When it comes to golf, you can spend a hundred dollars in an instant. If you spend this much on golf balls, they’re lost over the course of a few rounds. Even the best players lose balls, so skill doesn’t matter here. If you spend your $100 wisely, like on a rangefinder, it can last for years. After reading through our guide, you’ll have the best golf rangefinder under 100 dollars. While many people will try to give you one option and convince you it’s the best, at UpBeatGolf, we do it differently. We provide multiple options and let you match up your needs with the benefits of rangefinders we highlight.
In golf, you’re only as good as the information in front of you. It’s fair to say that most of us don’t have a caddie like Bones or Steve Williams guiding us to career lows every time we’re out on the course. Instead, we have to rely on the things we can figure out. One of the most important things, which happens to be easy to come by as long as you have the right tools, is distance. So long as you carry one of the best golf rangefinders under 100 (or $200), you’re in the driver’s seat.
Top Pick: ACPOTEL Golf Rangefinder
We wanted to go a little under the radar with our Top Pick for best golf rangefinder under 100. Well, this was no problem. The ACPOTEL Golf Rangefinder is a 2020 release met with immediate positive feedback.
When it comes to a simple design, affordable price, and top-tier performance, the ACPOTEL Golf Rangefinder is among the best to ever do it. Whether this is your first rangefinder or your tenth, it doesn’t matter. You can take this model right out of the box and put it to use without having to consult the manual. It’s intuitive, easy to operate, and all-around designed to make life easier for golfers.
At UpBeatGolf, we write about golf—who would have thought? While the ACPOTEL Rangefinder is designed for golf, it is also equipped to handle other outdoor activities. With precision accuracy for distance, you can hunt and take other outdoor measurements. Additionally, a speed feature makes this a great gadget to have on hand while watching races of any kind.
A rangefinder is only as good as the condition you keep it in. I don’t care how durable the materials are or what it’s reinforced by. If you drop it on the cart path every time you play, accuracy and functionality will suffer. To help you avoid this, ACPOTEL includes a protective carrying case, strap, and bag clip. You have to protect the best golf rangefinder under 100 dollars, right?
Pros
- A range of 650 yards and measurements accurate within .5 yards are enough to get proper yardage from tee to green
- Magnification of 6x and pin lock technology helps you clearly see what you’re hitting into, even when the blind eye might be missing something
Cons
- Slightly larger than many rangefinders, but still small enough to fit into your pocket or the included protective case
Runner-Up: Anyork Golf & Hunting Rangefinder
Big power leads to big success. With the Anyork Golf & Hunting Rangefinder, you can measure distances anywhere between 5 and 1500 yards. Once you’re inside 200 yards, this rangefinder will lock onto the pin as well.
A big advantage of the Anyork Golf & Hunting Rangefinder is a waterproof display. In the early days of rangefinders, we weren’t as lucky to have these protections. With this model, you can play and measure distance in any weather.
In modern golf, we’ve finally accepted that rangefinders should be allowed. Where the debate continues is with slope, and whether it provides too great of an advantage. If you ask me, no, it does not. Like with every new technology, the old guard will complain for another 10 years. After that, they’ll realize that it’s completely fine…and always has been.
While this debate rages on, some tournaments permit slope and others do not. One reason the Anyork Golf & Hunting Rangefinder is in our best golf rangefinder under 100 list because of its ability to turn its slope function on and off. When you’re playing a normal round with reasonable people, leave it on. Get in a tournament with some traditionalists and you can turn it off. One rangefinder, suitable for every type of round.
Pros
- No need for a power button, the Anyork Golf & Hunting Rangefinder turns off after 3 seconds of inactivity, preserving battery life
- Comes with carrying case, batteries, and cleaning supplies—no additional supplies needed
Cons
- If you want to go for the pin outside of 200 yards, the exact distance is harder to come by since the rangefinder won’t lock onto the pin
Budget Option: WAKYME Rangefinder
We’re already looking for the best golf rangefinder under 100 dollars, so can we really get much more affordable? Easy answer, yes. With increased competition in the rangefinder world, companies have to compete with each other. Through this competition, they continue lowering their prices without dropping quality. A perfect example of this is our budget pick, the WAKYME Rangefinder.
For distance, we can measure up to 650 yards with the WAKYME Rangefinder. When it comes to locking onto a flag, you can do so as long as you’re within 200 yards. With this model, you’re shooting the physical flag, rather than the pin. Should you try to isolate the flagstick, or are outside the 200-yard locking range, you risk measuring something in the background.
Technology that accounts for slope makes this a great option for new golfers. With the WAKYME Rangefinder, there are no calculations. If you’re 150 yards away from the target, but it’s playing 20 yards longer, you know right away. With this information readily available, you can choose the right club. No more coming up short or carrying it long. With this pick in our best golf rangefinder for under 100 dollars list, the only thing holding you back is how solid of contact you make.
Besides distance measuring, you can also use the WAKYME Rangefinder for determining speed. Thanks to this ability, you can use this rangefinder for far more than golf.
Pros
- Once the rangefinder locks onto a flag, it vibrates and reassures you that the number you’re seeing is accurate and final
- Lens is coated, reducing glare and making it easy to pick up on distant objects even at daybreak and during twilight hours
Cons
- Lacks the durability of higher-priced rangefinders and cannot withstand being dropped as well as other choices that also come with cases
Easiest to Use: AOFAR GX-2S Golf Rangefinder
Regardless of price, we look for a few things when deciding our pick for the easiest to use anything. Among these are clear labels, protective features, and intuitive nature. When it comes to these categories, the AOFAR GX-2S Golf Rangefinder does it all.
Just because the weather is bad doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be playing golf. Blue skies or a downpour, we want to be on the course. Lucky for us, the AOFAR GX-2S Golf Rangefinder stands up against all conditions. Besides being waterproof, it has a non-slip rubber design to make sure you can hold onto it with wet hands. Additionally, it is dust resistant, which otherwise could disrupt distance measurement and view.
The AOFAR GX-2S Golf Rangefinder has a 600-yard range. From up to 250 yards out, you can lock onto the flag and get a precise number. From inside 415 yards, you can also lock onto a tree. This will help with figuring out how to play drives and other long shots on a new course.
Pros
- Comes in two models, one with slope and the other without. If you play a somewhat competitive schedule, you have a choice here for the best golf rangefinder under 100 dollars
- Enclosed design around the lens allows you to stand the AOFAR GX-2S Golf Rangefinder vertically, without fear that you could scratch or damage the areas that help you see clearly
Cons
- Two buttons right next to each other could lead to confusion and inaccuracy (until you get used to the design after a few rounds)
Best Rechargeable Rangefinder: TACKLIFE Laser Range Finder
It is becoming increasingly common that golf carts have USB outlets in them. While many use these outlets to charge their phone or a speaker, it can also serve as backup power for some rangefinders. When you have a battery-powered rangefinder and it dies, there’s not much you can do. With a rechargeable one, you can plug it in between shots. This guarantees you’ll never have to hit a shot without knowing your exact distance.
If you want the best rechargeable golf rangefinder under 100 dollars, you want the TACKLIFE Laser Range Finder. To start, it comes with a lithium battery with an extremely long life. When fully charged, it can measure more than 30000 times before dying. For many people, this means hardly ever charging your rangefinder—and having the peace of mind you don’t need extra batteries on hand.
With the TACKLIFE Laser Range Finder, you also get a few different modes. Starting with the obvious, this rangefinder can measure distance straight on. Additionally, it can measure incorporating slope and speed as well.
Pros
- Can use the included carrying case to keep your charging cable with you should the need arise for it to go into action
- Measures up to 900 yards and the scope magnify up to 7x in an ultra-clear view, letting you see exactly what’s ahead
Cons
- If you lose the charging wire, it needs to replaced. Unfortunately, most people don’t realize it’s lost until they need it
Best Golf Rangefinder Under 100 Takeaways
Why spend a thousand dollars on clubs if you don’t even know which one you need to hit? That way of thinking is useless. With affordable electronics that give accurate distances, it’s worth saving money elsewhere and spending it on a rangefinder. One thing is for sure, with the best golf rangefinder under 100 dollars, your scores will drop.
When rangefinders first started becoming mainstream, they were not accessible for all. When only a few brands were making these, they were expensive. In many cases, they were more than five times more than anything on this list. Primarily, golf rangefinders were a niche market and produced by companies who transferred over some of their hunting techs.
As they’ve gained popularity, more brands have jumped in and prices have gone down. While there are still plenty of rangefinders that cost more than $500, you can get one of the best golf rangefinders for under 100 dollars and be satisfied.
Thanks to advances in technology, it has become more affordable. Even in the last few years, the most affordable rangefinders have improved. As companies continue to fight for customers and golf continues to grow, we’re going to have more options to choose from.
One thing that we cannot stress enough is that proper care is essential to maintaining the quality of your rangefinder. If you drop your television remote all the time it won’t work as well. If you get dust inside your computer keyboard, again, it won’t work as well. The same thing applies to a rangefinder. Keep it safe. Keep it secure. Keep it clean. Follow these steps and the best golf rangefinder for under 100 dollars will last for years.