Bushnell Phantom 3 Slope Golf GPS Review
The Bushnell Phantom 3 Slope is a handheld golf GPS with a touchscreen, slope-adjusted distances and more than 38,000 preloaded courses. It suits golfers who want front, center and back yardages on a screen instead of one laser reading to the flag.
On this page (17 sections)
- The Bushnell Phantom 3 Slope at a glance
- What the Phantom 3 Slope shows on each hole
- How to read the front, center and back numbers
- How course recognition, scoring and updates work
- How slope-adjusted GPS distances work in plain terms
- Starting a round with the Phantom 3 Slope
- When a GPS handheld beats a laser
- Battery, charger and what comes in the box
- The cart magnet and the belt clip
- Weather, care and the touchscreen
- Map coverage if you play outside North America
- Who the Bushnell Phantom 3 suits best
- Who should skip the Phantom 3 Slope
- How the Phantom 3 Slope compares with the Garmin G12 and the Tour Hybrid
- Slope, course data and the Rules of Golf
- How we scored the Phantom 3 Slope
- Verdict: the Bushnell Phantom 3 for course data
The Bushnell Phantom 3 Slope is a handheld golf GPS with a touchscreen, slope-adjusted distances and more than 38,000 preloaded courses. Unlike a laser, it works from a course map instead of aiming at the flag.
We compared its features with other GPS units and with Bushnell's laser line. This review covers the screen, the course data, the battery and mount, and who should skip it.
The Bushnell Phantom 3 Slope at a glance
The Phantom 3 Slope is a handheld GPS with a touchscreen, slope-adjusted yardages and 38,000-plus preloaded courses. Here are the specs in one place.
| Spec | Bushnell Phantom 3 Slope |
|---|---|
| Type | Handheld golf GPS |
| Display | Touchscreen LCD |
| Distances | Front, center and back, slope-adjusted |
| Courses | 38,000+ preloaded, with auto course and hole recognition |
| Extras | GreenView with moveable pin, auto score prompt, auto course updates |
| Battery | Rechargeable, 14+ hours and up to 18 hours |
| Mount | Built-in BITE magnet and a belt clip |
| In the box | Charger and belt clip |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
What the Phantom 3 Slope shows on each hole
The Phantom 3 Slope shows front, center and back distances to the green on a large touchscreen. Bushnell describes those numbers as large and easy to read.
GreenView shows the green with a moveable pin placement, so you can set the pin where it sits that day. Slope-adjusted yardages come from Bushnell's patented Slope Technology.
How to read the front, center and back numbers
The three numbers give the distance to the near edge, the middle and the far edge of the green. Together they show how deep the target is before you pick a club.
A back pin needs more club than a front pin, and the three numbers show that gap at a glance. The center number works as a default target, while the front and back numbers help when a bunker or water sits short of or past the green.
How course recognition, scoring and updates work
The unit recognizes the course and the hole automatically, so you don't pick them by hand. Bushnell also lists an auto score prompt and auto course updates among its features.
The score prompt asks for your score as the round goes on, so you can leave the pencil in the bag.
How slope-adjusted GPS distances work in plain terms
Bushnell says its patented Slope Technology calculates incline and decline, so the yardage reflects uphill and downhill shots. The adjustment matters most on hilly courses, where a rise or a drop changes the playing distance.
A laser measures the angle to the target you aim at, while this unit works from the course map and its position on the hole. That's why it can show front, center and back numbers where a laser reads one target.
For how the two tools differ in daily use, see golf rangefinder app vs a real rangefinder.
Starting a round with the Phantom 3 Slope
Switch the unit on and let it find the course. Then confirm the hole on the screen before you read the numbers.
Read the front, center and back distances before you pick a club, and note the slope-adjusted figure when the shot is steep. When the score prompt appears, enter your score and move on.
When a GPS handheld beats a laser
A GPS handheld wins when you want the whole hole at a glance, and a laser wins when you want the exact distance to one thing. Each tool answers a different question.
GPS shows front, center and back numbers without any aiming, so it helps on blind approach shots where you can't see the flag. A laser works on any target you can see, including a hazard, and needs no course data.
Battery, charger and what comes in the box
The Phantom 3 Slope is rechargeable, and a charger and a belt clip come in the box. You don't need to buy either one to start a round.
Bushnell gives the battery as 14 hours or more, up to 18 hours, which it puts at about four rounds. It also pairs over Bluetooth with a smartphone or tablet.
The cart magnet and the belt clip
Bushnell's built-in BITE magnet attaches the unit to a cart bar, so the screen stays in view between shots. The belt clip covers the times you walk or your cart bar isn't metal.
A magnet only grips metal. Our guide to attaching a rangefinder to a golf bag or cart covers other ways to carry a unit.
Weather, care and the touchscreen
Bushnell doesn't say how water resistant the Phantom 3 Slope is, so treat it with the care you'd give a phone in the rain. Keep it dry in a downpour, and wipe the screen with a soft cloth.
A touchscreen is quick to use but easy to smudge. Clip it to your belt or put it on the cart bar when you're not reading it, so it doesn't rattle around in a bag.
Map coverage if you play outside North America
Bushnell says the Phantom 3 Slope comes preloaded with more than 38,000 courses worldwide, but its map type is given as North America. If you play outside North America, confirm that your country's courses are covered before you buy.
Auto course recognition then finds the course for you, which helps most when you play somewhere new.
Who the Bushnell Phantom 3 suits best
The Phantom 3 Slope suits golfers who want course data and front, center and back yardages more than a single flag reading. It's a strong match for cart players who like a map-style view on the screen.
Why the Bushnell Phantom 3 suits course-data players
Golfers who like to see the whole green at a glance get the most from the three-number view. The 38,000-plus courses help if you play several courses across a season.
Players who keep score on the unit also get more from it. A golfer who wants one number per shot may find a laser simpler.
Who should skip the Phantom 3 Slope
Skip the Phantom 3 Slope if you want a laser that locks onto the flag. A laser is the better tool for a shot to a single pin, because it measures the exact target you aim at.
Golfers who want the view on the wrist should compare the options in our best golf GPS watches. Those units track distance from the wrist instead of a handheld.
If you want a laser and course data in one device, our guide to golf rangefinders with GPS explains when a hybrid makes sense.
How the Phantom 3 Slope compares with the Garmin G12 and the Tour Hybrid
The Garmin Approach G12 is a smaller clip-on GPS, and Bushnell's Tour Hybrid adds a laser to GPS yardages. Your choice depends on how you want to carry the unit and whether you want a laser.
Garmin says the G12 lasts up to 30 hours in GPS mode, and it shows hazards and doglegs as well as the green. The Phantom 3 Slope has a built-in cart magnet and a touchscreen, where the G12 clips on.
Bushnell describes a slope switch for both the laser and the GPS on the Tour Hybrid, and it doesn't describe one on the Phantom 3 Slope. For a side-by-side with a watch, see golf rangefinder vs GPS watch.
Our model-by-model look at Bushnell golf rangefinders covers the laser line, and Bushnell's website shows the full range. If a laser is your first choice, our budget rangefinder picks cover the lower-cost lasers.
Slope, course data and the Rules of Golf
The Rules of Golf allow distance-measuring devices by default, and that includes GPS units. A committee can ban them with a local rule.
Slope-adjusted readings aren't allowed in a round unless the committee permits them. Check the local rule before a round that counts, and see the USGA for the Rules of Golf.
How we scored the Phantom 3 Slope
Our score weighs features and design against what course-data golfers want. The Phantom 3 Slope earns 8.0 for its touchscreen, 38,000-plus courses, slope-adjusted yardages and built-in cart magnet.
It gives up points for being a GPS rather than a laser, for no described way to turn slope off and for the coverage question outside North America.
Bushnell Phantom 3 Slope Golf GPS
- Touchscreen with auto course and hole recognition
- Slope-adjusted GPS distances
- Front, center and back yardages with GreenView
- Built-in BITE magnet for a cart bar
A handheld GPS with a touchscreen, slope-adjusted yardages and a built-in cart magnet. It shows distances from a course map, so it doesn't lock onto a flag the way a laser does.
Pros
- Front, center and back numbers on a large touchscreen
- Auto course and hole recognition with a score prompt
- Rechargeable, with a charger and belt clip in the box
- Built-in magnet for a cart bar
Cons
- A GPS, so there's no laser flag lock
- Bushnell doesn't describe a way to turn slope off
- Map coverage outside North America is worth confirming
Verdict: the Bushnell Phantom 3 for course data
Pick the Bushnell Phantom 3 Slope if you want a touchscreen GPS with front, center and back yardages, slope and a built-in cart magnet. Pick a laser if you need to lock onto a flag, and pick a GPS watch if you want the numbers on your wrist.
Pick the Tour Hybrid if you want both a laser and GPS in one unit. If you're still comparing types, start with our golf rangefinder buying guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bushnell Phantom 3 Slope a laser rangefinder?
No, it's a handheld GPS that measures from course mapping instead of aiming a laser at a flag. It shows front, center and back yardages and slope-adjusted distances on a touchscreen, along with GreenView and a moveable pin placement for the green.
How many courses does the Phantom 3 Slope include?
Bushnell says it comes preloaded with more than 38,000 courses worldwide and recognizes the course and hole for you. If you play outside North America, confirm that your country's courses are covered before you buy, since coverage can differ by region.
How long does the Bushnell Phantom 3 Slope battery last?
Bushnell gives the rechargeable battery as 14 hours or more, up to 18 hours, which it puts at about four rounds. A charger comes in the box, so charge it before your first round and again between trips to keep it ready.
Does the Phantom 3 Slope have a cart mount?
Yes, a built-in BITE magnet attaches the unit to a cart bar so the screen stays in view between shots. A belt clip also comes in the box, which helps if you walk or your cart bar isn't made of metal.
Can I use the Phantom 3 Slope in a competition?
That depends on the event. The Rules of Golf allow distance-measuring devices by default, but slope-adjusted readings aren't allowed in a round unless the committee permits them, so check the local rule and ask the committee before you use the unit.
