No More Rangefinders From Callaway?

UPDATE: In 2015, Callaway got back into the laser rangefinder market. The one that gets our attention is the Callaway Hybrid Laser/GPS rangefinder. Although Bushnell sold a lot of their hybrid rangefinder when it came out, there just hasn’t been much competition. We love the idea of a hybrid and are glad to see decent ratings on this new Callaway. Check our list of current rangefinders to see other Callaway offerings.

Closed for BusinessHmm… I was looking on Callaway’s website to see if there were any new rangefinders or GPS devices released at the PGA Show. Even though I’m pretty good at finding things on the web, I couldn’t find them anywhere, so I emailed them. A short email came in reply and included this relevant piece of information…

In response to your inquiry, Callaway Rangefinders, and GPS devices are not currently featured on our website.

What does that mean? Have they discontinued their laser and GPS rangefinders? I’ll let you know when I get to the bottom of this, but for now, my mind is wondering and wandering…

Okay, maybe discontinuing golf GPS wouldn’t come as a huge surprise, but the fact that Callaway would no longer be selling laser golf rangefinders, that would surprise me…

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.

Hmm… Maybe Bushnell knows something I don’t… Is Callaway only pulling back in preparation for a renewed commitment to distance measuring?

Guess we’ll have to wait a little longer to find out. I’ll keep you posted!

GolfBuddy BB4 Band Review

Too Bad GolfBuddy didn’t ever get this one to market.

GolfBuddy BB4 BandWe are totally jazzed just thinking about doing our GolfBuddy BB4 Band Review. The truth is that we love the convenience of golf GPS watches, but for those of us with small wrists, they’re a little bulky. Although the BB4 can give you the time, it looks more like a fitness band than a golf watch and we are expecting it to be much more comfortable than any of the golf watches currently on the market.

The BB4 will provide distances to the front, middle and back of every green, as well as the time of day. You can also measure your shots with it and your steps, as it has a pedometer. The battery is USB rechargeable and lasts 10 hours. It will be available in black or white.

GolfBuddy will be releasing several other new golf GPS devices in 2014 and all of them look very promising. Look for these new handheld unit, watch and voice models from GolfBuddy in the near future.

Garmin S1 vs S3

Garmin S1 vs Garmin S3In the battle of Garmin S1 vs S3, the winner is… Well, they’re both winners, but it shouldn’t be a difficult choice if you’re getting ready to buy…

If you want ultimate simplicity, the Garmin S1 will give you distances to the front, middle and back of every green, plus hole number and par and you probably won’t ever have to touch the watch after you leave the first tee. That’s all many golfers need or want, and if that’s you, the Garmin Approach S1 is a great choice. Read our full review.

On the other hand, if you’re interested in layup distances and the ability to adjust the pin placement, the Garmin Approach S3 is a very slick golf watch. Read our full review.

Features of the Garmin S1 vs S3
Model Garmin Approach S1 WatchGarmin Approach S3
Read Full Review Read Full ReviewRead Full Review
Price Check PriceCheck Price
GRS Score 4.48
(1285 Ratings)
4.34
(522 Ratings)
Height 2.7 in.2.7 in.
Width 1.8 in.1.8 in.
Depth .6 in..6 in.
Weight 1.8 oz.2.06 oz.
Battery Li-ionLithium-ion recharge
Battery Life 3 wks / 8 hrs GPS8 hrs GPS / 4 wks
Rainproof Yes IPX7IPX7
Pre-loaded with Courses YesYes
Instant Course Recognition YesYes
Auto Hole Advance YesYes
Course Capacity UnlimitedUnlimited
Touch Screen NoYes
Stat Tracker NoNo
Digital Scorecard NoYes
Computer Analysis Tools NoNo*
USGA Compliant (local rule) YesYes
Alternate Targets NoYes
Ability to Add Targets NoYes
Measure Shot Distance YesYes
# of Available Courses 14,000+30,000+
Course Download Fees NoNo

Garmin S2 vs Bushnell Neo-X

Garmin S2 vs Bushnell Neo-XAs the Bushnell Neo-X has been retired, we suggest taking a look at our Garmin vs. Bushnell Golf Watch article.


In the matchup of the Garmin S2 vs Bushnell Neo X, there is really only question you need to answer. Do you want your golf watch to have a scorecard feature? The two watches have very similar features, but the one that costs more allows you to keep score on it. If not for the scorecard feature on the Garmin S2, we would recommend the Bushnell Neo-X over the Garmin S2 just about every time.

Make no mistake, the Garmin S2 is an excellent golf watch. It’s just that the Bushnell Neo-X is significantly less expensive, is smaller, has a longer battery life and the user ratings are overall higher. All in all, the Neo-X is an amazing golf GPS watch, but not having a digital scorecard is a deal-breaker for a handful of users.

So the winner of the Garmin S2 vs Bushnell Neo X depends on your answer… We’d love to hear your preference in the comments below!

PS. There’s a new kid in town, the Bushnell Neo-XS that you should consider if you’ve decided that the scorecard isn’t important!

Model Garmin Approach S2Bushnell NEO-X Watch
Read Full Review Read Full ReviewRead Full Review
Price Check PriceCheck Price
GRS Score 4.41
(924 Ratings)
4.39
(469 Ratings)
Height 2.7 in.1.4 in.
Width 1.8 in.1.5 in.
Depth .6 in..6 in.
Weight 1.8 oz.1.8 oz.
Battery rechargeable Li-ionRechargeable
Battery Life 8 hrs / 3 wksup to 16 hours
Rainproof waterproof to 10 meterWaterproof
Pre-loaded with Courses YesYes
Instant Course Recognition YesYes
Auto Hole Advance YesYes
Course Capacity UnlimitedN/A
Touch Screen NoNo
Stat Tracker NoNo
Digital Scorecard YesNo
Computer Analysis Tools No*No
USGA Compliant (local rule) YesYes
Alternate Targets YesYes
Ability to Add Targets NoNo
Measure Shot Distance YesYes
# of Available Courses 30,000+30,000+
Course Download Fees NoNo

Best Golf GPS 2015

Below are our current picks for the best golf GPS 2015. The top table shows the best full-featured devices and the bottom table shows our choices for more basic models. We didn’t include golf watches on this page unless they had a removable watch band. If you’re considering a watch, you’ll definitely want to check out our picks for Best Golf Watch.

You may also want to use our Personalized Selection Quiz to find the best golf GPS for your budget and style of play.