TecTecTec Ult-X Golf Rangefinder Review
The game of golf is nowhere near the game it used to be some 30 years ago. Changes in golf balls, equipment and bags have made the game a much different experience, most of which is convenient and enjoyable. This includes the addition of rangefinders. The TecTecTec Ult-X is one of the best valued rangefinders on the market. It will make it easy for you on choosing the appropriate club for a shot. What sets this rangefinder apart from most is it has a slope mode. With slope mode, you are able to take into account uphill and downhill shots, giving you a more accurate yardage and helping you choose the right club.
Slope Mode
Now one thing to keep in mind with slope mode; if you play tournaments, you have to be in “tournament legal mode”, meaning slope mode has to be off. There’s a rule in place against it with the USGA, rule 14-3. By sliding the edge of the device out, you go into slope mode and a yellow warning piece appears. This lets tournament officials know you are doing something you’re not supposed to be doing. So in tournament mode, make sure you slide it back normally with no yellow showing. You need to be careful, though. Sometimes it won’t be pushed in or out all the way when you think it is, and the wrong slope mode could be in place. Also, a lot of back and forth sliding could wear on the device a bit.
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Bang For Your Buck
Slope-mode rangefinders typically cost a lot more, but TecTecTec’s Ult-X is priced closer to those that don’t have slope mode, so that’s a big advantage here. It’s a good rangefinder to get if slope mode is one of your top priorities. Now it may not have as many top features as some other rangefinders, like the Bushnell V4, but the slope mode is this rangefinder’s glowing feature, and it’s not far off in other ways from the best of the bunch.
Compact Design
Some of the better rangefinders today, like the TecTecTec Ult-X, are so compact that you can put it in your pocket and hardly know it’s there. I only need one hand to control this rangefinder. It only weighs 0.46 pounds. It also has an attractive design (black and white) and is easy to handle. It may be “too” light and compact, though, making it harder to hold completely steady.
Pin Point Accuracy
Another real advantage to having this rangefinder is its accuracy. Yards are displayed right down to the tenth decimal, so you know you’re getting a darn good accurate reading. There are a lot of different modes, which if you’re not familiar with how a rangefinder operates, could make it confusing. From 300 yards out, it’s accurate up to 0.3 yards. Pretty darn good. It can acquire flags up to 450 yards out and also recognize hazards up to 1000 yards.
The neat thing is it has a similar function to the Bushnell V4 in that it will send you a vibration or buzz when it recognizes the flagstick. All you do is hold down the power button and scan it side to side until you feel that vibration.
Takes Time To Master
One little thing to be aware of with the TecTecTec rangefinder is the fact you need to hold the power button down to get the best reading. This can take some time to master. If you tap it, it will give you a different number each time. But if you hold it down, you should get an accurate reading. I have read some complaints out there, though, that they’ve gotten different readings from their partners on the same exact shots. I guess it’s a “Which rangefinder is wrong” game there. And the yards are only a yard or two off, which for the average golfer, isn’t a big deal.
It also takes some time getting the right reading. It takes a few seconds to boot up before it’s ready to measure and then sometimes you need to wait up to ten seconds or more to get an accurate reading. Like the paragraph above, for the average golfer, this shouldn’t be much of an issue, but for the more serious golfer, it could cause frustration. Bottom line is that it takes some time becoming comfortable with. You’ll be fine after using this for a while, but the first few trial runs can be a process.
Overall
All in all, minor shortcomings here and there, for the price, you can’t beat it. It’s not going to have perfect features or else it’d be priced more. There are rangefinders out there over $450 that have more precision than this, but by saving $200 you’re still getting a darn good rangefinder that is only off from those more expensive ones in very minor ways.
So if you’re looking to save money and want a good, solid rangefinder, you can’t go wrong with it. I highly recommend it. You’ll thank me later.
Happy golfing.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Slope-mode can be enabled
- Accuracy is strong
- Gives you a vibration when it’s recognized the flag
- Value-wise, this is as good as you can get
- Small, compact and easy to handle
- Comes with a protective case
- 6x magnification
Cons
- Takes some time getting used to and operating the power button
- Can take a little while to get a reading compared to other rangefinders
- Some discrepancy in yardage readings each time scanned
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Madison, a 2016 graduate of Cleveland State University with a degree in journalism, played on the university’s Division I women’s golf team.
Earliest golf memory?
At around 8 years old, I was hanging out with my dad at work, who was a golf instructor at Tierra Rejada Golf Club. He was giving a lesson to the Fresh Prince himself: Will Smith.
Who inspired you to play?
My dad put a putter in my hands at 2 years old, and taught me everything I know. But when I saw Annika Sorenstam on TV for the first time, jumping into Poppy’s Pond, that was it. I wanted to be the next Annika.