The Quick Verdict
Get the PRO L5. At $229.99, it does the core rangefinder job — fast, accurate yardages with slope — and does it well. The PRO LX+ costs $140 more and trades some of that for a GPS attachment and shot-tracking stats, which is a compelling package only if you actually want a second device clipped to it. If you're buying a rangefinder, the L5 is the rangefinder. Check price at Shot Scope →
What They Have in Common
Both are Shot Scope rangefinders with 7x magnification, ±1-yard accuracy, slope mode with a legal-play switch, a strong magnet mount, and roughly 5,800 measures per battery. Water-resistant builds on both. The core experience — point, shoot, get your number — is the same between them.
Where They Differ
Range and Optics
The L5 tops out at 1,300 yards. The LX+ caps at 900. Honestly, that gap rarely matters — 900 yards covers virtually every shot you'll measure during a round, and both reach well past any flag. The extra 400 yards is headroom for distant landmarks. The L5 also has a single OLED display; the LX+ runs dual OLED optics described as red/black. I'd guess the two-colour setup helps against some backgrounds, but I haven't used them side by side, and the L5's OLED is the one Shot Scope calls its sharpest yet. Call it a hunch that most golfers won't have a strong opinion either way once they're on the course.
The GPS Attachment — the Whole Debate
Here's the thing about the LX+: it's not just a rangefinder. It pairs with an H4 GPS attachment, with 36,000 courses, shot tracking and 100 stats. If you've ever used a dedicated GPS device and wanted that layered onto your laser, the LX+ makes a case for itself.
But if you don't want that — if you just want a rangefinder — you're paying $140 for hardware you'll leave in the bag. Shot Scope's stats ecosystem is genuinely useful for golfers who want to track their game and identify patterns, but it requires buy-in. You need to play with it consistently, review the data, and actually adjust something based on what you learn. That's not for everyone, and there's no shame in that.
Weight and Dimensions
The L5 weighs 12 oz and publishes full dimensions. Shot Scope doesn't publish the LX+'s weight or size. That's a minor frustration — probably because the GPS attachment makes the answer complicated — but if you're sensitive to how a rangefinder sits in your pocket or on your cart, the L5 is the one you can actually spec out before buying.
Battery
Both run roughly 5,800 measures. The L5 is powered by a replaceable CR2 3V battery. Shot Scope doesn't publish the LX+'s battery type, though the measure count is the same. CR2s are at every pharmacy in the country, which matters when one dies mid-trip.
Who Should Buy Which
Get the PRO L5 if:
- You want a rangefinder, full stop — accurate, fast, sloped, done.
- You're the golfer who plays two or three times a month and just wants reliable yardages without an ecosystem to maintain.
- You care about range — 1,300 yards gives you more headroom than the LX+'s 900.
- You want to know exactly what's in your pocket: the L5 publishes weight and dimensions, the LX+ doesn't.
Get the PRO LX+ if:
- You already use Shot Scope's GPS ecosystem, or you've been wanting to start tracking your game seriously and want one device to do both jobs.
- You play frequently enough that 100 stats and shot tracking will actually change how you practice or manage your game — think the 12-handicap who's working with a coach and wants data to bring to lessons.
- You'd rather have the red/black dual OLED display than the L5's OLED.
- $140 doesn't feel like a significant premium for what you're getting added.
The Bottom Line
The PRO LX+ is a genuinely interesting product — the GPS attachment and shot-tracking stats make it more than a rangefinder. But that's also exactly why it's not the right buy for most golfers. If you want a rangefinder, the L5 is the better rangefinder: longer range, published weight and dimensions, and $140 cheaper. The LX+ earns its price only if you're committed to the GPS and stats side of it. Most golfers aren't, and that's fine.