Bushnell Tour V2 Slope Edition Laser Rangefinder – REVIEW

[GolfSpy Dave]

Bushnell Tour V2 Slope Edition Laser Rangefinder – REVIEW

An Official MyGolfSpy.com Review

http://www.bushnellgolf.com/laser/tourv2_se_patriot.cfm

 

 

Hello Pinseeker, My Old Friend…

As some of you are aware, the Tour V2 with slope laser rangefinder is the third Bushnell laser rangefinder that I have reviewed this year (Pro 1600 HERE and Hybrid HERE). What is interesting about doing the multiple product reviews from the same manufacturer is that by reviewing nearly the entire line of laser rangefinder offerings, I feel like I have a good handle on the features are common to all of the Bushnell units. Thankfully, those common features are excellent.

 

This time around, I am taking the Tour V2, Slope Edition, laser rangefinder through its paces. This rangefinder came to me as a component of the 2011 Bushnell Patriot pack. The Patriot pack includes a towel and a laser-covering skin with the laser, thus increasing the value to the consumer. However, that is not the real greatness of the Patriot Pack promotion. The real benefit comes from Bushnell donating a portion of the sales from the Patriot Pack to Folds of Honor Foundation. This is not an insignificant amount either. In 2010, Bushnell donated $90,000. So you get some extra good stuff in your Patriot Pack, but the real “good stuff” is happening far away from you, but your purchase helped make it happen. It's the feel-good rangefinder.

 

 

But is the Tour V2 worth buying in the first place?

 

REVIEW

Cosmetics and Feel (20 Points)

One of the common comments that I read after my review of the Bushnell Hybrid rangefinder was that it looked too big and bulky. Playing with the hybrid, it didn't feel bulky, it just felt like someone had sandwiched a GPS and a laser together. After using the Tour V2, I think that I now understand where the bulky comments were coming from. I think that it is safe to say that golfers are more familiar with the Tour V2 than they are the Hybrid. The V2 has been in the marketplace longer, and has definitely been purchased by more golfers. This unit is sleek and compact. It fits the hand very well, with the “action” button right where it should be.

 

If one were accustomed to using the V2, then the Hybrid would come across a being huge. I think it would be like driving a Ford Escort for a year and then switching to a Ford Explorer. The Explorer would feel massive, until one became accustomed to driving it. I am not trying to defend the Hybrid, I am just saying that I now see where some of the comments may have come from.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aesthetically, I definitely am a fan of the silver and black color scheme. It is all business, but still looks good. The only thing that I am not real sure about is the location of the “Mode” button on the side of the unit. The majority of other similar units place this button on the top of the unit in a place where it is nearly impossible to press it by accident. Although the 3D “B” button looks very cool incorporated into the Bushnell logo, I did find myself accidentally pressing it all of the time. Not a huge design flaw, but something that I did find to be a touch irritating.

 

 

Although it really is not something I look for in a laser, the Tour V2 also has an interesting battery cover design that makes it very easy to change the battery.

 

 

 

Cosmetics and Feel Score: 18/20 Points

 

Performance (60 Points)

So as I pulled out the Tour V2 for some on course lasing, what became immediately apparent to me was that I was using a Bushnell laser rangefinder. Again, I now definitely will have some expectations when I see a laser with the Bushnell name on it. The optics are crystal clear.

 

 

The Pinseeker technology does an excellent job of picking out the flag even with other objects in the background. Sometimes it does grab a tree instead, but you should be able to know that a reading is off, and re-measure.

 

Ease of Use

The Bushnell Tour V2 is essentially a single button unit. The mode button on the side can switch the measured units from meters to yards, but the single button on top controls everything else.

 

 

One thing that you must become accustomed to is that you will need to hold down the button while measuring to activate both the Pinseeker and slope features. Not a huge deal, but it does take a few seconds longer to get these readings compared to getting the initial distance measurement. For comparison, the Callaway iQ provides distance and slope corrected distance readings simultaneously (review HERE).

 

On the Course

The Tour V2 is fast to power-up and take the initial distance reading, but as I just mentioned, getting the Pinseeker symbol and the slope reading will take a few seconds longer. No so long that your playing partners will be waiting for you, but just a bit longer than the standard linear measurement.

 

The lenses in the V2 magnify at 5x power, compared to the 7x in the much larger 1600 unit. Never once did I wish it had more magnification. If the pin is too small for you to measure, you are probably too far away to need a measurement…

 

Outside of accidentally pressing the mode button and the slight lag before getting slope readings, I really have no complaints. The only thing that I really was not a fan of was the red skin that came as a part of the Patriot Pack.

 

 

It seemed to me like the skin covered up all of the great ergonomic features of the un-skinned unit. You could still access all of the buttons and take distance readings, but it just had a negative effect on the feel for me.

 

 

 

 

Your mileage may vary, of course, but I am not a fan. Realistically though, the inclusion of the skin and the towel is more of a symbol of the donation that Bushnell makes to the Folds of Honor Foundation. I do wish that they had continued to include the stars and stripes skin as opposed to the plain red.

 

The Tour V2 also comes with the great zippered/magnetic closure case that came with the Hybrid.

 

 

 

 

More and more, I appreciate the design of this case. The magnet is definitely strong enough to keep the V2 securely inside as you walk the course. The zipper makes sure that you can secure the unit as you head to the parking lot and home. I also found zipping the unit helpful when playing cart golf with an erratic chauffeur.

 

Performance Score: 57/60

 

Value (20 Points)

The MSPR of the Bushnell V2 with Slope Patriot Pack is $399. The non-slope Patriot Pack can be had for $299. This is a standard price for a unit with these features and I think represents an accurate value to price relationship. Plus, some of the money is going to a great foundation. I did find that you can order one from Amazon.com with free Super Saving shipping right now for $369.99 (LINK). They also have the Callaway iQ laser on sale for $345 with free Super Saver shipping (LINK). Both are amazing deals at these prices.

 

Value Score (20/20)

 

Overall Score: 95/100

 

Summary

Of the Bushnell lasers that I have reviewed this year, the Tour V2 is definitely my favorite. I really liked the compact size and on course performance. Although I am still a fan of the Hybrid unit, I never once found myself wishing that I had the GPS measurements in addition to the laser reading. I think that any golfer would be very satisfied with the style and performance of the Tour V2.