Golf GPS and Laser Rangefinder Reviews & Comparisons on GolfRangefinderShop.com
One of the questions we get asked the most is “Where are the best deals on golf rangefinders?”. That’s a hard one to answer since the prices are jumping around all the time. Here are a few places to check.
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The Bushnell Yardage Pro XGC+ has been retired. Check out our current recommendations for today's best golf rangefinders..
The Bushnell Yardage Pro XGC+ was introduced in October 2010, but there still are only a small number of user reviews. Initially, the Bushnell XGC+ was a good value for the features it offered, but given today there are models with higher ratings that are competitive in price and features. Check our “Best GPS for Golf” breakdown to find the one best suited to your needs.
3.65 out of 5 (17 reviews)The Bushnell XGC+ Plus comes preloaded with basic information to over 16,000 courses. That means you can open up the box when it arrives and take it out to play without syncing it with your computer. Even better than that, it means that you can show up at a course when you haven’t had time to download it and still benefit from having your Bushnell GPS with you. Within 45 days of starting up the XGC+ for the first time, you’ll need to register it on your computer. You can then select up to 50 golf courses to download with full maps to store on your unit. Whenever you sync your device, any updates that have been made to any courses, will be downloaded. The Bushnell XGC+ also includes scorecard, statistics and shot measuring features.
Conclusion: if you’re on a tight budget and you want more than just numbers on the display, this may be the golf GPS for you. If you have a bigger budget, we suggest checking out the GolfBuddy World.
Remember there were not many reviews to consider, so most of the pros and cons listed were mentioned only two or three times each.
| Bushnell Yardage Pro XGC+ | ||
|---|---|---|
| Course Download Fees | No* | |
| Pre-loaded with Courses | Yes | |
| Full Hole Views | Yes | |
| Slope / Elevation | No | |
| Battery Life | 16 hrs max | |
| Battery | Li-ion recharge | |
| Size (Width x Height x Depth) | 3.85 in. x 2.15 in. x .75 in. | |
| Measure Shot Distance | Yes | |
| Screen Size | 2.2 | |
| Resolution | hi-res | |
| Display Type | color | |
| Weight | N/A oz. | |
| Rainproof | rainproof | |
| Touch Screen | No | |
| Touch Targeting | No | |
| Manual Pin Positioning | N/A | |
| Stat Tracker | Yes | |
| Digital Scorecard | Yes | |
| Computer Analysis Tools | No | |
| Ground Verified | No | |
| Alternate Targets | Yes | |
| Green Rotates to your shot angle | N/A | |
| USGA Compliant (local rule) | Yes | |
| Notes | - | |
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Photo Credit Keith AllisonBased on performance alone, Yani Tseng should be to the LPGA what Tiger Woods was to the PGA in the early years of his career. Not yet 23 years old, Tseng has 22 professional victories to her credit, including five major championships. No player of either gender has accomplished so much so early. There are a few LPGA events in other parts of the world (closer to Yani’s homeland in Taiwan) that benefit greatly from her celebrity, but it’s not the case for LPGA venues in the United States. In fact, the LPGA is struggling mightily to get tournaments and sponsors in the U.S. Â Sponsors of course are driven by the people who consume their products, so you have to ask “Why is American interest in women’s professional golf dropping off when one of the most talented players ever, is on the rise?”
Based on personality alone, Yani Tseng should be to the LPGA what Arnold Palmer was to the PGA in the prime of his career. 60,000 fans came to see their beloved superstar play in the LPGA Taiwan Championship last year – she has mass appeal at home for sure. Despite her much lower profile in the U.S., Yani Tseng chooses to live in Florida and make competing on the LPGA Tour her main focus. Like Woods, her golf game speaks for itself and she could rest on that, but like Palmer, she wants to be a part of the bigger picture. Yani has worked hard over the last few years to learn to speak English. She seems to like those in the media and gives them full access. She communicates with fans on Facebook and Twitter and often in two languages. She is determined to help the LPGA thrive in this country. If you follow Tseng for a little while, you have to ask “Even if it takes a little longer, can she be the one to put the LPGA back on the map in the U.S.?”
Based on the history alone, Yani Tseng’s performance and personality may be enough to make her a superstar in America. Perhaps it’s human nature that dictates our desire to cheer for those who are most like us – you know, the three ‘L’s of location, language and looks. It’s also human nature and very American to remove those barriers as we come to know someone better. Hopefully, Yani will get some help in this quest to spur the LPGA in the U.S. If Lexi Thompson, the 17-year-old American phenom lives up to expectations, the 2012 rivalry between these two could set the LPGA on fire!
Recommended Reading:
Celebrated in Asia, Little Known in America – NY Times
Tseng’s spectacular year ranks fourth in AP voting – Waggle Room
Our Golf Rangefinder Buyer’s Guide tries to address the general factors you’ll want to consider when buying a laser rangefinder. For actual product recommendations, see our interactive Buyer’s Guide or see our Best Laser Rangefinder list. If you’re looking for GPS, take a look at our top golf GPS recommendations.
Accuracy
The first thing you need to know is that ALL laser golf rangefinders are accurate to within a couple of yards. If you get one that is not accurate, it’s defective and you should return it!
So what should you consider when buying a golf rangefinder?
Slope
The first thing to decide is whether or not you want a rangefinder with Slope. Slope measures change in elevation between you and your target and estimates the distance that a shot will play, as well as the actual distance to the target. It can be a really useful feature but is not allowed under the Rules of Golf. If you don’t ever plan to use it in competition, then it’s definitely worth considering.
Ease of Use
If you’re an experienced golf rangefinder user, then you will probably be able to use just about any of the current models. However, if you have any trouble hitting the right target with your laser or if you’ve never used one, the most important factor is ease of acquiring the distance to the right target. Your rangefinder won’t be any good to you if you can’t quickly get the right distance every time you use it. The factors below often affect ease of use.
PinSeeker, PinHunter, First Target Priority
Most models today come with the technology that allows the device to separate a foreground object from background objects. That means if you’re aiming at a flag with trees behind the green, your rangefinder will show you the closest object, which should be the flag. This feature is found on most current models. Bushnell calls it Pinseeker, Leupold calls it PinHunter and Callaway calls it First Target Priority Mode. Some models also give a sound, vibration or visual cue when the closest target is locked on the display.
Magnification
Laser rangefinders vary from no magnification to 7x magnification. We believe higher magnification can make it easier to hit the right target.
Size
A rangefinder that’s too small can be a problem for those who need to use two hands to keep it steady. Two hands definitely makes ranging easier. Several wider models fit two hands quite comfortably.
Scan Mode
Most models have a Scan mode. That means that either while you’re holding a button down or for a number of seconds after you press a button, the rangefinder will scan the targets you’re ranging, attempting to get the right one. In most cases, it’s easier to use a rangefinder with Scan mode turned on, so make sure you try it.
Readability
There is a difference in readability. We’ve found that units with Red numbers are much easier to see. Unfortunately, there is usually a price to be paid for that feature.
LESS IMPORTANT FACTORS
Additional Features
Some models have additional features, particularly slope models. These aren’t critical, but can be fun.
Maximum and Minimum range
For most users, this is not a factor. Most of these lasers can measure distances well beyond a point where we need information. If you’re within 15 yards of the flag, you can probably walk up and get your distance without the use of a rangefinder, so minimum distance is pretty irrelevant.
Every year our New Year’s gang makes predictions for the upcoming year about everything from politics to sports. On the following New Year’s eve we review to see how we’ve done. This morning I’ve been thinking about my predictions and of course of few of them are golf related.
My 2012 Golf Predictions…
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