Inesis Golf 900 Rangefinder Review

Inesis Golf 900 Rangefinder Review

Knowing exactly how far you have to the target is essential for any golfer hoping to shoot their best score and there are different ways of achieving this. Handheld GPS devices are effective and popular but also have some drawbacks, whereas some golfers find a golf watch to be much more user friendly. There are pros and cons to both and it very much comes down to personal preference, but if you want a precise number (rather than the front, middle or back yardages you get with GPS) then a laser rangefinder remains the best solution.

What separates a good laser rangefinder from a bad one is how much trust and confidence the golfer places in the yardages the laser is giving you. That often comes down to how good the optics on the laser are and it must be said, having a high-quality laser can seriously improve your game, giving you an accurate reading on your yardage, thereby increasing the likelihood of you hitting your target.

For that reason, rangefinders are a very underrated piece of kit that can help players hit lower scores. But they can also be very expensive, with some top-spec models costing upwards of $300. Others, such as the Garmin Approach Z82, combine the best of both worlds, using both laser and GPS technology, but those are even more expensive again. 

Budget golf rangefinders are available, but they often tend not to deliver the same level of accuracy as high-end models on the market. But interestingly, we have found an exception to that rule in the Inesis Golf 900 rangefinder, which we had the pleasure of testing out on the golf course.  

This laser retails at approximately $199, making the Inesis Golf 900 one of the cheaper rangefinders on the market. Truthfully, that made us a little skeptical about what it could deliver, but we were pleasantly surprised when we put it through a series of tests against the premium Bushnell Tour V4 Shift rangefinder to see how it compared. The Tour V4 is a high-quality piece of kit which was one of the best and most reliable rangefinders on the market when it launched in 2017. And while there were some differences between the two models, the Inesis held its own against the much more expensive Bushnell laser which is no mean feat.

Despite its price, there is nothing cheap about the Inesis Golf 900. It comes in a nice sturdy case that is very well designed, while you’ll also receive a cloth for cleaning the lens of the rangefinder, as well as a CR2 lithium battery and a clip that will allow you to attach the laser to your golf bag. During our round, we had no issues retrieving the rangefinder from the case and never once felt like we were faffing around trying to retrieve the laser before playing a shot.

Golf is hard enough without having extra stress due to being unable to get a quick reading when there is a group impatiently waiting behind you on the tee. Efficiency, accuracy and ease of use is key, and the Inesis delivered on all counts. After pulling the laser from its case, we found we were able to get a reading on a distance within seconds by simply looking into the lens and pressing the yellow button on the top of the laser. Even when your view is not totally clear, the Inesis can give you a reading by scanning the horizon behind your target. 

That was a nifty function that we thought was very cool as it gave accurate readings even when our view was slightly obscured. Some other features to mention include a 6x magnification so you get a very clear view through the viewfinder. You can also set it up in metres or yards and it comes with a 2-year guarantee.

So we knew it was good, but how would it compare to the more premium Bushnell product? The V4 is a confidence-inspiring laser that we trust to give true yardage to the flag every time on the course. It's tried and tested and is up there with the best rangefinders offered by the likes of voice caddie and golf buddy for example. 

Yet we found minimal discrepancy between the yardages that Inesis 900 gave in comparison to the Bushnell. That is a big feather in the cap of the much cheaper Inesis model, which was also able to deliver compensated yardages that consider whether you are playing up or downhill, making it an excellent rangefinder for slopes. The slope functionality is turned on by pulling out a small yellow ring around the eyepiece but remember to turn this off during competition as slope functionality is not allowed during most tournaments.

You almost certainly aren't going to get exactly the same high level of functionality from a cheaper product compared to a higher end one, and one drawback we did find on the Inesis 900 compared to the Bushnell, was that it doesn’t display the battery level of the laser, which we noted can be seen on the Bushnell. 

The Bushnell also has a slightly clearer, brighter screen. But for accuracy we have to say that the Inesis matches up excellently and that overall it is an impressive rangefinder that sits nicely in your hand, is easy to operate and has the right weight to it. Time will tell if it can offer the durability golfers expect from their rangefinders, but what it can offer you is excellent value for the quality of the features it boasts. That makes this an excellent pick for any mid-range handicapper or golfer looking to pick up a top-quality rangefinder on a budget.