Bushnell Tour Z6 Jolt Review

Hi

I will review the Bushnell Tour Z6 Laser Rangefinder in this post. I have been using this for more than 1 year.

Basic Background:

This is my first range finder and prior to using this I had never used a range finder. So for people who don't know what this is, it is a device which is used to measure distances. This range finder is a laser rangefinder and works by using a laser. You point this towards an object you want to range (mostly flags in my case) and then press a button. It would send a laser to the target and on the basis of the time taken by the laser tell you how far the object was. In golf you use this to find the distances to the flag and thus it helps you with the club selection. Range finders also have applications in hunting, shooting etc when knowing the distance to the target is beneficial.

Since I have not owned any other rangefinder before so I will not be comparing it to any other rangefinder in this review.

Features:

• It is weather proof.
• It is fairly accurate.
• It is compact and not a hassle to carry around
• It has a jolt feature which helps you know when it has locked on to a target.
• The display is bright and I haven't had any problems with visibility even in the brightest of conditions.
• Good battery life.
• It is allowed in tournaments. The range finders with the slope feature are illegal

Typical Use Case:

• I typically use the range finder when I am at a completely new course and do not know the distances well or when the course is not properly market. In such cases the device proves to be a great help.
• Also it helps when the distances at a course are measured in a different unit. My home course is measured in yards so when I go to a course where the distances are measured in meters then the range finder doubles up as a unit converter.
• The device is also helpful when you want to know distances other than the distance to the pin. For example if there is a hazard before the green and you want to know the minimum carry distance to go over the hazard. In such cases it helps you choose the right club.
• Additionally you can roughly measure how long your last drive was really quick.
• I also have fun measuring the distance to neighbouring buildings from my appartement
• You can observe the game of the group in front of you. The viewfinder has 6x magnification and can function as a monocular.

My Observations/Experience:

• Using the Tour Z6 is fairly simple. Look at the flag through the viewfinder and press the red button. You will get a corsair to aim at the target. Keep the button pressed and when the range finder has locked on to the pin you will feel a vibration (so-called "jolt") and a circled flag will show up in the viewfinder along with the distance.
• Average time to get the range is around 1s which I think is very fast.
• The range finder is a pretty handy device which you can use regularly during your round of golf. I typically use it when I am not confident about my distance or when I am divided about my club choice. I these cases I get the distances to various objects around the giving me more information to make the choice.
• Using it for every approach shot to the green is an overkill and you will be better off saving time by using the markings on the course. Also, I have not noticed any improvement in the pace of play when using a rangefinder. The companies sell these by saying that it will speed up your game but on the contrary it might slow it down.
• The pouch it comes in also seems to have a weather proof zipper. I have used it in a drizzle and had no problems with it. Other than that I have not exposed it to the elements.
• The range finder came along with a replaceable battery. The one that it came with lasted for almost a year. I play around two 18 hole rounds per week and I think that it has lasted a good amount of time.
• The range finder also has a battery indicator to tell you of the remaining battery but after some time you become so used to it that you don't pay any attention. So when it actually ran out of battery it was during the middle of a round and it suddenly died on me. I had no idea of why it stopped working. I guessed that the battery may have run out and it indeed was the cause.
• The winter months in Delhi have fog and this does not work if it is not clear at all. Even on an early morning summer when there is a lot of air in the atmosphere the range simply does not give you a distance. So I would not recommend this to people where the weather is not foggy.
• The eyepiece has 6x zoom. It is just right to allow you to lock in to the flag. With increasing zoom the slightest movement of the hand also gets magnified and thus it becomes difficult to aim at the pin.
• It is with this shakiness that the jolt feature comes in handy. You point towards the flag and keep the button pressed. The rangefinder picks up the shortest distance between the flag and you thereby removing the background clutter.
• However it is always wise to get the distance multiple time just to be sure that the distance you are getting is to the flag and not to some bushes behind the green. I almost always check the distance twice if not thrice.
• It does not have the slope feature which allows it to be used in tournaments. The slope features adjusts the distance to allow for the change in elevation. So if the flag is on higher ground than the ball you will need to hit more than your standard distance as your ball trajectory is cut off due to the increased elevation before it can cover the full distance.
• There is a button on left side which allows you to modify the settings like change the units etc. The eye piece also allows for diopter corrections for people who have less than perfect eyesight.

Pros:

• Gets the job done.
• Jolt feature is nice as it tell you when exactly you have locked on to the target
• Battery life is good and a replacement battery is easily available. I could find mine at a camera store.
• It is compact. Many people have appreciated the small size of this device.

Cons:

• Does not work when the weather is not clear and there is some haze.
• Good battery life but there should be a better warning when the battery is about to run out.
• Repeated measurements sometimes differ by a yard or two. So even though Bushnell claim an accuracy up to decimal places the range finder some times gives different distances to the flag from the same place.

Cost at time of purchase (August 2014): $399

Cost at time of review (September 2015): $399

Conclusion:

The range finder does what it is designed to do in most cases. I am happy with the design and physical specifications. It is small and light and does not feel like a burden. It grips well with the rubber grips. The inability to range in foggy conditions is understandable and I don't mind it. The inaccuracy with the distance is also not a deal breaker as I don't know any golfer whose game will be hurt by this minor inaccuracy. Overall the range finder seems to be a no frills gadget which does what it promises to do. I would recommend this product to anyone who is looking to buy it.

I will leave you with some links and photographs(to be added later) of this product.

--Jatin

Official Page of the Bushnell Tour Z6 Jolt

Golfsmith Purchase Link
I purchaged mine offline from Golfsmiths in Manhattan, NY. It was a good exprience.

PS: The FIM-92 Stinger, a shoulder fired surface to air missile also give a "jolt" like vibration to the operator when the seeker of the missile has locked on to the target.