Critical Golf: Unbiased Golf Equipment Reviews

The Bushnell 1600 Slope Edition provides 7x magnification and was at the head of the class in our tests in picking out targets at long distance. Sure it’s bulky and the second most expensive device tested, but it performs so well that it still tops our rankings. Read our detailed review of the Bushnell 1600 Slope.
Retail price: $499.00
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6x magnification, panning mode to continuously update target distances, and an exceptional ability to pick out flagsticks not enough for you? The Leupold GX-2 provides not only the slope compensated distance to a target, but will even provide club selection based on temperature and altitude. The GX-2 features improved performance in fog and rain, and the ability to lock onto prisms on flagsticks. You can’t go wrong with this device.
Read our detailed Leupold GX-2 review
Retail price: $400.00
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Carved from a single block of aluminum, the GX-4 features a red OLED display that can easily be read against any background. In an interesting twist, the GX-4 comes with two swappable faceplates – one that provides slope-adjusted distance information and club recommendations(!), and a second that only provides line-of-sight distances (though ruled by the USGA as not legal for tournament play). The unit carries a steep price, but the traditional excellent Leupold performance on the course, portability and red OLED display make it one of the best options in its class.
Read our detailed Leupold GX-4 review
Retail price: $500
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Callaway’s top-of-the-line rangefinder features rapid line-of-sight and slope-adjusted distance readings, 6x magnification, and exceptional performance in picking out flagsticks at a distance. It’s in the middle of the pack of our cost comparison, but worthy of your consideration.
Retail price: $429.95
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Features speedy distance readings in 1/2 yard increments along with 6x magnification. While it can provide the line-of-sight distance along with the slope, elevation change to target and horizontal distance to the target, you will have to do some math in your head to determine the “play as” distance, unlike other devices that will do the work for you.
Retail price: $429.95
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The Leupold GX-4i maintains many of the alluring features of the GX-4, including an aluminum body, a red OLED readout, distances adjusted for slope, temperature and altitude, and club recommendations. Enhancements in the new model include faster distance readings and flagstick range to 400 yards at +/- six inches. That being said, we found that we liked its predecessor a bit better, in large part because of difficulties in locking on to flagsticks and because the blinking display was more distracting than helpful.
Read our detailed Leupold GX-4i review.
Retail: $499.99
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A low price point may not be enough to save the Opti-Logic. The lack of viewfinder magnification, inability to scan across objects, and bare bones feature set makes it tough for the Opti-Logic to keep up with the competition.
Retail Price: $359.95
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