Gear: Bushnell Pro X3 laser rangefinder
Price: $599.99
Specs: Waterproof construction with 7X magnification, 1,300-yard range and “plays like” slope distance.
Who It’s For: Golfers who want a combination of ease-of-use and state-of-the-art technologies in a distance-measuring device.
The Skinny: The Pro X3 is the most advanced laser rangefinder Bushnell makes, combining outstanding optics and functionality to make it easy for golfers to quickly get accurate information and yardages.
The Deep Dive: Bushnell laser rangefinders are used by more professional golfers and their caddies than any other brand because they are well-constructed pieces of equipment that quickly and easily provide you with yardages. With the Pro X3, Bushnell has packed its most popular features into one unit that now can be tethered to your smartphone to deliver even greater accuracy.
Holding it in your hand, the Pro X3 feels substantive and solid, with a small notch designed into the lower portion of the unit to help golfers hold it comfortably and stably in one hand. On one side is a powerful magnet that affixes the Pro X3 in place on your golf cart and keeps it within reach on the bumpiest fairway or cart path. On the other side is a silver button that switches the numbers and information you see in the viewfinder to either black or red.
When you hold the Pro X3 to your eye and press the power button on the top of the unit, you will see the battery life and the distance to your target in yards. When the Slope feature is activated, you will also see a “plays like” distance below the actual distance and a percentage showing how much the unit compensates for your target is uphill or downhill.
In addition to adjusting the Slope distance based on elevation changes, the Pro X3 can connect to your smartphone using Bluetooth and a free app, then utilize Elements Compensation to factor things like temperature and barometric pressure to increase accuracy. You can also enter your home course’s elevation into the unit to increase accuracy even further.
When the slope features are working, golfers will see a thin orange stripe that has the word SLOPE on it, but in tournament play where laser rangefinders that use slope features and distance-compensation features are not allowed, pulling a small tab near the lenses down and then pushing a small lens cover piece forward disables them and makes the Pro X3 legal for use.
To ensure you are getting a measurement to the flag, the Pro X3 vibrates in your hand and a circle in the viewfinder flashes when the flag is detected. Bushnell claims the Pro X3 is accurate to within three feet from 600 yards away.
Bushnell Pro X3 Rangefinder - $599
