Shot Scope PRO ZR Laser Rangefinder

The new Shot Scope PRO ZR laser rangefinder might just be another rangefinder in the crowd.

Then again, it may very well reset market expectations on what you should expect for $300.

Shot Scope product releases tend to sneak up on us in the golf media. Even though the company is the official on-course data partner of MyGolfSpy, Shot Scope tends to quietly go about its business before springing a launch on us.

Give the company credit, it never ceases to surprise. And the new Shot Scope Pro ZR laser rangefinder might wind up surprising you, too.

Shot Scope PRO ZR: A Lot for Not A Lot

There are three things you’ll notice when you use the new Shot Scope PRO ZR laser rangefinder.  The first is the new premium optics package with a new LCD display. Second is the range – this sucker is good to 1,500 yards.

And the third is the metal body. Shot Scope calls it DuraShield Hardshell but it’s a full metal jacket.

“When you look at the rangefinder market, there’s a lack of metal,” says Gavin Dear, Shot Scope’s Chief Commercial Officer. “It’s a lot of plastic.”

While plastic is remarkably durable, Dear says he started thinking about metal while playing a round of golf.

“I’m watching guys throw rangefinders across the fairways to each other,” he says. “One guy rolled up in his cart, didn’t even stop and tossed his rangefinder to his buddy. I’m like, ‘Wow.’”

When you spend a couple of hundred bucks on your rangefinder, tossing it about like that can be considered brave. If you spent $400 or more, it qualifies as foolhardy.

“I challenged our guys to come up with a metal body and I challenged them to see what we could do in terms of pushing as much tech into it as possible.”

I Can See For Mile(s)

There are 1,760 yards in a mile. The new Shot Scope PRO ZR can’t see quite that far, but it’s close. According to the company, it can lock onto a target and read distances up to 1,500 yards away.

So if you’re planning to lay up on that long par-19, Shot Scope has you covered.

Along with the DuraShield Hardshell (which is water-resistant by the way), the Shot Scope PRO ZR features Adaptive Slope technology and red or black optics. Slope can be turned off for competition with a switch and you can toggle between red and black using a button on top. Red is particularly useful in twilight conditions.

“The firing mechanism is instant,” says Dear. “Some rangefinders bounce a bit as you’re trying to lock on. The ZR doesn’t bounce at all. I doubt you’ll find anything that locks on quicker.”

The Pro ZR features 6x magnification and target-lock vibration with improved stabilization. It comes with a waterproof case as well as a strong internal magnet to attach it to your cart. And if you’ve ever lost your rangefinder on a bumpy cart path, you’ll appreciate the metal construction.

You can even toss it across the fairway to your buddy. But we don’t recommend it.

Where Does the PRO ZR Fit?

2023 was an interesting year for Shot Scope with eight new product launches including three laser rangefinders. The PRO L2, at $149, was MyGolfSpy’s Best Budget Rangefinder for 2023. The updated PRO LX also ranked highly and was a relative bargain at $269.99.

The PRO LX+, at $369.99, is the same rangefinder as the PRO LX but includes Shot Scope’s H4 GPS and Shot Tracking device.

With the PRO ZR coming in hot at $299.99, there is a chance the PRO LX might get lost in the shuffle.

“We know the PRO L2 is bang-on in relation to its price point,” says Dear. “We’re going to keep the LX out there but it might get lost.”

There is, as the Scots say, a wee bit of concern that golfers might look at the $399.99 price tag for the PRO ZR and turn their noses up, concluding it can’t be as good as a $500 Bushnell or Garmin. Dear says that is a worry with online sales since buyers can’t actually touch it or try it. He doesn’t have that worry about retail.

“When golfers go into a store and touch and feel this thing and see it’s only $300? It’s hard to walk past, especially when compared to what you can get at the $250 price range. I do fear for online sales, at least at the beginning. But once we get some online reviews in place, I expect it to shank.”

I don’t speak fluent Scottish but I believe in Edinburgh, “shank” is good.

Shot Scope PRO ZR Laser Rangefinder: Price and Availability

You’ll find the Shot Scope PRO ZR laser rangefinder at any golf retailer that sells Shot Scope products. Dear says it will be in all PGA Tour SuperStore locations as well as at DICK’S Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy. It will also be available online.

It hits the shelves in early February and retails for $299.99.

For more information, visit the Shot Scope website.