The Quick Verdict
Get the Garmin Approach Z10. These two are priced identically at $299.99. The Bushnell Tour V6 has been discontinued, and Bushnell's replacement is the Bushnell Tour V7 Shift. The Z10 is the one you can reliably buy new. Beyond availability, the Z10 brings slope with PlaysLike Distance, up to a year on a CR2 and a transparent PDLC display. A clearance V6 makes sense only at a price well below $299.99. Check price at PlayBetter →
What They Have in Common
Both rangefinders run on a CR2 lithium battery, offer 6x magnification, and are accurate to ±1 yard. Each has a magnetic cart mount built in. They're both sitting at the same $299.99 price point, and both carry tournament-legal modes. That's a reasonable baseline for the tier — but the differences are where this gets interesting.
Where They Differ
Display Technology
This is the biggest differentiator. The Tour V6 uses an LCD. The Z10 uses what Garmin calls a transparent PDLC display (black). Neither maker publishes anything that says which reads better in sun or low light, and I haven't looked through the Z10, so I won't claim one wins. Whether you'll like the Garmin's display or not depends on the person.
Slope and Distance Features
The Tour V6 doesn't have slope at all — it's a straightforward laser rangefinder focused on tournament-legal simplicity. The Z10 has slope, plus a "plays like" distance that factors in elevation change. It also has a tournament mode that disables slope, so you can use it in competition without swapping devices. The Z10 also includes Range Relay, which sends ranged distances to a compatible Garmin watch, handheld or the Garmin Golf app — that's an ecosystem play, and it only works with Garmin's own devices and app, but if you're already in that world it's a nice touch.
Water Resistance and Weight
Small but real: the Tour V6 is rated IPX6, which means protection against powerful water jets. The Z10 is IPX4, protection against splashes from any direction — two steps below. If you play a lot of Pacific Northwest golf or are regularly caught in actual rain (not just drizzle), that's a meaningful gap. On the flip side, the Z10 is noticeably lighter — 6.3 oz versus 8.7 oz. Over four hours of pulling it in and out of your pocket, that difference exists.
Battery Life
Both run on a CR2, which is a plus — CR2 batteries are at every pharmacy in the country. But Garmin rates the Z10 at up to a full year on one battery. Bushnell doesn't publish a specific life rating for the V6. How close you get to that year depends on how much you range, but it's still a long time between swaps.
Who Should Buy Which
Get the Garmin Approach Z10 if:
- You want slope mode and the ability to toggle it off for competition — the Z10 handles both without you needing a second device.
- You already wear a Garmin watch, carry a Garmin handheld or use the Garmin Golf app, and want Range Relay to send it your ranged distances.
- You're the golfer who plays quick morning rounds, and never wants to think about the battery — Garmin rates the CR2 for up to a year.
- Weight actually matters to you — 2.4 oz lighter is real when you're carrying.
Get the Bushnell Tour V6 if:
- You find one on clearance at a price well below $299 and don't need slope mode.
- You play in heavy rain regularly and want the stronger IPX6 rating — the Z10's IPX4 covers splashes, two steps below.
The Bottom Line
At the same retail price, this isn't a hard call. The Tour V6 is discontinued, which means you're hunting closeout stock, and it doesn't have slope. The Z10 is available, has slope, weighs less, and brings a genuinely different display experience to the table. The IPX6 rating on the V6 is the one thing worth noting — if you're routinely playing in real rain, that matters. But for most golfers in most conditions, the Z10 is the rangefinder you can actually go buy today, and it's the better-equipped device on top of that.