Equipment
GolfWRX Members Choice: The best laser rangefinders of 2018
With the addition of many laser rangefinders to the market in 2018, we wanted to find out what our members here at GolfWRX felt was currently the best one in golf. We posed the question recently to our members on our forums, and it’s time now to take a closer look at what laser rangefinders proved most popular amongst our members. Thanks for voting, and feel free to check out the full thread on our forums here.
Here are the top five laser rangefinders available on the market in 2018, according to GolfWRX members:
No. 5: Leupold GX-4i (7.95 percent of votes)
Possessing pin-targeting, prism lock, and the ability to scan across targets while receiving updated distance readings, our members rated the Leupold GX-4i as the fifth best laser rangefinder of 2018. The lightweight (8.0 ounces) rangefinder features one of the best lasers available, with accuracy to within six inches, and it also possesses a club selector feature.
The Leupold GX-4i is available here for $439.99.
No. 4: Leupold GX-5i (10.23 percent)
Boasting one of the fastest laser measurements, the Leupold GX-5i is the fourth best available laser rangefinder according to our members here at GolfWRX. At 7.8 ounces, it’s even lighter than the Leupold GX-4i, and it comes equipped with personal ranging information and club recommendations based on the hitting strength of the individual, slope, and current environmental conditions. GolfWRX Member Tour Winner says it’s not just the quality of the product, but the excellent customer service that makes the Leupold brand the best choice of rangefinder on the market.
“Excellent rangefinders, and the best customer service in the business bar none.”
The Leupold GX-5i is available here for $549.
No. 3: Precision Pro NX7 Pro (12.5 percent)
GolfWRX member CrazyGolfNut highlighted the affordability and high-level performance of the Precision Pro NX7 Pro as to why this rangefinder is his personal favorite, stating:
“Dollar for dollar, feature for feature, the best buy on the market today.”
He wasn’t alone either, with the Precision Pro NX7 Pro receiving 12.5 percent of the vote from our members here. Its adaptive slope technology, high-speed SD laser and pure vibration technology make this product a popular choice amongst our members at a very reasonable price.
The Precision Pro NX7 Pro is available here for $248.
No. 2: Bushnell Tour V4 (14.77 percent)
The Bushnell series of rangefinders are hugely popular amongst our members here at GolfWRX, claiming almost 50 percent of the votes. Featuring JOLT technology, which removes all doubt that you have locked in on the flagstick, and its accuracy to within one yard, the Bushnell Tour V4 is the second best rangefinder available on the market in 2018 according to those who voted.
The Bushnell Tour V4 is available here for $299.
No.1: Bushnell Pro X2 (26.14 percent)
The Cadillac of laser rangefinders according to our members, the Bushnell Pro X2 tops the poll, receiving over 26 percent of all votes. JOLT technology and its innovative slope-switch technology giving you compensated distance based on the holes incline and decline make this the best rangefinder available in the opinion of our members. The slope-switch technology can also easily be toggled off to comply with USGA rules in competition. The Bushnell series of rangefinders are used by over 97 percent of PGA Tour professionals, according to the company, and the Bushnell Pro X2 is the best one available on the market according to our members.
The Bushnell Pro X2 is available here for $424.99.
Click here to read the full thread and comments from the poll.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D LS (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold X100
Wedges: TaylorMade Prototype (50-SB09), TaylorMade MG5 (56-HB12, 60-LV07)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400
Putter: TaylorMade TP Juno
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Christiaan Maas’ clubs here.
TaylorMade Golf’s MySpider program underwent a substantial overhaul over the last month. Firstly, the company launched the option to customize the Spider ZT model, and now the program has returned with the MySpider Tour and MySpider Tour X.
The revamped page now gives golfers complete control over every visual and functional detail of their putter on the popular Tour and Tour X head, with every cosmetic idea thought of. In MySpider Tour, golfers can choose from four head finishes, 16 paint fill colors, nine Surlyn face insert colors, three aluminum insert options, six sightline configurations, and four hosel options — L-neck, small slant, double bend, center shaft. Six sightline options are available in MySpider Tour, including the optically engineered True Path alignment system. MySpider Tour X gives builders the option of four head finishes, four hosel configurations, and five sightline options, also including True Path alignment.
One of the more interesting features of the new MySpider program is the availability of three distinct face insert options. Along with the usual Surlyn Pure Roll insert trusted by Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, which can be customized from nine colors, golfers can now also select firmer options. Two are offered with the black aluminum Pure Roll insert, slightly firmer than the traditional insert, or for the firmest feel, golfers can choose from two colors of milled aluminum inserts.
Another fun addition to the MySpider Tour is the ability to use the “Tommy Sightline.” The custom alignment aid design, which was first drawn onto Tommy Fleetwood’s putter by PGA Tour Rep James Holley, is based on the milled sightline on his Spider ZT head. There are five shorter lines on the left and right of a longer central line serving as the traditional short line alignment aid.
See below for the full specifications sheet for MySpider Tour and Tour X:
MySpider Tour
MySpider Tour X
Equipment
Then and now: Comparing Rory McIlroy’s current setup to his record-breaking 2019 Canadian Open victory
In Rory McIlroy’s first appearance at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, he crushed the record books to earn his 16th PGA Tour title in dominating fashion, winning by seven shots over Shane Lowry and Webb Simpson.
McIlroy’s score of 22-under-par 258 is the lowest 72-hole score to date at the Canadian Open, and his closing 61 is also the best final-round score in the history of one of golf’s oldest tournaments. Finally, with his win in 2019, McIlroy became only the sixth player to win the career Triple Crown, adding to his victories at the U.S. Open in 2011 and The Open Championship in 2014, joining Tommy Armour, Walter Hagen, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tiger Woods in a coveted list.
So, with that, why not compare his current setup to the clubs he used to break all the records?
Driver
2019: TaylorMade M5 (9 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees @8), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7X (45 5/8 inches)
McIroy led the Tour in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee in 2019; he’s doing the same in 2026. Between now and then, McIlroy has switched from the Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX (a shaft with slightly more feeling in the tip) to the original Fujikura Ventus Black 7X, having just made the change to the heavier version from playing the 60X.
What’s interesting about McIlroy’s 2019 setup is that the weighting on his driver is actually set in the high-draw setting, using the T-Track weighting system, whereas in the Qi4D, he’s currently using a heavily rear-weighted setup. (Two 13-gram weights in the rear and only two 4-gram front weights.)
The TaylorMade M5 driver he played in during his Canadian Open win was the company’s first head that they claimed to design to initially exceed the USGA’s COR limit, and then injected with tuning resin to bring it back in bounds.
Fairway woods
2019: TaylorMade M6 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX; TaylorMade M5 5-wood (19 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 90 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8X; TaylorMade Qi4D 5-wood (18 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9X
The TaylorMade M6 fairway wood that McIlroy was using during the 2019 season is still in the bag of some of the best golfers on Tour in 2026. Just check out Justin Rose’s winning setup from the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year. This year, though, McIlroy has still been searching for his top-end-of-the-bag setup, having played both the new Qi4D and the Qi10, which he won the Masters with.
The same shaft swap can be seen in the fairway woods as the driver, along with slightly less loft on the 5-wood.
Irons
2019: TaylorMade P750 (4) Buy here, TaylorMade P730 (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0
2026: TaylorMade P760 (4), TaylorMade Rors Proto (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0
The biggest difference between McIlroy’s custom set and the stock P730s is the groove design. While the P730s were constructed with 14 MX-9 grooves on their milled faces, McIlroy’s proto heads instead use the higher-spinning, 16-groove layout of the TW2 grooves. Other big differences between the sets are that McIlroy’s 7- and 8-irons have thinner toplines, are 1 degree stronger in loft, and are 1/4 inch longer than the original P730 builds.
With McIlroy’s 4-iron, the switch from P750 to P760 sees a transition to a two-piece construction with Speed Foam in it, which allows McIlroy to launch the ball slightly higher, with more workability.
Wedges
2019: TaylorMade Milled Grind (48-09SB), TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09SB, 56-09SB, 60-LB09), Shafts: Project X Rifle 6.5
2026: TaylorMade MG5 (46-09SB, 50-09SB, 54-11SB, 60-08LB @61), Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)
Between 2019 and 2026, McIlroy’s focus on his short game has been much more apparent. It was the reason why he switched back to the TP5 golf ball, to help with launch, spin and control with his wedges leading up to his career Grand Slam victory in 2025. The most apparent changes to McIlroy’s wedge setup are his lofts and bounce. He’s slowly delofted his pitching to a sand wedge, but has increased the loft on the lob wedge, bending his current 60-degree to 61. With that, adding more loft to his lob wedge also slightly increases the bounce and leading-edge sit point, so, as a result, he plays a lower-bounce lob wedge compared to 2019. The MG5 wedges are also softer than the first Milled Grind option from 2019. McIlroy also no longer plays the full-face grooves found on the Hi-Toe.
Putter
2019: TaylorMade Spider X
2026: TaylorMade Spider Tour X
Notice anything similar. Yes, the copper finish on Rory McIlroy’s Spider X putter in 2019 is a slightly more reflective finish than the recently released torched PVD finish. McIlroy was using the True Path alignment system, but now uses only a single white sightline.
Ball
2019: 2019 TaylorMade TP5 (#22)
2026: 2025 TaylorMade TP5 (RORS)
As mentioned above, McIlroy had transitioned from the TP5 to TP5x golf ball since his victory in Canada in 2019, but now is black with the same style of golf ball as his victory at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.
Grips
2019: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
2026: Golf Pride MCC
Interesting, McIlroy actually used Golf Pride’s Tour Velvet Cord grips during his victory in 2019 (it was during a 2+ year switch to the corded TV) as opposed to his usual MCC grips, which he has played for most of his career.
What’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
Memorial Tournament Tour Report: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young switch up drivers, and more
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Best irons 2026: Best irons overall, most forgiving irons, and more
J.T. Poston’s winning WITB: 2026 Memorial Tournament
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
Details on Jason Day’s latest prototype Avoda iron setup
Christiaan Maas WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D LS (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 X 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black...
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Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Hannah Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
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mera
Feb 2, 2019 at 11:28 am
it must be easily kept in top 5 laser rangefinder in nikon coolshot 80i. its really good rangefinder.
joe
Sep 15, 2018 at 4:11 pm
I bought a rangefinder from china for 120 bucks and it has slope .. quick scan and works great…don’t be scammed folks
shawn
Sep 12, 2018 at 6:21 pm
If you are the only one using a rangefinder, is it good golf etiquette to share it with the others in your foursome? Or should you tell them to buzz off!
Ardbegger
Sep 12, 2018 at 6:56 pm
Ask if anyone wants to know the distance. If they say no, keep it to yourself.
shawn
Sep 12, 2018 at 7:05 pm
If there is only one rangefinder in the group, won’t it take a lot of time reading distances for everybody? I told a player that he was in a non-rangefinder group… and he pouted the entire round.
Dr. Freud
Sep 12, 2018 at 6:18 pm
Some men and most women are spatially-challenged… it’s an evolutionary glitch. Men who use rangefinders tend to be insecure and effeminate in their perception of distances. Sad but true…
Speedy
Sep 12, 2018 at 5:39 pm
I’m still eyeballing, and doing fine.
They’ve helped cripple the amateur game further–a useless toy for most.
ogo
Sep 12, 2018 at 5:55 pm
Toys for boys… aka gearheads… who flaunt their toys because they can’t break 100, honestly.
Charles
Sep 12, 2018 at 11:33 pm
Loser
ogo
Sep 12, 2018 at 6:41 pm
…. and it slows down the pace of play with geeks aiming, reading, re-aiming, rereading… like playing a video game on the golf course. Golf has become a techno-war game …. sigh
buck
Mar 21, 2019 at 10:50 pm
shove your pace up your
Tom
Sep 12, 2018 at 1:19 pm
I use the Bushnell Hybrid which combines the Laser with Jolt and a GPS. The GPS screen is very easy to read front/middle/back when your not able to see the pin . The GPS needs to be recharged after 2 rounds while the laser battery is still functioning after 40+ rounds. This is a very nice product.
ogo
Sep 12, 2018 at 6:04 pm
You must be one happy golf trekker playing with yer rangefinder toy… sigh
buck
Mar 21, 2019 at 10:51 pm
if you spend too much time on the course, stay home
hrfdez
Sep 12, 2018 at 12:54 pm
No Nikon Coolshot Pro Stabilized? That’s the one I own and it is the best one I have ever used.
ogo
Sep 12, 2018 at 6:10 pm
I prefer the Nikon Hotshot Platinum Magnetic SuperPro NK3000…. more features like ball GPS tracking… when in the scrub… 😮
Scott bangerter
Sep 12, 2018 at 12:35 pm
Although the nexus/Precision is a good value for the money they do not hold up over time. I had my first when they launched and it broke. They replaced it, but unfortunately the second unit also failed. If I were to do it all again, I would have spent a little more coin on a higher quality unit.
shawn
Sep 12, 2018 at 6:24 pm
Do you share your rangefinder with your golfing buddies, or do you reject their requests?
Scot Macdonald
Sep 12, 2018 at 11:57 am
We offer the Bushnell Tour V4 if anyone would like to give it a try. Clublender.com
Richard Douglas
Sep 12, 2018 at 1:52 am
The one area where a good rangefinder improved my distance measurements was with the short game. Distances are not often available for shots within 100 yards or so, yet these distances are critical. A quick shot with a range finder lets me know if I’m looking at, say, a 40- or 50-yard pitch.
Another HUGE area is with chipping. Because I use ratios to select which chipping club to use and how far to fly the ball, I can take a quick shot of both the overall distance and my desired carry distance, which gives me a ratio I can use to select the chipping club. Before range finders I had to pace off all that. I still do for short chips, but long ones are way easier now with a rangefinder.
Again, I can get the same information from pacing off these shots, but this slows play. (I know that many readers secretly enjoy slow play, but guess what? It’s not a secret to the rest of us.)
JP
Sep 12, 2018 at 10:22 am
Those are feel shots. Learn to hit them. Using a laser from 40 yards would have me irate playing behind you.
Speedy
Sep 12, 2018 at 5:48 pm
Right on, JP. My blood’s boiling just reading about lasering from 40 yds. Not to mention skulling and laying sod over thereafter.
ogo
Sep 12, 2018 at 6:13 pm
I bet you spend more time fiddling with your rangefinder than playing golf. Do you also carry your phone with you for important messages from home?
buck
Mar 21, 2019 at 10:53 pm
you must spend too much time fiddling with your parts
Richard Douglas
Sep 12, 2018 at 1:41 am
My problem here is with the methodology. Golfers are likely to own only one model on this list. How can they possibly offer any comparative insight? Lists like these likely correlate strongly with sales.
Tiger Noods
Sep 12, 2018 at 3:02 am
Oh, you expected a subjective review here? heh… hehehe
Speedy
Sep 12, 2018 at 5:51 pm
Good point. Turn pro and try ’em all free.
ogo
Sep 12, 2018 at 12:53 am
Rangefinders… dumbing down the traditional game of golf. Might as well put yardage stripes on the fairways like a football field.
smarter than ogo
Sep 12, 2018 at 3:03 am
If you think knowing your distance to the target is dumb in a target sport, I don’t know what to tell you.
shawn
Sep 12, 2018 at 6:27 pm
Do you share your rangefinder with your golfing buddies, or do you tell them to buy their own?
dat
Sep 12, 2018 at 9:35 am
may as well bag 3 clubs and a niblick like they did in the old days.
ogo
Sep 12, 2018 at 6:29 pm
The fewer clubs I carry the lower is my score…. go figure !!!
Speedy
Sep 12, 2018 at 5:55 pm
Right on, ogo. Donate the money to a charity instead–Help the Handicapped.
brendan
Sep 12, 2018 at 12:46 am
Surprised the new Garmin rangefinder isn’t on here. Better design and technology than anything else on this list.
Garmin Sucks
Sep 12, 2018 at 3:08 am
WRXers won’t like it, because like all Garmin products, it’s terrible software, over-engineered, premium priced, doesn’t hold a charge, and crashes mid-round.
So ya, it’ll sell like hotcakes here.
ogo
Sep 12, 2018 at 6:32 pm
It crashes cause you are attempting to use it on putts… which puts a big strain on the battery, not to mention it confuses the algorithm too!
Doug
Sep 12, 2018 at 9:30 am
I’ve had the Bushnell and now using the new Garmin Approach and you’re correct. Leaving the Garmin off the list reduces the credibility of the reviews. Garmin gives exact yardage along with an electronic yardage book and then actually gives you a picture of the green and the approximate range of where the pin is located on the green – Seriously
ogo
Sep 12, 2018 at 6:02 pm
Wow… that’s awesome… why bother to play golf when you can walk the course reading yardages and fantasizing your imagination shots perfectly.
Speedy
Sep 12, 2018 at 5:57 pm
Watch for my app Eyeballing.
shawn
Sep 12, 2018 at 7:01 pm
How about hanging a club shaft in front of you to better estimate the distances… like for putting?
Rusty Chambeauner
Sep 11, 2018 at 10:14 pm
Would have liked to see the new Garmin laser rangefinder with GPS on this comparison.
James
Sep 11, 2018 at 9:51 pm
And sometimes they lock in on the deep woods 25 yards behind the pin. Then you airmail a beautiful shot right into the trees. Gotta check and compare with the regular yardage markers. Or pay the price.
Richard Douglas
Sep 12, 2018 at 1:43 am
I would hope you would know intuitively that the measurement you’re getting is off by 15% or more!
Speedy
Sep 12, 2018 at 6:00 pm
Plus, you still have to pure the shot.
ogo
Sep 12, 2018 at 6:38 pm
I feel for you… and your rangefinder woes… since you can’t seem to reject an obviously erroneous reading. Don’t believe everything you read and half of what you see.. 😮
bogeypro
Sep 11, 2018 at 9:34 pm
Let not kid ourselves… This is purely a popularity contest.
Robin
Sep 12, 2018 at 11:12 am
Since it’s called “Reader’s Choice”, and is based on individual voting, I doubt that anyone was confused by that.
golfraven
Sep 11, 2018 at 2:50 pm
I bought the Leupold GX-4i years ago and find it interesting this one is on the list here. One downfall of rangefinders is that they don’t work in foggy conditions which is very frustrating at times.
Speedy
Sep 12, 2018 at 6:06 pm
Not a problem. “Foggy conditions” describe most amateurs games
ogo
Sep 12, 2018 at 7:12 pm
It must really cripple yer game when the fog rolls in… and makes you feel totally impotent too …. 😮
buck
Mar 21, 2019 at 10:56 pm
get off the course idiot