May, 2023
The VPRO500 laser golf rangefinder by TecTecTec looks like your everyday basic model, but it’s packing some great features that may surprise you, especially considering it’s very budget-friendly. However, despite its very basic appearance, matte black color scheme, and smooth lines, this rangefinder is one of the top performing rangefinders in this price range.
Read on to learn more about what the VPRO can do for your golf game.
Overview and Features
TecTecTec continues to surprise us by producing innovative rangefinders that are simplistic in design but solid performers that you can really rely on when you’re playing a round. This manufacturer is known for their budget-friendly line of basic rangefinders that don’t have much to offer as far as extra features go. Not every golfer wants a rangefinder that comes loaded with a wide range of features and modes to choose from. In fact, some golfers are looking for a simple model that’s easy to use, accurate, portable, and durable. TecTecTec brings you that with their latest model, a rangefinder that’s designed for beginners and golfers who are interested in a model that can offer a solid and dependable performance on the course.
In terms of range, the TecTecTec VPRO offers five hundred and forty yards of continuous scan. While it may not be the highest coverage, it’s better than what other budget-friendly rangefinders offer, and it will work well for most golfers on the course. Aside from the range, you’ll also be happy to know that it’s also very accurate.
When it comes to a rangefinder, aside from range capability, accuracy is crucial, and this model is no slacker.
This model has 6x magnification, providing golfers with a bright, vivid view. Similar to higher priced rangefinders, this model is capable of locking onto a flag within seconds.
Many seasoned golfers choose this model, not only because it’s fast, accurate, and reliable, but because it’s tournament legal. Models that are equipped with the popular slope feature are not. But this basic model can be used in a tournament or another type of competition, which can be a major selling point for some golfers.
The rangefinder’s ergonomic design is perfect for both right and left-handed golfing.
Warranty
The manufacturer offers a two-year warranty on all parts and lifetime customer support.
Pinsensor
Not only will you get faster range readings, but you’ll get a reading accuracy of one yard. The Pinsensor technology also enhances this model’s ability to differentiate between targets in the foreground and obstacles in the background. Basically, the rangefinder is able to accurately measure the distance through overlapping obstacles, so it’ll lock on to every hazard and flag.
Optics
Despite the rangefinder’s lower price tag, the manufacturer didn’t skimp on optics quality.
This model features multilayered, ultra-clear optics that measure in at twenty-four millimeters. The eyepiece is comfortable and highly adjustable. There have been some reports that the lenses can fog up at times, fortunately, this problem is not very common. Aside from displaying distance, the lenses also display the battery life.
Design
While it may look fragile, it’s anything but. The solid casing is durable and made out of shock absorbing materials that will prevent damage caused by falls.
It’s also very lightweight and compact, which makes it a more pocket-friendly model compared to the Laser Link Golf rangefinder. For more damage protection, it comes with its own carrying case.
The rangefinder will feel solid in your hand and has some good heft to it.
Performance
This model has a lot to offer including slope compensation, a pin seeking mode, and sharp optics. While it’s not exactly a high-end model it does provide some great benefits out on the course. It’s user-friendly, with a simple interface that allows you to quickly toggle through the menu in order to select or adjust features. As we touched on earlier, it’s very accurate, which is the most important quality for a rangefinder.
The Pinsensor feature adds to the rangefinder’s accuracy and ease of use. It allows the golfer to accurately determine distance by ignoring any overlapping obstacles that can interfere with the user’s swing. As an example, the Pinsensor will disregard reflections from objects and water and will instead continue calculating the distance to the next hole, providing you with more accurate information.
Aside from the Pinsensor feature, this model is as basic as it gets. It doesn’t come loaded with any special features, and the display has a reputation for bouncing around at times if the user doesn’t have a very stable grip.
Unlike other popular models, the VPRO doesn’t beep or vibrate once you’ve locked onto a target. Instead, the user will know when they’ve located a pin when they receive a distance reading. But don’t let the lack of an alert deter you from buying this rangefinder. Many golfers love target alerts, which are often found on higher priced models. But this type of alert is not a feature that’s exactly essential to the operation or accuracy of a rangefinder. Pay attention to the display and you’ll be able to easily determine when you’ve locked on to a target, without any extra help.
Is the VPRO Worth a Second Look?
Basically, this rangefinder is perfect for the beginner who isn’t quite ready for an over the top tech heavy rangefinder. It’s also a good fit for the seasoned golfer who wants a rangefinder that’s basic and easy to use, one that’s not too flashy or overly complicated.
But both the beginner and seasoned golfer will benefit from using this device on the course, if a basic model is what they’re looking for. While it isn’t flashy, it’s still a solid performer. When you’re on a tight budget and searching for a reliable rangefinder that can meet your needs out on the course, you’ll be glad you chose this model by TecTecTec.
If you’re looking for a rangefinder that’s equipped with more modes and extra features, click here to check out other leading models in our golf rangefinder buyer’s guide.
Basic Modes
This model offers a couple of modes to choose from that will help to improve the rangefinder’s performance in certain types of environments and lighting conditions. To use you’ll press the mode button, which will present you with a few options. You can use the normal mode if the course environment doesn’t have many obstacles such as brush and trees.
The pro scan mode is a consumer favorite. You can use it to quickly scan for a continuous distance reading.
This mode can identify hazards including sand traps, water, trees, structures and of course, flags. When you pan the device over the green the distance of objects will pop up on the display as you slowly move the rangefinder over different targets. If you want a quick distance reading, the fact that the distance of other objects continuously pops up on the screen can be frustrating.
Battery
This model uses a CR2 lithium battery that can easily last for twelve months, even with heavy use. The battery life is much better than what you’ll get from higher priced models. However, this is probably due to the fact that the rangefinder doesn’t come with a variety of features that will quickly drain the battery.
Pros
- High-quality multilayered lenses
- Excellent range
- Intuitive user interface
- Tournament legal
- Pro scan mode
Cons
- Lenses may fog up
- The display is not very stable at times
- No pin locking feature
Geek Gofler.com Rating as of May, 2023:
As you can see, despite its lack of flash, this rangefinder has a lot to offer golfers of all skill levels.
The VPRO500 by TecTecTec is a reasonably priced rangefinder that doesn’t come equipped with very many modes, but it’s still a great choice if you want a simple rangefinder that can get the job done. The main complaints golfers had regarding performance involved the rangefinder’s jerky display that can be hard to read if the user has shaky hands. Additionally, in certain weather conditions, the lenses have been known to fog up.
Overall, considering the low price, we still feel that this is one rangefinder you can depend on, and it easily outperforms any other model in this price range. In fact, we were impressed by the device’s overall accuracy and speed. We gave this model a rating of four out of five stars.
