Laser range finders are a great tool and a great alternative to a GPS sytem. You would be surprised how accurate they are compared to a GPS system. There are a lot of things you should consider before buying a laser range finder, so hopefully in this Bushnell Tour v2 Range Finder Review I can compare a laser system vs a GPS system so you can make a better choice. After my research on the Bushnell Tour v2 Laser Range Finder, I found that a laser range finder may be something that you would rather have than a GPS system.
Overview of the Bushnell Tour v2 Laser Range Finder
This range finder is one of the smallest laser range finders on the market right now, which makes it pretty popular with a lot of golfers. The system only weighs 6.6 ounces and can give you accurate readings, within 1 yard, from 5 to 1000 yards. I’m sure you won’t need to use it if you are more than 300 yards away, but you could if you wanted to. The Bushnell v2 Laser Range Finder doesn’t need reflectors on the pin for you to get accurate yardage either. That’s how advanced this range finder is.
This range finder uses a 3-volt battery that can last many hours. The Bushnell range finder also has 5 times magnification and a rubber exterior so you can grip it easily. Also this product is legal to use in golf tournaments, so if you were wondering if you could use it while playing in a tournament, you can, without worrying about legality issues.
All of these things are some of the reasons why so many people like this range finder. You will be surprised at how many people actually prefer this range finder over a GPS system. In fact, if you read the user reviews on Amazon, you will see that a lot of people have used the skycaddie gps systems, and switched to the Bushnell Range Finder. The skycaddie GPS systems are some of the most expensive GPS systems on the market, and many people love them, but a great alternative is the Bushnell Range Finder, with many people actually PREFER over the skycaddie.
How a Laser Range Find Works
The Bushnell Range Finder works like all other laser range finders. The ranger finder shoots a very small laser that is bounced off an object and goes back to the device, this tells the system how far away the object is. The process happens in a matter of seconds. The information(yardage) will be displayed to you so you can make the right decision on which club to use, and help you decide how to hit the shot. The difference between the Bushnell and other range finders is that you don’t need reflectors on the pin to get an accurate yardage.
The accuracy is very good, the speed of the range finder is very good, and it’s easy to use. Bouncing a laser off a target is always one of the most accurate ways to get the right yardage, and that’s what we are all looking for. We also are looking for something that will last a long time. According to other reviews and people that i have talked too, Bushnell range finders are some of the longest lasting range finders on the market. Even the skycaddie sgx, our top recommendation, has had some problems with longevity.
Pros and Cons of the Bushnell v2 Range Finder with Pinseeker Technology
PROS
Accuracy – This is one of those things that I thought would be a little off with a laser range finder, but Bushnell seems to have knocked one out of the park with this one. There are a few people in the forums that said they have tested this range finder with their friends GPS systems, and the distances were exactly the same. That is a huge deal when it comes to buying a range finder. You want accuracy every time you use it, otherwise, why even bother. I’m sure you can guess within 5 to 10 yards without using any devices. But when accuracy is important, range finders are the way to go.
Longevity – You obviously want something that is going to last a long time. That is true with any product you purchase, whether it be this laser range finder, or a car or a computer. I have a friend that has a bushnell laser range finder (an older version), and it is still working after 4 years of use.
Ease of Use – You won’t find another golf range finder that is easier to use than this one. It’s a point and click system which gives you feedback on the distance in less than a second. If you can use a digital camera, you can use the Bushnell range finder.
CONS
Price – It retails at $539, but you can get it for less than $330 on Amazon. It is on the higher end of range finders, but when you can get it for $200 off the retail price, it’s a pretty good deal. This isn’t for the average golfer, this is the for the person who truly wants to save strokes on their golf game.
Battery Life – Bushnell says that the battery lasts 10,000 hours, but many people are seeing that they battery lasts about 20 to 30 rounds of golf. If you decide to buy this range finder, make sure you are buying the 9-volt battery, not the 3-volt. You will get longer use out of the 9-volt, obviously.
Overall Satisfaction of the Bushnell v2 Range Finder
Overall, the Bushnell range finder is, in my opinion, under-rated and a great purchase. In fact, after the research I have done on this device, I would rather have a laser range finder than a GPS. With a GPS, you have to connect to a satellite, sign in to your account (at least with the skycaddies you do), you have to pay a yearly fee to get access to all the courses, and sometimes they can be inaccurate if you haven’t played the course before. I’m not trying to downgrade a GPS over a laser range finder, but as far as ease of use and price, a laser range finder will do a better job. There are some things that a gps can do, especially one with a large screen that shows you the hole, like tell you exactly how far it is to a bunker, or water, or somewhere that you want to lay up – all with the push of a couple buttons, and you don’t have to aim anything…so in that sense it’s nice to have a GPS unit.
The price for the Bushnell v2 range finder is $539, but you can get much better deals online. In fact, you can buy it on Amazon for $324 right now – which is a pretty good price compared to other models that do similar things as the Bushnell Tour v2.
Click Here to Buy The Bushnell v2 Tour Range Finder at Amazon
After this review of the Bushnell Tour v2 Laser Range Finder, I can honestly say it surprised me with all the good things I have heard from it. What really surprises me is the accuracy. Before doing research for this laser range finder review, I thought it would be a pain in the ass to get an exact distance to the green or pin, but that is not the case.
If you have had any experience with this range finder or others, we would love to get your opinion. The more information we have on products, the better it will be for all of us. You can share your experience in the comment section below.
I’ve had a bushnell v2 tour w/pinseeker for approx 3 to 4 years used sparingly and it has already died and according to bushnell can’t be repaired, but they were so kind to offer me a new one at an amazing discount of $50 to $60 off. Think I’ll look at other options.
Thats to bad Jeff. I would have thought that they would have replaced the product. There must have only been a 1 year product warranty. 1 question though. Would you buy another rangefinder? Or would you go with another option like a GPS? Hope you have better luck with your next purchase.