In this article we review the Bushnell Tour V6 rangefinder, share data on how accurate it is and look at any alternative rangefinders you should consider. For many years Bushnell dominated the rangefinder market, however, you now have an abundance of choice. So is it worth paying a premium for the Bushnell brand?
TLDR
- The Bushnell Tour V6 has made subtle improvements on previous models. The most notable change is the speed and consistency of their pinseeker mode.
- It offers everything you need in a rangefinder. It is accurate, quick, easy to use, well-built, waterproof and the Tour V6 Shift offers the ability to turn slope mode on/off.
- There is no longer a large gap in performance and usability between Bushnell rangefinders and many other rangefinders around a similar price, but it is still a great pick.
If you have the money and are new to using a rangefinder, or are upgrading from a previous Bushnell this is a great pick. If you are upgrading from a cheaper rangefinder brand you’ll find the V6 doesn’t do anything new or fancy, but it simply works really well in all conditions.
In the following sections, we’ll give a detailed breakdown of how the Bushnell Tour V6 shift performed in testing. First up accuracy, there is little point buying a rangefinder if it doesn’t pass this criteria.
Accuracy
We test accuracy to a range of pre-measured targets and compare the rangefinder in focus against another premium rangefinder.
| Target distance | Bushnell V6 Error | Premium Rangefinder Error |
| 50 | 0 | 0 |
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
| 151 | 0 | 0 |
| 200 | 0 | 0 |
| Summary error (yds) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Accuracy (%) | 100.00 | 100.00 |
In our rangefinder accuracy testing the Bushnell V6 was flawless scoring 100% accuracy on target from 50 to 200 yards. It is the second most accurate rangefinder we’ve ever tested, with the Cobalt Q6 beating it thanks to its measures going down to 0.1 of a yard. However, few golfers are going to need anything better than what the Bushnell V6 offers.
We should note, that all rangefinders pick up the background rather than the flag now and again in golfing conditions. The Bushnell V6 is again 2nd in class out of all the products we’ve tested, gabbing the flag 97-99% of the time from 30 to 300 yards.
The accuracy of the Bushnell V6 and its ability to consistently pick out the flag from the background is the main reason you should pay the extra money for a Bushnell over a lower-cost alternative.
Speed
Previous Bushnell rangefinders have been sluggish when it comes to locking onto the target with Pinseeker mode. However, this is where the V6 has really improved on previous editions. It is quick, and sharp and gives a clear jolt when it finds your target.
This sounds like a simple task, but after reviewing many rangefinders this is a common trade-off we find. Good at picking up the desired target but slow, or super quick but offering more cases of picking up the background instead of the target. Well done to Bushnell here.
Modes
Bushnell pioneered the scan and pinseeker modes that you see in most rangefinders and nothing has changed with the V6. These modes can be toggled by a button on top of the rangefinder. The ‘shift’ version of the V6 comes with a slope function, and a button on the side to switch slope mode on/off to make this tournament legal.
If you’re buying the Bushnell V6, you’ll have it for many years to come, so I’d always suggest spending the extra money to get the shift version with slope function included.
Visuals and optics
The optics and focus on the Bushnell V6 are great and the visual display is the best out there. The Bushnell Tour V6 comes with 6x zoom and a simple optics display showing your yardage whether you have slope turned on or off.
When the pinseeker mode locates the flag, there is a cool red glow that appears around the outside of the lens accompanied by a vibration to let you know you are locked onto your target.
Usability
The carry pouch is well-built, has a waterproof zipper and looks cool. It also has an elasticated toggle to speed up use when you don’t want to use the zip. The only small complaint is that the pouch doesn’t quite open wide enough and doesn’t have elasticated straps.
The Tour V6 also has a magnetic mount for those golfers who like to attach their rangefinder to a golf cart bar for quick use when whizzing around the golf course.
Build quality
I can’t fault the build quality of the Bushnell V6 rangefinder or the carry case. It looks cool, Bushnell states it is the most weather-resistant rangefinder they have ever made and everything feels like it is built to last.
It hasn’t been out long enough for us to report how this wears over time, but given its similarity to previous models, I doubt we’ll see any issues.
The Bushnell Tour V6 doesn’t feel as luxurious as the Cobalt rangefinders in terms of design. The Bushnell has a mix of hard plastics, whereas the Cobalt Q6 has a nicer blend of plastic, metals, and rubber grips. However, as you can see from the image above, it is still a very cool looking piece of kit.
What else do you need to know?
The Bushnell V6 comes with a battery and is ready to use. If you’ve ever owned a Bushnell before you’ll know what to expect. I would say the only reason to upgrade from a previous model is if you really want a new toy or you want improved pinseeker functionality.
You won’t find this model any more accurate than the last, but it is a bit quicker and has even fewer errors with picking up the background.
Golf Insider Verdict
The Bushnell Tour V6 Shift doesn’t do anything new, but it is their best product yet and ranks top on our best golf rangefinders review. It feels simple, works well and is speedier at locating the flag compared to previous models. There is no need to buy this if you are on a budget, but it is still the best in class if you are looking for a simple, accurate rangefinder that will last you many years.
Alternatives to the Bushnell V6 rangefinder
As we mentioned earlier, Bushnell do not enjoy the large gap in performance they once did. Here we review some alternatives for you to consider.
Cobalt Q6 Slope
Cobalt are a relatively new company to the golf rangefinder game but have made optical products for many years. The Cobalt Q6 is the most accurate rangefinder we’ve tested and we now use it as our product to benchmark other rangefinders against. However, there aren’t too many golfers that need a rangefinder to be accurate to within 0.1 of a yard.
The Cobalt Q6 is in the same price range as the Bushnell, it has slightly better optics, but the Bushnell wins out when it comes to the Pinseeker and Jolt functions when it comes to locking onto your target.
Read our full Cobalt Q6 Rangefinder review here.
Blue Tees 3 Max
Blue Tees have done a great job of marketing their rangefinder. The products are stylish, well-built and give the sense they really care about you as a golfers. They also come in roughly $100 under the Bushnell V6 and Cobalt Q6.
However in our accuracy testing, the Blue Tees 3 Max did throw up 1-2 yards of error when measuring targets over 120 yards away. If this isn’t a problem, feel free to check it out, but if you are after accuracy we’d suggest you spend the extra money on the Bushnell V6.
Full Blue Tees 3 Max review coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Below are some of the most commonly asked question when golfers are looking to buy the Bushnell Tour V6 rangefinder.
Does the Bushnell V6 have slope?
The Bushnell Tour V6 Shift does have slope functionality that can be turned on and off. The standard Bushnell Tour V6 is the non-slope option that comes in at $100 cheaper. We suggest you go for the Bushnell Tour V6 Shift if you can afford it, due to the usefulness of the slope function and how long a Bushnell rangefinder will last you.
Are Bushnell rangefinders worth it?
Bushnell rangefinders are some of the most expensive rangefinders on the market. However, the new Bushnell Tour V6 is accurate, quick and very easy to use. Cheaper rangefinders tend to be slightly less accurate and have more errors where they pick up the background rather than the target.
How accurate is a Bushnell rangefinder?
In our testing the Bushnell Tour V6 shift was accurate to within 1 yard on all testing targets from 50 to 200 yards. It is the second ever rangefinder that has scored 100% accuracy in testing.
Why is my Bushnell rangefinder blurry?
If your rangefinder sight is blurry it means it is out of focus. To fix this twist the dial around the outside of the eyepiece.
Is Bushnell V6 waterproof?
Bushnell claim the Bushnell V6 is the most weatherproof rangefinder they have ever made. We haven’t thrown it into a bucket of water, but after playing in some heavy UK rain, we can report that we’ve has no issues.
What is the best Bushnell golf rangefinder for 2023?
After our testing we’d say the Bushnell Tour V6 rangefinder is the best to buy if you are choosing between the various models. It is slightly more expensive than older models, but a rangefinder will last you many years and the Tour V6 shift performs very well.
Are rangefinders more accurate than GPS?
Generally speaking GPS units are accurate to 1-5 yards depending on the make, model and your location. Rangefinders tend to be accurate to 0.5-3 yards depending on the make and model. Based on this we would consider rangefinders generally more accurate, but this depends on how you compare the two.
Do you really need slope on rangefinder?
You do not need slope on a rangefinder, however it is an incredibly useful tool. Many shots into greens are ±4-5 yards up or downhill. Learning how to judge this information with a rangefinder with slope allows you to improve your average distance from the hole by 12 to 15 feet.
We hope this review has been useful. Feel free to leave any comments below and for more great golf content join or free weekly newsletter.
Happy golfing – Will @ Golf Insider UK
