patented slope algorithm to deliver you the most accurate “play distance”
Slope Switch
Allowing you to easily switch in and out of slope mode, making it legal for tournament play.
PinSeeker and Visual JOLT
When your rangefinder locks onto the pin, a red ring flashes, letting you know the yardage captured is from the flag.
Magnetic Mount
Built-in magnet that allows you to stick it right to the cart bar.
Bushnell Tour V5
If you are a golfer who is willing to pay a premium for the best and highest quality products on the market – this is definitely a great option.
You’ll save a few bucks with the Tour V5 model as compared to the V5 Shift, as long as you don’t care about slope, this is the right model for you.
Read my full Bushnell Tour V5 Review.
Features
PinSeeker and Visual JOLT
When your rangefinder locks onto the pin, a red ring flashes, letting you know the yardage captured is from the flag.
Magnetic Mount
Built-in magnet that allows you to stick it right to the cart bar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Thoughts
Whether you are looking for a basic rangefinder, or one of the most advanced rangefinders on the planet, Bushnell has you covered! All of their rangefinders that I have reviewed are very high quality and offer very good accuracy.
The Tour V5 and V5 Shift are some of the more compact rangefinders on the market. Their next generation (V6) are only slightly larger.
The Pro X3 not only offers adjusted distances for slope, but it can also account for the elements. Things like temperature, barometric pressure, and elevation. It also allows you to set your “home elevation”, which helps get you the perfect “play to” yardage for each shot. Read more about Bushnell Rangefinder features here.
If you are looking for a basic rangefinder that offers slope – look at the “shift” models.
Good luck on the golf course!