Bushnell Tour V6 Shift vs V7 Shift: What Changed?

On this page (15 sections)

1. What the Tour V6 Shift and V7 Shift share
2. The specs side by side
3. The display and the yardage readout
4. Slope: the external switch is the clearest V6 difference
5. What slope adds on a hilly hole
6. Yardage recall, launch-monitor pairing and the Patriot Pack
7. Using recall and the color split on the same hole
8. Cart mount and clip-on use
9. Size and what you carry
10. Should a V6 owner upgrade to the V7?
11. Who the V6 Shift suits
12. Who the V7 Shift suits
13. Battery and what's in the box
14. Where the older V5 Patriot Pack fits
15. Bushnell Tour V6 Shift or V7 Shift: which to buy

The Bushnell Tour V7 Shift adds a dual-color display, yardage range recall and launch-monitor pairing to what the V6 Shift offers. Range and magnification stay the same, so the choice comes down to those extras.

We compared Bushnell's specs and features for both models, and we only call something a difference when it shows up for one and not the other. Where Bushnell says nothing about a feature, we say so.

For the full story on the older model, read our Bushnell Tour V6 Shift review. The golf rangefinders buying guide covers the other types too.

What the Tour V6 Shift and V7 Shift share

Both models give you a 1,300 yd range, and 6X magnification, so the core job is the same. Bushnell calls both waterproof and backs both with a 2-year warranty.

Both also use Pinseeker with Visual JOLT for the flag lock, and both give slope-adjusted distances. Switching from one to the other changes the readout and the extras, not how far the laser reaches or how it feels in the bag.

New to the flag lock? Our guide to using a Bushnell golf rangefinder on the course walks through it.

The specs side by side

The table shows range, slope and warranty, and range and warranty match. Slope is where the two handle things differently, with the V6's external switch against the V7's color readout.

Our scores weigh specs and features against what a Bushnell shopper wants. The V7 scores higher for its extra features, and the V6 scores a little lower because it has fewer of them.

The scores don't say one measures better than the other, since both share range and magnification.

The display and the yardage readout

The V7 has a dual-color OLED display that shows slope-adjusted "plays-like" yardage in green and actual distance in red. Bushnell doesn't describe a display type for the V6, so we can't say how its readout looks.

Why the Tour V7 Shift display changes how you read yardage

You see the plays-like number and the straight-line number together, so you don't have to work out how much the hill adds. Bushnell says its Slope First Technology puts the compensated distance front and center.

That puts the slope number where your eye lands first. If you mostly read yardage by the number, this is the main reason to choose the V7.

If your unit starts in meters, our guide to switching a Bushnell golf rangefinder from meters to yards shows how to change it.

Slope: the external switch is the clearest V6 difference

Both models give slope-adjusted distances, but only the V6 is described with an external switch to turn slope on or off.

Bushnell says the V6 switch lets you toggle slope mode on or off, which is how you'd play a round where slope isn't allowed. One device then covers every round you play.

The Rules of Golf allow distance measuring by default, and a committee can prohibit it. Slope readings aren't allowed in a round unless the committee permits them, so check the local rule.

Our are golf rangefinders legal post covers the rules side, and our best golf rangefinders with slope roundup covers other slope models. If you need slope off for club events, confirm the V7's controls on the Bushnell Golf site before you buy it.

What slope adds on a hilly hole

Slope mode gives a plays-like number, which is the distance adjusted for an uphill or downhill shot. It helps you pick a club, but it doesn't promise where the ball will finish.

Uphill, the plays-like number is larger than the straight-line reading, so you may need more club. Downhill, it's smaller, and you may need less.

Slope matters most when the ground changes a lot between you and the target, such as a green on a hill or a tee on a ridge.

Say a flag sits above you on a rise. The straight-line reading tells you how far away it is, and the plays-like reading tells you how far it plays.

Your swing, the wind and the lie all change where the ball finishes, so treat the slope number as one input. On flat ground the two numbers are close, so slope is a useful extra rather than a must if you only play flat courses.

Yardage recall, launch-monitor pairing and the Patriot Pack

The V7 adds yardage range recall, LINK pairing and a divot tool, and Bushnell describes none of them for the V6. These are the newer features in the pair.

Yardage range recall shows your last measured distance with a single press. Bushnell says it suits practice or double-checking a target you already measured.

LINK pairs the V7 with Bushnell and Foresight launch monitors and shows club suggestions based on your own yardage data. That only matters if you use one of those launch monitors, so skip it if you don't.

The V7 Patriot Pack comes with a divot tool, a premium carry case, a microfiber cloth, a CR2 battery and a quick start guide. The V6 comes with a premium case, a microfiber cloth, a quick-start guide and a battery.

Using recall and the color split on the same hole

On one hole, the V7 can show a plays-like number and a measured number together, and it can bring back the last reading you took. Recall helps when you'd rather not aim at the same spot twice.

Say you measure the flag from the fairway, then walk up and want that distance again. One press brings back the last measured distance, so you can compare it with the new number before you pick a club.

Recall shows the last reading, not a log of every shot. On the V6 you'd remember the number or write it down.

Cart mount and clip-on use

The V6 has a BITE magnetic mount, and Bushnell doesn't mention a mount for the V7. If you ride a cart every round, that one detail may decide the choice.

Bushnell says the V6 sticks to a golf cart or any metal surface, with quick one-handed grabs. A magnet is only as useful as the metal you put it on, so pick a flat part of the cart bar that's easy to reach from the driver's seat.

If you want a V7 but ride a cart, confirm a mount for it before you order.

Size and what you carry

Both models measure 4.5 in long, 1.6 in wide and 3.1 in high. Size won't separate them, so carry comfort isn't a reason to pick either one.

Where it rides matters more. The V6's BITE cart mount appeals to anyone who rides, and if a cart mount is the main draw, our Callaway 300 Pro review covers another laser with a magnetic one.

Should a V6 owner upgrade to the V7?

Probably not, unless the new readout or launch-monitor pairing is something you'd use. The range, magnification and flag lock are the same on both.

If you ride a cart and use the V6's switch and mount, you'd be moving to a model where Bushnell describes neither. If you use a Bushnell or Foresight launch monitor, or you want plays-like and actual yardage in two colors, the V7 gives you something new.

Who the V6 Shift suits

The V6 Shift suits cart riders who want slope with an external switch and a magnetic mount. It's the right pick when those features matter more than the newer display.

• You ride a cart and want the laser on the cart bar.
• You want slope on and off with a switch you can reach.
• You want the flag lock with the red ring and vibration.

You get distance, slope and the flag lock without the dual-color display or the launch-monitor link.

Who the V7 Shift suits

The V7 Shift suits golfers who read yardage by the number and want slope and recall close together. It's the better fit for a player who likes more information on the display.

• You want slope-adjusted yardage shown first, with the actual distance beside it.
• You want to check your last measured distance without aiming again.
• You use a Bushnell or Foresight launch monitor and want club suggestions from your own yardage data.

If you don't own a launch monitor, the readout and recall are the reasons to choose the V7.

Battery and what's in the box

Bushnell names a CR2 battery for the V7. Check the battery type in the manual or on the unit before you buy a spare for the V6, since its battery details aren't clear.

Carrying a spare in the bag can save a round if the battery runs down. Keep it somewhere easy to reach, so you aren't hunting for it on the course.

Both models also come with a carry case and a microfiber cloth, so you can use either one right out of the box.

Where the older V5 Patriot Pack fits

A V5 owner should look at slope first. The V5 Patriot Pack has the same 1,300 yd range and 6X magnification, plus a BITE magnetic cart mount and Visual JOLT, but Bushnell's V5 description doesn't mention slope.

Bushnell also ties the V5 to its Bushnell Golf app, which it says adds hole layouts and 3D flyovers. If you own a V5 and want slope, the V6 and V7 are the models to look at.

If slope isn't what you're missing, the V5 shares the Shifts' range and magnification, so there may be little reason to move.

Bushnell Tour V6 Shift or V7 Shift: which to buy

Pick the V7 Shift if the dual-color readout, yardage recall or launch-monitor pairing will change how you read your numbers. It's the better buy when the display matters more than a cart mount.

Pick the V6 Shift if an external slope switch and a magnetic cart mount matter most, since Bushnell describes both. If you want both groups of features, confirm the V7's switch and mount first.

If you're torn, ask which you'd use every round: the switch and mount, or the color readout and recall. To see where both sit in the full lineup, read best Bushnell golf rangefinders, model by model.

Frequently asked questions

Is the V7 Shift a big upgrade over the V6 Shift?

It's a feature upgrade, not a range upgrade. The V7 adds a dual-color display, yardage range recall and launch-monitor pairing, while range and magnification match the V6, so the V7 is worth choosing mainly if you want that readout or the extra features.

Does the V7 Shift have an external slope switch?

Bushnell describes an external slope switch for the V6 but doesn't mention one for the V7. If you need to turn slope off for a round, confirm the switch on the Bushnell Golf site before you buy the V7, so there are no surprises on the first tee.

Do the V6 and V7 Shift both have a 1,300 yard range?

Yes, Bushnell gives both models a 1,300 yd range and 6X magnification. Range doesn't separate them, so choose on the display, the slope switch, the cart mount and the extras instead of on how far the laser reaches.

Is the older V5 Patriot Pack still a fair comparison?

As a reference point, yes. It shares the 1,300 yd range, 6X magnification, a BITE magnetic cart mount and Visual JOLT, but Bushnell's V5 description doesn't mention slope, so look at a V6 or V7 if slope is on your list and you want it adjusted for you.

Which Bushnell Shift is better for a golf cart?

The V6 Shift, because Bushnell describes a BITE magnetic mount that sticks to a cart or any metal surface. Bushnell doesn't mention a mount for the V7, so confirm one before you plan to stick it to the cart bar every round.