If you have an opinion on SkyCaddies click here.

[The_LHC]

This may be okay but I have serious doubts,my mate uses a phone app and is always at least 3 yards diff to the Skycaddie...I know which one I trust having seen the extensive workings the company take in mapping the courses.

You honestly think 3 yards is going to make any difference at all? The only people who hit to that level of accuracy have walking, talking yardage indicators...

Yes

Ok, hit a seven iron, then hit another one 3 yards further. Then repeat that ten times with a, hmm I'll be generous, 50% success rate and get back to me.

....where do you draw the line then?

You don't, because you have no idea which of the two devices that are showing different yardages is actually correct.

GPS isn't even that accurate, I believe the stated accuracy, now that the US military have opened things up a little, is still around 2 metres, it used to be more like 20.

 

[viscount17]

I play a lot of different courses so evening it out the annual fee is not that expensive on a per map basis; plus I know that SC has mapped the courses not used some, possibly, out of date satellite image for the mapping.

SC is pretty stable for ranges, it may take a few seconds to stabilise when you stop moving and you may get a slight variation of 2 or 3 yards but if you can hit that close, you don't need it.

(No GPS is likely to be any better as they all use the same GPS satellite commercial data and a narrow range of GPS chips.)

downside of the 2,5 is that there is no overhead image, so you may also need a shotsaver (and some of those are really awful).

 

[haplesshacker]

Yep. Two to three metres at best accuracy. Somedays it's less accurate than others.

It used to be that you had to set the GPS datum to the same datum that a chart was mapped by in yachting. The number of folk that I came across saying that their GPS was over 100 yards out, was amazing.

Anyway. A yard or two difference between units is hardly a major issue. And whose to say which unit is right?

 

[Oddsocks]

is 103 yards or 100 yards to the green middle going to make a difference. Is that that many people here that can HONESTLY say from 100 yards or more that they can be accurate within 3 yards taking into account wind, firmness of ground, strike on the ball and power in the swing etc,

 

[edgey]

Hi

I have had a Skycaddie, Sonnocaddie and a UPro so feel well qualified to comment on this

Sonnocaddie

Not a bad unit. Only up front coast and no annual subs. Course overheads not great, didnt match my own course at all. Yardages not great, out by 10 yards at times. Returned and replaced with...

Callaway uPro

Great overhead images but these are pricey. Free for basic info which is OK but defeats buying the uPro really. Yardages out by 7-10 yards at times (confirmed by laser) and number of courses mapped in the UK not great (seems the USA is their priority at the moment). Battery life is very poor as well. Unit VERY flimsy and i spent 4 hours onto Customer Support in the USA (free) trying to sort out synching problems. In the end they said my computer was the problem and suggested i replace my lap top...sent back and replaced with...

Skycaddie SGX

Took 70 mins to update software with the help of an online support person (who was great). Excellent unit with great graphics and very accurate yardages (confirmed by laser). Good number of UK courses mapped (best of any unit). Synching is now great and club SG is an excellent resource. The annual subscription of £30 is not a great deal for what you get (box of decent balls which are often lost within a month?) and as such i feel is a bit of a red herring.

Finally i do have a Bushnell 1600 Tournament and this is without doubt the best piece of kit. Always bang on yardage TO THE PIN (no need to guess or have a pin map)and no need to worry if the course is mapped or if your subs are up to date. I would recommend a Bushnell if you can only have GPS or Laser. If you can have both (which is the ideal) have a Skycaddie and a Bushnell.

Hope that helps

Edgey

 

[bobmac]

I'm not sure, but I don't think Sneds was planning on spending £329, plus membership

http://completegolfer.co.uk/cg7/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=1038

 

[edgey]

Hi

In fact i suggested he spend approx £600. This is consumer advice only Jeremy Clarkson normally hands out

Edgey

 

[jammydodger]

I use an SC 2.5 and wouldnt be without it. I couldnt give a stuff about £30 a year subs , hardly going to worry about it when im on my death bed wishing I hadnt spent it cos my life would have been so much better getting one without subs.

I get the yardage for my clubs from my SC , so I think using the same unit on the course I can trust the yardage to the targets.

You dont need a unit with all the gizmos about keeping your stats/score/what you had for breakfast etc etc , thats just incidental tosh and wont help you score better. All you need is the yardage to your targets/lay ups etc.

Its like buying a car with fancy paintwork , satnav, electric back windows,bottle holders,leather seats,bucket seats blah blah blah. All cr@p and a waste of money , buy a car to get you from a to b , buy a gps to give you your yardages end of story

 

[bobmac]

Its like buying a car with fancy paintwork , satnav, electric back windows,bottle holders,leather seats,bucket seats blah blah blah. All cr@p and a waste of money , buy a car to get you from a to b , buy a gps to give you your yardages end of story

Jammy, if you dont like all the gadgets, you must be seriously in touch with your feminine side

 

[GB72]

My issue is not so much about the £30 subs per year for Skycaddie, that would seem a good deal to get your downloads. My issue is that if you stop subscribing then you lose all of your courses. If you could subscribe and only lose access to updates or are only able to keep the courses stored on your machine then it would seem reasobable.

 

[jammydodger]

Its like buying a car with fancy paintwork , satnav, electric back windows,bottle holders,leather seats,bucket seats blah blah blah. All cr@p and a waste of money , buy a car to get you from a to b , buy a gps to give you your yardages end of story

Jammy, if you dont like all the gadgets, you must be seriously in touch with your feminine side

I'm as manly as the next man , I am honest , ask my boyfriend

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I would avoid the new SC SGX as this seems full of bugs and not worth the huge costs at this time. I've had the SC5 since not long after they were released and never had an issue with it except for a custome recall on the chargers at the start (potential to overheat). I got a free one delivered via my pro and not problem.

I don't have an issue with paying £30 per year in subs. SO far I've used it on 17 different courses which is £1.67 per download so not a bad return. I don't even have an issue of not using it if you lapse the subs. Why get the benefit even for your own course if you haven't paid.

That said if I did it again I'd look at the 2.5 first. I was interested in a sonocaddie but heard of quite large discrepancies in measurements which seemed to have been reiterated on here. I've not looked at golfbuddy but the seems to be getting some good write ups.

 

[Sneds]

Just to give you guys an update. I went out and played 18 this evening using freecaddie on my iphone. It was very useful, although my concerns with the durability etc still stand with using the iPhone 4. Nevertheless, I think it really gave me an indication of the help I would get from a GPS.

I used it a couple of times on Par 3s and also when I was within 150 yards. A few times the distances differed from the course stakes and helped me commit to one club.

There was one hole where I decided to not listen to the SC. I was level with 150 markers with a green slightly downhill, front pin. I glanced at the freecaddie which told me I had 132 to the center of the green. 118 to the front.

I didn't listen....took my 9 iron and went long. Next hole, I throw a wedge 2' from the pin from about 120 yards out and that NEVER happens for me!

After considering the advice, I still think SC2.5 is my preferred option, but I won't rush into it just yet. May even just use freecaddie whilst the weather is good.

Thanks for the contributions, forum.

 

[Robobum]

...... Next hole, I throw a wedge 2' from the pin from about 120 yards out and that NEVER happens for me!

......

Interesting use of the sky caddie yardages. How far do you helicopter your putter??

 

[Marko77]

I'm with the view that I wouldn't be without my SC2.5 I have had no issues with the accuracy of information.

If SC were listening though I would comment I would prefer their prices were download related rather than a blanket annual fee.

 

[Imurg]

Always bang on yardage TO THE PIN

To be honest, I very rarely shoot for the pins anyway.
If the pin is in a difficult position I couldn't care less how far it is to it as I'm not interested in playing for it. I'd rather get the ball on the green 30 feet away than in the bunker in front of the green while going for the pin.

Not doubting the accuracy or effectiveness of a laser at all but I generally only want to know how far to the front of the green (or carrying any hazard at the front), the distance to the middle and the distance to the back.
I tend to play for the middle of greens - hit it better than expected and I wont be too far over the back, hit it poorly and I may still reach the front.

All this I can get from my SC2.5

I will be renewing my subscription as soon as I finish typing this. And I'm glad I got mine a year ago for £130!!

 

[Golfmmad]

After reading this thread and other recent ones on the subject, I'm just so confused, one says sonniecaddie is best, another says skycaddie etc. etc. I'm not disagreeing with what's been said, just haven't a clue which to go for if I was in the market for one. For that reason, for now anyway, I'm out.

Golfmmad.

 

[viscount17]

My issue is not so much about the £30 subs per year for Skycaddie, that would seem a good deal to get your downloads. My issue is that if you stop subscribing then you lose all of your courses. If you could subscribe and only lose access to updates or are only able to keep the courses stored on your machine then it would seem reasobable.

don't think so, so long as you don't try to download anymore and don't reconnect to SC. What you've downloaded (up to 10 courses) should stay on and active I think.

 

[viscount17]

I'm with the view that I wouldn't be without my SC2.5 I have had no issues with the accuracy of information.

If SC were listening though I would comment I would prefer their prices were download related rather than a blanket annual fee.

I downloaded upwards of 20 courses a year - 75p a mapped course, what pay-as-you-go gps can better that?

 

[inthehole]

I wish our esteemed golfing publications would take the bull by the horns and test these units in a more professional way. I know that GM did do a thing in Feb, but new units are coming out all the time and they should be reviewed. In such a review it would be useful to take all units out on a couple of courses and check their accuracy and the speed with which they get updated. it would also be useful for users to try different units so they could make a more meaningful comparison and compare the usability. so eg test 6 of the leading units, with testers swapping every 3 holes . The units could be rated and then when the next test was done when new units had been bought out then perhaps two of the originals could be retested to give some sort of control.

I liked edgey s review of 3 of the leading sytems , but to be fair he is comparing sgx (latest tech) to sonocaddie not latest because that is only just about to be lauched and no mention of golfbuddy platinum bacause likewise that is only just launched here.