Cigman CT-1000 Golf Rangefinder Review

I tested the Cigman CT-1000 on the golf course over multiple rounds of golf, comparing distances against course markings and GPS distances. I also compared it head-to-head against other rangefinders off the course to test its accuracy.

When I took the Cigman CT-1000 to the golf course for the first time, I really started to wonder why anybody spends more to put a premium rangefinder in (or I suppose, on) the bag. This performs exactly the way units that cost four times as much perform.

First, I compared this $109 rangefinder to a $300 rangefinder to check accuracy. On a 275-yard shot, the distances I got from the two rangefinders were within one yard, both with slope turned off and slope turned on. With this information, I knew I never had to second-guess its accuracy.

It displays distances quickly and vibrates with a visual cue when you’ve locked onto the flagstick. You can turn the slope function on and off in an instant with the toggle switch on the exterior, and toggle between various other modes using the Mode button.

The display is clear and it’s easy to dial in the focus as needed with the focus knob at the eyepiece. 

On top of the distance (in meters or yards) and the adjusted difference, if you’re using slope mode, you get the measurement of the slope in degrees with every shot, whether slope is turned on or off. When slope is off, the unit also displays the vertical height of the shot. 

Given that you get the degree of the slope and vertical height with slope mode turned off, I initially wondered whether this conforms to USGA Distance Measuring Device Rules. Those Rules stipulate that you cannot access displays of effective playing distances (adjusted distances) using a distance-measuring device. Since this information does not calculate an adjusted or plays-like distance with slope turned off, coupled with the fact that many course yardage books publish the elevation change, I can confirm that this rangefinder is tournament-legal with slope mode turned off.

As I mentioned, this is the sixth rangefinder I’ve personally tested and reviewed this year, and I see two categories of rangefinders worth comparing this to. It should be compared to not only other budget rangefinders, but premium options as well.

So here’s how it stacks up against another top budget competitor that I tested, the Eagle Eye Gen 5 rangefinder, and a more premium option, the Shot Scope Pro ZR.

I don’t think you’ll find a better value golf rangefinder on the market today. This unit typically sells for $109, but you may find a $30 off coupon on Amazon plus additional savings using the discount codes above, which bring the cost under $100.

In my opinion, there isn’t much, if anything, a premium-priced rangefinder can do to separate itself from this Cigman CT-1000. Once a rangefinder has an easy-to-use slope toggle, accurate distances, a magnetic mount, flag lock and quick distances, there’s not much else you need, and definitely not much else worth paying hundreds more for.

You’ll notice that some of the more expensive rangefinders have a longer range. For example, the Shot Scope rangefinder mentioned above has a 1500-yard range compared to the 1200-yard range of the Cigmant CT-1000. But I don’t know any golfers who need a unit that measures 1500-yards instead of 1200, and I certainly wouldn’t advise a friend to pay extra for that range.

The bottom line is that this rangefinder really does it all, and it’s about as low of a price as I’ve seen on this type of unit. Other low-priced options usually don’t have a magnetic mount, while most these days have slope functionality.