Bushnell’s A1-Slope: the Purist’s No-Nonsense Rangefinder

Playing Through: While rangefinders companies are constantly announcing new features and additions, some golfers prefer simplicity: precise distance, with and without slope. And that’s the Bushnell A1-Slope—a return to what matters most in a laser rangefinder. Combine it with the A1-Slope’s lightweight, water-resistant design, and this could be the best rangefinder for many golfers.

Trusted by over 98% of professionals, Bushnell is the gold standard for laser rangefinders. And with over 65 years in developing performance optics, it’s no secret why they’re the top dog in this category of golf equipment. Indeed, Bushnell has been constantly at the forefront of rangefinder development, with features like slope, slope with elements and pin vibration, to name a few.

But as the well-known proverb goes, sometimes less is actually more. And such is the case with the A1-Slope.

What You See Is What You Get, But It’s Also All You Need.
The A1-Slope Comes With a Case, BITE Magnetic Protective Skin
and USB-C Charging Cable

The A1-Slope symbolizes a return to the essential features that golfers need on the course: crystal clear optics that provide precise distances up to 1,300 yards with Bushnell’s patented, Tour-trusted slope function. By returning to the fundamentals, Bushnell is able to offer the most compact, lightweight rangefinder—just over 5 ounces—that provides industry-leading precision. Indeed, just like Bushnell’s other offerings, the A1-Slope is capable of accurately measuring pin flags within 1 yard up to 350 yards (which is confirmed by the JOLT vibration to protect against false reading).

And true to its spartan, tough, no-nonsense design, the A1-Slope features IPX6 water resistance and a rechargeable battery rated for over 50 rounds (or 3,000 target acquisitions).

The A1-Slope Features a Rechargeable Battery
Rated for 50 Rounds—a Season’s Worth for Some Golfers

As someone who’s tried a range of different rangefinders and GPS devices (both wearable and handheld), the A1-Slope truly is a breath of fresh air. It was significantly lighter and simpler to use—just click and shoot. You never needed to worry about a stable connection with satellites or a smartphone app, a firmware update or being in the wrong mode, all because the only thing you may change on the A1-Slope is whether slope is on or off (meaning the A1-Slope is also tournament compatible).

The A1-Slope’s compact and straightforward functionality shined brightest during the rounds I walked; the A1-Slope’s lightweight design meant that I wasn’t adding a bunch of weight to bag, while its compact design meant it could securely fit in my hand and also slide into my pocket as I walked between shots. But the A1-Slope was equally impressive when riding in a cart; just slide it into the BITE Magnetic Skin for some additional protection and, like many other rangefinders, convenience, as the A1-Slope can easily attach to the cart frame in between use.

Many of us complain about overstimulation in our daily lives, and such is the case with many of the rangefinders that have come to market in recent. Golfers already need to balance their lie, intended target, the wind, hazards hazards in your shot pattern, etc., so you’re likely overwhelmed by the time it comes to hit the next shot (I won’t even get started on swing thoughts). That means the A1-Slope is unique, because it immediately and accurately gives you information you actually need to make your decision with commitment: distance.

Yes, those additional features can be occasionally helpful, but there’s no avoiding the additional demands they come with (satellite and/or smartphone connection, membership fees, etc.), as well as the additional costs.

So returning to that well-known proverb, the A1-Slope’s real value is that it gives you so much more—precise slope adjusted-distances from the No. 1 rangefinder on Tour—while also giving you less—less weight in a more compact design that easily fits every golfer’s hand.