Author: Maurice Savaryego, M.Sc.Eng. (Learn More)
(Please note that our website is supported by commissions earned when products are sold through the provided links.)
Compare Top Golf Laser Rangefinders: TecTecTec VPRO500 vs. Bushnell Tour V5
 (Photo Credits: Bushnell)
A laser rangefinder measures a distance by projecting laser beams to a target and measuring the traveling time taken by the beams to be reflected off the target and returned to the instrument.
Nowadays, more and more golfers are using laser rangefinders to measure target distances on golf courses. Laser rangefinders help golfers develop their sense of distance by showing actual distances. Knowing exact distances under changing situations due to wind and a golf course's topography is not only a huge advantage for a golfer, but can also help develop his or her golfing skills. When taking a measurement, a laser rangefinder emits hundreds of laser beams in an approximate half-second period to boost measurement accuracy, as a single laser beam can miss a target that is too small. Furthermore, when measuring the distance to a golf flag-stick, a rangefinder may also receive incoming signals reflected off trees in the background, in addition to signals reflected off the flag itself. To overcome this problem the best rangefinders provide a special targeting mode which when selected displays the distance of the nearest point, in this case the flag-stick, instead of the distance to the trees and bush in the background. The point-and-click operation of these rangefinders makes it simple and quick getting a perfect distance without slowing down the entire group while you look around for yardage markers or figure out how far you are from the green. With these devices, you can also point and shoot other objects, such as trees and rocks, if you are trying to gauge how much carry you have left. It takes all the guessing out of every shot. You just need to concentrate on making a good swing. |
|
This article will compare TecTecTec VPRO500 and Bushnell Tour V5 golf laser rangefinders. These were not just the most popular among Amazon customers at the time this article was written, but they had also received excellent reviews from most Amazon buyers (an average of 4.5 stars each, out of 5 stars!).
If you are in a hurry and wish to see right away Amazon price information for these two rangefinders, please click below:
Selected Golf Rangefinders on Amazon
Comparing Selected Laser Rangefinders
The following pictures show the two laser rangefinders selected for comparison:
|
|
The following table compares the various features that come with the two rangefinders (please read the explanations to the table notes that follow for a better understanding of the features):
Table Notes 1 - 8Explained:
Note 1:
To operate both rangefinders, you simply do the following:
The following targeting modes are available with each of the two rangefinders:
TecTecTec VPRO500
The following targeting modes are available:
Bushnell Tour V5
The following targeting modes are available:
Both rangefinders allow to select yards or meters as the unit of measure.
Note 2:
Exit pupil is the diameter of the light beam exiting from the eyepiece. Exit pupil should be a little larger than your pupil, but too large an exit pupil is useless, because the eye will not be able to collect all of the light. Also a wide exit pupil will increase the device weight and dimensions which is not particularly desired for a rangefinder.
Note 3:
Eye relief is the distance the binoculars can be held from the eyes for comfortable observation. This distance is important if you wear glasses. Long eye relief design affords eyeglass wearers easy viewing.
Note 4:
Multilayer coatings provides an even higher light transmittance across the entire visible light spectrum and facilitates bright and clear images.
Note 5:
Water resistant does not mean waterproof. So do not immerse these rangefinders in water! If any moisture is found on movable parts of the unit, stop using it, and wipe it off.
Note 6:
CR2 Lithium batteries allow continuous operation approximately 8,000 times (at approx. 68°F). This figure may differ according to condition, temperature, and other factors such as target shape, color, etc. However, due to natural electric discharge, the life of this battery will likely be shorter than this specification.
Note 7:
The diopter adjustment is a control knob designed to adjust the eyepiece to obtain a clear image in the LCD. It allows one to focus the LCD display relative to the image. To adjust, simply rotate the eyepiece until the reticle and the target object are both in focus to your eye.
If the diopter is not adjusted to correspond to your eyesight, you may not be able to correctly aim at your subject.
Note 8:
TecTecTec also has a 30-day money back guarantee.
Note 1:
To operate both rangefinders, you simply do the following:
- While looking through the eyepiece, depress the power button once to activate the in-view LCD.
- Choose the targeting mode if required and the reading units (yard or meter).
- Align the aiming reticle with the target.
- Press the power button until the range reading is displayed.
- View the distance.
The following targeting modes are available with each of the two rangefinders:
TecTecTec VPRO500
The following targeting modes are available:
- NORMAL mode is used to focus on any target. You simply align the reticle with the target and press the power button to display the distance.
- SCAN mode provides continuously updated range information for the various objects the laser hits as you pan across landscape.
- PIN mode, also known as “First Target Priority Mode", gives you the distance to the flag despite multiple objects that maybe behind it and that may have stronger signal strength.
Bushnell Tour V5
The following targeting modes are available:
- PINSEEKER mode allows easy acquisition of the flag without inadvertently getting distances to background targets (i.e. trees) that may have stronger signal strength.
- JOLT feature allows you to enable a vibration signal (similar to setting a cell phone to “vibrate”) that will be felt when the Pinseeker feature indicates the flag has been detected and the distance to it is displayed in the LCD. A red ring flashes as JOLT vibrates to give the golfer even greater feedback and confidence to know you have locked onto the flag.
Also new to the Tour V5 is Bushnell’s exclusive BITE magnetic mount that allows you to easily mount the Tour V5 right on the cart bar.
Both rangefinders allow to select yards or meters as the unit of measure.
Note 2:
Exit pupil is the diameter of the light beam exiting from the eyepiece. Exit pupil should be a little larger than your pupil, but too large an exit pupil is useless, because the eye will not be able to collect all of the light. Also a wide exit pupil will increase the device weight and dimensions which is not particularly desired for a rangefinder.
Note 3:
Eye relief is the distance the binoculars can be held from the eyes for comfortable observation. This distance is important if you wear glasses. Long eye relief design affords eyeglass wearers easy viewing.
Note 4:
Multilayer coatings provides an even higher light transmittance across the entire visible light spectrum and facilitates bright and clear images.
Note 5:
Water resistant does not mean waterproof. So do not immerse these rangefinders in water! If any moisture is found on movable parts of the unit, stop using it, and wipe it off.
Note 6:
CR2 Lithium batteries allow continuous operation approximately 8,000 times (at approx. 68°F). This figure may differ according to condition, temperature, and other factors such as target shape, color, etc. However, due to natural electric discharge, the life of this battery will likely be shorter than this specification.
Note 7:
The diopter adjustment is a control knob designed to adjust the eyepiece to obtain a clear image in the LCD. It allows one to focus the LCD display relative to the image. To adjust, simply rotate the eyepiece until the reticle and the target object are both in focus to your eye.
If the diopter is not adjusted to correspond to your eyesight, you may not be able to correctly aim at your subject.
Note 8:
TecTecTec also has a 30-day money back guarantee.
So which of the two rangefinders to choose?
The two laser rangefinders considered here are excellent products as shown by the average rating each had received from Amazon customers at the time this article was written. Indeed, both TecTecTec VPRO500 and the Bushnell Tour V5 had received 4.5 stars (out of 5 stars)! There is a good chance that you would be quite happy with either product.
TecTecTec VPRO500 is very well built, has compact size, very simple to use and accurate within 1 yard. It has just two buttons on top of the device. The POWER button turns the unit on, and when depressed and held down, it gives the yardage almost instantaneously. The MODE button switches between meters and yards and selects the targeting mode. It has excellent clarity with 6x magnification, and it shuts off automatically. It also comes with a case which can be worn on your belt or attached to golf bag. Note also that the TecTecTec customer support is simply excellent!
The only negative point about this product that Amazon users have expressed is that both the rangefinder unit and the case are black. And because most golf carts have a black interior, it could be easy to forget. Users have expressed a desire for a more splashy colored case.
Bushnell Tour V5 is also small, accurate within 1 yard, and extremely easy to use. It operates from a single button to identify the target, and it gives you a slight vibration when it locks on the target. It has lightweight design, bright viewfinder, good optical offset (for those who need to use it with glasses) and the pin-seeker feature that gives you a confirmation you have something pin-like in your sight. The JOLT vibration feature when it acquires the flag is a great addition. It ensures that you are measuring to the flag and not to a tree or some other object. It will give you your measurement down to the yard and help with club selection to get as close to the hole as possible. It can also be used for other targets to get an indicator of how far you are to a creek, bend, etc. Note also that a red ring flashes as JOLT vibrates to give the golfer even greater feedback and confidence to know you have locked onto the flag. It's easy to transport and has a handy carrying case to hook onto your golf bag for easy access before pulling a club. It fits easily in one of the side pockets of your golf bag or you can leave it hooked on the outside of the bag safely. A red ring flashes as JOLT vibrates to give the golfer even greater feedback and confidence to know you have locked onto the flag.
Note that the maximum range of this rangefinder is muh larger than the maximum range that comes with the Tec Tec Tec rangefinder (1300-yard vs. 540-yard). Although the Bushnell Tour V5 costs a bit more, it's worth the investment. The build quality is exceptional, and you will feel that it will be in your bag for many years to come. Note also that as opposed to the TecTecTec rangefinder which is black, the white color makes it quite difficult to forget in the cart!
TecTecTec VPRO500 is very well built, has compact size, very simple to use and accurate within 1 yard. It has just two buttons on top of the device. The POWER button turns the unit on, and when depressed and held down, it gives the yardage almost instantaneously. The MODE button switches between meters and yards and selects the targeting mode. It has excellent clarity with 6x magnification, and it shuts off automatically. It also comes with a case which can be worn on your belt or attached to golf bag. Note also that the TecTecTec customer support is simply excellent!
The only negative point about this product that Amazon users have expressed is that both the rangefinder unit and the case are black. And because most golf carts have a black interior, it could be easy to forget. Users have expressed a desire for a more splashy colored case.
Bushnell Tour V5 is also small, accurate within 1 yard, and extremely easy to use. It operates from a single button to identify the target, and it gives you a slight vibration when it locks on the target. It has lightweight design, bright viewfinder, good optical offset (for those who need to use it with glasses) and the pin-seeker feature that gives you a confirmation you have something pin-like in your sight. The JOLT vibration feature when it acquires the flag is a great addition. It ensures that you are measuring to the flag and not to a tree or some other object. It will give you your measurement down to the yard and help with club selection to get as close to the hole as possible. It can also be used for other targets to get an indicator of how far you are to a creek, bend, etc. Note also that a red ring flashes as JOLT vibrates to give the golfer even greater feedback and confidence to know you have locked onto the flag. It's easy to transport and has a handy carrying case to hook onto your golf bag for easy access before pulling a club. It fits easily in one of the side pockets of your golf bag or you can leave it hooked on the outside of the bag safely. A red ring flashes as JOLT vibrates to give the golfer even greater feedback and confidence to know you have locked onto the flag.
Note that the maximum range of this rangefinder is muh larger than the maximum range that comes with the Tec Tec Tec rangefinder (1300-yard vs. 540-yard). Although the Bushnell Tour V5 costs a bit more, it's worth the investment. The build quality is exceptional, and you will feel that it will be in your bag for many years to come. Note also that as opposed to the TecTecTec rangefinder which is black, the white color makes it quite difficult to forget in the cart!
Compared Laser Rangefinders on Amazon
Please click the Amazon US link image below for the laser rangefinder of your choice to see exact price information or to purchase.
Please Note: For non-US customers, when you click the links below, you will be provided with the Amazon links for your country (such as Canada or UK), if the product is available in your country.
Please Note: For non-US customers, when you click the links below, you will be provided with the Amazon links for your country (such as Canada or UK), if the product is available in your country.
TecTecTec VPRO500 |
Bushnell Tour V5 |
Important Note:
Slope Rangefinders calculate and adjust the distance readout depending on the degree of the slope.
The above compared rangefinders do not take into account slope. If you are looking for a golf laser rangefinder that factors in slope correction and also comes with all the other features listed above, consider the following:
Slope Rangefinders calculate and adjust the distance readout depending on the degree of the slope.
The above compared rangefinders do not take into account slope. If you are looking for a golf laser rangefinder that factors in slope correction and also comes with all the other features listed above, consider the following:
TecTecTec VPRO500S |
Bushnell Tour V4 SHIFT |
