Tag: bushnell tour v2

Bushnell Tour V2 Review & Buyers’ Guide for 2019

The Bushnell Tour V2 with PinSeeker laser range finder is one of the most popular laser range finders on the market today, and those who are serious about golf are likely already familiar with the Bushnell name. Owners of the V2 swear by its accuracy, ease of use, and its compact size and light weight.

Bushnell Tour V2 with PinSeeker Laser Range Finder Overview

Bushnell Tour V2

The Bushnell Tour V2 is a vertically-oriented range finder, designed to be operated with one hand. The device has tactile surfaces on the top and bottom edges, providing a nice, secure grip. Some other range finders on the market, for instance the Bushnell Pro 1600, have a horizontal orientation and are intended to be operated with both hands, like a pair of binoculars.

The Bushnell Tour V2 with PinSeeker laser range finder comes in two editions, Standard (pictured on the right) and Slope. The Standard edition is legal for use in tournaments in most cases. The Slope edition, which is not tournament-legal, uses a built-in inclinometer to take into account differences in elevation between your current location on the course and your target.

Bushnell Tour V2 with PinSeeker Laser Range Finder Specifications

  • Weight: 6.6 ounces
  • Dimensions: 4.3 x 2.8 x 1.6 inches
  • Range: 5 to 1000 yards, with an accuracy of plus or minus 1 yard
  • Reflective targets: 1000 yards
  • Trees: 600 yards
  • Flag: 300 yards
  • Magnification: 5x
  • Battery type: 3 volt lithium
  • Objective lens diameter: 24 mm
  • Weatherproof (for those who don’t mind playing in the rain)

Bushnell Tour V2 In-Depth

Form Factor

Weighing in at just 6.6 ounces, the V2 is one of the lightest golf range finders available. Its light weight and compact dimensions (4.3 x 2.8 x 1.6 inches) make it a breeze to carry around with you on the course. It fits nicely in the pocket, so it doesn’t need to be kept in the cart or your golf bag between uses, which is a nice convenience.

Range

The Bushnell Tour V2 with PinSeeker laser range finder has a range of 5 to 1000 yards (with an accuracy of plus or minus 1 yard), depending on the size and reflectivity of the object targeted. The upper range limit is attainable with highly reflective targets. The unit accurately determines the yardage to trees up to about 600 yards.

The most important target, of course, is the flag, to which the V2 is advertised as accurate to about 300 yards. In PinSeeker mode, an accurate distance to the flag can be obtained regardless of whether the pin is fitted with a reflective prism.

Magnification

The Tour V2 has 5x magnification. This is the lowest magnification among the top laser range finders on the market today. Many have 6x or even 7x magnification, such as the Bushnell Pro 1600.

However, we found 5x is more than adequate when taking into account the maximum range to the pin of 300 yards. So, unless you really need to obtain yardages beyond that distance, you’ll likely not have any complaints about the device’s magnification.

On the flip side, the greater the magnification, the more crucial it becomes to hold a laser range finder steady in your hand to keep objects in your field of view from “jumping around,” making it more difficult to acquire your target.

Operational Modes

The V2 can be operated in two different modes – Automatic SCAN and PinSeeker.

Automatic SCAN Mode

This mode does what the name implies. As you scan targets down the fairway with the Bushnell Tour V2, the unit automatically locks on to objects and continuously updates the range display as different targets are acquired.

PinSeeker Mode

PinSeeker mode is what the Bushnell Tour V2 is known for. This advanced mode is designed to allow the device to measure the distance to the pin without inadvertently acquiring targets in the background, such as trees and buildings.

A flagstick icon appears in the lower left of the display when PinSeeker mode is active. As you move the laser over the flag, a circle will appear around the icon, informing you that the device has locked onto the pin, and that background objects are being ignored.

Slope Edition of the Bushnell Tour V2

The Slope edition of the Tour V2 has a third operating mode that that can give you a more accurate yardage uphill and downhill. It actually takes into account the elevation change between you and the pin to give you a better yardage to work with when the green is uphill or downhill from where you are playing your next shot.

An inclinometer built into the Tour V2 Slope edition displays the slope angle from -20 to +20 degrees, accurate to within 1 degree. Using this information, the Slope edition provides direction on how the shot should be played – short for downhill shots, and long for uphill shots.

If you are going to be playing in tournaments as an amateur or a professional, then you will not want to be carrying the V2 Slope edition unless you enjoy seeing a big “DQ” next to your name on the score sheet.

However, it can be used during practice rounds to help you take notes and map the course out ahead of time.

What’s Included

The Tour V2 comes with:

  • 3 volt lithium battery
  • Carrying case with strap
  • Manual written in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian and Portuguese.
  • A 2-year warranty

Bushnell Tour V2 Review: Our Opinion

The Bushnell Tour V2 is a solid device that’s gained quite a following in the world of golf. We like it’s light weight and compact form. Being able to carry it in our pockets is a very nice convenience.

We were also pleased with its accuracy and “point and shoot” ease of use. We did find that there can be a delay of several seconds in getting a distance reading for targets at the upper end of its range, especially at over 250 yards. But, it wasn’t long enough to create a great deal of frustration or slow the game appreciably.

One nice touch is that the yardage readout appears in the lower part of the display. When you’re sighting the flag or most any target, the grass of the fairway or green shows at the bottom. That light background makes the distance, displayed in black LCD numbers, easy to read.

You can’t really go wrong with the Bushnell Tour V2. Bushnell’s reputation is rock-solid, and the device’s size and accuracy make it a good choice if you’re in the market for a laser range finder. But there are competing devices, most notably the Leupold GX-1 and GX-2, that should be considered if you’re comparison shopping.

Negatives About The Bushnell Tour V2

One drawback we’ve heard from owners about the Tour V2 is short battery life. Some, however, have not had a problem with that at all. It’s probably a good idea to keep a spare battery in your golf bag, just in case. If your battery dies and you’re caught without a spare, you will be missing the V2 the rest of your round.

While the Bushnell Tour V2′s 5x magnification is lower than other top golf range finders available, it isn’t too big an issue unless you really need to capture the distance to targets further than 300 yards out. Some may even appreciate that the lower magnification reduces the need to hold the unit perfectly steady.

We’ve already mentioned that there can be a delay in obtaining yardage to more distant targets, but it isn’t a showstopper.

Bushnell Tour V2: What Other Golfers Are Saying

The vast majority of comments we’ve seen and heard about the Bushnell Tour V2 are very positive.

Here are some excerpts (paraphrased) from buyer reviews:

    “I bought the V2 a few weeks ago and am very pleased with it”

“Very easy to use and works great!”

“I find the Tour V2′s 5x magnification easier to hold steady than my old rangefinder’s 6x.”

“This PinSeeker model is much better than my old one (without PinSeeker)”

“Works like a charm!”

“The V2 is compact, light weight and highly accurate”

“If you’re in the market for a rangefinder, look no further”

Bushnell Pro 1600 vs Bushnell Tour V2: In-Depth Comparison

The Bushnell Pro 1600 and the Bushnell Tour V2 are a couple of the more popular laser golf range finders. Those seriously considering a Bushnell model often ask about the differences between these two units, so we thought it would be helpful to provide a side-by-side comparison of the two.

Range

Bushnell Tour V2

Bushnell Pro 1600 vs Bushnell Tour V2 – Tour V2The Pro 1600 has a maximum range of 1600 yards and 400 yards to the flag. The Tour V2 is does not have as high of a range, only going up to 1,000 yards and 300 yards to the flag. Both of these top ranges are much more than you will ever need. What matters is whether or not you can shoot the flag on the course from where your ball lies.

We found that the Pro 1600 was much faster for returning yardages and was able to capture the flag much easier as well. The V2 simply takes longer when you need a reading, and it gets slower the further out you get.

Advantage: Pro 1600

Magnification

The Bushnell Pro 1600 model features 7x magnification, whereas the Bushnell Tour V2 only has 5x. This is not a huge difference when you are trying to target a flag, but the Pro 1600 does give you a more accurate eye to catch the flag. This advantage becomes more noticeable when you are trying to range the edge of a hazard or a specific tree.

Depending on the type of golfer you are and how steady your hands are you may prefer the lower 5x over the 7x of the Pro 1600 model. To use the 7x properly you do have to steady the range finder quite a bit and this can be an issue for some people.

We, however, prefer the higher magnification of the 1600.

Advantage: Pro 1600

Features

Bushnell Pro 1600

Both rangefinders have about the same features, but the Bushnell Pro 1600 does have a few advantages when it comes to the features. The both have a pin seeker mode to help zero in on the flag. They both also feature a scan mode for multiple yardages while panning the target area.

However, the Pro 1600 has a twist up metal eye piece with an oversized ocular. It is also waterproof, whereas the Tour V2 is not completely waterproof, but water-resistant.

Advantage: Pro 1600

Ease of Use

When it comes to how easy these two range finders are to use there is not much difference. However, the Pro 1600 is one of the newer models and the twist up eyepiece can make it much easier to use for some golfers. The Pro 1600 is also larger, which some will prefer over the very small V2

Both rangefinders have a very similar display and getting accurate yardages is quite easy.

It is hard to say that one of these is better than the other when it comes to how easy they are to use. The Pro 1600 is preferred by those that want a larger range finder, whereas the V2 is just as easy to use, but it is much smaller. This category is a tie between the two and it really comes down to a personal preference.

Advantage: None

Battery

The Bushnell Pro 1600 uses an easy to find 9-volt battery, whereas the Bushnell Tour V2 uses a 3-volt lithium “camera” type of battery. You will get a large amount of life out of the lithium battery in the Tour V2, but the 9-volt batteries are cheaper to purchase and easier to find.

There are not many issues with either of these types of batteries even though some have stated they get very little life out of the lithium batteries. Others have said they don’t have to change their battery more than once or twice a year, while playing a few rounds a week. Again, this category is a tie because some will prefer one battery over the other.

Advantage: none

Warranty

Both the Bushnell Pro 1600 and the Bushnell Tour V2 are covered by a two year warranty.

When you are spending a few hundred dollars on a tool for your golf game it is expected that it should be covered for a reasonable amount of time. You need to make sure whichever rangefinder you choose has a full warranty for at least a couple of years. Since both of these are covered for the same amount of time this is another category that is a tie.

Advantage: none

Our Pick: The Bushnell Pro 1600

It should not be much of a surprise that we recommend the Bushnell Pro 1600 over the Bushnell Tour V2. The Pro 1600 is simply packed with more features and is able to do more for you than the Tour V2. With higher magnification and faster, more accurate readings, it’s clearly superior to the V2.

What About Price?

This may be the only reason you may want to consider the Tour V2 over the Pro 1600. The Pro 1600 is a bit more expensive than the Tour V2, but you do get what you pay for. The better value is in the Pro 1600 because it is simply a better rangefinder than the cheaper Tour V2.

When it comes to your own personal preference you may choose the Bushnell Tour V2 if you want a smaller rangefinder. However, if you are able to spend a bit more money you can get a much more advanced rangefinder in the Bushnell Pro 1600.