Among the best of low-end rangefinders
When I lost track of my trusty Bushnell rangefinder for a week or so last month, I snapped to the fact that I had been given a rangefinder as swag at a golf writers event in Florida last February – which is how I was pleasantly introduced to the Shot Scope Pro L2 Rangefinder.
And what an upgraded rangefinding experience it has been, once I dug out the device, still sealed in the box, its standard 3-volt CR2 battery still wrapped in cellophane.
I hadn’t been exposed to the slope-adjusted distance function, as my several-years-old Bushnell Tour V3 doesn’t have it. More on that is a second.
The Shot Scope Pro L2, which retails for $149.99, isn’t Shot Scope’s latest offering – there’s now an L5 out for $229.99 – but it easily beats the performance of my old Bushnell Tour V3, which retailed for $299.99 when it was new.
The Shot Scope Pro L2 has been widely lauded as the best among “cheap” rangefinders. You’re not going to find anything like it under $200. And while I like precision, I’m not about to shell out the equivalent of a new set of irons to get accuracy to less than a yard.
The slope measurement function of the Shot Scope Pro L2 can be switched on and off, which makes it legal for tournament play. It also can be switched between yards and meters. I especially like the adjustable focus ring that brings crystal-clear images of the green complex hundreds of yards up ahead.
Understanding the effect of slope on distance
The slope feature opened my eyes to how much I was underestimating the effect of uphill elevation on a shot. What I would have thought was a negligible effect on the “plays like” distance of even a slightly uphill shot amounted to five or even more yards. So, while it may not be legal in USGA-sanctioned competitions, the Shot Scope Pro L2’s slope function dramatically changed my pre-shot distance calculation.
More fundamentally, the Shot Scope Pro L2 seemed better at locking on to the flag than my Bushnell. Although both vibrate when they’re locked onto the target, I found the Bushnell often would not vibrate, which sometimes left me wondering whether I had accidentally ranged the distance to some other object – a tree or the guys near the flag walking off the green, for example.
MyGolfSpy, which liked the Pro L2 when it came out in 2023 and gave it a rating or 9.2 out of 10, lauds its sterling performance for its price point:
“The rangefinder received high marks across the board. It was praised for its accuracy, with measurements consistently matching the actual yardages on the course. The rangefinder’s speed also impressed, with quick and reliable target acquisition. Golfers appreciated the target-lock vibration feature, which provided an additional layer of confidence in their measurements. Overall, the Pro L2 received glowing feedback, cementing its position as a top contender in the golf rangefinder market.”
The company says the battery in the Shot Scope Pro L2 is good for 800 range shots. The device can also work in tandem with Shot Scope’s smartphone GPS app for extra distance confidence.
The Shot Scope Pro L2 comes in the now-ubiquitous canvas and polymer zippered case with a bungee cord to hang it securely from your golf bag. And its powerful magnet clamps it securely onto the steel frame of your golf cart; I’d wager your out-of-control and bouncing cart would flip over before the Shot Scope Pro L2 would become detached from the frame.
Bottom line: The Shot Scope Pro L2 is the poster child of technology done right – delivering solid core functionality without the bells and whistles that needlessly drive up price. Although Shot Scope no longer offers the Pro L2, it’s readily available from other sources, including Dick’s and Amazon.
Dan Vukelich is the Online Editor of Alabama Golf News. Reach him at dan@alabamagolfnews.com
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Featured image of the SHot Scope Pro L2 Rangefinder by Dan Vukelich
