Best 2021 laser rangefinders
Alaser rangefinder is the product many golfers rely on for every single shot to get the exact distance to the pin quickly and accurately. We tested 12 of the latest models on the course at Burghley Park Golf Club to assess the pros and cons of each.
Styling/design
All the rangefinders on test fitted well in our hand, some better than others – we liked the tacky feel of the Nikon Coolshot 50i and the rough texture on the Golfbuddy Laser Lite. Weight is a crucial factor – too heavy and it can feel cumbersome to hold, but too light and it will wobble around in the wind (being able to keep it steady is key to picking out the flag quickly).
The Laser Lite and Easygreen OLED Vision Pro are two of the lightest you will find, while the Garmin Approach Z82 was the heaviest at 232g. We feel like just under 200g is the sweetspot, which is where the Motocaddy Pro 3000, Shot
Scope Pro L1 and Bushnell Tour V5 Slim come in. The Zoom Focus Tour is arguably the most premium-looking laser with its hybrid-metallic finish and ideal balance of size and weight. The most compact was the OLED Vision Pro and the largest lasers were the Precision Pro R1 Smart and Garmin Approach Z82.
Ease of use
Most golfers appreciate simple point-and-shoot functionality and while all these lasers picked out the flag and displayed the distances quickly, some did it more easily than others.
We really liked the simplicity of the Motocaddy Pro 3000 and it didn’t scrimp on features, with noise filtration and slope modes included. This blend of usability is also true of the Sureshot Pinloc 5000 IPS, Zoom Focus Tour and all the Nikon Coolshot models.
But for the ultimate faff-free experience, the Bushnell Tour V5 Slim leads the way. With a press of the button, the distances appear almost instantaneously in the display and you get a bright red ring appear along with a vibration to tell you that the flag has
“A RANGEFINDER CAN DO SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST GIVE YOU FLAG DISTANCES” Joel Tadman, GM technical editor
been picked out. A button on the side alters the unit of measurement, which is easier than most others, and the Shift version has another button on the side to toggle on slope.
GM pick: Bushnell Tour V5 Slim
Features
For those golfers looking for something extra from their rangefinder, there are three models that stand out. The R1 Smart, for example, partners with a free app to provide Google-map style views of the hole with a movable pointer. It also uses a golfer’s launch angle, spin rate, and ball speed (entered manually) combined with real-time weather data – humidity, temperature and altitude – to provide a Myslope-adjusted number specific to you at that exact moment. The concept is amazing, but having to get hold of your launch monitor data for each club is a stumbling block.
The Nikon Coolshot Pro II Stabilized helps those with an unsteady hand to pick out the flag more easily. With practice, it really works and there is a green indicator light that flashes to let your playing partners know it is in legal mode for competitions.
But our favourite was the Garmin Approach Z82, which features a 2D hole map on the side of the display. Enter your average driving distance and an arc appears to show you where a drive will typically finish. Zap the flag and the Z82 shows how far on the green the pin is. You can even link to the Garmin app and gain access to live wind direction.
GM pick: Garmin Approach Z82
Value
The Golf Buddy Laser Lite seems excessively cheap at £129.99 given it provides slope functionality, a scan mode and two-year warranty. For £199.99 the Shot Scope Pro L1 does offer good value given the choice of display colours and slope mode, but distances do appear more slowly than other models in this test. Decathlon do the Inesis Golf 900 laser for £129.99 – another good option.