Are Rangefinders now completely commoditized?

[Mike_C]

On 6/5/2024 at 10:09 AM, J13 said:

agree.  They are tanks and just keep going.  Despite the high price tag I feel like I'm getting a great value.

I have had two Bushnells.    I got my first one in 2007 or 08.   Technically, it was the "hunting" model not the one designed for golf, but they were virtually identical, and it was $50 cheaper for some reason at the time.   The only difference was the manual and the "Target" mode vs "Pinseeker" mode or something.    I abused that thing, it dropped at least a few times out of moving carts onto the cartpath, got wet, but kept on going.   Eventually it started to struggle getting pins over 200 yards, which wasn't really a huge problem, but also seemed to start going through batteries faster.  About 3 years ago had some pro shop credit at the end of the year and got a new one, the Tour V5, this one has slope.  

 

The new one is better, its faster and gets targets at longer distances, but the old one still works, I keep it as a backup......

Edited June 6, 2024 by Mike_C

[2Down]

I've tried several inexpensive ones before and I prefer/need features that raise the cost a bit.  stabilization is something I won't be without nowadays and that adds a significant bump to the cost.  

 

my old Nikon is going down slow  (I hope slow enough that the new one shows up before its gone).  the new version (proshot 11 stabilized) is over 400 now so I shopped around and found a new offering from Canon.

It's a camera based system with stabilization and the ability to shoot pic and video.  

rechargeable system is going to take a while to get used too (it was nice to have a spare battery in the bag ). now Ill have to remember to charge it up every once in a while.  any ways Canon seems to have added a new way to do things to the mix that I think will be copied pretty quickly.  

 

will be sure to post a glowing unbiased review when I've had it for a while. 

[Triple Lindy]

I primarily just use my GPS watch, but have a cheap range finder that I use at the range. Paid around $75. I pull it out on the course from time to time to compare it to my buddy’s Bushnell. It’s always spot on. Never had a problem in low light, but have never tested it shooting directly into the sun.

 

Now that no-name options are available at a fraction of the price of recognizable brands, it’s the same as any other market. Some people are fine with Timex. Others prefer a Rolex. Both tell time.

[ShortGolfer]

I'm one of those who are just fine with a Timex.  I can't see flaunting wealth around with a Rolex.

The hour hand on my new Timex is a little off; I'm sure that would bother a Rolex owner!  It is a little to the left when the clock strikes Noon.

Timex watches are cheap enough to be disposable, and I've never had one that failed in thirty years of wearing them. 

Ten watches that all kept good time!  Easy to read faces.  Both digital and analog.  The Indiglo light is a nice feature.

I shattered the plastic face of one, but that was a nasty impact with a hard object.  My new Timex has a mineral glass face and cost me $50.

 

I have an $85 Redtiger rangefinder that works great for me as long as I can see a pin.  I can use it to measure distances to trees or similar markers.

I  have an $80 Garmin G10 that works as long as I remember to charge the battery.  Good to carry both!

 

 

Edited June 17, 2024 by ShortGolfer

[nsxguy]

2 hours ago, Triple Lindy said:

Some people are fine with Timex. Others prefer a Rolex. Both tell time

 

Yeah, and the Timex does it MUCH better, and without breaking every 3 or 4 weeks (or so I understand). 

 

(Guess which one *I* have  )

[King_Slender]

On 6/5/2024 at 9:25 PM, 0iron said:

So what really separates the "cheap" ($~150 and less) and "expensive" ($350+) rangefinders? Sounds like...

 

-Durability? How long the product will last?

-Maximum yardage (i mean unless your hunting or shooting stuff this seems irrelevant) I don't need to get a distance 1300 yards on a golf course or even anything over 330 max, realistically.

-I've read the higher end ones might give you a reading on your target faster? Maybe a half to a second faster? Seems irrelevant for large majority of golfers.

-Sleeker display/interface?

 

For the large majority of distances youll encounter or need to know on a golf course, it sounds like the "Cheap" ones will be as accurate and reliable with the number as the "Expensive" ones? Does that sound about right? 

 

Durability seems like the big thing here. Bushnells seem to last several years based on comments here and other forms. I bought a Callaway 200s 3-4 years ago and it just died. I did like it and am considering buying it again since it's only $127 on Amazon, it did it's job well before it died.

 

Considering the 200S again or the Shot Scope PRO L2 Rangefinder which is $129 on Amazon. If anyone has any input or experience with the latter i'd like to know

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I find the "accuracy" arguments (assuming within a couple yards) kind of hilarious unless you're a plus handicap and completely dialed in on your yardages. 

 

I'm a 7 handicap - which many think is good - but realistically I know my stock yardages, but I'm likely to by +/- 3-4 yards every time because I don't have the ball striking of a real high level players.  

 

Even when I'm shooting yardages, I generally know what it will be first - check where the yardage marker is, see if pin is front/center/back and then the rangefinder is more of a sanity check on a final number.  Also useful if I'm out of position, but the idea that a rangefinder being +/- 2 yards for any golfer not playing at a highly competitive level is hilarious.  

 

 

[mshills]

Are they commoditized? Yes. 
 

I have a Tour V5 that’s been through everything….dropped, kicked, sand, wet, mud, you name it, and still works fine. Where I play has lots of elevation change, so I wish I’d gotten slope capability, but I can’t see spending $300+ on one just for giggles when my non-slope works just fine. 
 

If I get one it’ll be one of the word salad Amazon el cheapos. 

[TonyRo]

I'd love to blow $300 on a CaddyTalk Cube because I think it seems rad, but at this point between arccos and a GPS watch, I almost never shoot a pin anyway. I'm certainly not aiming at it, and I'm not good enough to care too much if it's front back, etc. I'm taking the front and back yardages and picking the club that gives me the highest probability of hitting the green the most number of times. 😄 I carry a cheap Amazon one for the sake of completeness, and have zero complaints.

[BlkNGld]

I got a Leupold on closeout.   It was one of the first with slope and was around 200.  Still going strong after 10+ years.   I'm mostly GPS, except on the range or when I can't see where the flag is relative to center.  As of this past weekend I'm on my 3rd battery.

 

I don't particularly feel like there are any features I've missed, but I know that with many of them, once you have them there's no going back.    If mine were to stop working or go missing, about the only extra I'd think about would be some form of image stabilization.   

[bvmagic]

I have an old Bushnell model, don't even think its designed for golf.  I got it back in 2005 and it was already used.  Its not the easiest to line up like the new ones that can find the pin but it still gets the job done for me.  Amazing that it has lasted this long for me.  

 

If I ever needed a new one I would probably get one of the off brand cheap ones and hope it lasts.  

[ilikegolf26]

I had a Leupold for around 13 years. I bought it used on this very site and it Still works great but I had issues reading the yardages as the display was dark gray/black. I bought a BlueTees one also used and the thing didn’t work for months, finally got it to work but if it rains or gets wet it fills the lens. The thing is a piece of junk and their customer service is terrible. If you find one that works well and is durable, stick with it regardless of the brand!

[sphannaby]

I've been using a Bushnell Medalist for so long I can't remeber when I bought it (I think its at least 15 years old). It was still accurate enough but the battery wire has frayed so much it beyond repairable now.

Just upgraded to the Shotscope Pro LX which was in the sale and it's brilliant. Ergonomically it feels much nicer and the speed in which it picks the distances is much quicker than the medalist

[allparz]

Have a Blue Tees and it works great - no issues....

 

Wait till you all find out that Gloves and Grips are also being marked up -- The Kirkland gloves at 4 for $40 on Amazon are great and the cheap 13 for $34 Kingrasp grips are also very good, I can re-grip 4x for the cost of one GPride

[SwingBlues]

On 4/30/2025 at 9:29 AM, sphannaby said:

I've been using a Bushnell Medalist for so long I can't remeber when I bought it (I think its at least 15 years old). It was still accurate enough but the battery wire has frayed so much it beyond repairable now.

Just upgraded to the Shotscope Pro LX which was in the sale and it's brilliant. Ergonomically it feels much nicer and the speed in which it picks the distances is much quicker than the medalist

 

The Bushnell Medalist launched in 2004, and I picked up mine—the gray unit—in 2006. Even after all these years, I still use it, though it now mostly stays in my range bag.

 

One thing I really appreciate is its 9V battery—a refreshingly simple choice compared to the fancier (and pricier) CR batteries. The Medalist also had an early Bushnell's "PinSeeker" technology, which was a big deal at the time. Fortunately, my unit’s wiring is still solid, but I remember two juniors who each bought a Medalist around 2009—both ended up with wire battery issues. Luckily, I was able to fix their units years ago, though by then, they were out of warranty (these rangefinders only come with a 2-year warranty).

 

For an "unprotected" laser, the Medalist is surprisingly tough, simple, and long-lasting. I also still have my 2018 Bushnell Pro X2, which sits in my Gamer Bag.

Recently, though, I got lucky—I was selected to do a GolfWRX review of the Vortex Golf Anarch (check it out here in the Tour Pre-Release subforum). The Anarch's lifetime warranty is a game-changer, especially compared to the 1, 2 or 3-year warranties you typically see. So far, it’s fast and performing well, but I’m still putting it through its paces. 👍

 

As for ShotScope, they make solid lasers—many companies do. But those Amazon budget rangefinders? My buddy picked up one of those sub-$100 models, and half the time, it couldn’t even lock onto a target. Should’ve loaned him my Medalist 🤣

 

 

Edited May 2 by SwingBlues

[bcjim]

I have an ancient no-name RF my kids got me 15+y ago. Works fine besides being tough on AAA batteries.

 

The optics on higher end units are indeed better but the laser technology is pretty simple stuff. 

[sphannaby]

On 5/2/2025 at 11:52 PM, SwingBlues said:

 

The Bushnell Medalist launched in 2004, and I picked up mine—the gray unit—in 2006. Even after all these years, I still use it, though it now mostly stays in my range bag.

 

One thing I really appreciate is its 9V battery—a refreshingly simple choice compared to the fancier (and pricier) CR batteries. The Medalist also had an early Bushnell's "PinSeeker" technology, which was a big deal at the time. Fortunately, my unit’s wiring is still solid, but I remember two juniors who each bought a Medalist around 2009—both ended up with wire battery issues. Luckily, I was able to fix their units years ago, though by then, they were out of warranty (these rangefinders only come with a 2-year warranty).

 

For an "unprotected" laser, the Medalist is surprisingly tough, simple, and long-lasting. I also still have my 2018 Bushnell Pro X2, which sits in my Gamer Bag.

Recently, though, I got lucky—I was selected to do a GolfWRX review of the Vortex Golf Anarch (check it out here in the Tour Pre-Release subforum). The Anarch's lifetime warranty is a game-changer, especially compared to the 1, 2 or 3-year warranties you typically see. So far, it’s fast and performing well, but I’m still putting it through its paces. 👍

 

As for ShotScope, they make solid lasers—many companies do. But those Amazon budget rangefinders? My buddy picked up one of those sub-$100 models, and half the time, it couldn’t even lock onto a target. Should’ve loaned him my Medalist 🤣

 

 

 

My Medalist has had a wire repair at least 3 times now. The last repair I bought a new battery connector to extend the wires but the battery connector was a little fatter than the original so it made it difficult to close the compartment.

The current wire break is so low down that I can't re-solder. I suppose I could open the thing up and go back to the PCB with new wiring.

I totally agree about the 9V battery though, especially when I get then free through work.

I have definitely had my moneys worth out of the Medalist though and often wonder how I managed before I used a rangefinder.

 

[new2g0lf]

With Bushnell you're paying for R&D, marketing and the name.  The Chinese knockoffs steal their technology, and don't market their products so the only cost is components which are a commodity.  Some of the real cheap ones might have lower quality optics and lasers but based on what I've seen out there most are adequate to good and at 25% of the price, they are a compelling option.  

[FatThinHeelToe]

1 minute ago, new2g0lf said:

With Bushnell you're paying for R&D, marketing and the name.  The Chinese knockoffs steal their technology, and don't market their products so the only cost is components which are a commodity.  Some of the real cheap ones might have lower quality optics and lasers but based on what I've seen out there most are adequate to good and at 25% of the price, they are a compelling option.  

I went through 2 Chinese Amazon range finders and they work but they were very fragile and broke both of them. I finally just bought an older Bushnell used and its 5 years old at this point and still going super strong. There are probably some more durable knockoffs out there but for me the Bushnell is just built better.

[ciscojaws]

On 6/29/2024 at 8:41 AM, King_Slender said:

 

I find the "accuracy" arguments (assuming within a couple yards) kind of hilarious unless you're a plus handicap and completely dialed in on your yardages. 

 

I'm a 7 handicap - which many think is good - but realistically I know my stock yardages, but I'm likely to by +/- 3-4 yards every time because I don't have the ball striking of a real high level players.  

 

Even when I'm shooting yardages, I generally know what it will be first - check where the yardage marker is, see if pin is front/center/back and then the rangefinder is more of a sanity check on a final number.  Also useful if I'm out of position, but the idea that a rangefinder being +/- 2 yards for any golfer not playing at a highly competitive level is hilarious.  

 

 

I'd be interested to hear from a tour pro how much they would care that a rangefinder had to be dead-on-balls accurate.

[Bob Cat]

If anyone has a value option for CR2 battery's, I'd love to know.  Just need one. Buying 2 just results in losing one somewhere.

[sneaky_pete]

I've had a Leupold GX-3i3 for a few years now, pretty much before the proliferation of all the cheap ones you see now.  My golfing buddies all have Bushnell's.  The Leupold is hands down the best built RF in our group.  After having a Leupold the Bushnells just feel cheap in comparision.  My brother put me onto them and he's had one sent back to them for repair outside warranty and they either repaired it or sent him a new/refurb unit at no cost.  That's why I went with one - they support what they sell. 

 

When my current one dies I may look to a cheaper one and see what happens, but if I go with a premium model it will be a Leupold no question.

[WesternRacing]

Have the top of the line Bushnell.  Works flawlessly, great optics, locks quick every time, image stabilization works great, and it takes a beating and keeps on ticking.  Magnet holds to the cart no matter how bumpy the ride.  Works great in low light and even in our morning coastal fog.  No complaints with it at all.  One thing I love about it compared to some of the cheap ones my buddies have is the ergonomics and weight of it.  It just feels right in my hands.  Immaterial to performance I know, but it’s a visceral thing that makes my endorphins tingle.

[Desmodromic]

15 hours ago, WesternRacing said:

Have the top of the line Bushnell.  Works flawlessly, great optics, locks quick every time, image stabilization works great, and it takes a beating and keeps on ticking.  Magnet holds to the cart no matter how bumpy the ride.  Works great in low light and even in our morning coastal fog.  No complaints with it at all.  One thing I love about it compared to some of the cheap ones my buddies have is the ergonomics and weight of it.  It just feels right in my hands.  Immaterial to performance I know, but it’s a visceral thing that makes my endorphins tingle.

Which model specifically are you using?  The course we play most often has screens in the carts but it would be really handy to have a quality rangefinder with stabilization.

[WesternRacing]

20 minutes ago, Desmodromic said:

Which model specifically are you using?  The course we play most often has screens in the carts but it would be really handy to have a quality rangefinder with stabilization.

 

I have a Bushnell Pro Xe, but I think it has since been replaced by a new model.

[Desmodromic]

5 minutes ago, WesternRacing said:

 

I have a Bushnell Pro Xe, but I think it has since been replaced by a new model.

Thank you! 

[WesternRacing]

3 minutes ago, Desmodromic said:

Thank you! 

 

BTW, I’m not sure if it has any special image stabilization feature.  Just that I don’t have any trouble keeping the image stable and locking on quickly.

[efduffer]

On 5/14/2025 at 8:25 AM, Bob Cat said:

If anyone has a value option for CR2 battery's, I'd love to know.  Just need one. Buying 2 just results in losing one somewhere.

Go on eBay and buy a box of 10 no-name. Cost per battery makes it easy to justify. I keep them in the fridge along with all our other bulk battery stock. One in the machine, one in the bag as a spare.

[taskerc]

Played with a guy recently who had his “amazon” rangefinder. Between slope and capability he was a rarely in the right yardage range at all - my old dim bushnell

xe was rock solid every time  including when he used it . So not sure they are comprised in terms of equally of performance yet 

[dufferaaron]

I purchased an Amazon one (Cigman) based off of a few "best of Amazon" rangefinder reviews and have been happy. They also make laser levels and other related equipment, which made me feel better about its capabilities. It has been on par with my buddy's V5 for accuracy and optical clarity at 25% of the cost.

 

At the same time, I've tried a few other cheap ones (don't remember the first generic) that had optics that seemed Vaseline-covered and a CaddyTek that locked on to anything but the flag.

[Shilgy]

On 6/4/2024 at 10:44 AM, Archimedes65 said:

Drop that Chinese knock off a few times, let it get wet, use it for a year, and then see how it compares to your more expensive rangefinder.  Amazon is basically a Chinese storefront selling garbage to Americans.  It’s actually a brilliant business model.

 

That said, my Bushnell sits in a cabinet in my garage because the app on my phone gives me better information, quicker than a rangefinder.

My experience with any GPS based device is it can be off by 8-10 yards.  Which for me is fine from 250 but not from 120.  So I will use my laser with an assist from the Bushnell Phantom 3 gps unit for shots where line of sight is blocked