Bushnell A1 Slope Review – The Ultimate Guide

We have not physically tested the A1 Slope on the course. This is an expert buyer’s review based on Bushnell Golf’s published specifications, our own product listing, verified reviews from customers who bought it from us, and the product knowledge of our PGA professional team. Where a specification is not published, we say so rather than guess. All scores are our editorial judgements, and all prices are current.

★ Reviewed Product

Our verdict: Bushnell A1 Slope

Laser rangefinder · slope · 5.1 oz · rechargeable

Bushnell’s smallest laser, with Tour-trusted slope technology, PinSeeker with JOLT, a BITE magnetic skin and a USB-C rechargeable battery rated for 50+ rounds per charge.

Slope on/offPinSeeker JOLTUSB-C rechargeableIPX6

£279Inc. VAT · Free delivery

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Design and build

The headline in any Bushnell A1 Slope review is size. At 3.75 x 1.42 x 2.36 inches and 5.1 oz, the A1 Slope weighs around 40 per cent less than the 9 oz Tour V7 Shift. It is small enough to fit in a trouser or jacket pocket, so you can range a flag and walk straight to your ball without going back to the trolley.

Rather than a magnet built into the body, the A1 uses a BITE magnetic skin, so it still clings to a trolley frame or buggy bar. Bushnell rates it IPX6, which covers rain but not submersion. The compact shape also makes it a natural fit for juniors and golfers with smaller hands, a point Bushnell makes a point of.

Display and ease of use

Through the eyepiece, you get 6x magnification with an 18 mm objective lens and fully multi-coated optics. The display is LCD rather than the brighter OLED found on the Tour V7 Shift and Shot Scope Pro L5. LCD is perfectly readable in normal light, but OLED tends to stand out better against dark trees or in low evening sun.

Operation is about as simple as lasers get. One button fires the laser, and the Mode button toggles slope on and off. PinSeeker with JOLT gives a short vibration when the laser locks onto the flag, which is the single most useful feature for golfers whose hands aren’t perfectly steady.

Accuracy, range and slope

On accuracy, our Bushnell A1 Slope review relies on Bushnell’s published figure of ±1 yard, and the brand quotes that at 500 yards. Our product page lists a range to a flag of 350+ yards, with a total range of up to 1,300 yards to larger reflective targets. That flag figure is shorter than the 500 yards quoted for the Tour models, but very few approach shots are longer than 250 yards.

The slope technology is the same patented system Bushnell uses across its range, adjusting each reading for the incline or decline between you and the target. For hilly courses, practice rounds and learning how elevation affects your clubs, it is genuinely valuable. Switch it off with the Mode button for competitions.

Battery and charging

Unlike every other laser in this comparison, the A1 Slope has an integrated rechargeable battery rather than a replaceable CR2 cell. Bushnell rates it for 50+ rounds, about 3,000 target acquisitions, on a full charge, and a full charge takes around four hours through USB-C.

For most club golfers that means charging a few times a season with the same cable as your phone, and no more buying CR2 cells. The trade-off is that you cannot swap in a spare on the course, so a quick top-up before a big competition is a sensible habit.

Connectivity

The A1 Slope has no Bluetooth and no app, and Bushnell lists it as not LINK-enabled. That keeps things simple, but if you want laser distances feeding into a GPS app or launch monitor, the Tour V7 Shift’s LINK feature or a Bluetooth model such as the Pro X3+, covered in our Bushnell Pro X3 guide, will suit you better.

Feature comparison matrix

Sources: Bushnell Golf product pages for the A1-Slope and Tour V7 Shift; manufacturer descriptions and specifications on our product pages for the Pro L5 and Tour V6. Bushnell weights converted from ounces. Slope must be off for most competition play.

Weight (grams, lighter is better)

A1 Slope 5.1 oz, Tour V6 8.5 oz and Tour V7 Shift 9 oz, converted to grams. Pro L5 weight as published by Shot Scope.

Range to a flag (yards)

Shot Scope publishes a 1,300-yard maximum range for the Pro L5 but no separate range-to-flag figure, so no bar is shown.

Two-year cost per round (104 rounds)

Purchase price divided by 104 rounds (one a week for two years). None of these lasers requires a subscription. Replacement CR2 batteries for the other three models are not included.

Bushnell A1 Slope review: our editorial ratings (out of 10)

These are our editorial scores, based on published specifications, customer reviews and our PGA professionals’ product knowledge. They are not measured test results.

Budget pick

Best budget pick: Shot Scope Pro L5

Laser rangefinder · OLED · 7x · adaptive slope

Shot Scope’s mid-range laser adds an ultra-clear OLED display, 7x magnification and a slope switch, and pairs with the Shot Scope app for GPS maps, all for £60 less than the A1 Slope.

OLED display7x magnificationSlope switchCart magnet

£219Inc. VAT · Free delivery

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Choose the Pro L5 if you want the most features for your money. Its OLED display and 7x magnification are both a step up on paper from the A1’s LCD and 6x; it has a dedicated slope switch, and the replaceable CR2 battery is rated for up to 5,800 measurements.

What you give up is size. At 230 g it is around 85 g heavier than the A1 Slope, so it is more of a trolley or bag laser than a pocket one.

No slope

Best without slope: Bushnell Tour V6

Laser rangefinder · 500+ yards · no slope

Bushnell’s Tour V6 offers a 500+ yard flag range, PinSeeker with Visual Jolt and a BITE magnetic mount, without slope, at the same £279 price.

500+ yardsVisual JoltBITE mountCompetition ready

£279Inc. VAT · Free delivery

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The Tour V6 makes more sense if you mostly play competitions and never need slope, or if you prefer a full-size laser with longer flag range. With no slope to switch off, it’s clearly competition-friendly.

At the same price, though, the A1 Slope gives you slope, a rechargeable battery and a much smaller body. If you want a full-size Bushnell with slope, look at the Tour V6 Shift in our Bushnell Tour V6 Shift guide.

Step up

Best step up: Bushnell Tour V7 Shift

Laser rangefinder · dual-colour OLED · Slope-Switch

Bushnell’s latest Tour laser shows slope-adjusted yardages in green on a dual-colour OLED display, adds Yardage Range Recall and LINK connectivity, and ranges 500 yards to a flag.

Dual-colour OLEDSlope-SwitchRange RecallLINK-enabled

£389Inc. VAT · Free delivery

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Choose the Tour V7 Shift if you want the best display and the most features in Bushnell’s Tour range. The green slope distances make it instantly clear which number you are reading, and the external Slope-Switch is easy for playing partners to check in competitions.

It costs £110 more than the A1 Slope, weighs about 110 g more, and uses a CR2 battery rather than a rechargeable one.

Need expert advice? Not sure whether you need slope, or whether a laser or GPS suits you better? Our PGA professional team is happy to help. Call us free on 0800 3681097 or email sales@thegolfshoponline.co.uk

Yes, with slope switched off.

Under Rule 4.3 of the Rules of Golf, distance-measuring devices are allowed unless a Local Rule bans them, but functions that gauge elevation are not permitted in competition. Turn slope off with the Mode button before your round, and check your club’s Local Rules, as some events require slope-capable devices to be clearly in their legal setting.

No, it works entirely on its own.

The A1 Slope has no Bluetooth and no app, so there is nothing to subscribe to, pair or update. Charge it, point it at the flag, and read the distance. If you want app-linked distances, look at the Tour V7 Shift with LINK or the Bluetooth-equipped Pro X3+ instead.

Bushnell rates it for 50+ rounds per charge.

That’s about 3,000 target acquisitions. The battery is built in and charges through USB-C, taking around four hours from empty to full. Most club golfers will only need to charge it a few times a season, but because the battery cannot be swapped, a top-up before a big event is worth doing.

A two-year limited warranty from Bushnell.

It covers defects in materials and workmanship, but not damage from misuse or unauthorised repairs. As an authorised Bushnell retailer, we supply genuine stock with the full manufacturer warranty, plus our 60-day returns policy on unused items. Our team can help with any warranty question on 0800 3681097.

Yes, it is one of the best fits we sell.

Bushnell designed the A1 Slope as its smallest laser and specifically mentions juniors and ladies. The compact body is easier to hold steady with smaller hands, and at 5.1 oz it is light enough to carry in a pocket. PinSeeker with JOLT vibration gives clear confirmation when the flag is locked.

It depends on whether you want pin or green distances.

A laser like the A1 Slope gives the exact distance to the flag, which is ideal for approach shots. A GPS gives front, middle and back yardages and hazards without needing line of sight. Many golfers carry both. Our top 5 golf GPS devices guide is a good starting point if GPS appeals.

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Bushnell A1 Slope £279 · Bushnell Tour V7 Shift £389