Golf Laser Range Finder Reviews

Our golf laser range finder reviews summarize the likes and dislikes of real users hands-on experience with laser golf rangefinders. We look for pros and cons that are mentioned by more than one person, so we can get a truer picture of customer satisfaction.

Our top picks for Golf Laser Range Finders in 2012 are…

  • Callaway Diablo Octane – excellent reviews, ratings and very affordable. We especially like the 6x magnification for this price.
  • Bushnell Hybrid – an excellent laser plus GPS yardages to front, middle, back and some alternate targets. A little pricey, but it’s the most complete golf rangefinder on the market.
  • Bushnell Tour Z6 -New on the scene in 2012, but early ratings are good. The quick lock on targets and easy to see red display font are a hit with users.

Bushnell neo+ Review Summary

The Bushnell neo+ has been retired. Check out our current recommendations for today's best golf rangefinders..

'Bushnell neo+'

Bushnell neo+
Not Available


Check Newer Models
Laser
GPS
Golf Watches

The Bushnell neo+ was one of the best basic golf GPS models on the market right up until the time Bushnell retired it. Fortunately there are some other great options that are still available. Check out our favorite models in the Basic Golf GPS category.

Bushnell neo+ User Rating: 4.30 Stars 4.30 out of 5 (316 reviews)

Score compiled from multiple sources.

For our Bushnell Neo+ Review, we took notes on dozens of reviews from everyday users. By far the most common theme of all the reviews was the ease of use of the Bushnell neo+. Accuracy, price and size were also common praises of this small GPS rangefinder. In total, about 89% of all comments noted were positive and of the few negative comments, we didn’t think any were “deal breakers”, but take a look for yourself at our list of most mentioned pros and cons below.

Notes about the Bushnell neo+ GPS rangefinder:

The neo+ is preloaded with front, center, and back of the green distances, plus distances to key hazards for courses throughout the United States and Canada. You can also add custom points to any hole. International courses can be download manually. The neo+ also features a high resolution screen, auto-course recognition, auto-hole advance and large text menus. Although it comes preloaded and there are no fees, it does require that you hook it up to your computer and register it within 45 days of its first GPS fix. At that time, it will update the device with the latest golf course information.

Most Mentioned Pros (in order from high to low):
  • Easy to use
  • Accurate
  • Price
  • Size
  • Auto course recognition
  • Easy to read
  • Auto hole advance
  • No fees
  • Fast
  • Preloaded with 25,000+ courses
  • Shot Measuring
  • Included belt clip
  • Easy to set up
  • Alternate targets
  • Customizable targets
  • Battery Life
  • Easy to navigate to other holes
Most Mentioned Cons (in order from high to low):
  • Didn’t always recognize golf course. (Bushnell suggests moving to a clear, unobstructed view of the sky. Also manual search is available.)
  • No hole views or color screen (not a complaint as much as a mention)
  • Size is small, which is easier to lose
  • Courses outside of U.S. & Canada must be downloaded
  • Requirement for registration via computer
  • User Manual is online
  • Occasional accuracy problems
  • Sync with computer cleared manually added information
Bushnell Neo+ Features
Bushnell neo+
Course Download Fees No
Pre-loaded with Courses Yes
Full Hole Views Yes
Slope / Elevation No
Battery Life 14-16 hrs
Battery Li-ion recharge
Size (Width x Height x Depth) 2 in. x 3.5 in. x .5 in.
Measure Shot Distance Yes
Screen Size N/A
Resolution N/A
Display Type monochrome LCD
Weight N/A oz.
Rainproof rainproof
Touch Screen No
Touch Targeting No
Manual Pin Positioning No
Stat Tracker No
Digital Scorecard No
Computer Analysis Tools No
Ground Verified No
Alternate Targets Yes
Green Rotates to your shot angle N/A
USGA Compliant (local rule) Yes
Notes -
Order Golf Rangefinders from Amazon
GolfRangefinderShop.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you buy anything after clicking through, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps us keep the site up and running, so thank you! We work very hard to obtain the correct information about product features, but cannot make any guarantees about the accuracy. Please double check with the merchant or manufacturer before making a purchase.

User Manual for Bushnell neo+

Callaway Diablo Octane Rangefinder Review

The Callaway Diablo Octane has been retired. Check out our current recommendations for today's best golf rangefinders..

'Callaway Diablo Octane'

Callaway Diablo Octane
Not Available


Check Newer Models
Laser
GPS
Golf Watches


Our Callaway Diablo Octane Rangefinder Review research put this model at the top of our list for a long time due to the features, price and performance. Before you buy though, you might want to take a look at the price on the Callaway XHot Rangefinder. It’s identical in size and features, but has a new color scheme AND the price has been similar to the Diablo Octane lately.

Callaway Diablo Octane User Rating: 4.60 Stars 4.60 out of 5 (159 reviews)

Score compiled from multiple sources.

If you want the most bang for your buck, the Diablo Octane deserves a very close look. The reviews are excellent and the price is reasonable. It has a Nikon lens and a 6x zoom in a stylish compact design. Almost all the reviews we read were extremely positive.

Most Mentioned Pros
(in order from high to low):
  • Easy to use
  • Size / weight
  • Accuracy
  • Quality
  • Fast
  • Improves game
  • Picks up pin distance even with background objects
  • Price
  • Scan mode
  • Exact yardages to anything you can see
  • Easy to read
  • Appearance
Most Mentioned Cons
(in order from high to low):
  • requires steady hands (both users who mentioned this gave it a 5 star rating anyway)
Callaway Diablo Octane Rangefinder Features and Specifications

In features, the Diablo Octane Rangefinder is almost identical to the highly successful Callaway LR550. Both carry the Nikon label, have 6x magnification, are waterproof and feature First Target Priority Mode, which aids in targeting the pin rather than the trees behind the green. However, the ratings on the Diablo Octane are higher than the LR550, which could be due to the red and black color scheme! The only difference we noted is a “new slim-stratic sleeve utilizes an independent bag clip that stabilizes to the eyelet of the Rangefinder”.

Callaway Diablo Octane
Slope No
Vibration N
Size (Width x Height x Depth) 2.7 in. x 5.1 in. x 1.5 in.
Weight 6.3 oz.
Battery 3 Volt CR2 Lithium
Battery Life N/A
Display LCD
Rainproof Yes
Magnification 6x
Maximum Range 550
Minimum Range 11
Notes 1/2 yard increments, NIKON'S FIRST TARGET PRIORITY MODE Ranges smallest object (like the pin) in field of view..
USGA Compliant (local rule) Yes
Order Golf Rangefinders from Amazon
We work very hard to obtain the correct information about product features, but cannot make any guarantees about the accuracy. Please double check with the merchant or manufacturer before making a purchase.

Golf Rangefinder Reviews

Below are links to our reviews of GPS, Laser and Hybrid Golf Rangefinders, sorted by brand. You may also want to check our GPS Reviews and Scores and our Laser Reviews and Scores for product comparisons.

gps Golf Rangefinders

  • Bushnell

  • Callaway

  • Garmin

  • GolfBuddy

  • Izzo

  • Voice Caddie
  • laser Golf Rangefinders

  • Bushnell

  • Gogogo

  • Precision Pro Golf

  • TecTecTec
  • Golf Buddy World Review

    The Golf Buddy World has been retired. Check out our current recommendations for today's best golf rangefinders..

    'Golf Buddy World'

    Golf Buddy World
    Not Available


    Check Newer Models
    Laser
    GPS
    Golf Watches


    Our Golf Buddy World Review considers the pros and cons mentioned by dozens of users, along with price and features.

    Golf Buddy World User Rating: 3.77 Stars 3.77 out of 5 (102 reviews)

    Score compiled from multiple sources.

    The Golf Buddy World held our top spot in full-featured golf GPS rangefinders for a very long time. For the price, we still think it’s still an excllent value in this golf GPS category. However, if you’re looking for the latest and greatest, the early reviews for the Garmin Approach G6 are looking strong.

    Users of the Golf Buddy World were thrilled about having NO FEES and with the thousands of preloaded golf courses. The accuracy of the Golf Buddy World was mentioned over and over in the reviews we read and the color display was also complimented frequently. However, there were some users who said it was difficult to read in direct sunlight. Tilting it a little seemed to work for most people and it wasn’t generally considered a deal breaker.

    It’s worth mentioning that Golf Buddy has two similarly named units: the Golf Buddy World Platinum and the Golf Buddy Platinum (which was released in 2012).

    Take a look at our full list of pros and cons below as well as all of the features of the Golf Buddy World.

    Most Mentioned Pros (in order from high to low):
    • No fees
    • Accuracy
    • Preloaded with golf courses
    • The number of preloaded courses
    • Easy to read color display
    • Lots of features
    • Auto course recognition
    • Easy to use
    • Helps lower scores
    • Good battery life
    • Good customer service
    • Size and weight
    • Auto hole recognition
    • Scorecard feature
    • Works out of the box (after charging)
    • Price
    Most Mentioned Cons (in order from high to low):
    • Difficult to see in bright sunlight
    • Takes a few minutes to locate courses after powering on
    • Touchscreen could be more sensitive
    • Poor customer service
    • Using built-in scorecard can be a little slow

    Golf Buddy World Specifications
    Golf Buddy World
    Course Download Fees No
    Pre-loaded with Courses Yes
    Full Hole Views Yes
    Slope / Elevation No
    Battery Life 10 hrs
    Battery rechargeable
    Size (Width x Height x Depth) 4.1 in. x 2.2 in. x .07 in.
    Measure Shot Distance Yes
    Screen Size 2.7
    Resolution 240x340
    Display Type Color TFT LCD
    Weight 4.2 oz.
    Rainproof water resistant case
    Touch Screen Yes
    Touch Targeting Yes
    Manual Pin Positioning Yes
    Stat Tracker Yes
    Digital Scorecard Yes
    Computer Analysis Tools No
    Ground Verified N/A
    Alternate Targets Yes
    Green Rotates to your shot angle Yes
    USGA Compliant (local rule) Yes
    Notes -
    Order Golf Rangefinders from Amazon
    GolfRangefinderShop.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you buy anything after clicking through, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps us keep the site up and running, so thank you! We work very hard to obtain the correct information about product features, but cannot make any guarantees about the accuracy. Please double check with the merchant or manufacturer before making a purchase.