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The 5 Best Golf Rangefinders in 2023

August 21, 2023
6 min

The 5 Best Golf Rangefinders 2023

A golf range finder is a very beneficial tool for the modern golfer who wants to know their exact distance from the flag at all times to plan accurate strategies for success on the course. That said, you’ve probably looked up golf range finders in your search and found that there are tons of options on the market. So which one should you choose? 

We’ve compiled a list of our 5 best golf range finders in 2023. These picks cover a range of prices, use cases, and individual needs. By the end, you’ll know exactly which one will be the best option for you. 

We aim to save you time rather than having to go through a bunch of long-winded golf range finder reviews by providing everything in a concise guide. So let’s get right into it. 

What Are the Best Golf Range Finders in 2023?

To provide you with a quick overview of what this article will cover, here are our top 5 picks:

  1. Best for Most People: Cobalt Q-4 Slope
  2. Best High-End Range Finder: Bushnell Pro X3
  3. Best Budget Range Finder: Precision Pro NX7
  4. Best Optics: Nikon Coolshot Pro II
  5. Best Golf Range Finder Watch: Garmin Approach S70

There’s a lot to cover here with each of these options, so you’ll want to stick around until the end to ensure you make the best purchasing decision for your needs. 

1. Best for Most People: Cobalt Q-4 Slope 

When purchasing a range finder for golf, most people want to find a balance between price, features, and ease of use. The Cobalt Q-4 Slope does exactly that. 

At a price of $295 for this one, you simply get a lot of features that make it a worthwhile purchase. That includes:

  • Red and black display options to optimize for different lighting conditions
  • An easy-to-use menu system
  • 6x magnification
  • Waterproof
  • Accuracy of +/- 0.5 yards for up to 200 yards
  • PinSense and Surge technologies

As you can see, this one packs a lot of great features in its compact frame. Whatever weather conditions or time of day you’re playing in, it will handle it all with ease. 

One of our favorite features with this option is the Surge technology which causes it to vibrate when it’s locked onto the flag. It provides you with confidence that you’re getting an accurate reading at all times, especially if you haven’t used a range finder before. 

2. Best High-End Range Finder: Bushnell Pro X3

If budget is no concern and you want all the bells and whistles, go with this Bushnell golf range finder. The Bushnell brand is known for offering some of the best quality products on the market. That includes launch monitors, GPS systems, speakers, and range finders. That quality holds true with the Bushnell Pro X3

While this one is high priced at $600, you get tons of features for your money. Some of the key features of this product are: 

  • A slope on and off switch (making it legal for tournament play when toggled off)
  • Easily switch between black and red displays
  • +/- 1 yard in accuracy for up to 300 yards
  • A visual jolt when locked onto the pin
  • Magnetic mount to attach to golf carts
  • Bushnell golf range finder app for an integrated display

With all of these features, you can probably see why this is one of the top choices on the market. When you use it, the display is always crystal clear and makes for easy use with the visual jolt it provides you when locked onto the flag. 

Plus, those who are looking for a golf range finder app will appreciate the integration with Bushnell’s app interface to provide you with even more data. 

3. Best Budget Range Finder: Precision Pro NX7

On the other end of the spectrum, if budget is a concern, the Precision Pro NX7 range finder will be a great entry-level option for many. At $200, it certainly offers a lot of value. 

Some of its key features are:

  • Accuracy of +/- 1 yard
  • Vibrates when the laser hits the target
  • Slope adjustments
  • Up to 600-yard measuring range
  • 6x magnification

While these aren’t the most robust features compared to the previously mentioned options, the Precision Pro NX7 still gets the job done very nicely. With the accuracy being within a yard of its distance readings, you really can’t go wrong with it. 

4. Best Optics: Nikon Coolshot Pro II

If the visual display is a big concern for you, Nikon (the maker of the popular cameras) will have you covered with their Coolshot Pro II range finder. 

At a price of around $430, this one is in the moderate range when looking for rangefinder options. However, for that price, you get a range of cool features that some other options don’t offer. Some of the main ones are: 

  • A stabilized view that counteracts hand shaking or environmental effects
  • Both a visual and audio cue that you are locked onto the flag
  • A hyper-read laser that locks on within .3 seconds
  • Waterproof and fog proof
  • Slope adjusted distance
  • Accuracy of +/- 1 yard

Overall, this one stands out because it provides a clear view and indicators that you’re locked onto the flag, no matter the conditions you’re playing in. It simply provides confidence that you’re getting accurate results. Plus, the view is very easy on the eyes too. 

5. Best Golf Range Finder Watch: Garmin Approach S70

Lastly, we have a unique option that’s a bit different than your typical golf range finder. The Garmin Approach S70 golf GPS can provide you with accurate distance readings on the course, without having to hassle with carrying around a larger range finder device. 

Some of the features this watch offers are:

  • Distance from the green, including measurements for the front, middle, and back
  • Hazard view to give you estimates on the distances where bunkers and water hazards are
  • Pinpointer feature, showing the direction of the pin
  • Wind speed and direction
  • Integration with the Garmin Golf app
  • Water-resistant

As you can see, there are tons of unique features you get with this watch over your typical range finder. Specifically, the extra data you get about distances of other objects on the course, and wind speed and direction make this a very handy tool to have with you. 

The only real downfalls are that you do sacrifice a bit of accuracy and the price. This one is estimated to be accurate within +/- 3 yards, which isn’t as good as your typical range finder. It’s also priced at $700, making it the most expensive option on this list. That said, if you want some unique features and have the money to spend, it’s not a bad option to go with. 

Conclusion

That’s a wrap for this one. By now, you should have a good idea of which range finder will be the right choice for your needs. Remember that picking the best golf range finder is a balance. You need to consider price, use cases, and your individual needs to pick the best one for you. 

That said, no matter which of these options you go with, they’re all great choices. You’ll be in good hands with any of these range finders. 

Thanks for reading, and good luck out on the course!

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