Equipment

GolfWRX Spotlight: Vortex Optics laser rangefinders

Published

2 years ago

Feb 29, 2024

Vortex Optics, a player in the hunting space since 1986, is breaking into the golf world with three rangefinders. The Barneveld, Wisconsin-based company just announced its Blade, Blade Slope, and Anarch laser rangefinders.

In addition to riflescopes, spotting scopes, and binoculars, Vortex Optics has been producing rangefinders for years, so they’re anything but novices. The customer-first, family-owned business is leveraging what it already knows about making great rangefinders and applying its technology and Clear View optics to products designed for the fairways, rather than the forest or field.

“Entering the world of golf rangefinders was a natural choice for us,” said Vortex CEO Joe Hamilton. “When our customers, dealers, and team members – all part of Vortex Nation- unanimously called for our expertise in optical quality, technology, innovation, and customer service to elevate their golf experience, it became a clear path forward. We’re excited to bring our proven success to the golfing community.”

Vortex Optics Blade

An impressive laser rangefinder.

Featuring 6x magnification and a black LCD display, the Vortex Optics Blade is reflective up to 1,400 yards and to the flag at up to 350 yards. The minimum range is six yards and accuracy is +/- one yard. The linear field of view at 100 yards is 37 feet 6 inches. Measuring time is one second.

The Blade and Blade Slope rangefinders are slightly smaller than the Anarch, measuring 3.9 inches by 3.0 inches by 1.5 inch. The Blade weighs 6.5 ounces.

Range modes include line of sight and scan and Pin Spotter Mode (vibration when the pin is locked onto) is an additional feature. Handily, the Blade rangefinder is equipped with a cart magnet.

Built from a polymer chassis, the Vortex Optics Blade rangefinder is waterproof and shockproof.

The Vortex Optics Blade retails for $299.

Vortex Optics Blade Slope

A laser rangefinder with slope functionality.

Just like the Vortex Optics Blade rangefinders, the Blade Slope features 6x magnification and a black LCD display and is reflective up to 1,400 yards and to the flag at up to 350 yards. The minimum range is six yards and accuracy is +/- one yard. The linear field of view at 100 yards is 37 feet 6 inches. Measuring time is one second.

Slope mode, of course, is the distinguishing feature between the Blade and Blade Slope. Slope mode accounts for the changes in gradient, i.e. a downhill shot plays shorter, an uphill shot plays longer. Presently, slope mode is not legal in tournament play, but the Vortex Optics Blade Slope allows users to toggle it on/off.

As mentioned earlier, the Blade Slope rangefinders is slightly smaller than the Anarch. It measures 3.9 inches by 3.0 inches by 1.5 inch and weighs 6.5 ounces.

Again, range modes include line of sight; Pin Spotter Mode is an additional feature. The cart magnet — essential for riders — is present in the Blade Slope.

Polymer chassis. Waterproof. Shockproof — just like the Blade.

The Vortex Optics Blade Slope retails for $399.

Vortex Optics Anarch

An image-stabilized laser rangefinder.

The Vortex Optics Anarch features 6x magnification and a red illuminated LCD display. It is reflective up to 1,400 yards and to the flag at up to 450 yards (100 yards more than the blade). The minimum range is 10 yards and accuracy is +/- one yard. The linear field of view at 100 yards is 31 feet 8 inches. Measuring time is one second.

The Anarch is slightly larger and heavier than the Blade models, measuring 4.0 inches by 3.0 inches by 1.6 inch. It weighs 9.2 ounces.

Range modes include slope, line of sight and scan and Pin Spotter Mode is an additional feature as well as image stabilization. A cart magnet is present here as well.

Like the other rangefinders in the lineup, the Vortex Optics Anarch is waterproof and shockproof. While the blade models feature a polymer chassis, the Anarch is crafted from a magnesium chassis.

The Anarch retails for $599.

In addition to the rangefinder, all packages include a case with a carabiner, a ball marker, and a lens cloth.

All rangefinders are backed by Vortex Optics’ VIP warranty — a lifelong, fully transferable promise to repair or replace your rangefinder should it become damaged.

Rangefinders are available now. For more purchase details, head here. You can catch up with the company on social media: Instagram, X, Facebook, YouTube.

Equipment

Slab city on the Korn Ferry Tour — Lead Tape Report

Published

9 hours ago

Jun 10, 2026

Andrew Von Lossow

This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.

Joel Thelen

Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.

First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.

Mitchell Meissner

Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.

Whats in the Bag

Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)

Published

9 hours ago

Jun 10, 2026

Will Schube

Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.

Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X

3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX

7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX

Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

See more in-hand photos of Bud Cauley’s clubs here.

Equipment

Name every set of irons you’ve owned – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

9 hours ago

Jun 10, 2026

Will Schube

In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.

@Lamosteve began:

Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine

Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6

Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”

Entire Thread: “Name every set of irons you’ve owned.”