The Bushnell A1 Slope runs on a single CR2 3-volt lithium battery and turns its slope function on and off with the Mode button, not with a sliding switch on the side of the housing. That one difference is the thing to understand before you carry it into a competition: there is no coloured indicator anyone can see from the outside, so proving slope is off means showing someone the display. This page covers the battery, the mode sequence, the faults owners actually hit, and what fits it.
Bushnell A1 Slope at a glance
- Battery: one CR2 3V lithium — the same cell as every Bushnell Tour and Pro laser
- Slope control: Mode button, cycled on the display — no side slider
- No external slope indicator, so nothing to point at in a rules discussion
- Legal in competition with slope off, like any other unit — the difficulty is demonstrating it
- Conventional vertical laser body, so standard universal cases and magnetic straps fit
Specifications we can confirm
Only figures we could trace to Bushnell’s own support material are listed. Where a number is not confirmed, it says so rather than being filled in with a plausible guess — a wrong specification on a battery or a slope control costs you either a wasted order or an argument on the tee.
| Item | Bushnell A1 Slope | Confirmed by |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | One CR2 3V lithium | Bushnell support material |
| Slope control | Mode button — slope is a mode, not a switch | Bushnell support material |
| External slope indicator | None | Bushnell support material |
| Body style | Conventional vertical laser | Product listings |
| Maximum range | Not confirmed here | — |
| Magnification | Not confirmed here | — |
| Water rating | Not confirmed here | — |
| Built-in magnet | Not confirmed here — treat as an add-on | — |
Every model we cover, with its battery and its slope control side by side, is on the golf rangefinder model index.
How to turn slope off on a Bushnell A1 Slope
Press the Mode button to cycle the unit through its modes until the slope indication leaves the display. There is no slider to move and no coloured mark to cover. When slope is off the unit shows true, uncompensated line-of-sight distance; when it is on it shows a compensated, play-as number that accounts for elevation change.
This puts the A1 Slope in the same group as the Garmin Approach lasers, where slope lives in a settings menu, and most of the Amazon-brand units that cycle slope with Mode. Where the switch physically sits on every model we document is in the table on how to turn slope off on a rangefinder, and the rule itself is set out on are rangefinders legal in golf.
Battery: what the A1 Slope takes and what goes wrong
One CR2 3V lithium cell. Not a CR123A — that is the older Bushnell Pro X7, and mixing the two up is the single most common ordering mistake across the Bushnell laser range. A CR2 in a rangefinder that gets weekend use typically lasts a full season, because the unit spends nearly all of its life asleep.
Rechargeable “RCR2” cells are sold alongside standard CR2s and run at a different voltage. Several manufacturers warn against them, and a unit behaving oddly on a rechargeable cell is not a fault worth chasing — fit a standard CR2 first.
| What you see | Most likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Display dim, ranges short or inconsistent | Cell near end of life | Fit a fresh CR2 |
| Nothing on the display at all | Cell flat, or dirty contacts | New cell; wipe the contacts with a dry cloth |
| Unit works but slope will not stay off | Mode cycled past the setting | Press Mode again and confirm on the display before you tee off |
| Works on a rechargeable cell, then stops | RCR2 voltage mismatch | Use a standard CR2 |
Battery type for every Bushnell model is on the Bushnell rangefinder battery page, and the cross-brand version covering 22 models is on which battery does my rangefinder use.
A1 Slope problems and how owners fix them
Most of what looks like a failure on a laser rangefinder is a battery, a dirty lens or a mode setting. Work through these in order before you start a warranty claim.
| Symptom | First thing to try | If that fails |
|---|---|---|
| Will not lock onto the flag | Brace against a bag or a post and scan across the pin rather than stabbing at it | Clean the objective lens; reset the eyepiece dioptre |
| Numbers look too short or too long | Check whether slope is on — a compensated number is not the same as the real one | Confirm the unit is in yards, not meters |
| Display blurry | Turn the eyepiece dioptre until the reticle is sharp | If it never sharpens, the optics need service |
| Reading in meters | Cycle units with the button sequence for your model | Pull the battery for ten seconds, then retry |
| Fogged inside the lens | Dry it out of the case at room temperature | Internal seal failure — service |
| Dead after a knock | Refit the cell and check the contacts | Warranty claim |
A symptom-by-symptom version covering every brand is on rangefinder not working. If it does need Bushnell to look at it, the warranty terms and the route to a claim are on rangefinder repair and warranty, and the unit-switching sequences per model are on meters to yards.
Cases, magnets and mounts that fit an A1 Slope
The A1 Slope has a conventional vertical laser body, so the great majority of universal cases fit it. Two things are worth checking before you buy: whether the case still closes once a magnet mount is stuck to the side, and whether the belt clip or carabiner suits how you actually carry it.
- Bushnell cases by model — what ships in the box, and the aftermarket options
- Rangefinder magnets and straps — the add-on route if your unit has no magnet built in
- Cart and push-cart holders — magnetic straps versus clamp cradles
- All golf rangefinder cases compared
Should you buy an A1 Slope, or a unit with a slider?
It comes down to how you play. If you never enter a counting competition, a mode-based slope control is fine and arguably more convenient — nothing to knock out of position in the bag. If you play club events, medals or anything with a card, the visible slider on a Bushnell Shift model, a Pro XE or a Callaway 300 Pro removes an entire category of awkward conversation.
- Casual and social golf only: mode-based slope is a non-issue.
- Club competitions: prefer a physical switch with a coloured indicator.
- Buying used: a CR2 unit can be brought back to life with a $4 cell; a unit with a sealed rechargeable cell cannot.
- Whatever you buy, check the battery door and the optics before you pay — neither shows up in a photograph.
The models that use a slider and how each one indicates slope is on are compared on best golf rangefinders with slope. If you are buying second-hand, the inspection checklist is on buying a used golf rangefinder, and what a fair price looks like by tier is on golf rangefinder deals.
How do you turn slope off on a Bushnell A1 Slope?
Press the Mode button to cycle the unit until the slope indication leaves the display. There is no side slider on the A1 Slope and no coloured indicator on the housing — slope is a mode, so the display is the only place it is shown.
What battery does the Bushnell A1 Slope take?
One CR2 3-volt lithium cell, the same as every Bushnell Tour and Pro laser. Not a CR123A — that is the older Pro X7. A fresh CR2 normally lasts a season of weekend golf.
Is the Bushnell A1 Slope legal in competition?
Yes, with slope switched off, on the same terms as any other distance-measuring device. The practical difficulty is that there is no external indicator to show a playing partner or a referee, so you have to be willing to hand the unit over and let them see the display.
Does the Bushnell A1 Slope have a slope switch on the side?
No. Unlike the Pro XE, the Pro X3 and the Tour Shift models, it has no sliding Slope-Switch. Slope is cycled with the Mode button.
Why is my A1 Slope not locking onto the flag?
Usually technique or a dirty lens rather than a fault. Brace the unit against a bag or a post, scan slowly across the pin instead of stabbing at it, and clean the objective lens. If it still will not hold a lock, fit a fresh CR2 before assuming the laser has failed.
Does the A1 Slope have a built-in magnet?
We have not been able to confirm a built-in magnet from a manufacturer source, so treat it as an add-on. A magnetic strap or sleeve does the job on any conventional laser body.
How this page was made. Written by The Golf Rangefinder editorial team from manufacturer specifications, published manuals and aggregated owner reviews. We do not test rangefinders in hand and we never claim to. Where a specification could not be traced to a manufacturer source it is marked “not confirmed here” rather than estimated. Last checked: September 2026. Prices change; the retailer page is the final word.
Sources
- Bushnell Golf — product support and FAQ pages
- Bushnell Golf — product manuals and legacy device library
- USGA — Rules of Golf, Rule 4.3 (equipment: distance-measuring devices)
- Battery retailer fitment listings for CR2 golf rangefinder models