Our best GPS golf rangefinder 2021/2022 is the 2nd in our four core rangefinder articles. All of these rankings follow the same format and are intended to bring our rangefinder category in alignment with our latest ranking’s methodology. Since there is a huge separation in the pricing between the top options on the market and those at the other end, we believed it was only fair to try to compare the comparable. Thus, in addition to this article the following rankings complete the series:
Best golf rangefinder for the money 2021/2022
Our intention here it to track the best rangefinders on the market irrespective of cost.
Best budget golf rangefinder 2021/2022
Understanding that many golfers’ budgets have limits here we are looking to maximize performance while minimizing the cost. We set our price ceiling at USD 200.
Best golf rangefinder 2021/2022
We have decided to maintain one master list where all of our product reviews are collected. So even if they fall from the top 3 you can still find all the rangefinders from the 2021-2022 cycle here.
For all the above rankings we will stick to focusing products launched in the latter part of the year. Then come this time next year we will move everything forward to our 2022/2023 rankings. We have seen this gives us a couple of advantages. Firstly, it gives us a better chance to follow many of the manufacturer’s product life cycles. And secondly, it allows us to get our templates in order during off-peak season. So when things heat up we can maintain our focus on golf and product reviews .
So why did we decide to consider the best GPS golf rangefinder 2021-2022?? When we put together our initial research and product trials earlier in the year, we started to see that many features that once were included only in premium models had become very standard across the board. Basically, the bar had been raised. It is not to say that some to not do it better or are more accurate but the actual technology has become more widespread.
Instead, when it comes to GPS technology it is still not the norm in the average rangefinder. It is usually only found in the premium offering from the manufacturer and also generally comes at a premium price. We will not be setting any filter in ranking on costs. With GPS technology you can expect to find rangefinders that are exponentially more than the economic options. We will not try to tell or sell you on that the overall camera features are exponentially more accurate and we will leave you decide if a GPS rangefinder is for you.
But if you are looking for the best and latest GPS rangefinders on the market then let us help you out.
Garmin Approach Z82
We had our hands on many rangefinders in 2021. But after all the trials there was little doubt that the Garmin Approach Z82 stood above the rest. There was just too much technology and features packed into this rangefinder to be overlooked.
We can start by saying it is the only rangefinder in our rankings with GPS and when coupled with the 41K preloaded courses in the Approach Z82 you never are in doubt of not only the distance to the flag but are instantly aware of the flag position and shape of the green as well as all of the hazards along the way. The imagery and graphic display of all of the information is intelligently done so not to make it cumbersome for the times you just want a straight reading of the distance to the flag.
The Approach Z82 keeps pace with the market standard 6X magnification but the clarity of the image when looking in the rangefinder is a notch above most. One of our group compared it to be looking at a monitor. And with the image stabilization finding the flag even at the Approach Z82’s 450-yard range is manageable without much effort. It is slightly larger than the other option’s on our rankings but it fits comfortably in the hand and automatically turns on when you take a proper grip of the unit.
What most golfers are looking for these days from their rangefinder is slope calculations to give a hand for those holes when towering over a green. The Approach Z82 not only is able to calculate slope but when coupled with the Garmin golf app can also factor in the current wind conditions to give you the most accurate distance evaluation possible.
And then accuracy…… an unreal +/- 10 inches!!! This is of course a level of accuracy that is far beyond what more than most golfers can exert on the flight of a golf ball. However, the bigger point is the demonstration of just how well the Z82is made.
While some prefer the changeable lithium battery I will side with the environment and support Garmin’s internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery. With approximately 15 hours of charge there is more than enough time to find yourself the occasion to recharge the unit.
The only place where we felt that the Approach Z82 did not hit the mark was on the warrantee. At one year it is the we might have expected a little more. Now having said it, we have yet to have a reason to exercise the warrantee after more than a year’s constant use.
There are many other great features in the Z82 such as the find my Garmin application that allows you to track the GPS via your mobile device in the case it would fall from your bag and tournament mode that quickly disables the slope functionality to be compliant with golf regulations.
If we have not done enough to convince you then I would suggest you get your hands on one and give it a test for yourself because it really is a great piece of equipment.
- Most accurate laser range finder on the market within 10” of the flag, up to 450 yards
- Image stabilization makes it easier to find and range the flag for precise distances to the pin; vibrational feedback lets you know when you’ve locked in
- Full-color 2-D CourseView mapping for more than 41,000 courses worldwide overlaid on the viewfinder
- The Laser Range Arc feature draws an arc on the 2-D CourseView map at the distance the laser ranged, so you can see everything in play at that distance
- Hazard view allows you to quickly scroll through each hazard on the map
