8 Golf Accessories Worth Adding to Your Bag
Bushnell’s Tour V5 Shift wins this list for locking laser distances and a slope switch that keeps it legal in competition. The Garmin Approach S12 tracks distances on your wrist with no subscription. The SKLZ Gold Flex is the sharpest practice tool here for tempo work.
A rangefinder changes more rounds than any other accessory here, and the Bushnell Tour V5 Shift tops this list because of it. Garmin’s Approach S12 gives wrist based distances with no subscription fee. The SKLZ Gold Flex is the sharpest practice tool for tempo work, and the rest of this list rounds out a full bag.
Golf accessories mix genuinely useful gear with novelties that look good in an ad but sit unused after a month. Lock speed on a laser, battery life on a watch and whether a trainer needs setup rarely appear on the box. We compared stated accuracy, lock technology, materials and tournament rules across current listings, then weighed those against owner reports on reliability and daily use.
The best picks, ranked
Bushnell Tour V5 Shift Laser Rangefinder
A locking laser vibrates the moment it fixes on the flag, not the trees behind it. Bushnell’s Slope switch turns off elevation adjustment in seconds, making the unit legal for tournament play. Owners cite lock speed and optics as the reason it stays the category benchmark.
Pros
- Fastest, most confident flag lock in this group
- Slope switch keeps it tournament legal
- Clear optics in flat light
Cons
- Costs more than GPS alternatives
- Needs a steady hand at long range
Garmin Approach S12 Golf GPS Watch
Front, middle and back distances show on a sunlight readable screen, with no subscription required. Battery life runs close to thirty hours in golf mode, enough for a full season of weekend rounds. It cannot match a laser for pin accuracy, but it never slows play down.
Pros
- No subscription fees, ever
- Screen stays readable in bright sun
- Keeps pace with the group
Cons
- Less precise than a laser to the pin
- Display is basic next to pricier Garmin models
SKLZ Gold Flex Golf Swing Trainer
This weighted, whippy shaft forces you to feel lag and sequencing that a rigid club hides. It works as a range warm up and as an indoor tempo drill through winter. Owners report it still gets used a year in, mostly because it needs no setup.
Pros
- Doubles as a warm up and a training aid
- No setup, so it actually gets used
- Works indoors with enough ceiling height
Cons
- Needs clear space to swing safely
- Too long for a standard bag pocket
Titleist Players 4 Plus StaDry Stand Bag
Seam sealed StaDry construction keeps water out, the difference between a damp glove and a ruined round. Titleist keeps weight low despite the sealing, and a four way top keeps clubs from tangling. It is the kind of gear you notice least when it works.
Pros
- Genuinely waterproof, not just shower resistant
- Light for a fully sealed bag
- Four way top cuts down on tangling
Cons
- Fewer pockets than cart specific bags
- Priced at a premium for a stand bag
Club Glove Microfiber Caddy Towel
A large microfibre towel with a carabiner hook splits into a damp side for grooves and a dry side for hands. Clean grooves change spin more than most amateurs expect. Owners report it survives repeated machine washing better than cotton towels.
Pros
- Large enough for a wet and dry section
- Holds up to repeated machine washing
- Clean grooves genuinely affect spin
Cons
- Bulky when clipped to a small stand bag
- Light colours show grass stains fast
Pride Professional Tee System ProLength Plus Golf Tees
A coloured band marks exactly how deep to push the tee, so driver height stays the same on every hole. It is a small consistency gain for very little money. Wood still breaks, so buy more than the round requires.
Pros
- Repeatable tee height on every drive
- Cheapest consistency gain in golf
- Sold in bulk packs so you rarely run out
Cons
- Wood breaks more often than plastic
- Colour band wears off with reuse
Frogger Golf BrushPro Club Cleaner
This brush clips to the bag and retracts on a cord, so it does not end up abandoned on a tee box. Nylon bristles handle irons on one side, a softer side handles woods, and a spike clears packed dirt from grooves. It is a small purchase that keeps every other club performing.
Pros
- Retracting cord means it rarely gets lost
- Separate bristle types for irons and woods
- Groove spike clears packed soil
Cons
- Cord mechanism can stick when muddy
- Easy to overlook in a full bag
Side by side
| # | Model | Type | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bushnell Tour V5 Shift Laser Rangefinder | Laser rangefinder | Best overall | 9.4 | Check price |
| 2 | Garmin Approach S12 Golf GPS Watch | GPS golf watch | Best value | 9.2 | Check price |
| 3 | SKLZ Gold Flex Golf Swing Trainer | Weighted flexible swing trainer | Best practice tool | 9.0 | Check price |
| 4 | Titleist Players 4 Plus StaDry Stand Bag | Stand bag | Best bag | 8.8 | Check price |
| 5 | Club Glove Microfiber Caddy Towel | Microfibre | Best for club care | 8.6 | Check price |
| 6 | Pride Professional Tee System ProLength Plus Golf Tees | Wood | Best budget | 8.3 | Check price |
| 7 | Frogger Golf BrushPro Club Cleaner | Nylon and soft dual sided | Best small addition | 8.0 | Check price |
How to pick the right one
Laser rangefinder or GPS watch: which do you need? A laser rangefinder measures the exact distance to whatever you aim at, ideal for approach shots to a flag. A GPS watch shows front, middle and back of green instantly, better suited to tee shots and pace of play. Many golfers eventually carry both, since they solve different problems. Choose a laser first if you play the same courses regularly, and a GPS watch first if you travel.
Is slope legal in tournament play? Slope adjusted distances factor in elevation change and help with practice, but most competitions ban them. A rangefinder with a visible switch lets you show a playing partner slope is off, which matters in club events. GPS units that display plain distances only are legal under the local rule most clubs adopt.
Which practice aids actually get used? Training aids that need no setup are the ones that keep getting used, which is why weighted trainers and alignment sticks outlast elaborate mats and harnesses. Before buying, ask honestly where the item will live and how long it takes to start using. If the answer involves a garage and five spare minutes, it will collect dust instead.
Do small accessories like tees and towels matter? Clean grooves grip the ball and produce predictable spin, while mud on a wedge face does not. Consistent tee height removes one variable from a driver swing. A dry towel stops a grip turning in wet weather. None of these cost much, yet together they matter more than the gap between two similar rangefinders.
Questions worth asking
Is a rangefinder or a GPS watch better for golf?
A laser rangefinder gives a precise number to one target, such as a flag. A GPS watch needs no aiming and shows green distances instantly. Golfers wanting exact approach numbers tend to prefer the laser, and those wanting speed prefer the watch.
Are rangefinders legal in golf tournaments?
Distance measuring devices are allowed under the local rule most clubs adopt. Slope and other adjusted readings are not. A switchable slope function lets you disable it and show it is off before a competitive round.
Do golf GPS watches need a subscription?
Some brands charge for course updates and some do not. Garmin’s Approach line ships with preloaded courses and no subscription. Check this detail on any model, since ongoing fees can exceed the purchase price over time.
Do swing trainers actually improve your swing?
Weighted and flexible trainers help with tempo, sequencing and warming up, which is a real if modest benefit. They will not fix a technical fault by themselves. Owners report the most value comes from short, regular use rather than long sessions.
How often should you clean golf clubs?
Wipe the face after each shot with a damp towel to keep grooves clear. Brush clean at the end of a round to remove packed soil. Wash grips occasionally with warm water and mild soap to restore tackiness.
Are expensive golf towels worth buying?
Material matters more than brand name. Microfibre absorbs water and lifts dirt better than cotton, and it survives washing well. A larger towel lets you keep a wet section separate from a dry one.
What do colour coded golf tees do?
The coloured band marks how far to push the tee into the ground. That keeps the ball at the same height on every drive. Removing that one variable is the entire case for buying them over plain tees.
Which golf accessory should you buy first?
A distance device usually pays back fastest, since it removes guesswork on the shots that decide scores. After that, cheap consumables that keep clubs clean and grips dry deliver more benefit than another gadget.
How long does a golf rangefinder battery last?
The Garmin Approach S12 runs close to thirty hours in golf mode on a single charge, covering a full season of weekend rounds for most players. Laser rangefinders vary more, since battery type and use frequency affect runtime.
Can beginners use a laser rangefinder?
Yes, though lock speed matters more to the experience than complexity. Most beginners benefit more from a GPS watch at first, since it needs no aiming and keeps pace with the group.
Our pick
The Bushnell Tour V5 Shift is the accessory most likely to change how you play, since accurate approach numbers remove guesswork on the shots that decide scores. Its slope switch keeps it legal for competition too. Budget conscious golfers get the same core benefit from the Garmin Approach S12 without a subscription, and the SKLZ Gold Flex plus a decent towel round out the essentials.
Derek Holt
Derek has a background coaching recreational and amateur athletes and has worked the sales floor at specialty fitness retailers. He focuses on equipment durability, ergonomics and realistic use cases rather than marketing claims.
