Bushnell has always been the leading brand for rangefinders, and it wasn’t until recently that there was even a brand that could contend. Bushnell is the front-runner in quality rangefinders, with accurate measurements, and the newest technology, however, BlueTees has recently put themselves on the map as a serious contender. The Series 3 Max is their newest and best rangefinder, and it packs a punch. BlueTees is a rapidly-growing brand, thanks to their use of social media influencing and marketing to reach their target audience. With the Series 3 Max, they have succesfully managed to produce a rangefinder with a lot of wonderful features, great quality, and many impressive reviews to back it up. The questions is; is the BlueTees Series 3 Max better than the Bushnell Tour V5? AllBirdies is here to answer that.
Comparison
Feature Rich
Comfortable Fit
Clear Optics
Pin-Lock Technology
Magnetic Cart “Bite” Feature
Doesn’t measure slope
1300 yards
Magnification:
6x
Slope Feature:
No
Pin lock with Vibration:
Yes
Power Source:
3-Volt CR2 battery
Cart Magnet:
Yes
Feature rich
Super clear optics
Cart magnet
Slope switch
Pin-lock with pulse vibration
Pin-lock is not always accurate
900 yards
Magnification:
7x
Slope Feature:
Yes
Pin lock with Vibration:
Yes
Power Source:
3-Volt CR2 battery
Cart Magnet:
Yes
Our Verdict
After extensive testing of both rangefinders, using them in my backyard as well as several rounds on the course, this was one of the closest matchups we have seen so far. Let’s start with what makes the Bushnell Tour V5 special: as I mentioned in our last comparison, everything about the Tour V5 is centered around quality, the feel, the look, and even the presentation when opening the box that it comes in. When you hold the Tour V5 you really feel like you purchased something of high-quality, and to go along with that you get really clear optics and consistently accurate measurements. The only issue that I have with this rangefinder, and quite frankly the only reason we didn’t rate it five stars, is the lack of slope feature. Yes, you probably are wondering why I don’t just buy the “Tour V5 Shift“, well that’s because I have to pay another $100 for that one feature.
On the other hand, the BlueTees Series 3 Max has very clear optics, cart magnet, pin-lock technology, and it includes slope feature, all for less than the Tour V5. Although the choice may seem like a no-brainer, I did have some issue with the BlueTees Series 3 upon testing, which may sway your opinion. The golf course that I play at does not have reflectors on the pins for easier measurement, and I found that the Series 3 Max did have trouble catching the pin on some holes when the distance was more than 150 yards. This seemed to be a repetitive occurrence, so I did some digging, and this issue was confirmed by a few reviews on Amazon. However, it only happened a couple of times during my round, and on the second or third try, I did get the right number, I also need to mention that inside 150 yards the pin-lock and vibration works wonderfully.
So, who wins this battle of higher-end rangefinders? My pick is still the Bushnell Tour V5. When I play golf, especially competitively, I want to trust the brand and product that measures my distance, and the number that I get from a rangefinder has the biggest influence on my club choice. I was highly impressed by the BlueTees Series 3 Max, the quality, the clear optics, and the slope feature, all for $259.99 is very hard to beat. However, the couple of bad readings I got from the pin-lock technology gave me doubts. Let me put it this way; if you are looking for a high-quality rangefinder under $300 that has all the features including slope, the BlueTees Series 3 Max is your best option. If you are looking for the best quality, and most accurate rangefinder under $300, that would be the Bushnell Tour V5, and if you have a spare $100 to spend for the slope feature, the Tour V5 Shift is your best bet.
Does Bushnell offer a military discount?
Bushnell does offer a military and veterans discount, however, it does have to be applied for on their website under the “VIP Program”. This discount does apply to Bushnell’s entire family of brands! https://www.bushnell.com/vip-program
Are Blue Tees rangefinders good?
Blue Tees makes very good rangefinders and they are also good value for the money. Their rangefinders are simple, accurate, and have all the necessary features for most golfers. BlueTees golf took the rangefinder market by storm due to their use of social media and affiliate marketing strategies, which created a lot of competition for other high-quality rangefinder brands such as Bushnell.
