For a few months I’ve had the Bushnell 201540 Bushnell Tour X Jolt Golf Laser GPS/Rangefinder in play. I’ve been very happy with the performance and accuracy of this rangefinder. If only I could be as accurate at hitting my yardages as this unit is at supplying them to me.
Bushnell TourX Golf Laser Rangefinder
Bushnell TourX Golf Laser Rangefinder Features
- Front plate is interchangeable. One plate (red as pictured above) turns slope on (not legal for tournament or stipulated play). The other plate (black) turns slope off making it legal for tournaments and stipulated play.
- Two display modes for varying conditions. One mode produces bright red numbers (my favorite) and the other black.
- PinSeeker with JOLT Technology locks onto pin super fast and the unit vibrates to indicate pin-lock.
- 2nd generation E.S.P for fast and accurate yardages
- 6x magnification and accurate +/- 0.5 yards
On The Course
As the flagship laser from Bushnell I would expect nothing less than a fast, dependable, and accurate reading. That’s exactly what the unit produces. The reading is probably the fastest of any laser I’ve reviewed to date. The yardage is spot-on the first time, unlike some less expensive Bushnell units which can sometimes produce a different yardage every time the same yardage is shot.
Accessing the unit is easy in the very nice zippered case which can hang on the golf bag. An elastic loop
I tried the slope feature for a few holes but ended up switching to the non-slope mode. I record all of my rounds for my handicap and don’t want any illegally used clubs or accessories affecting my handicap.
Once again, the red plate is the not-for-tournament-play version. To be legal the black plate must be installed.
Pros and Cons
The pros to this unit are super-accurate yardages with lightning (maybe I should say “laser”) speed.
The cons are the size of the unit and the cost. This laser is larger in size than many on the market. The retail price is an astounding $680 but most street prices are at or below $499.
Conclusion
The Bushnell TourX is a case of “you get what you pay for.” This is the fastest and most accurate laser rangefinder I’ve tested to date.
Jason Day
I’ve been thinking a lot about Jason Day and how close he has come to winning majors over the last few years. The psychology of winning majors is tough. You know he has the physical tools to win one, but has yet to overcome the psychological part.
Think about the two winners this week on the PGA Tour and the European Tour, Jason Day and Danny Willett. Both of those players were on the top of the leader board in the Open Championship 1.5 weeks ago. All due respect to the RBC Canadian Open and the Omega European Masters, but I think Day and Willett won partly because there was much less pressure than in a major.
Not sure about Willett, but I do believe Day will win a major at some point. But I think the pressure and psychology of coming so close time after time make winning a major tougher and tougher.
For the first time in my entire life, I read an Alan Shipnuck article at golf.com. The only content I’ve seen on that website previously featured Rickie Fowler’s girlfriend and Holly Saunders, so I was surprised to see an article about golf.
Alan Shipnuck’s “Heros and Zeros” article about the Open Championship was a zero.
The facts are that golf.com posts more click bait T&A photos than golf articles…
Shipnuck calls the Old Course a zero, right after listing it a hero in the previous paragraph:
“The Old Course. Sad to say, it has gotten much too short to provide a true championship test. The long hitters can reach both par-5s and up to four par-4s, and even medium-length players have flip wedges into half the holes. Speeding up the greens clearly isn’t the answer, as wind delays in the last three Opens have shown. It’s not the course’s fault the R&A has let equipment for the pros get out of control, but the Old Course is the saddest casualty.”
The Old Course is too short to provide championship golf? I disagree. Did it not expose the player who had the best all around game, short, long and with the putter? That player was most definitely Zach Johnson. Look at the leader board. Look at the players who were in the top 5-10. It’s a reflection of the best golfers in the world sans a couple who weren’t there in the final round because of injury (Rory McIlory) or not knowing/liking links golf (Bubba Watson). Many of the world’s top 15-20 players floated to the top of the leader board by the end of the tournament. The drama was high. The finish was very exciting. It was great championship golf on the world’s greatest golf stage.
I listened to the broadcasts and read the whining about how the course is too short and the bombers will eat it up all week, as Dustin Johnson held the lead for the first two rounds. Where did Dustin finish? Oh, tied for 49th. Where did Bubba Watson finish? Missed cut. How about Gary Woodland? Tied for 58th. The one bomber who was in the hunt was Jason Day, who also happens to have a great iron and short game and a knack for finishing in 2nd in majors.
If anything the stats show that the Old Course defends long driving well, and rewards accurate shotmaking and course management. Winner Zach Johnson hit 94% of his fairways.
Think about some of the shots the players were hitting. I remember playing the par-3 8th and hitting 8-iron and 9-iron. Some players were hitting 6-iron because of the conditions. One hole a player might hit a 330 yard drive but on the next hit a 150 yard 6-iron. The course required the players to think, manage, execute, avoid hazards, and putt well. The player who did all those things the best won.
What IS Championship Golf?
Maybe Shipnuck’s criteria for “championship golf” is the scores must be at or near even-par like a U.S. Open? Phooey. The Open winner finished at -15. If you recall, Jordan Spieth was at -19 in this year’s Masters Tournament with one hole left to play. With a large lead of five strokes, he safely won the tournament with an easy bogey on the 72nd hole to finish at -18. -18 eh? Does that mean Augusta National Golf Club isn’t a championship course either?
Conclusion
Golf.com should stick with its strengths, posting T&A photos of the “most beautiful women in golf.”
In for review is the new Tour Edge Exotics CB Pro U Hybrid Limited Edition. How in the world am I supposed to take this club out of the box and hit it? I’m half tempted to leave it as-is and put it on the wall as a showpiece.
Tour Edge Exotics CB Pro U Hybrid Limited Edition – click for more photos
Maybe I can cover the whole head with swing tape?
Tour Edge CB Pro U Hybrid Limited Edition – click for more photos
Stay tuned for the full golf club review of the CB Pro U Hybrid. If it comes close to my Tour Edge Exotics XCG7 3-wood, last year’s HOG Product of the Year, I’ll be thrilled.
I’ve started testing the new Golf Buddy LR5 laser rangefinder. My first round with the unit was a couple of days ago. Here’s a photo of the unit below.
Golf Buddy LR5 Laser Rangefinder
One round is not enough for me to write a review, but first impressions are that it is accurate and I love the small size. It fits in the palm of my hand.
Stay tuned for my full Golf Buddy LR5 Laser Rangefinder review soon.
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