Most golf courses have yardage markers along the fairway. But unless your ball is right at the yardage marker, you’re guessing the distance to the pin. This is where a golf rangefinder comes in handy.
In this golf rangefinder review, I want to discuss affordable golf rangefinders. I also discuss what features you should consider before making a purchase.
CliffsNotes on Best Affordable Golf Rangefinder
The best golf rangefinder for the price is the Peakpulse. It provides both straight distance and slope yardage as well as a pin acquisition indicator. It has yardage capabilities for most golf courses and is very affordable. You can’t go wrong with this one. See below for a quick table of the list below.
| Brand | TecTecTec | Callaway | Gogogo | PeakPulse | Profey |
| Slope | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Magnification | 6x | 6x | 6x | 6x | 6x |
| Warranty | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Yardage | Max 540 | Max 1,000 | Max 900 | Max 500 | Max 1.500 |
In years past, getting a rangefinder under a few hundred dollars was pretty difficult unless you purchased a used one, or searched endlessly for a good deal.
Fortunately, for the consumer, suitable rangefinders are more affordable and more accessible. The days of going from specialty store to specialty store are over, and the end-user is the winner.
Depending on what your needs are or what accessories you need, it will determine which rangefinder will fit you best. While you could just grab the cheapest rangefinder available, it might not be in your best interest.
If you’re here reading this article, I’m guessing you don’t need anything too fancy, but one that will provide you accurate distance so you can choose the right club.
As you walk down the fairway of life, you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round.
-Ben Hogan
I’m a simple golfer and just need the basic information, so I went looking for rangefinders that would fit my needs.
Below is what I found.
5 Best Affordable Golf Rangefinders
TecTecTec
1) TecTecTec VPRO500 Golf Rangefinder – This rangefinder seems to be the staple for those looking for a middle of the road rangefinder. It perfectly measures distances quickly, letting you improve your game like a pro. This rangefinder provides the true measurement accurate within+/- 1 yard, helping you to find the distance to flags, trees or hazards.
Callaway 300
2) Callaway 300 Pro Golf Laser Rangefinder – You can’t go wrong with Callaway. The exclusive Pin Acquisition Technology (P.A.T.) lets you lock onto the pin from up to 300 yards away, ensuring accuracy even when trees and other objects are in the background. The Slope measurement technology measures angle of incline or decline then automatically calculates the slope-adjusted distance. Comes with a warranty, and details are here
Gogogo Sport (Budget Friendly)
3) Gogogo Sport Laser Golf Rangefinder – Customers are finding that this model, albeit a little cheaper than some of the big-name brands, is calculating yardage more accurately. If you’re playing a particularly hilly course, this might be the option for you. The battery power vs the USB charging provides the rangefinding you need at a more affordable price.
Peakpulse 6S (Editor’s Choice)
4) PEAKPULSE 6S Golf Laser Rangefinder – What I really like about this one is how it felt in your hands. It just seems to have an appropriate weight to it, so it didn’t feel cheap. Additionally, the grooved spots for your fingers make them comfortable to hold. Some rangefinders can feel blocky or square, but this rangefinder feels great. The Peakpulse touts the flag acquisition with vibration technology. Some rangefinders chirp, some use an indicator, but this one vibrates. The 6S Laser Rangefinder allows you to shoot distances to the flag, bunkers, trees, and other objects with accuracy to the yard. This one is battery powered and shuts down after 8 seconds of inactivity, saving battery power. Not a bad feature if you’re indulging in a few adult beverages, and memory can slip.
Profey Golf (Runner-Up)
5) Profey Golf Rangefinder – The perfect combination of Angle, Scan, Accuracy, JOLT and Slope Tech. Slope-Switch Tech makes the golfer easily toggle in and out of the Slope function. PinSeeker with JOLT Tech & Slope Tech provides the golfers with compensated distance base on hole’s uphill or downhill. The yardage on this is a max of 1,500 (at least claimed) which is very impressive. Realistically, on the golf course, hopefully, your only needing a distance of 500-600 yards at the tee box. So hit the birdie with accurate data.
Choosing the right club can make all the difference, so knowing your yardage can be critical. Knowing what your rangefinder can and can’t do is essential too.
In my journey of evaluating these rangefinder, I wanted to share some features that may or may not be important to you. This should help determine if you need to go top-shelf, or if a basic model will suffice. Here’s what I found.
Features of Golf Rangefinders
Power Supply
Power Supply – like most modern gadgets these days, you can find battery-powered tech or USB charged tech. The batter powered options tend to be a bit cheaper, but obviously you’ll be purchasing batteries (most likely every year) to use it. This needs to be considered in your decision making.
Slope Calculation
Slope Calculation – rarely do we play on flat courses. If you’re looking at getting a rangefinder for the distance it would be helpful on vertical too. Playing on a course with elevation change will alter which club you choose. The slope function will get you all the distances you need, not just the horizontal one.
Optics
Optics – No use in using a rangefinder if the optics are bad. We can all relate to looking through sunglasses or a windshield and the visibility is still poor. If you go with the cheapest model, you can expect the optics to reflect that. Pun intended! The best rangefinders for beginners doesn’t mean you need the most inexpensive. Make sure you’re going to get what you pay for, and optics is one of the more important features in my opinion.
Waterproof
Waterproof – not all days are sunshine and daisies. And usually, the golf course isn’t exactly littered with canopy or coverage. As we all know electronics and water don’t go together well. If you tend to play come rain or shine, you’ll want to make sure the tech you’re using can stand all the elements. Be sure to check if they are water-resistant or waterproof, so your new rangefinders don’t go down the drain!
Max Yardage Capabilities
I’ve noticed that most golf rangefinders have some serious yardage capabilities. And this is great, but how often will you be actually needing to use it from such a great distance? On the par 4’s and 5’s, you’ll have this yardage information at the tee box.
So realistically, you’ll only be using your golf rangefinder after your drive. The average par 5 on the PGA is 560 yards, so even if you shank you’re drive, you’ll still only needing yardage information from a few hundred yards out. The extra yardage capabilities are nice, but I wouldn’t suggest picking one just because it has the longest yardage. If you’re also using it for hunting, this might be a different story.
How Does a Golf Rangefinder Work
There are two types of golf rangefinders. One uses a laser to acquire distance the other uses GPS. The laser kind just requires you to shoot the laser at the desired target and get a distance reading. The GPS rangefinders require the course to be mapped. The GPS rangefinders also usually require a monthly fee. Both have advantages and disadvantages.
Conclusion of Golf Rangefinders Reviews
Golf rangefinders can be handy for any golfer from amateur to pro. A rangefinder will give you an accurate read on how far it is to the pin, hazards, and slope compensation, allowing you to always choose the perfect club. Consider the features you need in a rangefinder, grab one, and let me know how many more birdies you’re getting.
FAQ on Golf Rangefinders
What is the best golf rangefinder for the money?
The best golf rangefinder for the money TecTecTec VPRO 500. It has the bells and whistles to hone in on your target making choosing the right club easier.
Do golf pros use rangefinders?
No, the rules don’t allow for rangefinders.
Are cheap golf rangefinders any good?
The price point of rangefinders can vary a lot. This isn’t to say the more affordable ones won’t work. If you don’t need extra features, then the more affordable rangefinders do just fine. The Gogogo Sport rangefinder is a great example of this.