Off Map Oscar

Great intros and unboxings

My intro post is up.

Shot Scope Pro ZR – Official MGS Forum Review by Off Map Oscar
 
**Introduction:**
 
Hello MGS community! My name is Oscar, and I’ve been selected to review the Shot Scope Pro ZR. A big thanks to the MGS team and Shot Scope for this opportunity.
 
A little about myself: I’ve been reviewing and beta testing products in the automotive and off-road industries for years. Although this is my first time reviewing a golf-specific device, it’s not my first rangefinder review. Years ago, I tested and reviewed the Nikon Prostaff i3, though that review was focused on archery. I’ve been using the Nikon for years with great success for both archery and rifle-related activities. I’ll be using it as a baseline comparison for this test, alongside a budget Amazon rangefinder that works reasonably well but has some shortcomings. Hopefully, the Shot Scope Pro ZR can outperform both and prove to be a solid rangefinder.
I do have some experience with the Shot Scope brand. I’ve been using their V5 watch since it was released. My first watch had a malfunction, but their customer service was excellent and quickly sent me a replacement. I’m hoping I don’t experience any issues with the Pro ZR, but based on my experience, I can confidently say that Shot Scope’s customer service is top-notch.
 
About My Golf Game:
I’ve been golfing for just over a year—1 year and 3 months, to be exact. Some friends invited me out for a round on my birthday last year, and after just 9 holes, I was hooked. I ordered my own set of clubs from Amazon (promptly returned becaue they were terrible 🙄🤣) and I’ve been playing regularly ever since. I started with a 40 handicap but, after practicing a lot, I managed to get it down to 27 by the end of last year. Unfortunately, the winter snow in Northern Utah forced me to take a break.
When the snow melted, I put even more effort into improving my game. I even set up a golf simulator in my garage. This year, I started at a 27 handicap, and as of my last update, I’ve lowered it to a 10. I’ve played about 58 rounds this year and have been focused on data tracking to pinpoint areas where I can improve. One method I’ve used is creating a wedge card with three different swings for each wedge. Using this card, along with my Shot Scope GPS watch for front and back green distances, and a rangefinder for pin distance, I’ve seen significant improvement. My scores have dropped, and my putting has improved dramatically. The rangefinder has been a crucial part of that success, and I’m excited to see how the Pro ZR performs.
I’ve been chasing even par for the past few months, and my closest round so far has been a 78 over 18 holes. I recently shot a 38 on a 9-hole round, so I’m optimistic that breaking par is within reach. I’m currently taking lessons, and although I’ve experienced a bit of a slump as I adjust my swing, I’m hopeful for continued improvement.
 
Q&A:
**How do you plan to test this product?**  
I plan to compare the Shot Scope Pro ZR with my other two rangefinders during the two league rounds I play each week.
**What will you focus on in your review and comparisons?**  
I’ll be looking at several factors: lens clarity, speed of pin lock, build quality, and ease of use. Specifically, I want to see how the Pro ZR compares to my older Nikon and the budget Amazon rangefinder.
**What would make this product a keeper after testing?**  
For me, a clear lens that works well in twilight conditions and the multi-color reticle are key. While the Nikon has excellent glass, it lacks a multi-color reticle and slope capabilities. The Amazon rangefinder struggles in low light and takes a while to lock onto the flag. If the Pro ZR can overcome these issues, it will likely become my go-to rangefinder.
**Why are you excited to test this product?**  
I’m excited because I’ve been a fan of other Shot Scope products, and I’ve been looking for an upgrade to my Nikon that includes slope functionality. The Amazon rangefinder was fine for the price, but it’s clearly not a high-end product.
**What do you already know about the product?**  
I’ve watched a few reviews and follow Shot Scope on Instagram, so I’ve seen their ads and promotions.
**What are your expectations?**  
I hope the Pro ZR is a high-quality product, but if it fails to meet expectations, I won’t hesitate to point that out. As I mentioned earlier, I had an issue with one of their products before, but Shot Scope stood behind it and resolved the problem. However, if this rangefinder also has problems, that might be a bad sign. Only time will tell.
 
Thanks for reading! I should have the Pro ZR in hand soon—the tracking number was sent yesterday. I’ll add pictures of the two comparison rangefinders and do a full unboxing when it arrives. Stay tuned!
 
Here is the base line for comparison.  

 
Unboxing the Shot Scope Pro ZR – First Impressions
Hello everyone! As part of the MGS Forum review process, I’m excited to share the unboxing of the Shot Scope Pro ZR.
In this set of photos, you’ll find a detailed look at what’s inside the box. From the moment I opened it, everything was well-packaged and organized. The Shot Scope Pro ZR was securely nestled within, and the presentation was quite impressive.
First Impressions: Great packaging. Nice letter from the shot scope team. Build quality and general in the hand feel are excellent. 
I play my first round with it here in about an hour so stay tuned for more updates as I dive into testing the Shot Scope Pro ZR. Let me know if you have any questions or need further details!
 





































 
Final Review of the Shot Scope Pro ZR
After using the Shot Scope Pro ZR for five rounds, I feel confident in my assessment of its performance. There are some clear advantages to this rangefinder, but it also comes with a few limitations. Here’s my detailed breakdown:
Pros:
Lightning-Fast Performance: The Pro ZR is incredibly fast at acquiring distances—noticeably quicker than the two other rangefinders I used for comparison. It’s so fast that sometimes the slope calculation takes an extra moment to display, but this minor delay is worth it for the overall speed. In fact, I’d say it’s roughly three times faster than my other rangefinders. For those who, like me, double-check their range to ensure consistency, this speed really adds up, making it a big advantage. The budget Amazon rangefinder has flag lock, but it takes much longer to lock in a distance compared to the Pro ZR.
Strong Magnet: The magnet on the Pro ZR is significantly stronger than the budget model. Normally, I keep my rangefinder in the pouch on my bag rather than on the cart pillar to avoid losing it. For this test, I placed both rangefinders on the cart pillar for the entire round, and it became clear that the cheap model slid down the bar with each hole. While it never fell off, I’m confident that a strong impact would dislodge it, whereas the Pro ZR remained securely in place.
Superb Lens Clarity: The clarity of the Pro ZR’s lens is excellent. It’s much easier to distinguish details with this device compared to the budget rangefinder, and it even surpasses my Nikon in this regard. The Pro ZR provides a crisp, clear view that enhances usability, especially when locking onto distant targets.
Top-Notch Build Quality: The Pro ZR feels solid in hand, with a heft that gives it a premium, durable feel without being overly heavy. Although I haven’t dropped it or experienced any rough handling, I’m confident it would hold up well. In comparison, the budget rangefinder feels like it’s made from thinner plastic, and I wouldn’t trust it to survive a fall from a cart onto a hard surface.
Cons:
Battery-Driven: The Pro ZR is powered by a replaceable battery, and mine, along with another tester's, arrived with a dead one. After about eight holes, I saw the low battery warning. I would much prefer a rechargeable option, like the one included with the Amazon budget model. While the Pro ZR claims to support up to 40,000 ranges per battery, I’m personally more inclined toward rechargeable devices for convenience and environmental reasons.
Direct Sunlight Issues: The Pro ZR struggles with lens washout when aiming towards a flag with the sun in the background. This wasn’t an issue with the Nikon or the budget rangefinder. The larger lens or the chrome around the objective lens could be contributing to this problem. Additionally, I noticed that when shooting into direct sunlight, the rangefinder would occasionally provide inaccurate distances compared to my GPS watch. I’m not sure if this is due to the sunlight affecting the laser or if I was mistakenly locking onto the wrong target.
Aiming Reticle Size: A friend who helped me test the Pro ZR mentioned that he found the aiming reticle too large, making it difficult to lock onto the flag. While he appreciated the bold, easy-to-read distances, the reticle size was a drawback for him. He isn’t someone who ranges every approach shot like I do, so this feature may be less of an issue for more frequent users.
Overall Thoughts:
The Shot Scope Pro ZR is a fantastic rangefinder with impressive speed, strong build quality, and excellent lens clarity. However, it does have some limitations, such as being battery-driven and the issues with direct sunlight. These might not be deal-breakers for everyone, but they’re worth considering depending on your playing conditions and preferences.
Would I buy this? Absolutely. My experience with Shot Scope has been nothing but positive, and I believe they’re on par with major brands like Bushnell and Garmin in terms of product quality. At its MSRP, the Pro ZR is competitively priced, and if you have a budget in the $300 range, I think it’s a solid investment. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, there are other choices, but you should be prepared for some compromises, which I’ve outlined here.
Will It Stay in My Bag?
I’ll leave that up to the Golf Spy leadership. I’m more than happy to pass it on to another reviewer for further testing. Maybe one of the reviewers of the other range finders would want to swap ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The cheap Amazon rangefinder has already found a new home with my buddy, so if this one goes to another reviewer, I’ll be back to using my trusty Nikon. That said, after using a high-quality rangefinder like the Pro ZR, I’ll definitely be investing in a premium model—whether it’s this one or something else remains to be seen. But I can confidently say the Pro ZR is a strong contender for my permanent golf bag spot.





 

Today was a great day. My usual playing partner and I did 18 in a cart together instead of using the scooters. This meant we were together for almost every shot and we're using range finder for every approach shot. I used the ZR for the front 9 and he used the Amazon special. On the back 9 we switched. He and I both came away with strong opinions of each range finder which I will include with my review. 
 
One think I want to ask my fellow reviewers. Please use your ZR into the sun and let me know what you experience. My round ended at about 615 today and the last few holes were into the sun. I don't want to taint your perspective so I won't say what I experienced but I'm curious if you notice anything not necessarily unusual but different than shots not with the sun in the background.  

I'm a single round in currently so I'm not gonna make any claims till I have a few more rounds to truly know the product.  
Thus far I believe the lens clarity is good. I haven't played in low light yet and that will be the real test. Focus ring adjusts well. I have used it with and without glasses and was able to adjust the ring with my index finger with it up to my eye easy enough but the ring does have some resistance so I'm not worried about handling and riding in it's bag changing it. 
One thing I noticed right away compared to my comparison rangefinders is the bold text and layout is much easier to read than the other two. More detailed information to follow after a few more rounds but currently on those topics things seem good. 

Bombtech makes great clubs for the beginner 

Gracious. Wish they were the align max but these will do until they release the max again in 25

30. The city mowed a ditch along the side of a road above a long fairway. Metric ton of balls rolled back into the fairway.

So freaking close to even par on 9 it's starting to get irritating 🤣🤣🤣

I want the other ones too but I won't buy them yet. Have to wear out my other ones. 

Patiently awaiting my 10 dozen vice pros with a free wedge. Damn their promotions 🤣

Well got rained out all weekend so we decided to play 18 this afternoon in the drizzle. Sky cleared up after 3-4 holes and turned out to be the perfect weather. Shot a 97 which is decent for me. Apparently, on a few holes, I played like a pga pro. 🤣

If I didn't have 18 dozen sitting on my ball shelf I would have ordered 10 dozen to get the wedge. Absolutely love the 50* and want to pick up a 56 bent to 55* to fit between the 50 and 60*.

So freaking close to even par on 9 it's starting to get irritating 🤣🤣🤣

What you seem to talk about is faster swingers get 12-15 yard gaps and slower swing speed get 6-8 or whatever numbers you used. You can not have the same gapping as faster swingers because you do not have the yardages needed for those gaps.   OEMs attempt to get you some of that back by “jacking” lofts but you complain about that too.
 
 You say one thing then when someone calls you on it you move the goal posts and say it’s something else.  It’s very clear you dislike just about everything about modern golf today. 
 
And with that I my time in this conversation and thread are over.  I’m tagging whoever is next in line with this