Bushnell A1-Slope Golf Rangefinder Review: Worth It? (October 2026)
The Bushnell A1-Slope is a good pocket-size 6X laser for walkers who want slope. In this review, the catch is that it has no course maps or wind data and quotes flag accuracy only to 350 yards.
On this page (18 sections)
- The Bushnell A1-Slope review at a glance
- What slope does on the A1-Slope
- Switching slope with the mode button
- PinSeeker, JOLT and the flag accuracy figure
- How far the 1,300 yard total range matters
- Size and how the A1-Slope carries
- Battery and charging
- Setting up the A1-Slope before the first round
- What's in the box and how it mounts
- What the A1-Slope leaves out
- Who the Bushnell A1-Slope suits
- Who should skip the A1-Slope
- How the A1-Slope compares with the Tour V6 Shift
- How the A1-Slope compares with the Callaway 300 Pro
- How the A1-Slope compares with the REDTIGER
- Slope, rules and events
- Our score for the A1-Slope
- Verdict: the Bushnell A1-Slope for slope in a small body
The Bushnell A1-Slope is a small golf laser rangefinder with slope, 6X magnification and a total range of 1,300 yards. It suits walkers and anyone who wants slope in a unit that fits a pocket, and it's a weaker fit for golfers who want course maps.
We compared its specs with Bushnell's other slope lasers and with two rivals. This review covers what the unit does well, the trade-offs and who should skip it.
The Bushnell A1-Slope review at a glance
Bushnell A1-Slope Golf Rangefinder
- Pocket-size body, 3.75 in long
- 6X magnification and a 1,300 yd total range
- Slope on or off with the mode button
- PinSeeker with JOLT and a rechargeable battery
A pocket-size laser with slope you can switch off from the mode button. It's Bushnell's smallest golf laser, and it leaves out course maps and wind data.
Pros
- Slope on and off from the mode button
- Pocket size at 3.75 in long
- BITE magnetic skin for cart bars
- Rechargeable over USB-C, which Bushnell says lasts 50 or more rounds
Cons
- Flag accuracy is quoted to 350 yd, well short of its 1,300 yd total range
- No course maps or wind data
- A laser only, so no GPS yardages to the front or back of the green
Bushnell calls the A1-Slope the smallest golf laser it has built, at 3.75 by 1.42 by 2.36 inches. The table lists the specs that matter most on the course.
| Spec | Bushnell A1-Slope |
|---|---|
| Range | 5 to 1,300 yd total |
| Magnification | 6X |
| Flag accuracy | Quoted from 1 to 350 yd |
| Slope | On or off with the mode button |
| Flag lock | PinSeeker with JOLT, a short vibration |
| Cart mount | BITE magnetic skin in the box |
| Battery | Rechargeable over USB-C |
| Size | 3.75 x 1.42 x 2.36 in |
| Weight | 5.1 oz |
| Weather | Waterproof |
| Warranty | 2 years, manufacturer |
| In the box | Rangefinder, BITE magnetic skin, premium carry case, USB-C cord, microfiber cloth, quick start guide |
What slope does on the A1-Slope
The A1-Slope gives you the straight-line distance and a slope-adjusted number for uphill and downhill shots. The adjusted number is the one to club for when the target sits well above or below you.
Bushnell says its patented slope technology works out the elevation change, so you don't have to estimate it. On flat ground the two numbers are close, so slope matters most on hilly courses.
Switching slope with the mode button
Slope turns on and off with the mode button, so you can set it before you tee off. That's handy if you play some rounds with slope and some without.
The same button is easy to press by accident, so glance at the display when you pick the unit up. A stray press can switch slope without you noticing.
Slope with the Bushnell A1-Slope mode button
Bushnell says the unit is tournament legal with slope off. Committees set their own rules, so check the local rule before you enter a competition.
Pick one setting for each round and leave it alone, so your readings match from the first hole to the last.
PinSeeker, JOLT and the flag accuracy figure
PinSeeker with JOLT gives a short vibration when the laser locks onto the flag. You feel the lock in your hand, which is simpler than a screen cue but gives you less to read.
Bushnell quotes flag accuracy from 1 to 350 yards, and that's different from the 1,300 yard total range. Few golf shots need a flag reading past 350 yards, so most rounds won't test that limit.
If you want a longer flag figure, Bushnell quotes the Tour Hybrid out to 500 yards and the Pro X3+ Link at 600-plus yards. Our best Bushnell golf rangefinders roundup covers both.
How far the 1,300 yard total range matters
The 1,300 yard figure is the longest reading the unit can take, and most golf shots never get near it. Most flags sit well inside 350 yards, so the flag quote is the more useful number to check.
Magnification helps at any distance. At 6X, the target looks six times closer through the lens, which makes a flag easier to pick out against a tree line.
Size and how the A1-Slope carries
At 3.75 inches long, the A1-Slope is about three-quarters of an inch shorter than the V6 Shift. It weighs 5.1 ounces, which is small enough for a jacket pocket or a small bag.
Cart golfers care less about size, because the magnet keeps the unit within reach. Walkers feel the difference more, since a small unit is easier to carry between holes.
Battery and charging
The A1-Slope charges over USB-C, and the box includes the cord, so you don't need to buy spare cells. Bushnell says the battery lasts 50 or more rounds on a charge.
If you own a Bushnell with a replaceable cell, our battery type and swap guide covers the steps.
Setting up the A1-Slope before the first round
Charge the unit the night before, then set slope for the round you plan to play. Changing it on the first tee slows the group down, so decide before you walk to the course.
Aim at a few flags on the practice green so you learn the short JOLT buzz. Once you feel it, you'll know the lock without looking at the screen.
Wipe the lens with the microfiber cloth and put the unit back in its case after each round.
What's in the box and how it mounts
The box holds the rangefinder, a BITE magnetic skin, a premium carry case, a USB-C cord, a washable microfiber cloth and a quick start guide. The magnetic skin is the cart mount, so keep it with the unit when you ride.
A magnet only holds on metal, so a plastic rail won't work. Our guide to putting a rangefinder on a golf bag or cart covers the other ways to carry it.
What the A1-Slope leaves out
The A1-Slope trades features for size. Bushnell describes slope, a flag lock and a 1,300 yard total range, and it doesn't mention course maps, GPS yardages or wind data.
Slope also sits behind a mode button instead of an external switch, so it's a step less direct than on the V6 Shift. That's the price of the smaller body.
Who the Bushnell A1-Slope suits
The A1-Slope suits walkers and small-bag players who want slope and a flag lock in a body that fits a pocket. Three kinds of golfer get the most from it.
- You want slope you can switch off for events.
- You walk and carry the unit in a pocket or a small bag.
- You want a flag lock with a short vibration and no screen to read.
If you're still choosing a slope model, our best golf rangefinders with slope roundup compares more units.
Who should skip the A1-Slope
Skip the A1-Slope if you want course maps, wind data or a longer flag reading than Bushnell quotes for it. It measures the target you aim at, and it doesn't show hole layouts.
A GPS unit is the better tool for maps. The Bushnell Phantom 3 Slope review covers a touchscreen unit with no laser, and the Bushnell Tour Hybrid review covers a laser with GPS yardages in one unit.
How the A1-Slope compares with the Tour V6 Shift
The Tour V6 Shift has the same 1,300 yard total range and 6X magnification, but it's a larger unit with an external slope switch. The A1-Slope keeps slope in a smaller body and uses the mode button instead.
If you ride a cart and change slope often, the external switch is the bigger draw. Our Bushnell Tour V6 Shift review covers that model in full.
How the A1-Slope compares with the Callaway 300 Pro
The Callaway 300 Pro has an external slope switch, a magnetic cart mount and a hard case, but its range stops at 1,000 yards. It matches the A1-Slope on the basics and falls short on total range.
Callaway's flag lock works up to 300 yards and sends a short vibrating burst, which is close to the A1-Slope's cue. Our Callaway 300 Pro review has the full breakdown.
How the A1-Slope compares with the REDTIGER
The REDTIGER is a 7X slope laser with six measuring modes and USB-C charging. It's the pick if you want more modes than slope alone, while the A1-Slope keeps things to slope and the flag lock.
REDTIGER gives two different maximum ranges in its own material, so confirm the figure in the manual before you rely on it. Our REDTIGER review covers the unit in full.
Slope, rules and events
A slope switch lets you turn slope off, but the committee decides whether slope readings are allowed in a round. Check that before you pick a unit for a club event.
The Rules of Golf allow distance-measuring devices by default, and a committee can ban them with a local rule. The USGA publishes the Rules of Golf, and our are golf rangefinders legal post explains the details.
Our score for the A1-Slope
Our score weighs specs and features against what you're shopping for. The A1-Slope earns 8.0 for its slope switch, 1,300 yard total range and pocket-size body.
It loses points for the 350 yard flag accuracy quote and for having no course maps or wind data.
Verdict: the Bushnell A1-Slope for slope in a small body
Pick the Bushnell A1-Slope if you walk, want slope you can switch off and like a laser that fits a pocket. This review is for golfers who don't need maps or wind data, so the small body does most of the work.
Pick the Tour V6 Shift if you ride a cart and want an external switch, and pick a GPS unit if course maps matter more than a flag reading. For the wider lineup, read the golf rangefinders buying guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Bushnell A1-Slope have slope?
Yes, it measures the incline or decline and gives a slope-adjusted distance. You turn slope on and off with the mode button, but the committee for your event decides whether slope readings are allowed, so check the local rule before a round that counts.
How far does the Bushnell A1-Slope measure?
Bushnell gives it a total range of up to 1,300 yards with 6X magnification, and it quotes flag accuracy from 1 to 350 yards. Those are two different numbers, so the 1,300 yard figure doesn't mean the laser will lock onto a flag that far away.
Is the Bushnell A1-Slope waterproof?
Bushnell lists the A1-Slope as waterproof and backs it with a 2-year manufacturer warranty. After a wet round, wipe the lens with the microfiber cloth from the box and keep the unit in its case when it isn't in use.
How long does the Bushnell A1-Slope battery last?
The A1-Slope is rechargeable over USB-C, and Bushnell says the battery lasts 50 or more rounds. Charge it the night before your first round, so the unit is ready on the first tee and you don't lose time at the start of play.
