50 Words or Less
The Bushnell Tour V5 Shift laser rangefinder is sleek, easy to use, and accurate. The high quality you expect from Bushnell. Superior user experience.
Check out the new Bushnell Tour V6 Shift rangefinder HERE
Introduction
Over the last several years, the market for laser rangefinders has become incredibly competitive. Walking around the 2020 PGA Show drove that point home: it was hard to walk down a single aisle without finding another company with their own rangefinder.
Bushnell has long been the #1 laser rangefinder on the PGA Tour and the most recognizable name brand in the space. But as more companies fight for a piece of the pie, can Bushnell continue to innovate and deliver value to their customers? I tested their latest rangefinder, the Tour V5 Shift to find out.
Check out the new Bushnell Pro X3 rangefinder HERE
Set Up & Ease of Use
The Bushnell Tour V5 Shift is supremely easy to use. After you unbox it, unscrew the battery cover and remove the plastic tab from the included battery. Now the Tour V5 is powered up and ready to go.
To turn on the Tour V5 Shift, push the lone button on the top of the unit. This will bring up the crosshairs, and another push will get your distance. There is a separate button on the side that changes between yards and meters. To turn Slope Mode on and off, slide the “B” on the side of the device.
The amount of thought that went into the user experience of the Tour V5 Shift is part of what separates Bushnell rangefinders from the rest. There are no unnecessary buttons, no confusing menus, no complex button push sequences to turn features on and off. You don’t need any prior knowledge or an instruction manual to access every feature of the Tour V5 Shift.
Accuracy & Performance
As you would expect from a Bushnell rangefinder, the Tour V5 Shift is extremely accurate. Whether comparing to other trusted rangefinders or on-course markings, it was always a match. As I have seen in testing other brands and in hearing reports from readers, this level of accuracy should not be taken for granted.
Another area where Bushnell continues to lead the pack is in speed. As soon as the button is released, the distance displays on the screen. The Tour V5 Shift also features Bushnell’s PinSeeker technology which makes it easier to lock on to the flag.
There are a couple other premium features included in the Tour V5 that are worth mentioning. First is the BITE magnetic mount. This allows you to keep your rangefinder stuck to the cart for speed and convenience. The magnet is extremely strong, so you don’t need to worry about losing your laser.
Finally, there’s Bushnell’s Jolt and Visual Jolt. When the Tour V5 rangefinder locks on to the flag, the unit gives a small vibration and a red ring appears around the distance. This gives an unmistakable signal that you’ve got the distance the you need on screen.
What all this adds up to is a rangefinder that simply offers a better user experience. Everything about it is a little (or, in some cases, a lot) better than other lasers. The optics are clearer, it’s faster, and the accuracy is never in doubt.
Value
The Bushnell Tour V5 laser rangefinder retails for $299, and the Tour V5 Shift sells for $399 (please consider supporting Plugged In Golf sponsor Play Better by buying it HERE). The Tour V5 rangefinder comes with a battery, a premium case which has been substantially improved, and a two year warranty.
Conclusion
Will the Bushnell Tour V5 Shift rangefinder change the way you think about rangefinders? No. Is it the most streamlined, accurate, easy to use rangefinder you’re going to find? Yes. While you can absolutely spend less on a rangefinder, you’re not going to regret spending a little extra to get the premium experience that Bushnell provides.
Buy the Bushnell Tour V5 Shift Rangefinder HERE
Matt Saternus
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Matt:
It’s not clear. What is the difference between the regular Tour V5 and the Shift version?
Dan,
The Shift version has the ability to account for slope, which can be turned on and off.
Best,
Matt
There’s some sort of design flaw with the battery cover. Enough that it can just fall off during normal use on the cart using the Bite mount. And without the battery cover the unit is entirely unusable. Really fantastic piece of hardware right up until this simple piece disappears unexpectedly and your $300 to $400 rangefinder suddenly becomes useless. Hopefully Bushnell replaces the cover under warranty – but they certainly can’t help fast enough for upcoming tournament rounds next week. Buyer beware.
This is by far one of the best range finder out there. There is no battery cover issue. I’m on my third V5 since I lost two other ones before. At least eight other different rangefinder. Never bought the same one twice except for this one.
This is the 4th rangefinder I have owned. 3 Bushnells & one other brand. I too have problems with the battery cover. It is extremely difficult to attach properly & prone to falling off. In addition, the rangefinder itself performs poorly. Its very difficult to zero in on the pin or other objects. It frequently returns incorrect yardages. I’d say I need to get yardages from one of my playing partners at least 10 times per round. I’ve had them try my Bushnell V5 – just to see if somehow it was my fault, but they all have the same accuracy problems when they try it. I’m very disappointed in this product.
I ordered my second Bushnell Tour V5 shift. But I cant switch between yards and meters. Any one same issues? Tried all tricks I could think off…