GPS comparison

[simgolf]

Does anyone have info comparing gps units? I am looking to purchase one but would like some idea of their performance. I have been mostly looking at skycaddies and golflogix.

[free816]

i got a golflogix for xmas, i love it, only drawback mine doesnt show the shape of the green, so unless you play the course alot, or know exactly where the pin is? kind of hard to pin hunt. mine gives yardage to the dogleg, lay up number, center, back and front pin yardage, water haz. bunkers got it on ebay 175 bucks. you do have to pay a 30 bucks yearly to download courses, but you can put up to 20 different courses on it at once. i usually play the same 6 or 7 courses anyway, so doubt i will renew in 2010, hope that helps

[Swordfish]

I have a Skycaddie G5 and like it a lot. I bought it last year and at that time it would only hold 10 courses but I just applied an upgrade to it and it now holds 20. I play in a lot of interclub tournaments so this means I don't have to download courses so often. The good part about Skycaddie is they have almost everycourse mapped. One GPS I have been watching lately is the new Garmin. It has a very cool feature in that you can touch a point on the screen and the GPS will display what your distance is to that mark. This is a very good feature as all the other units only display distances to key items like bends or sandtraps.

[SoonerBS]

Waiting . . . . . waiting . . . . . . (cue theme music to Jaws in background)

[jearliff]

i got a golflogix for xmas, i love it, only drawback mine doesnt show the shape of the green, so unless you play the course alot, or know exactly where the pin is? kind of hard to pin hunt. mine gives yardage to the dogleg, lay up number, center, back and front pin yardage, water haz. bunkers got it on ebay 175 bucks. you do have to pay a 30 bucks yearly to download courses, but you can put up to 20 different courses on it at once. i usually play the same 6 or 7 courses anyway, so doubt i will renew in 2010, hope that helps

W/ Golflogix you won't be able to keep the courses on your unit unless you pony up in 2010 and every year after. I had a Golflogix and had trouble w/ the interface, sent it back and they quickly sent another, which had same problem. Got a refund for unit - no questions asked - but still trying to get something back for subscription.

Just got in new Sonocaddie VX2 and I have problems w/ this one. Very frustrating. Customer service is helpful, but will have to wait to see final outcome.

The one time I had the Golflogix on the course it worked well. I would like more preset reference points down the fairway and this doesn't let you mark your own points.

[Pky6471]

I have the Nikkon/Callaway 1200 rangefinder (considered GPS for a long time), glad that I bought this RF, much more accurate than my friend's GPS (his could be off by 5-10 yds depending on pin's location). His ran out of battery one time on course, has to download new courses (luckly that he does not have to pay for yearly subscription)... Your money, buy what you would enjoy. Comparing performance of my RF vs. GPS of my friend, my only suggestion is "consider the RF as well". Gơod luck with your choice

[poe4soul]

We were playing last weekend with a guy using a skycaddie. Par three, I RF'd a flag (which has a reflector on it so I know I'm getting good distances) and say "149 to the flag." He steps up with the GPS and says "149 is to the front of the green; your RF must be off." I shrugged my shoulders "Yah, I'll hit my 150 club, you take what you feel is right." I hit a 150 yard shot pin high about 10 feet left. He's a good player and hit a bit longer club right over the pin, great shot. We get to the green and the pin is one pace off the front of the green and his shot put him 15 foot past the hole. He had to eat crow and agree that my RF was better for the approach shots.

I did use his GPS information on a couple of hazards for tee shots and lay ups. I could have used my RF but the skycaddie is pretty handy for this information. If I was playing a ton of new courses each year I might consider a skycaddie but on my local tracks a RF is much better.

[neverman]

golfbuddy pro FTW. It's just the best option without a recurring fee (to pay advertisers with). They're all pretty much the same as far as accuracy is concerned from what I've read. Best overall deal, handsdown, is the golfbuddy. It has intelligreen, the ability to map your own hazards and free courses ANYWHERE for LIFE with no annual or subscription fee structure of any kind.

I dumped mine in a pond, took it apart, dried it out and it's still plodding along after 2+ years. I can't endorse it enough to stress that this is the device to own. I've yet to regret my decision and have heard countless arguments debating the merits of other GPS devices.

The only other thing to consider is if you ALSO want to carry a laser range finder which ARE indeed more accurate to pin placements.

Golf Courses will sell golfbuddies at a pretty good discount if you're a regular... ask around. Trust me.

Link to golfbuddy site

[divotman]

Does anyone have info comparing gps units? I am looking to purchase one but would like some idea of their performance. I have been mostly looking at skycaddies and golflogix.

i was in your shoes a few months ago, trying to decide which GPS to buy. Golfsmith has a GPS comparison chart on their website that is very helpful. if you want to save some $, buy from eBay.

i decided on the Sonocaddie b/c it was reasonably priced, and has no annual fees. it holds up to 30 courses on the device, but you can swap out courses easily. if you just buy the device, you get 5 free downloads. a one-time-fee ~ $25 gets you the birdie plan (any US course for life), and about $40 the eagle plan (any course in the world, lifetime).

i haven't had any problem with it so far. any courses that weren't yet in their system were added within 10 days of my request. also, one of the courses nearby was recently renovated. the old course was still on their system, but they corrected it promptly. you can also add trees, or other obstacles to existing maps, or map your own course altogether. it also lets you track scores, stats (FW, up/downs, sandsaves), and mark distances to see how far you really hit the ball.

i know a lot of people are pushing range finders, but this device was very helpful recently when i played an unfamiliar course. they didn't have yardage books. it was more open links style, so it was hard to know where to go as a first time on the course. but the Sonocaddie helped us see the layout of each hole, distance to hazards/OB etc. rangefinder won't give you the hole layout.

anyway, that's my 2cents...but look at Golfsmith's website for the GPS comparison chart. it's a good start//

[slightdraw]

simgolf-
i don’t want to steer you to one particular unit or another, but i would say that in my own opinion that there are absolutely differences in accuracy between units - for golflogix and skycaddie perhaps not as much, but there are other gps that aren’t as accurate as others (like the new izzo) so do watch out... plus there is a ton of differences in the number of bells and whistles a gps has.

i know others here have posted about the lack of additional fees for the golfbuddy (there are other gps devices without fees too). personally i think you should just look at how much you are going to pay over time, like a cell phone. ive seen one site that talks about how much you pay http://criticalgolf.com/?page_id=1162 but it really will depend on how many different courses you play each year. so dont forget that piece if you use the golfsmith site or ebay or wherever and are looking only at the initial cost...

and i second what neverman says...in a perfect world, gps and laser would be a great combo. lasers are more accurate, generally +/- 1 yard.

[jt1135]

Actually find it hard to believe that people, unless they are ungodly good, need to now the exact yardage to a green. How many play the same course regularly and don't know the yardages? GPS should rank right up there with cargo pants.

[jt1135]

Oops. Cargo shorts.

[jt1135]

Wait. One would fit comfortably in the other wouldn't it?

[BullisOk]

I know for myself and a couple friends we like to try and play a bunch of different courses through the summer. I played with a friend who had a gps and it just added some fun to the game and on strange courses when it tells you distance to a bunker or hazard off the tee or fairway. It helped more so on those shots then the the approach shot to the green, I could walk that off. LOL my only concern would be playing and every two seconds someone asking me how far for theie shot and not being able to just play the game.

[Pky6471]

I have Nikon Callaway 1200 RF and my golf partner uses the Sonocaddie GPS and here are my observations: (1) RF is much more accurate , especially for an approach shot. The difference could be up to 10 yds depending on pin's location (2) GPS gives you the course layout... (3) both can give you distance to troubles (4) GPS needs charging every 3-4 rounds , RF goes beyond a year , I am told, I have mine for 4 months (5) You need to see a pin for distance via RF , GPS gives you distance to front/middle/back of a green

So, If I had to do it again, what would I buy , Yes, still RF ... why? (accuracy, don't have to pay for any fees, long lasting battery, don't have to download golf courses, no headaches with software etc...). You would be happy with either choices

[slightdraw]

like pky6471, i use a rf, though the new gps units look pretty cool. they are especially nice so you can have a view of the hole (for those that offer it, like the new garmin or upro).
personally if you use a gps think it would be nice to have a real picture of the hole as opposed to a graphic (though even with the graphic some reviews are pretty positive http://criticalgolf.com/golf-gps-rev...ach-g5-review/ and on http://gpsandlaserreviews.com/ ). if you are looking at a hole, might as well see the real deal, i guess-

[PA Golfer]

I'm a golfer, and review GPS for About.com, so I get to try all of the new stuff. Here's my list of current favorites:
Dedicated handheld: Garmin Approach G5, with free course database. (I haven't tried the new Callaway uPro GO yet, though. Looks promising).

iPhone golf GPS app: Golfshot. Good core functionality, plus excellent stats/graphics and scorekeeping utility.

BlackBerry golf GPS app: nRange. Makes the best of the BlackBerry platform.

[famousdavis]

Does anyone have info comparing gps units? I am looking to purchase one but would like some idea of their performance. I have been mostly looking at skycaddies and golflogix.

I have found that I play better by simply knowing where the 100 or 150 yard marker is located and the estimating the distance by sight. Ben Hogan was one of the best at judging distances purely by sight and I believe that I possess this gift as well. As far as the GPS devices go, I personally think they can be misleading and that most people would play better golf without these devices. For whatever reason, it seems like a lot of people that use these devices come up short of the green. I have no idea why.

[SoonerBS]

I have found that I play better by simply knowing where the 100 or 150 yard marker is located and the estimating the distance by sight. Ben Hogan was one of the best at judging distances purely by sight and I believe that I possess this gift as well. As far as the GPS devices go, I personally think they can be misleading and that most people would play better golf without these devices. For whatever reason, it seems like a lot of people that use these devices come up short of the green. I have no idea why.

I'm starting to warm up to you . . . . .

[noshuz]

I have found that I play better by simply knowing where the 100 or 150 yard marker is located and the estimating the distance by sight. Ben Hogan was one of the best at judging distances purely by sight and I believe that I possess this gift as well. As far as the GPS devices go, I personally think they can be misleading and that most people would play better golf without these devices. For whatever reason, it seems like a lot of people that use these devices come up short of the green. I have no idea why.

I think I do this pretty good too but I got the GolfLogix anyway. What it really opened my eyes to was layup distances. On par 5's do you really want to hit driver/3 wood all the time or do you want to set yourself up for your money shot? In my case it would be 100-105 yards. I would rather do that than an akward 50-75 yard pitch to the green. Also, the front/center/back of green distances make me think more of where I want to land my ball rather than where I want to end up.

[Mon Borja]

Just wanted to share my recent email to callaway upro so future owners can see what its like to have one
"Let me open by just saying that your customer service support is TERRIBLE! I emailed your web site three times in the past 4 days and all I got is your lying auto reply that states It will be answered in the order it was recieved. That was 4 days and 3 emails ago! I am on vacation in cabo san lucas mexico playing in these over $100 courses and not one time I was able to use my 300 dollar upro that did work pretty well until your 4.0 upgrade wiped out my sync files.
What kind of company do you run over there that you would actually have customers bother to email you and not respond at all? What kind of company would issue an update that screws up an already working product? Unfortunately in my case.. great timing guys.. never did I have this kind of problem with the Sky Caddie and never have I ever have to write this kind of email to express my dissapointment in a product that I had high expectations on. Sad part is, Im stuck with the upro. I dont have much money to go around buying these gadgets. I switched to the upro thinking its a callaway product and it doesnt require an annual fee so I thought I would save money in the long run and get a great product backed by great customer service. well, Still too early to see the savings and all I did experience is the ignorance in customer service. If by chance somebody would actually read this.. please forward this to a manager so they might actually do something about their dissapointed customers." By the way.. They had no reply but their silly auto reply saying they will get bact to me shortly.. Again...

[Horseballs]

Just wanted to share my recent email to callaway upro so future owners can see what its like to have one
"Let me open by just saying that your customer service support is TERRIBLE! I emailed your web site three times in the past 4 days and all I got is your lying auto reply that states It will be answered in the order it was recieved. That was 4 days and 3 emails ago! I am on vacation in cabo san lucas mexico playing in these over $100 courses and not one time I was able to use my 300 dollar upro that did work pretty well until your 4.0 upgrade wiped out my sync files.
What kind of company do you run over there that you would actually have customers bother to email you and not respond at all? What kind of company would issue an update that screws up an already working product? Unfortunately in my case.. great timing guys.. never did I have this kind of problem with the Sky Caddie and never have I ever have to write this kind of email to express my dissapointment in a product that I had high expectations on. Sad part is, Im stuck with the upro. I dont have much money to go around buying these gadgets. I switched to the upro thinking its a callaway product and it doesnt require an annual fee so I thought I would save money in the long run and get a great product backed by great customer service. well, Still too early to see the savings and all I did experience is the ignorance in customer service. If by chance somebody would actually read this.. please forward this to a manager so they might actually do something about their dissapointed customers." By the way.. They had no reply but their silly auto reply saying they will get bact to me shortly.. Again...

It makes me laugh to know you spent your vacation on the phone with Callaway's CS department. Have a mojito and chill out.

[Riverologist]

Just wanted to share my recent email to callaway upro so future owners can see what its like to have one
"Let me open by just saying that your customer service support is TERRIBLE! I emailed your web site three times in the past 4 days and all I got is your lying auto reply that states It will be answered in the order it was recieved. That was 4 days and 3 emails ago! I am on vacation in cabo san lucas mexico playing in these over $100 courses and not one time I was able to use my 300 dollar upro that did work pretty well until your 4.0 upgrade wiped out my sync files.
What kind of company do you run over there that you would actually have customers bother to email you and not respond at all? What kind of company would issue an update that screws up an already working product? Unfortunately in my case.. great timing guys.. never did I have this kind of problem with the Sky Caddie and never have I ever have to write this kind of email to express my dissapointment in a product that I had high expectations on. Sad part is, Im stuck with the upro. I dont have much money to go around buying these gadgets. I switched to the upro thinking its a callaway product and it doesnt require an annual fee so I thought I would save money in the long run and get a great product backed by great customer service. well, Still too early to see the savings and all I did experience is the ignorance in customer service. If by chance somebody would actually read this.. please forward this to a manager so they might actually do something about their dissapointed customers." By the way.. They had no reply but their silly auto reply saying they will get bact to me shortly.. Again...

That's why you get a rangefinder. Period.

[Kiwi Player]

I am mortified that this newbie Mon Borja is dissing Callaway Customer Service, everybody knows that Callaway CS is top drawer, second to none, best of the best. The fact their equipment is overpriced third rate junk is beside the point.

You can't go dissing Callaway Customer service.

Mon Borja please retract your post forthwith!

[Mon Borja]

whats the matter kiwi, you own shares to callaways company? I was only sharing my experience dealing with callaways customer service. Do I not have the right to do that. Its not like Im making this stuff up. If I pay for something "overpriced" should I not expect its customer service to be better? The fact that callaway is getting dissed in my post is not because I wanted to diss them. I was sharing facts. As you mentioned, I am a newbie to these posts. This is because I had never felt the need to express such dissapointment in a product until now. (Ive been playing golf for over 12 years).

[Kiwi Player]

whats the matter kiwi, you own shares to callaways company? I was only sharing my experience dealing with callaways customer service. Do I not have the right to do that. Its not like Im making this stuff up. If I pay for something "overpriced" should I not expect its customer service to be better? The fact that callaway is getting dissed in my post is not because I wanted to diss them. I was sharing facts. As you mentioned, I am a newbie to these posts. This is because I had never felt the need to express such dissapointment in a product until now. (Ive been playing golf for over 12 years).

LOL - I was being ironical!

I actually hate Callaway golf equipment but there are a few on here who swear by them and rave about the customer service.

My view on the customer service is that it is only good because they make such poor quality equipment. They know they are going to be constantly repairing or replacing their overpriced junk because it breaks so often whereas other manufacturers don't need to put so much resource into CS because their products actually hold up to normal use.

So their CS is supposedly great but your post suggests it's not so brilliant after all.

[12sandwich]

I,m still very happy with my iphone app, golfshot. I purshased for 30 dollars, one time fee. Just as accurate as my buddys Sonocaddie. Plus I get actual aerial views, or just the yardages, in bold numbers, in color. I love the 100 yard layup feature.

[Yaz1975]

whats the matter kiwi, you own shares to callaways company? I was only sharing my experience dealing with callaways customer service. Do I not have the right to do that. Its not like Im making this stuff up. If I pay for something "overpriced" should I not expect its customer service to be better? The fact that callaway is getting dissed in my post is not because I wanted to diss them. I was sharing facts. As you mentioned, I am a newbie to these posts. This is because I had never felt the need to express such dissapointment in a product until now. (Ive been playing golf for over 12 years).

I'll trade you your GPS unit in return for a textbook that teaches you what sarcasm looks like.

[edgey]

I'll trade you your GPS unit in return for a textbook that teaches you what sarcasm looks like.

Yet another example of an American having no idea what irony is.

Edgey

[edgey]

whats the matter kiwi, you own shares to callaways company? I was only sharing my experience dealing with callaways customer service. Do I not have the right to do that. Its not like Im making this stuff up. If I pay for something "overpriced" should I not expect its customer service to be better? The fact that callaway is getting dissed in my post is not because I wanted to diss them. I was sharing facts. As you mentioned, I am a newbie to these posts. This is because I had never felt the need to express such dissapointment in a product until now. (Ive been playing golf for over 12 years).

If you pay for something overpriced you pretty much deserve whatever you get, principally for being a mug.

Edgey

PS This is the internet and as such their are no facts

[Yaz1975]

Yet another example of an American having no idea what irony is.

Edgey

If I had to live where you do, and eat such $hit food, I'd be an itchy minge just like you.

You pedantic, silly man. Tell your boyfriend to stop going spuds deep in your arse.

[edgey]

If I had to live where you do, and eat such $hit food, I'd be an itchy minge just like you.

You pedantic, silly man. Tell your boyfriend to stop going spuds deep in your arse.

Not a MASSIVE pedantic, silly man, come on Adolf, sorry, Yaz you can do better.

I will not speak to my boyfriend, because unlike you i am not a small minded, ho0phobic, intolerant, redneck.

Carry on reciting Horst Wessell

Edgey

[spanqdoggie]

Not a MASSIVE pedantic, silly man, come on Adolf, sorry, Yaz you can do better.

I will not speak to my boyfriend, because unlike you i am not a small minded, ho0phobic, intolerant, redneck.

Carry on reciting Horst Wessell

Edgey

Edgey, you are pretty awesome. As I am visiting the UK this next couple of weeks, I must admit that the English are great at irony. However, an American, Besson, was KING of GR once upon a time and nobody could touch him; I probably would only be able to use a large shovel to clean up the horse crap, of mules, as his menservants carried him along... So yes, Americans can be great at irony, but you Edgey, have been on fire lately; good going mate.

I still bow at the feet of Besson, and cower at his swift slaps uponst my head... I remember playing Besson online... I at my course, and he at his; he kicked my ass.

spank

[edgey]

Edgey, you are pretty awesome. As I am visiting the UK this next couple of weeks, I must admit that the English are great at irony. However, an American, Besson, was KING of GR once upon a time and nobody could touch him; I probably would only be able to use a large shovel to clean up the horse crap, of mules, as his menservants carried him along... So yes, Americans can be great at irony, but you Edgey, have been on fire lately; good going mate.

I still bow at the feet of Besson, and cower at his swift slaps uponst my head... I remember playing Besson online... I at my course, and he at his; he kicked my ass.

spank

Thanks Spank.

Enjoy your time here as i have enjoyed my time in the States in the past.

Edgey

[Not a hacker]

Yet another example of an American having no idea what irony is.

Edgey

If you really want some examples just revisit the irony thread.

[edgey]

If you really want some examples just revisit the irony thread.

Aghhh the irony thread, those were the days.

Edgey