There’s no getting away from the fact that Amazon is awash with low-cost rangefinders and it can be hard to know which ones, if any, will stand the test of time and be able to compete with the best golf rangefinders on the market.
One recently came across my desk in the form of the Wosports rangefinder. Type this term into Amazon’s search bar and you’ll be greeted with a host of options with a similar name, which adds to the confusion. The one I tested had the blue/grey color scheme appears to be an Amazon exclusive (it isn’t listed on the Wosports website) and promised a 1,200-yard range as well as flag locking vibration and USB-C charging.
(Image credit: Future)
With an encouraging suite of features for the modest RRP of $129.99, I took it to the course to see how it performed.
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The Wosports rangefinder clocks in at just 160 grams according to my scales, which is certainly on the lighter end of the spectrum, but it’s a substantial size and has a bumpy texture to it to help maintain your grip when in use, which worked very well in practice. It also comes with a perfectly suitable carry case, carabiner included.
There are three modes accessed via one of two buttons on top. The first appears to show you the degree of elevation change (I’m not sure why that’s useful), the second displays the adjusted distance taking this change in elevation into account (far more useful) and the third is the pin detection mode, where the unit vibrates when the flag is located.
(Image credit: Future)
I have to say, I was surprised at how clear the view was in the display and how easily it picked out the flag from the background. Some of the graphics are quite close to the edge of the display but you can still see all the information you need.
I tested the Wosports rangefinder up against my Bushnell Tour V6 Shift, probably one of the very best rangefinders with slope, and the distances I encountered were very comparable up to 300 yards away. The Wosports model was never more that a couple of yards out from what the Bushnell was displaying and often they were nigh-on identical. The Wosports wasn’t as quick as the Bushnell – there was probably half a second delay in the distances appearing, but this didn’t really detract from the experience.
(Image credit: Future)
The only real negative I have, and it’s a pretty big one, is that the Slope button on the side of the Wosports rangefinder didn’t appear to do anything. I was able to access slope-adjusted distances regardless of if the green or red indicator was showing on the side of the device. In both settings one of the modes doesn’t factor in slope, so while you can absolutely make this rangefinder legal for competition play, it’s not via the method the manufacturers intended.
While my experience with the Wosports rangefinder hasn’t changed my mind about Bushnell leading the way when it comes to golf rangefinders, it has certainly opening my eyes to the merit of more cost-effective alternatives, especially those sold on Amazon.
There are obvious trade offs in build quality, speed and in this case, button functionality, the latter being a considerable red flag, but for a golfer that just wants accurate distances on a modest budget, the Wosports rangefinder delivered. It’s undoubtedly one of the best budget rangefinders on the market.