How to Use a Bushnell Golf Rangefinder on the Course

On this page (7 sections)

1. What should you check before you tee off?
2. How to use a Bushnell rangefinder on every hole
3. How do you switch slope on and off?
4. How do the V6 Shift and A1-Slope differ on the course?
5. What does the Pro X3+ add to a round?
6. What should you practice before the round?
7. Which Bushnell rangefinder is easiest to use?

To use a Bushnell golf rangefinder, check the battery, aim at the flag, press the button and wait for the vibration that confirms the lock. Then read the yardage and clip the unit back on the cart.

Here's how that works on three models: the Tour V6 Shift, the A1-Slope and the Pro X3+. The core steps match on all three, and how to use a golf rangefinder, step by step covers the routine for any brand.

The golf rangefinders buying guide compares other brands and features if you're still choosing.

What should you check before you tee off?

Check the battery, mount the unit where your hand can reach it, and confirm the units before the first hole. A minute on the tee beats a dead display on the second hole.

Charge the A1-Slope over its USB-C cord. The Tour V6 Shift and Pro X3+ take replaceable cells, so make sure the cell is fresh.

The Bushnell rangefinder battery guide sorts out the cell types by model, so you know what to buy as a spare.

Then clip the unit to the cart. Bushnell gives the V6 Shift and A1-Slope a BITE magnetic mount, and the Pro X3+ has one built in, so the unit stays within reach between shots.

If you push a cart or carry your bag, putting a rangefinder on a golf bag or cart covers the other ways to keep it handy.

How to use a Bushnell rangefinder on every hole

Use the same four steps on every hole: check the mode, aim and press, wait for the lock, then read and reset. Once the routine is steady, you won't need to touch the settings mid-round.

Step 1: Check the mode and the units

Before you raise the unit, confirm the slope setting and the units. A slope setting you didn't mean to use can make a number look wrong.

If a number seems low, check the units first, since a meters reading looks smaller than the same distance in yards. The meters to yards switch walks through the change.

Step 2: Aim your Bushnell rangefinder and press

Put the flag near the center of the view and press the button once. Keep the unit still while the reading settles, and don't lower it until the number appears.

A steady stance helps. Keep your elbows near your sides and the unit at eye level, which is easy to repeat on every hole.

If a tree or bunker sits behind the flag, take your time. The lock confirmation is what tells you the number came from the pin and not from the background.

Step 3: Wait for the JOLT

Bushnell calls the confirmation JOLT, and it pairs with PinSeeker on all three models. The A1-Slope gives a short vibration, while the V6 Shift and Pro X3+ add a red ring, so you can see the lock as well as feel it.

If the ring never flashes or you feel no vibration, the unit hasn't locked onto the flag. Move your aim onto the pin and try again.

Step 4: Read and reset

Read the number, then clip the unit back to the cart mount so it's ready for the next target.

If the unit won't power on or read at all, the not working fixes cover the usual causes in order.

How do you switch slope on and off?

On the Tour V6 Shift, use the external slope switch. On the A1-Slope, press the mode button to toggle slope on or off.

Under the Rules of Golf, slope readings aren't allowed in a round unless the committee permits them, so turn slope off and check the local rule before you play. What is slope on a golf rangefinder? explains what the adjusted number means.

How to read the slope-adjusted number

With slope on, the display shows a distance adjusted for the angle of the shot. Bushnell calls the A1-Slope's number the true "Play As" distance, and it accounts for uphill and downhill shots.

Use that number to pick your club, and keep in mind it belongs to that one shot. Take a fresh reading from your new spot for the next one.

How do the V6 Shift and A1-Slope differ on the course?

The A1-Slope is the smaller unit, and Bushnell calls it the smallest golf laser rangefinder it has built. Both share 6X magnification, a 1,300-yard total range and a BITE magnetic mount.

The V6 Shift runs on a replaceable cell, while the A1-Slope recharges, and Bushnell says that battery lasts 50-plus rounds. That's the main difference you'll notice when you plan spares or charging.

The newer V7 Shift adds a dual-color display and yardage range recall. Bushnell Tour V6 Shift vs V7 Shift covers what changed, and the Tour V6 Shift review goes deeper on the V6.

What does the Pro X3+ add to a round?

The Pro X3+ adds wind speed and direction through the Bushnell Golf app, plus temperature and altitude in its slope numbers. Those extras set it apart from the other two models.

Pair the unit with the app at home, since the wind readings depend on that connection. Wind data matters most on exposed holes, where a crosswind changes how the ball flies.

You can also enter a home elevation, so the Pro X3+ numbers reflect the course you play most.

Bushnell says it reads accurately to a flag at 600-plus yards with 7X magnification. It can also link to a launch monitor from Foresight Sports or Bushnell Golf, which is sold separately.

What should you practice before the round?

Take three or four readings on a known target, like a sign or a sprinkler head, before the first hole. That shows you how long the lock takes in your own hands.

Practice once with the slope setting you plan to use, so the number on the display matches what you expect. If you plan to play with slope off, practice that way too.

Then try one reading on a flag with a tree or bunker behind it, so you see how the lock confirmation helps you tell the pin from the background.

Which Bushnell rangefinder is easiest to use?

All three follow the same aim, press and wait routine, so the easiest one is the one whose extras match how you play.

Pick the A1-Slope if you want the smallest unit and a rechargeable battery. Pick the Tour V6 Shift if you want an external slope switch you can check at a glance.

Pick the Pro X3+ if you want wind readings and elevation-based numbers and don't mind setting up the app.

If you're still choosing, the best Bushnell golf rangefinders, model by model compares the whole lineup.

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn slope off on a Bushnell golf rangefinder?

On the Tour V6 Shift, use the external slope switch, and on the A1-Slope, press the mode button to toggle slope on or off. The Pro X3+ adds temperature and altitude to its numbers, so check its manual for the slope options before your round.

What does the JOLT vibration mean on a Bushnell?

JOLT is Bushnell's name for the vibration that confirms the laser has locked onto the flag, and PinSeeker is the flag-lock feature it pairs with. A red ring also flashes on the Tour V6 Shift and Pro X3+, and if you feel no vibration, aim again and wait for the signal.

Can I get wind readings without the app?

Not on the Pro X3+, which shows wind speed and direction only when it's connected to the Bushnell Golf app. Set the app up at home before your round, since the unit can't show wind until your phone is connected.

How far can a Bushnell golf rangefinder read?

The Tour V6 Shift and A1-Slope both have a 1,300-yard total range, though the distance to a flag is shorter, and Bushnell says the A1-Slope is accurate to a flag within 350 yards. Bushnell says the Pro X3+ reads accurately to a flag at 600-plus yards.