If you’ve golfed for any amount of time, you probably know what it’s like to miss the green by 20 yards. You take out the perfect club, hit the perfect shot, and end up well short or long.
This is why it’s so important to know the distance to your target, whether that’s using a GPS, rangefinder, or golf app. The good news is that you don’t have to spend a fortune. You can (just like with any other golf product), but you don’t have to.
The most convenient option is going to be the laser rangefinder because it can be used anywhere. Pull it out of your bag, point, and shoot. One of the most popular “value” brands is WOSPORTS, so I’ve been using their L14 model for a while and will review what I like and dislike about it.
You can see our favorite budget rangefinders HERE.
WOSPORTS L14 Specs
| Yardage | 1500 Yards |
| Measurement | Yard/Meter/Feet |
| Magnification | 7x |
| Slope | Yes |
| Modes | Single Measurement Continuous Measurement Hunting |
| Magnet | Yes |
| Flag Lock | 350 Yards |
| Vibration | Yes |
| Weight | 170g |
First Impressions
You’ve probably heard of brands like Bushnell, Garmin, and Nikon. These are leaders in the rangefinder market and are very good products. The only problem is that they also come with a very high price tag.
For the past couple of years, my goal has been to find the best valued products. A lot of the time, you really don’t need to spend the most money. You can get 80-90% of what you’d want for way less.
That’s what I was hoping for with the L14, which is $200-300 less expensive.
Taking the L14 out of the box, you’ll also get a lanyard, charging cable, and storage case. The case itself is hard-shelled, so it’s going to protect the rangefinder when you’re not using it. I like that it uses a zippered and strap system to close, so if one of them eventually breaks, you’ll still have the other.
My unit was fully charged when I opened it, so I was able to test it out right away. I wouldn’t say it’s as quick to lock-on compared to a Bushnell, but it was still quick.
There are 3 buttons on the rangefinder, one to turn slope on/off, one to select the mode, and another to turn on/scan your target. The majority of people will use the basic features and yards, so it’s pretty much ready to go out of the box.
In terms of size, I’d put the L14 somewhere middle of the pack. There are rangefinders that are bigger and bulkier. There are also compact devices that are a bit smaller.
What I will say is that the L14 is lighter than most of my other units.
Holding it in my hand, the bottom area is a textured plastic, where your pointer finger goes is a smooth plastic, and where the rest of your fingers go is a rubber material. Some units have rubber on the bottom and top, which adds a bit more grip.
What I do like is that the eyepiece is a soft rubber. A lot of units use a hard piece of plastic, so the L14 is more comfortable to look through.
Accuracy & Performance
Like any other good rangefinder, the L14 provided accurate and consistent distances. For large, still targets, the L14 was just as fast as any other brand. The slight difference came when trying to scan a smaller target from distance (the flag for example).
The benefit of an expensive rangefinder is that they tend to lock-on the flag quicker, especially when there’s objects behind the flag. A premium unit might get the right distance with 1-2 reads while the cheaper ones might take 3-4.
This is pretty much true when you compare any premium rangefinder to one of the value picks. While that could be worth the extra cost to you, it’s not for me.
Looking through the rangefinder, the target is right in the center, like you’d expect. In the bottom right section, you’ll get all your yardages. The top (and biggest) number is the straight distance. Under that, you’ll have the slope-adjusted distance.
You do have to move your eye slightly to see the reading, which you don’t on some of the other devices. That said, seeing the slope-adjusted number is easier.
Directly left of center, you’ll have the angle number. This just tells you how much of an incline or decline your target is. You’ll have a few more icons on the screen that tell you what mode you’re in.
All of the numbers on the screen are black. Some of the premium units use a multicolored display that’s easier to see in low light conditions. That’s another one of the main benefits between them.
I’ve used a number of the cheaper units and found the L14 much brighter and clearer. I tried a few units in a darker area and couldn’t see the numbers on some of them. The L14 wasn’t super clear, but it was still usable.
One of the main features I’d recommend looking for is flag-lock or vibration. All it’ll do is vibrate when it locks-in on your target. The L14 has this.
As for technical features, the L14 says it has 7x magnification and has a range of 1500 yards. For golf, 1500 yards isn’t that useful, so I can’t confirm or deny that number.
The target lock vibration works up to 350 yards, which most of us won’t be hitting anyway. It’s not always easy reading a target that far away, but I was able to get it after a handful of tries. Premium rangefinders are better at this and can (usually) target-lock 400-500 yards.
Value
The L14 usually has a 20% off coupon available, which brings the price down to a bit over $100. At that price, I think it’s an awesome deal.
Considering the fact that a lot of rangefinders are between $200-400, what you get for the price is tough to beat. You just need to ask yourself if the extra cost is really worth it. For me, it’s not.
The main benefit to something higher-end is that they tend to be better at reading targets in low light and from a distance. 80% of the features are the same.
Should You Buy The L14?
If you’re in the market for a new rangefinder, you don’t want to spend a fortune, and you have relatively still hands, the L14 could be perfect for you.
Is it the best device out there? No, definitely not. Is it a solid pick for the majority of golfers? Yes, absolutely.
The main reasons to buy a premium rangefinder are:
- Having an easier time locking-in on targets 300+ yards away
- For use in low light conditions
If this is something you don’t really need, getting a much cheaper unit will be the way to go. It’s what I use and I have no reason to upgrade.
If I was to compare the L14 against some of the other “budget” models I’ve tried, this is how it stacks up:
- It’s slightly lighter than most
- It doesn’t have as much grip as some
- The eyepiece is more comfortable to look through (soft rubber vs firm plastic)
- The optics are brighter and clearer
At retail price, you have a number of options to pick from, which makes it a bit tougher to decide. That said, they usually have a 20% discount available on their website and limited-time deals on Amazon. When you take that into account, the L14 is definitely something you should consider.
Check The Price on Amazon or Wosports.com (Save 20% with code WOSPORTSOBG20)
Let’s hear from you – Have you tried any of the Wosports rangefinders? Let us know in the comments below what you liked or disliked about them.
And if you want to see some alternatives, check out one of these articles:
