Devil Ball Proving Ground: Bushnell Tour Z6 Jolt

Welcome to Devil Ball's Proving Ground, where we put the latest golf gear through its paces. Today we look at the Bushnell Tour Z6 Jolt rangefinder. 

Tester â€" Shane Bacon â€" Handicap: +1.0

Target Golf Audience â€" All handicaps

Initial Thoughts

These days, not having some device in your golf bag to measure distance means you are immediately at a disadvantage. Unlike PGA Tour players, we don’t have a partner in crime stepping off every distance from this yardage marker or that sprinkler head, and if we really want to quicken this game recreationally we have to find faster ways to play.

The answer, in my opinion, is rangefinders, and the Bushnell Tour Z6 Jolt might be my favorite one yet.

The first thing you’ll notice with the Tour Z6 is the compact size of this device. Some rangefinders can be bulky and force you to use both hands, but the Z6 is small enough that you can shoot a flagstick with just one hand (as long as you have a decently steady hand), which is helpful considering all the stuff we golfers tend to have in our hands at any given moment (golf ball, tees, club, beer, pencil).

This device is compact, durable and extremely sharp to look at, with the subtle white outlines brought to life with the rubber casing and cool red highlights to things like the logo and the top button.

We like our technology to look good, and this is absolutely a device that fits that mold.

On-Course Thoughts

If you ask any golfer what the hardest thing is about a rangefinder, the number one answer you would most likely get is that it’s tough to actually hit the flag consistently. That is one of the reasons that the Tour Z6 Jolt is so cool because it literally shakes in your hand when you connect with something.

The “jolt” idea is simply to help inform you that you hit what you are trying to hit, and while it might not read like something you’ll love, the first moment you hit that flag and the thing vibrates in your hand you’ll understand what I’m talking about.

On top of that you’ll be enjoying a rangefinder that can hit things 450 yards away, so unless you’re Happy Gilmore you should be good from pretty much any place on a golf course.

With that, the Vivid Display Technology is perfect no matter how sunny or shady it is outside, and the whole thing just feels more solid when you hold it in your hand and try to get a distance for your next shot.

Two of my favorite features on the device? The first one is that the Z6 will give you distances to the decimal point, so instead of having 112 yards to the flag you would have 112.8 yards to the flag. Sure, that might no really matter to some of us, but it’s cool to know this thing is that accurate and dead-on. 

Also, I love that through the viewfinder you can see how much battery you have left in your Bushnell. That might not matter when you first get the device, but imagine being in a tournament at your local club and having your rangefinder die on the 14th tee. That would be a huge bummer and could really lose you shots in an event.

Final Verdict

Isn’t the biggest compliment you can pay something is by using it? That’s what I’m doing with the Tour Z6 Jolt right now.

I love rangefinders and love being able to hit any distance I want on the golf course, and this one is as good as any I’ve seen out there. You’ll love the size, you’ll love the Jolt technology and with the ability to monitor your battery power you won’t ever be left blind on a golf course again.

www.bushnellgolf.com, $399