No More Rangefinders From Callaway?

Although Callaway’s uPro MX+ finally turned out to be a decent golf GPS, the product’s launch destroyed the ratings and the sales very quickly. It picked up momentum after the unit’s price dropped about 75%, making it the best deal in golf GPS. Still, it’s easy to understand why Callaway might have decided to get out of the golf GPS business. They do so many other things so well and the competition in GPS is getting so tough.

Their rangefinders, on the other hand, seem to have some popularity. Especially the entry-level models (the LR550, Diablo Octane and the X-Hot). In thinking back now, it does seem like Callaway hasn’t really gone “all in” with their rangefinder development, or maybe they have left it completely to Nikon? The three aforementioned models were nearly identical – the colors were updated and the name changed, but not any significant features. Perhaps the problem had something to do with the Callaway and Nikon partnership on these products. It’s really hard to say, but surprisingly, Callaway hasn’t seemed to gain any ground on the well established Bushnell, in the rangefinder market.

So is it over? No more rangefinders from Callaway? Maybe it’s time to hurry up and buy one before they are all sold out! As of this writing, the Callaway X-Hot rangefinder is still one of the best values in golf rangefinders.

If Callaway disappears from the laser rangefinder market, that would leave only Leupold as a real competitor in the golf laser rangefinder arena with Bushnell. Thank goodness Bushnell has continued to add innovation and improvements in 2014.