The quick answer
You do not need slope to get a yardage. Slope is an extra reading that adjusts the distance for an uphill or downhill shot, and you cannot use it in a round played under the Rules of Golf.
You will find it hard to avoid, though. All 21 laser rangefinders in this guide have slope, so the real choice is how it turns off. If you only play casual rounds, any of them will do. If you play in competitions, choose one whose maker describes a slope switch. Twelve of the 21 do, and the makers of four more say slope can be switched off.
Who this is for
Golfers buying a laser rangefinder who are not sure whether slope is worth having, and golfers who play in club events or leagues and want to know what the Rules allow.
What slope does
A slope reading takes the change in height between you and the target into account. Garmin describes its version, PlaysLike Distance, as letting you “adjust yardage for uphill or downhill shots based on the change in elevation from where you’re standing.” Nikon calls its version ID (Incline/Decline) mode. Shot Scope calls its version Adaptive slope technology.
Some slope modes take in more than elevation. Bushnell’s Pro X3+LINK has a Slope with Elements mode that adds temperature and altitude.
What the Rules of Golf say
The R&A’s text of Rule 4.3a(1) lists, as allowed during a round, “Getting information on distance or direction (such as from a distance-measuring device or compass).” Among the uses not allowed, it lists “Measuring elevation changes”.
The same Rule says it “only concerns how equipment is used. It does not limit the equipment that a player may have with them during a round.” So you may carry a rangefinder that has slope. You must not use the slope reading.
The penalty for a first breach of Rule 4.3 is the general penalty. A second breach, after an intervening event, is disqualification, even if the second breach is of a different kind.
Separately, Model Local Rule G-5 lets the committee running a competition ban distance-measuring devices altogether. Its wording is: “During a round, a player must not obtain distance information by using an electronic distance-measuring device.” If a competition adopts it, no electronic distance-measuring device is allowed, with or without slope. Check the terms of each event you enter.
Twelve with a slope switch
| Specification | ArccosSmart Laser | Blue TeesCaptain Air | Blue TeesCaptain Pro | Bushnell GolfA1-Slope | Bushnell GolfPro X3+LINK | Bushnell GolfTour Hybrid | Bushnell GolfTour V7 Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price when checked | $299.99 (2nd Swing Golf) | $199.99 (Blue Tees Golf) | $249.99 (Blue Tees Golf) | $299.99 (DICK'S Sporting Goods) | $599.99 (2nd Swing Golf) | $499.99 (Global Golf) | $399.99 (Bushnell Golf) |
| Slope | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Turning slope off | Slope switch | External slope switch | Slope switch | Slope switch | Locking Slope-Switch | Slope switch | Slope switch |
| Specification | Precision ProNX10 Slope | Precision ProTitan Elite | Precision ProTitan Slope | Shot ScopePRO L5 | Voice CaddieTL1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price when checked | $199.99 (Global Golf) | $329.99 (Precision Pro) | $249.99 (Precision Pro) | $199.99 (Global Golf) | $349.99 (DICK'S Sporting Goods) |
| Slope | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Turning slope off | Slope switch | Slope switch | Slope switch | Slope switch | Slope switch |
At our last price checks, the 12 rangefinders with a slope switch ranged from about $200 to about $600.
Not every switch works the same way:
- Arccos Smart Laser. Arccos lists a slope switch, and says its Tournament Mode is “a conforming mode that disables slope and environmental adjustments.”
- Bushnell A1-Slope. The switch is the Mode button. Bushnell says “Slope can be switched on or off using the Mode button.”
- Bushnell Pro X3+LINK. Bushnell calls its control a Locking Slope-Switch.
- Bushnell Tour Hybrid. Bushnell says “The Slope-Switch lets you disable Slope, making the device conforming for tournament play.”
- Precision Pro Titan Elite and Titan Slope. Precision Pro says “Slope can be turned off with the slope switch, putting it in tournament-legal mode.”
- Shot Scope PRO L5. Shot Scope says slope is turned off “by using the slope switch on the side of the rangefinder.”
- Voice Caddie TL1. Voice Caddie lists an “Auto Slope Switch” that “can be turned on/off for tournament compliance.”
A switch on the outside of the body generally lets you, and anyone you play with, see which mode the rangefinder is in.
Four that can be switched off
| Specification | NikonCOOLSHOT PROIII STABILIZED | Shot ScopePRO L2 | Shot ScopePRO ZR | Shot ScopePRO LX+ (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price when checked | $529.95 (Global Golf) | $129.99 (Shot Scope) | $199.99 (DICK'S Sporting Goods) | $369.99 (PGA TOUR Superstore) |
| Slope | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Turning slope off | Can be switched off | Can be switched off | Can be switched off | Can be switched off |
Shot Scope says of the PRO ZR: “simply turn the Adaptive slope technology off with a slide of the switch on the side.” On its PRO L5 page it says the same switch is how slope is turned off on all Shot Scope rangefinders, and of the PRO LX+ it says slope “can be turned on/off to comply with tournament regulations.”
Nikon says the COOLSHOT PROIII STABILIZED complies for tournament play “when Slope is turned off”. It also has an Actual Distance Indicator light. Nikon says: “When slope-compensation is not allowed, the Actual Distance Indicator (ADI) LED lets other players and officials know you’re not using the ID Technology mode.”
Five to check before an event
| Specification | GarminApproach Z10 | GarminApproach Z30 | Voice CaddieLaser FIT | NikonCOOLSHOT 20i GIII | NikonCOOLSHOT 50i GII |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price when checked | $299.99 (Global Golf) | $449.99 (PGA TOUR Superstore) | $199.99 (DICK'S Sporting Goods) | $239.95 (DICK'S Sporting Goods) | $299.95 (TGW) |
| Slope | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Turning slope off | Tournament mode | Tournament mode | Slope Integration with Tournament Mode | Not published | Not published |
A tournament mode. Garmin lists a tournament mode for both the Approach Z10 and Z30, with an external light that shows when the device is in it. For the Z30 Garmin says “Tournament legal: yes (with setting)”. Neither page says that tournament mode turns Garmin’s PlaysLike Distance off. Voice Caddie lists “Slope Integration with Tournament Mode” for the Laser FIT without saying what the mode switches off.
Nikon’s two other models. For the COOLSHOT 50i GII, Nikon says “you’ll know how far the shot is with or without slope compensation” and describes the same Actual Distance Indicator light as on the PROIII, but does not say in so many words that slope turns off. For the COOLSHOT 20i GIII, Nikon describes integrated slope technology and does not say whether it can be switched off.
If you already own one of these, the manual is the place to confirm what the competition setting does. Rangefinders for tournament play goes through what each maker says in more detail.
All 21 rangefinders in this guide
Arccos
Smart Laser
Arccos says the Smart Laser “delivers precise line-of-sight distance and then factors in slope, wind speed, wind gusts, wind direction, temperature, and humidity.”
- Max range
- 999 yards
- Slope
- Yes
- Water rating
- IP44
$299.99
Blue Tees
Captain Air
Blue Tees calls the Captain Air its “newest, faster model with even more on-course utility.”
- Max range
- 1,000 yards
- Slope
- Yes
- Water rating
- IP65
$199.99
Blue Tees
Captain Pro
Blue Tees says the Captain Pro “goes beyond distance with powerful optics, True Distance™ yardages, and seamless GAME app integration.”
- Max range
- 1,200 yards
- Slope
- Yes
- Water rating
- IP67
$249.99
Bushnell Golf says the A1-Slope “is the smallest Bushnell Golf laser rangefinder ever and features our patented, Tour-trusted Slope Technology.”
- Max range
- 1,300 yards
- Slope
- Yes
- Water rating
- IPX6
$299.99
See at DICK'S Sporting Goods: Bushnell Golf A1-SlopeAffiliate linkBushnell Golf calls the Pro X3+LINK “the most powerful, precise laser rangefinder to date.”
- Max range
- 1,300 yards
- Slope
- Yes
- Water rating
- IPX7
$599.99
Bushnell Golf calls the Tour Hybrid “Our first device to feature Slope compensated laser distances AND Slope compensated GPS distances.”
- Max range
- 1,300 yards
- Slope
- Yes
- Water rating
- IPX6
$499.99
New, Black / Orange; Global Golf names it “Tour Hybrid 2026” and its feature list matches Bushnell’s Tour Hybrid (onboard GPS, slope, CR123 battery)
See at Global Golf: Bushnell Golf Tour HybridAffiliate linkBushnell Golf describes the Tour V7 Shift as having an “all-new Dual Color (red and green) OLED Display with Slope-Switch Technology.”
- Max range
- 1,300 yards
- Slope
- Yes
- Water rating
- IPX6
$399.99
Precision Pro says the NX10 Slope offers “20+ customizable looks” and “still locks the flag from 400 yards.”
- Max range
- 999 yards
- Slope
- Yes
- Water rating
- Not published
$199.99
See at Global Golf: Precision Pro NX10 SlopeAffiliate linkPrecision Pro calls the Titan Elite “The everything rangefinder” and “Our flagship rangefinder.”
- Max range
- 999 yards
- Slope
- Yes
- Water rating
- IP67
$329.99
Silver Bullet, the color the page shows by default; the Azalea Limited Edition is $349.99
Precision Pro
Titan Slope
Precision Pro says the Titan Slope is “Built to take a beating, cut through sunlight, and lock the flag from 400 yards out.”
- Max range
- 999 yards
- Slope
- Yes
- Water rating
- IP67
$249.99
Midnight, the color the page shows by default; limited-edition colors are priced separately
Shot Scope says the PRO L5 is “the first Shot Scope rangefinder with OLED optics, offering our sharpest display to date.”
- Max range
- 1,300 yards
- Slope
- Yes
- Water rating
- Water resistant
$199.99
New, Black
See at Global Golf: Shot Scope PRO L5Affiliate linkVoice Caddie says the TL1 “delivers unparalleled precision and speed, tailored for golfers seeking a competitive edge.”
- Max range
- 1,000 yards
- Slope
- Yes
- Water rating
- Not published
$349.99
See at DICK'S Sporting Goods: Voice Caddie TL1Affiliate linkNikon says the COOLSHOT PROIII STABILIZED uses “advanced stabilization technology” that “counteracts hand shake making it easier to plan your shots.”
- Max range
- 1,200 yards
- Slope
- Yes
- Water rating
- Waterproof (up to 1m/3.3ft for 10 minutes)
$529.95
See at Global Golf: Nikon COOLSHOT PROIII STABILIZEDAffiliate linkShot Scope describes the PRO L2 as “a compact and stylish rangefinder providing the golfer with fast and accurate distances.”
- Max range
- 700 yards
- Slope
- Yes
- Water rating
- Water resistant
$129.99
Shot Scope calls the PRO ZR “Shot Scope’s most premium, and fastest-firing rangefinder to date.”
- Max range
- 1,500 yards
- Slope
- Yes
- Water rating
- Water resistant
$199.99
See at DICK'S Sporting Goods: Shot Scope PRO ZRAffiliate linkShot Scope
PRO LX+ (2nd Gen)
Shot Scope calls the PRO LX+ “the ultimate on-course device with three products in one; a laser rangefinder, GPS functionality and performance tracking.”
- Max range
- 900 yards
- Slope
- Yes
- Water rating
- Not published
$369.99
Garmin says the Approach Z10 “shows distance to the flag up to 350 yards with quick feedback in less than 1 second.”
- Max range
- 1,200 yards
- Slope
- Yes
- Water rating
- IPX4
$299.99
See at Global Golf: Garmin Approach Z10Affiliate linkGarmin says the Approach Z30 “is the perfect companion to your Garmin golf smartwatch or handheld.”
- Max range
- 1,300 yards
- Slope
- Yes
- Water rating
- IPX7
$449.99
Voice Caddie says the Laser FIT is “the most attractive rangefinder, boasting a stylish design and compact size.”
- Max range
- 800 yards
- Slope
- Yes
- Water rating
- Not published
$199.99
See at DICK'S Sporting Goods: Voice Caddie Laser FITAffiliate linkNikon says the COOLSHOT 20i GIII “gives golfers accuracy from any angle.”
- Max range
- 800 yards
- Slope
- Yes
- Water rating
- Rainproof
$239.95
See at DICK'S Sporting Goods: Nikon COOLSHOT 20i GIIIAffiliate linkNikon says that with the COOLSHOT 50i GII “you’ll know how far the shot is with or without slope compensation.”
- Max range
- 1,200 yards
- Slope
- Yes
- Water rating
- Rainproof
$299.95
See at TGW: Nikon COOLSHOT 50i GIIAffiliate link
Where to go next
- Rangefinder Finder: tell it whether you play in competitions, and it shows what each maker says about turning slope off.
- Rangefinders for tournament play, maker by maker.
- What the extra money buys in a rangefinder, for range, display, water rating and battery.
- All rangefinders we have researched, with their latest price checks.
Sources
- Evidence: Verified
Arccos publishes the Smart Laser range, magnification, slope switch and Tournament Mode, OLED display, IP44 rating, CR-2 battery, subscription terms and price.
- Evidence: Verified
Blue Tees publishes the Captain Air range, magnification, display type, slope switch, IP65 rating, battery and GPS/app features.
- Evidence: Verified
Blue Tees publishes the Captain Pro range, magnification, OLED display, slope switch, IP67 rating, battery and regular price.
- Evidence: Verified
Bushnell Golf publishes the A1-Slope range, magnification, display, slope switch via the Mode button, IPX6 rating, rechargeable USB-C battery, weight and price.
- Evidence: Verified
Bushnell Golf publishes the Pro X3+LINK range, magnification, display, locking slope switch, IPX7 rating, power source and price.
- Evidence: Verified
Bushnell Golf publishes the Tour Hybrid range, magnification, slope with Slope-Switch, onboard GPS, display, IPX6 rating, battery and price.
- Evidence: Verified
Bushnell Golf publishes the Tour V7 Shift range, magnification, display, slope switch, IPX6 rating, power source and price.
- Evidence: Verified
Precision Pro publishes the NX10 Slope measurement and flag range, magnification, slope switch, battery and selling price.
- Evidence: Verified
Precision Pro publishes the Titan Elite measurement range, magnification, slope switch, IP67 rating, USB-C rechargeable battery, magnesium alloy shell and selling price.
The feature notes (slope switch, display, battery) are carried in the page’s feature-button data; matching was done against that text.
- Evidence: Verified
Precision Pro publishes the Titan Slope range, magnification, slope switch, IP67 rating, USB-C rechargeable battery and price.
- Evidence: Verified
Shot Scope publishes the PRO L5 range, magnification, adaptive slope with slope switch, OLED display, water resistance, battery and price.
- Evidence: Verified
Voice Caddie publishes the TL1 range, magnification, slope with an on/off slope switch, dual-color OLED display, battery and price.
- Evidence: Verified
Nikon publishes the COOLSHOT PROIII STABILIZED measurement range, magnification, image stabilization, slope-adjusted distance and tournament use with slope off, waterproofing, power source and price.
Some feature text is carried as content data embedded in the page; matching was done against that embedded text.
- Evidence: Verified
Shot Scope publishes the PRO L2 range, magnification, slope, water resistance, battery type and price.
- Evidence: Verified
Shot Scope publishes the PRO ZR range, magnification, adaptive slope that switches off, LCD display with red/black optics, water resistance, battery and price.
- Evidence: Verified
Shot Scope publishes the PRO LX+ (2nd Gen) range, magnification, adaptive slope that can be turned off, red/black dual optics, subscription-free software and price.
The page title is “PRO LX+ (2nd Gen)”. It states no battery, water rating or image stabilization.
- Evidence: Verified
Garmin publishes the Approach Z10 range to flag and to reflective targets, magnification, display type, Garmin’s PlaysLike Distance feature, IPX4 rating, battery type and price.
The page also carries data for the Approach Z30 and Z82; only the Approach Z10 section was used.
- Evidence: Verified
Garmin publishes the Approach Z30 laser range, magnification, display type, water rating, battery type and life, Garmin’s PlaysLike Distance feature, tournament mode and price.
Garmin’s page carries its specs, feature text and price as product data embedded in the page; matching was done against that embedded text.
- Evidence: Verified
Voice Caddie publishes the Laser FIT measuring range, magnification, display, slope integration, battery type and price.
- Evidence: Verified
Nikon publishes the COOLSHOT 20i GIII range, magnification, incline/decline mode, rainproof construction, power source and price.
- Evidence: Verified
Nikon publishes the COOLSHOT 50i GII range, magnification, slope compensation, rainproof build, battery and price.