Bushnell Tour V5 vs V4 vs Pro Xe – Which One Is the Best?

Bushnell is a very popular brand when it comes to the golf rangefinder market, over 95% of PGA Tour Professionals are using Bushnell, which shows you the quality involved.

We have tested and reviewed a number of their products in the past in fact including the brand new Bushnell V5. We have pitted them against other brands but we had never tested Bushnell products against each other.

And since Bushnell has become the standard in the golf rangefinder market, we felt they deserved their own internal review. It’s no doubt that Bushnell makes quality golf rangefinders but which one is the best?

We were really excited to conduct this review because we knew we were going to be testing some of the best golf rangefinders on the market. So, to help you decide which one is the best fit for your game, take a look at our review of 3 of the best Bushnell golf rangefinders available today.

 

Comparison Table

 

Bushnell V5

Bushnell V4

Bushnell XE

Range 1,300 Yards 1,000 Yards 1,300 Yards
Flag Lock Range 400 Yards 400 Yards 450 Yards
Jolt Feature Yes Yes Yes
Magnification 6x 5x 7x
Weight 8 Ounces 12 Ounces 20.48 Ounces
Slope Off/On Yes(Optional) Yes (Optional) Yes (Visible On/Off)
Price $300 $260 $540

 

The Bushnell Tour V5 Shift

We will start with the latest Bushnell Golf Rangefinder in the Tour V5 Shift which features a lot of the same technology that the high end Pro XE does and also contains a lot of improvements on the V4 that preceded it.

For example you get the Bushnell “JOLT” technology that sends out a light vibration when the device locks onto the pin. You also get slope calculation with the Tour V5 Shift which can be easily and visibly switched off for tournament play.

You can also attach the Bushnell Tour V5 Shift to metal surfaces with the built-in magnet. But it does differ on optics. The Bushnell Tour V5 has a 6x magnification lens that can spot targets between 5 yards and 1,300 yards away.

The longest target we tested it on was a distance marker 600 yards out at our driving range and it came back with an accurate readout each time. You can also lock onto flags that are up to 400 yards out with great accuracy. The edges of the optic display will light up in red when it’s got the flag locked as well. All in all, it is very hard to fault this as an all rounder that performs well in every aspect you can expect from a high end rangefinder.

Pros:

  • Optional carrying case and cleaning cloth
  • Very durable design
  • Weighs only 8 ounces
  • Gives fast distance readouts
  • You can turn off slope mode for tournament play
  • More affordable than the XE

Cons:

  • Doesn’t account for weather conditions
  • Optics aren’t as clear as the XE
  • Doesn’t vibrate every time it locks onto the flag
  • Sometimes picks up background targets

 

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Shop_Now

 

The Bushnell Tour V4

The Bushnell Tour V4 is a great rangefinder if you want a ‘bare-bones’ Bushnell device without the confusing bells and whistles. Don’t get us wrong, it is still a high end rangefinder that will offer incredible accuracy and performance, it’s just that Bushnell have increased on the performance of the V4 considerably with their latest models.

That being said, it is also offers better value for those that don’t need the very latest in technology. The V4 has been a staple in the market for a long time now and nothing has changed in that regard.

This is as “point and shoot” as a golf rangefinder gets. It accurately measures distances up to 1,000 yards away and will lock onto flags that are up to 400 yards away.

You also get the “JOLT” vibration technology that lets off a little vibration when the V4 locks onto the flag. The Bushnell Tour V4 features a 4x magnification lens and an LCD display. There is also a “fast focus” dial right on top of the eyepiece that allows you to adjust the optics as needed.

One of the coolest things about all of these devices is that they come with the Bushnell Golf App which you can download on your smartphone to have access to full aerial view maps of over 36,000 golf courses from around the world.

Pros:

  • Very lightweight (5 ounces)
  • Rests comfortably in the hand
  • Water resistant
  • Tournament legal
  • Comes with a 2 year Bushnell warranty
  • Comes with a carrying case

Cons:

  • No magnetic cart mount
  • No image stabilization
  • Works best when you pan over the flag

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Shop_Now

 

The Bushnell Pro XE

Bushnell Pro XE

The Pro XE is the successor to the wildly popular and High End device all they could ever ask for in a golf rangefinder. Or so we thought. The Pro XE expands on the success of the Tour V5 in a couple of key ways.

First of all, you not only get slope calculation with the Pro XE: you get something that Bushnell calls slope with elements. What that means is that the Pro XE will calculate your “plays like” distance based on elevation and weather conditions.

For example, it takes into account barometric pressure and temperature to more accurately inform your club choice.

Another way Bushnell has upgraded from the V5 is the optics. The XE features 7x magnification and a much clearer display that you can adjust to your own eyesight. The Pro XE will measure distance to the pin up to 500 yards away and give off a little vibration when it locks on.

Pros:

  • Exceptionally clear optics
  • Slope mode turns off for tournament play
  • Magnet that allows you to stick the XE to a cart or other metal surface
  • Consistent distance measurements
  • Built of strong material
  • Waterproof

Cons:

  • It’s heavier than the other Bushnell rangefinders on our list (11 ounces)
  • Doesn’t perform well in foggy conditions
  • No image stabilization technology
  • Most expensive Bushnell rangefinder on our list

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Shop_Now

 

Price Comparison

The Bushnell Pro XE will run you about $550 while the Tour V5 Shift will cost around $300. The Tour V4 is the most affordable advice at just around $255.

 

Performance Comparison

What we liked most about both the XE and the V5 was that they gave readings very quickly. There was no waiting around. While the XE has the weather compensation feature, we didn’t have much opportunity to use that feature and found it a bit superfluous.

We liked that the XE gave exceptionally clear optics but were a bit put off by the weight. And as far as battery life goes, the V4 was the longest-lasting. But the V4 doesn’t have as much range and accuracy so we found that the V5 and XE provided more acute club selection information overall.

 

Which is the Best?

This is a close call between the V5 and the XE but considering the price, we think the V5 is the best. We don’t really like the fact that we are paying extra for the XE to have a feature we would rarely use and the V4 just doesn’t have the advanced features we have come to expect from Bushnell but offers excellent value.

The Tour V5 Shift still has everything a golfer needs in a rangefinder without having to pay for unnecessary features so it is today’s choice. Check it out today!

 

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Shop_Now