Bushnell Tour Hybrid vs Bushnell Tour V7 Shift Rangefinder: Two Top-Of-The-Range Models Battle It Out

Bushnell’s dominance in the rangefinder market is such that the US optics firm has almost become a generic term for the product. You’ll see it in the bag of tour players and hackers alike, all drawn to its reputation for accuracy and durability.

In this head to head we’re putting two of its most heralded rangefinders to the test. The Tour Hybrid, as the name indicates, combines both laser and GPS in the pursuit of reliable numbers, while the Tour V7 Shift is the latest in the Tour series, which has been largely responsible for cementing Bushnell’s name in any conversation surrounding the best rangefinders. But which is the right fit for you and your golf game? Let the battle of the best Bushnell golf rangefinders begin!

Design

Bushnell typically does a solid job of combining aesthetics with build quality and ergonomics. And that’s the case with the Tour Hybrid. It’s a compact design that’s nice and tactile, with a straightforward button layout that typifies its user-friendly nature and some textured surfaces top and bottom to assist with grip. The build quality is high, with a durable feel and nice touches such as the chrome framing on the dual lenses. The blue colorway, combining a matte finish and a few accents, adds to the modern, stylish aesthetic.

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However, the Tour V7 Shift might just win the design battle. It’s hard to argue with its black and orange color scheme; it’s subtle and classy and looks like the kind of rangefinder that James Bond might use should he need one! The matte finish is finished with some chrome flourishes and there’s texturing top and bottom, as with the Tour Hybrid, to help add some grip. Overall it’s a robust unit with a distinctly premium look that feels great in the hand.

Display

With 6x magnification, the Tour Hybrid brings some superbly sharp optics to the table, which makes the job of picking out your target far easier. The addition of the GPS functionality means that you don’t just get your number to the pin but also front, middle and back of the green yardages, which are projected directly into the viewfinder. If it sounds perfect, it’s not quite so. In poorer light the graphics weren’t quite as clear as we’d like them to be. However, this is nothing more than a minor issue and we never truly struggled to read the display.

Given that the Tour V6 Shift’s optics and display were one of its many strong points, we were glad to see that the updated V7 Shift isn’t radically different. The OLED display is once again crystal clear, and with the press of a button is illuminated like the Vegas strip. The numbers are easy to read, with a color-coded system used to differentiate between the actual yardage and the slope-adjusted number - it’s orange for the former and green for the latter. Combined it makes for a display that’s nothing short of class-leading.

Features

The Tour Hybrid manages to successfully manage a balancing act of being extremely user-friendly while still packing in lots of impressive features. We’ve already mentioned the built-in GPS, which out on the course really does add another level of detail. Being able to look at the distances to the front, middle and back of the green in relation to your pin yardage helps you to make a more informed decision on your strategy, especially if you don’t have a pin sheet, or a caddie, to help you out. It’s also the first Bushnell rangefinder offering both laser and GPS slope-adjusted yardages; as for the slope it’s turned on and off with ease via a button on the side of the unit.

JOLT is a proprietary feature that helps Bushnell owners know when they have locked in on the flagstick. It delivers both a short burst of vibration and a flashing red circle to confirm that you have selected the right target rather than a tree or bush behind the green. It’s a smart bit of tech that does add peace of mind. As does the IPX6 waterproof rating that allows the Tour Hybrid to perform its duties even when the weather turns bad.

As mentioned, the Tour V7 Shift isn't a radical departure from the previous model. The slope function uses the same switch on the side of the unit, which makes it easy to use and for your playing partner to spot; slope functions aren’t allowed to be used during competition, so this clarity is a nice touch.

There are some new features however. Pinseeker, which isolates the flagstick, and Visual JOLT are both nice additions, with it now offering a flashing orange ring around the lens as well as the regular vibration to let you know you are locked in on your target. Having tested the Tour V7 Shift in some pretty overcast conditions, both features along with the general clarity of the display were of great help.

Another handy feature is the yardage recall option, which at the press of a button, tells you your last ranged distance. LINK-Enabled technology is also on offer via Foresight sports, which allows you to add your stock club yardages and get a club recommendation sent the display using these numbers. It’s akin to having your own caddy and is another feature of the Tour V7 Shift that should bring some added confidence to your play.

Which should you choose?

Choose the Bushnell Tour Hybrid if...

- You want an easy-to-use unit
- You want in-built GPS
- You want slope adjustment on both laser and GPS distances

Choose the Bushnell Tour V7 Shift if...

- You want a class-leading display
- You don't want to buy the most expensive Bushnell laser
- You appreciate a premium look and feel