If there is one area where you might call me a traditionalist it would be in how I get yardage to the flag… I take a guess! In my playing experience the past few years a lot of the golfers I play with have some sort of range finder and it seems as there is some written rule that you don’t ask them for the yardage for your shot.
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All of that is about to change. Bushnell Golf offered up a great opportunity for us here at Bunker’s Paradise to review their latest offering, the Pro X7 Laser Rangefinder with Jolt and Pinseeker Technology.
I jumped at the chance to take this out to the course to see what it would be like to actually play accurate yardages. There is nothing more frustrating than coming up short and at this point I feel an actual yardage could cut even more strokes off my game.
Let’s take a detailed look at the new Bushnell Pro X7 Laser Rangefinder and see if the results justify the cost.
Specs:
- The most powerful Laser Rangefinder in the world.
- The Pro X7 features incredible ranging capability, PinSeeker with JOLT Technology to help you zero in on the flag and second generation E.S.P. to provide ultra-accurate yardages faster than ever before
- PinSeeker with JOLT Technology to zero in on the flag
- Accurate to 1/2 yard
- 5 yards-1 mile ranging performance (550+ yards to a flag)
- E.S.P. 2 (Extreme. Speed. Precision.)
- Vivid Display Technology (VDT) for all lighting conditions
- 7x Magnification with HD Optics (objects appear 7x closer)
- Posi-Thread™ Battery Door
- Waterproof
- 3-Volt 123 Battery and Premium Carry Case included
- 2 Year Warranty
Looks/Feel:
The Bushnell Pro X7 is a very well built rangefinder. When compared to several of the other units available either from Bushnell or other competitors the X7 is larger in size and heavier than most units. My hands are not huge and while I have no objections to the larger size this will obviously be subjective, iPhone 6 plus vs. iPhone 6 comes to mind. The white/black/red combo of colors along with the textured rubber materials give a lot of confidence while lasering targets.
The display is just as detailed, vivid, the (VDT) Vivid Display Technology is truly stunning and the nice red contrast really allows for easy menu adjustments and locking on to the flag. The rangefinder buttons are very well thought out and are very easy to press and adjust.
The carrying case is very sturdy and offers an extremely snug fit. I would obviously cringe if this thing dropped but the case does seem sturdy enough for those moments when the inevitable happens.
Performance:
Thanks to the Bushnell Pro X7 Jolt my game will not be plagued by shots hit short because of inaccurate yardages, at least the ones that I can control. I would not hesitate to call this device a must have for any golfer looking to improve their game.
As soon as I placed the included battery into the waterproof, yes waterproof, battery compartment and lasered a nearby tree – sorry neighbor I was anxious – the x7’s display was very pleasing to the eye. The aforementioned Vivid Display Technology allows for crystal clear flag finding and paired with a 7x magnification I could make sure that the flag and not a tree in the background was measured by holding down the power button with Pinseeker on. So if you’re current rangefinder has you in doubt when or if you’re locked on to the flag Bushnell has jolt technology which provides a vibration to the hands to let you know for sure.
I really like how quick it was to just point and read distances. The accuracy from 125 yards and in is an impressive 1/10 yard using Bushnell’s E.S.P. 2 (Extreme.Speed.Precision.) There are only a few holes where I play that can truly test the range of the device, it’s able to target a flag from over 550 plus yards, there were no issues and all but once was I able to get a reading in the first attempt. I’m curious to see how this performs in the fog we have on early mornings. The read readout is very nice and doesn’t seem to dim on a Sunny Southern California day.
Overall:
I feel like kicking myself for not investing in a rangefinder sooner than I did. My friends have devices that they like but always seem to doubt what they’re reading. The Bushnell Pro X7 Jolt is packed with everything except slope, which is illegal in tournaments, and featured on the model 201401.
My biggest concerns are the price at $499 it’s the cost of a premium driver. In my opinion anything as accurate as this unit and fast enough to end guessing not only makes my game faster and gives me the chance to go low. While it’s not a deal breaker, Bushnell could do a little more than just throw the contents loosely in the box. No harm, no foul!
For more information go to the Bushnell website HERE.