I used Bushnell’s Tour V6 Shift laser for a couple of years and I loved it. It never let me down, it worked brilliantly, and I never really felt like I was missing anything.
So when the new Tour V7 Shift landed I began to wonder – can Bushnell really keep improving their products year-on-year? Especially once you throw the Tour Hybrid into the mix. The technology in that laser works so well it’s hard to see where else Bushnell could go.
No pressure for the new Tour V7 Shift then!
Who Is It Aimed At?
This feels aimed at younger golfers with sharper eyesight, players with a bit of disposable income who want the newest gear, and better players chasing more precise yardages.
There’s also a fair bit of vanity in play here. Bushnell’s become the kind of brand name that’s practically turned into a verb, like ‘Hoover’ has for vacuum cleaners. So really, this is aimed at golfers who already know and trust the Bushnell name, and quite like being seen using one.
At £399 this is expensive for a rangefinder. That said, put next to some of Bushnell’s other products it’s actually one of their more affordable options, which maybe says more about the price of golf gear these days than anything else!
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The Tech
The headline feature is Slope First. This means the “Plays As” distance – the one already adjusted for slope – is what you see clearly and quickly on the display, rather than having to work it out yourself. It’s a small change on paper, but Bushnell says it can speed up how you use the device from shot to shot.
There’s also LINK-Enabled Technology, through a partnership with Foresight Sports. Pair the V7 Shift with the Bushnell Golf app, feed in your yardages from a launch monitor session, and it’ll give you personalised club recommendations right there on the rangefinder’s display.
Other features include the PinSeeker with Visual JOLT (a flashing red ring plus vibration) which we’ve seen in previous models, Yardage Range Recall via the Mode button, a dual-colour red/green OLED display, and Bushnell’s own BITE magnetic mount for sticking it straight onto your buggy or trolley.
It’s also IPX6 water resistant, and comes with a 2-year warranty as standard.
Looks
Bushnell have really nailed it with the looks of the Tour V7 Shift. The old Tour V6 came in white, which was probably its biggest weakness looks-wise. Bushnell have gone back to the classic black and orange colourway here, and it’s exactly what a Bushnell rangefinder should look like.
Like every Bushnell I’ve used, it’s got good weight to it and feels premium in the hand, with a grip that helps you hold it steady.
Even the carry case has had an upgrade – the old grey case felt lower quality, whereas the new black one looks better and feels more hard-wearing.
Performance
Setting this up couldn’t be more simple. The battery even comes inside the case, so you just take it out, clip it in, and you’re away with no fiddling around before you tee off.
There are just two buttons on top to shoot your yardage and switch modes, the lens is easy to adjust, and the slope switch on the side is simple to flick on or off depending on whether you need it legal for competition.
The PinSeeker and JOLT works a treat, as it always has. I wouldn’t say it’s noticeably faster than previous generations, but it’s tried and tested technology that just works.
The multicolour OLED display looks great too, it’s really just a case of picking whichever colour you can see best in the conditions you’re in. Bushnell have a knack for features that feel almost obvious once you’ve used them, like they’ve always been there.
The Bushnell Golf app and its LINK-Enabled recommendations are a genuinely impressive bit of tech, and could be really useful in the right hands. But there’s a case that this is technology going slightly further than it needs to. You can end up thinking too much about a number on a screen rather than trusting your own feel for the conditions and your game that day.
I’d guess the number of golfers who properly use this feature day to day is pretty small. For the right person at the right time, it’s a great addition. Personally, it’s not something I’d be reaching for every round, but I can see the appeal.
The Bushnell app itself is well designed too, it’s genuinely nicer to look at and navigate than most golf apps I’ve used.
It’s waterproof, backed by a 2-year warranty, which all adds a bit of peace of mind.
Verdict
If you already own a Tour V6 Shift, there’s no real reason to rush out and switch. It’s still a great laser, and the Tour V7 doesn’t revolutionise anything.
If you’re after the latest model though, the Tour V7 does look better, and the Slope First is a smart and handy feature. I wouldn’t personally upgrade purely for the LINK-Enabled technology – I’m not sure it’s something I want or need in my own game – but I can see why it would appeal to some golfers.
Several of the newer features aren’t actually legal for tournament play, so they’re really there for practice rounds and casual golf rather than competition. Still, it’s impressive to see a market leader like Bushnell continuing to innovate rather than just resting on what already works.
It’s also worth remembering that decent rangefinders now start from around £199, so the V7 Shift’s £399 price tag only really makes sense if the extra features and build quality do really matter to you.
Would I Use It?
Definitely.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Bushnell Tour V7 Shift cost?
The Tour V7 Shift has an RRP of £399 (or $399.99 in the US).
Is the Bushnell Tour V7 Shift waterproof?
It’s IPX6 water resistant, so it’ll comfortably handle rain and wet conditions on the course.
Is the Tour V7 Shift legal for tournament play?
With Slope switched off, yes — it’s USGA-conforming and legal for competition. However, several of the newer features, including Slope First, aren’t legal for tournament use, so they’re best kept for practice rounds and casual golf.
What’s the difference between the Tour V6 Shift and Tour V7 Shift?
The V7 switches from the V6’s white colourway back to a classic black and orange design, adds Slope First (which surfaces the slope-adjusted “Plays As” distance more clearly), and introduces LINK-Enabled Technology for personalised club recommendations via the Bushnell Golf app.
Does the Tour V7 Shift work with launch monitors?
Yes. Through its LINK-Enabled partnership with Foresight Sports, it can use stock yardages from a launch monitor session to give personalised club recommendations on the rangefinder’s display.
