To turn off slope on a rangefinder, slide the slope switch on the side of the unit until the colored (usually red or orange) indicator disappears; on units without a switch, press the Mode button until the slope icon or the second “plays-like” number leaves the display. On most current units it takes two seconds.
This page covers how to turn off slope on a rangefinder model by model, what slope does to the number, why it must be off in competition, and how to tell at a glance whether it is on.
Key facts
- Slope uses an inclinometer to show a “plays-like” distance next to the line-of-sight yardage. Uphill plays longer, downhill shorter.
- Rule 4.3a: a device may measure distance but not elevation. A slope-capable unit is fine in competition if the function is switched off for the round.
- Bushnell Shift models, Pro XE and Pro X3 use a physical Slope-Switch; slope is ON when the red/orange indicator shows.
- Blue Tees, Precision Pro NX10 and Callaway 300 Pro also use a side switch. Bushnell A1 Slope, Garmin and most budget units use a button or menu.
- A Bushnell Tour V4, V5 or V6 without “Shift” in the name has no slope at all.
How to turn off slope on a rangefinder, by model
Only models whose slope control is confirmed by the manufacturer or well documented are listed.
| Model | How to turn slope off | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bushnell Tour V4 Shift | Slide the Tour V4 emblem on the left side down until the red mark is hidden. | Plain Tour V4: no slope. |
| Bushnell Tour V5 Shift | Slide the side Slope-Switch until the orange indicator is covered. | Plain Tour V5: no slope at all. |
| Bushnell Tour V6 Shift / V7 Shift | Same Slope-Switch: slide until no color shows. | Indicator hidden = conforming. |
| Bushnell Pro XE | Slope-Switch on the side; slide to hide the indicator. | Also uses temperature and pressure. |
| Bushnell Pro X3 | Locking Slope-Switch: unlock, then slide to off. | Lock stops it moving in the bag. |
| Bushnell A1 Slope | Press Mode to turn slope on or off. | No switch; Bushnell’s product page confirms. |
| Precision Pro NX10 | Flip the side slope switch to off. | No color showing means off. |
| Precision Pro R1 Smart | Move the switch so no green is visible. | R1 guide: green visible = on. |
| Blue Tees Series 3 Max | Slide the Slope Switch on the side to off. | Same switch on the Series 4 Ultra. |
| Callaway 300 Pro | Side slope on/off switch; slide to off. | Indicator visible when on. |
| Garmin Approach Z82 / Z30 | Turn slope off in the Settings menu. | Menu, not a slider. |
| Gogogo Sport Vpro | Press Mode until the slope icon leaves the display. | Some RedTiger units add a side switch. |
Where the slope switch is on each brand
Bushnell: the Slope-Switch
Every Bushnell with “Shift” in the name, plus the Pro XE and Pro X3, has a slider on the side of the housing. On the Tour V4 Shift it is the emblem itself; on later units a small tab. Slope is on when red or orange shows and off when covered, so a rules official can see the state without touching the unit. The Pro X3 adds a lock. The A1 Slope is the exception and uses the Mode button. Older single-button slope editions such as the Tour V3 Slope put slope inside the same long-press setup cycle as yards and meters.
Precision Pro, Blue Tees and Callaway
The Precision Pro NX10, Blue Tees Series 3 Max and Callaway 300 Pro all use the same idea: a side switch with a visible color when slope is on; Precision Pro’s R1 uses green. On the older NX9 and NX7 check the side first; if there is no slider, Mode toggles it and a slope icon shows while it is active.
Garmin and budget brands
Garmin’s Approach Z82 and Z30 handle slope as a menu setting, next to units. RedTiger, Gogogo, Revasri and similar Amazon units mostly cycle slope with the Mode button; some RedTiger models add a side switch. On all of them, two numbers or an arrow with degrees means slope is on.
What does slope do on a rangefinder?
A slope rangefinder measures two things: the laser gives the straight-line distance to the flag, and an inclinometer measures the angle up or down to it. From those it calculates how far the shot will play: longer uphill, shorter downhill. Some units also show the elevation change in feet or degrees; others show only the “plays-like” number.
There is no fixed rule such as “one yard per yard of elevation”. The adjustment depends on angle and distance together, and manufacturers use their own formulas; Bushnell’s Pro XE and Pro X3 even fold temperature and barometric pressure into the number. Treat it as a good estimate, not a law; it knows nothing about wind. Our how rangefinders work page covers the sensor. Button-based units can also reset slope to default after a battery change, so re-check.
Why slope has to be off in a tournament
Rule 4.3a of the Rules of Golf allows distance and direction information but not measuring elevation changes. A rangefinder that can measure slope is still allowed, provided the function is switched off for the whole round. A committee can ban distance devices altogether under Model Local Rule G-5, so read the entry sheet. Using slope costs the general penalty (two strokes, or loss of hole) for a first breach and disqualification for a second.
That is why the visible indicator matters: Bushnell’s red patch, Precision Pro’s green tab and the Callaway and Blue Tees markers let a fellow competitor see the unit is conforming without a conversation. Turn slope off on the first tee, not when someone asks. Which events allow what is on are rangefinders legal in golf.
How to tell whether slope is on
- Look at the switch. Any color showing means slope is on.
- Look through the eyepiece. A second distance, a hill icon, “SLP” or a degree figure means slope is active. One clean number means off.
- Range something level. On flat ground the two numbers match with slope on; with slope off there is only one.
If slope will not turn off, make sure you are not mistaking the yards/meters indicator for the slope icon. A switch that moves without changing the display is a warranty issue. Our slope rangefinder shortlist compares units with the clearest switches.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the slope button on a rangefinder?
On most current units it is a slider on the side of the body, often built into the logo (Bushnell Shift models, Precision Pro NX10, Blue Tees, Callaway 300 Pro); slope is on when a colored patch shows. Units without a slider (Bushnell A1 Slope, Garmin, most budget brands) use the Mode button or a menu setting.
Does the Bushnell Tour V5 have a slope button?
Only the Tour V5 Shift, and it is a switch rather than a button: slide it to reveal the orange indicator for slope on, cover it for off. The standard Tour V5 has no slope function.
Which Bushnell rangefinders have slope?
Any model with “Shift” or “Slope” in the name: Tour V4 Shift, V5 Shift, V6 Shift, V7 Shift, A1 Slope, Tour V3 Slope Edition, plus the Pro XE and Pro X3, which also factor temperature and pressure into the adjusted distance.
Is slope on a rangefinder legal?
Owning one is fine; using slope in competition is not. Rule 4.3a lets you measure distance but not elevation, so the function must be switched off for the round. Some events ban distance devices entirely under Model Local Rule G-5. Casual rounds have no restriction.
Why is slope illegal in tournaments?
The Rules of Golf treat judging elevation as part of the skill of the game, so Rule 4.3a allows distance information but not elevation measurement. A first breach costs the general penalty; a second means disqualification.
Is slope necessary on a rangefinder?
Not necessary, but useful on hilly courses and in practice rounds, where it teaches you how much elevation really changes a shot. On a flat course it adds little. If you play competitions, choose a unit with a visible switch so turning it off is a two-second job.
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. Last checked: September 2026. Prices change; the retailer page is the final word.
Sources
- Bushnell Pro XE Rangefinder Support & FAQ — bushnellgolf.com
- A1-Slope Laser Rangefinder product page — bushnellgolf.com
- Bushnell Tour V4’s Slope-Switch Technology Raises the Bar — tgw.com
- Bushnell Tour V4 menu issue: troubleshooting guide — justanswer.com
- Bushnell Tour X V4 Slope (slope off) — forums.golfwrx.com
- What does the Slope Switch do on the Series 4 Ultra Rangefinder? — blueteesgolf.gorgias.help
- Precision Pro R1 and NX10 quick-start guides (YouTube, Precision Pro Golf channel)
- Best Golf Rangefinders With Slope — golfmonthly.com
- What Does Slope Mean on a Golf Rangefinder? — mggolf.com
- Best Golf Rangefinder with Slope Comparison — playbetter.com
- USGA Rules of Golf, Rule 4.3a and Model Local Rule G-5 (usga.org)
- Turning on Slope on Bushnell Tour V4 — reddit.com/r/golf
- Slope on a range finder worth it? — reddit.com/r/golf