One of the key elements of creating a great product – whether that’s rangefinders or widgets – is to avoid reinventing the wheel, and that’s where Bushnell excel. Our Bushnell Tour Z6 Jolt Rangefinder Review highlights these factors.
When we originally reviewed the Tour Z6 (the Jolt’s predecessor) we noted that it ticked a lot of boxes, particularly in terms of magnification and incredible precision, but it had one or two areas which had room for improvement.
That’s where the new Z6 Jolt has helped to crank things up a notch. Continue reading to see how the Jolt faired!
We reviewed the Bushnell Tour Z6 Jolt Rangefinder as part of our Best Golf Rangefinders Review (read more here). The Z6 came out tops in the review, just ahead of the Leupold GX-2i2 Rangefinder and our Editor’s Choice the Bushnell Tour V4 Slope Rangefinder.
If you already own it please feel free to leave your own review in the comments at the end of this Bushnell Tour Z6 Jolt Rangefinder Review.
Bushnell Tour Z6 Jolt Rangefinder
Our Assessment
Okay, well, let’s just cut to the chase here. I loved the new jolt technology! And I think you will too. The vibrations you feel when you’ve locked onto your target (ie. the flag) have a fantastic way of making you feel confident ahead of your shot.
Or maybe that was just me! Either way, there isn’t a bucket-load of difference between this model and its predecessor, the ‘ordinary’ Z6. One of the problems we found with the old Z6 was that you had to push the firing button pretty hard in order to be activated, but they’ve clearly addressed that with the Z6 Jolt, as we had no problems this time around.
Other than that, you’ve got the excellent magnification, a decent size, accuracy to within 0.5 yards and a super speedy and vivid display. What’s not to like?
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Pros
Cons
Key Facts
Features | Details |
|---|---|
Launch RRP | From $399.00 |
Zoom Level | 6x |
Distance Range | 1300 yards (450+ yards to flag) |
Size | 1.3 x 4 x 2.9 inches |
Weight | 8 oz |
USGA Approved | Yes |
Manufacturer's Website |
Official Video
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Bushnell Tour Z6 Jolt Rangefinder Detailed Review
Build Quality & Features
There was nothing wrong with the build quality of the Z6, and this little gem retains all those fine properties with a little bit extra.
Stick in the palm of your hand, and you’ll already get the measure of its durability, and it’s fully waterproof too. Nothing wrong with the design either – it’s slender, stylish, and the white aluminium gives it a good twinkle.
In terms of features, you’ll no doubt be a fan of the Vivid Display Technology, which does wonders for enhancing the contrast and clarity of your view.
One of the apparent selling points is the alleged step up of their ‘Extreme Speed Precision’ technology. I didn’t notice any particular difference between this and the Z6, but either way, I doubt you’ll have any complaints on this front.
And then there’s the jolt. Yes, it will make you feel like a kid again. But it also serves a purpose. When you’re hacking it around on a lovely sunny, the glare doesn’t always make it easy to know exactly when you’ve locked in your target. But the jolt certainly does!
Image Credit: Official Bushnell Image
Size and Weight
This rangefinder has absolutely nailed it in terms of striking the balance between size and durability. It looks to be tough, but it’s a non-bulky build that fits perfectly in the palm of your hand.
And at 0.5 lbs, it’s as light as you could possibly want.
You’ll get a good grip on it with the well-rubbered exterior, and the slender design will ensure that it fits nicely into one of the pockets in your golf bag – assuming you don’t want to make use of the carrying case and hang it on the bag itself.
Ease of Use
Using this puppy on the course couldn’t really be any more straightforward to be honest. Pick. Aim. Lock. Fire!
There’s a bright red epicentre which you’ll want to fix the target in the centre of.
Hold it steady and keep your finger down on the laser button at the top, and the ‘pinseeker’ technology will do the rest for you. That’s pretty much it.
The glass is tinted, which ensures that the red LED digits are easy to decipher, even if there is a glare on the day. The magnification is potent (6 times), and the accuracy unsurpassed.
The only downside (if you can call it that) is that, as with any rangefinder, any trees or obstacles will stymie you. Two solutions to that… get a GPS, or keep the ball in the fairways!
Image Credit: Official Bushnell Image
Value for Money
At first, I was quoted $399 for the Z6 Jolt. But dig a little deeper, and it’s actually widely available for $50 less than that. Is that expensive? It’s slightly above average, you could argue.
But we genuinely believe this represents good value for what is a high-quality, state-of-the-art piece of machinery.
You get what you pay for, and if you pay for this, you get one of the best. Now let’s hope that ‘one of the best’ translates into ‘shaving shots off your score’.
I’ll bet you 10 bucks it will…
