ColinR
Head Pro
Good investment or waste of money ?
Perhaps if you are playing lots of different courses it could be good.
Perhaps if you are playing lots of different courses it could be good.
Sky Caddie...waste of money ?
- Thread starter ColinR
- Start date
billyg
Q-School Graduate
If you run a search on Skycaddie theres quite a lot on here about it already. Going back 3 or four months should be plenty.
ColinR
Head Pro
OK, thanks Billy. I'm a relative new boy, and had seen something posted about it in the 'long drive thread' .
billyg
Q-School Graduate
You're welcome.
FWIW I'm saving for one as we speak
FWIW I'm saving for one as we speak
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
You will find plenty of historical chat but I'm undecided. I'm tempted by the caddy lite as it is only £139 but they haven't mapped my course yet so waiting to find out when that is happening.
These rangefinders are relatively new and whilst I think they are a good idea I'm concerned that they are a bit like mobile in that technology is likely to move on quickly. As a result I'm not sure I can justify the £299 for the Sky Caddy GS 5(the 3 and 4 seem to have been taken off the market) and I'm concerned the 2.5 (the cheapest version) will be superceded soon (it has already replaced the original 2.0)
As a result I'm holding off until I hear about the course mapping and seeing how the land lies. Maybe something for my birthday in June
These rangefinders are relatively new and whilst I think they are a good idea I'm concerned that they are a bit like mobile in that technology is likely to move on quickly. As a result I'm not sure I can justify the £299 for the Sky Caddy GS 5(the 3 and 4 seem to have been taken off the market) and I'm concerned the 2.5 (the cheapest version) will be superceded soon (it has already replaced the original 2.0)
As a result I'm holding off until I hear about the course mapping and seeing how the land lies. Maybe something for my birthday in June
haplesshacker
Money List Winner
I've used GPS for donkeys years for yacht racing, and I have to say it's an invaluable tactical tool. There is so much information that can be gleamed from it, but only if you know what you're doing with it.
I'm undecided if it's as beneficial for golfing, (though I have several friends that work for Garmin, I might 'trial' one for them!). Perhaps not so useful for the home course, but I would imagine quite good for 'away' games, but isn't that what a course yardage book thing for anyway?
I've also noticed that GPS doesn't work very well when under trees etc, so if you play on courses with alot of trees GPS will be of little use as it won't know where you are in the first place. Also as Homer says, is your course even available to download?
My club is in the process of making some significent changes, adding holes, moving tees back etc. How long before these changes come through the system?
I'm not against GPS, but as yet, have to be convinced of their use.
I'm undecided if it's as beneficial for golfing, (though I have several friends that work for Garmin, I might 'trial' one for them!). Perhaps not so useful for the home course, but I would imagine quite good for 'away' games, but isn't that what a course yardage book thing for anyway?
I've also noticed that GPS doesn't work very well when under trees etc, so if you play on courses with alot of trees GPS will be of little use as it won't know where you are in the first place. Also as Homer says, is your course even available to download?
My club is in the process of making some significent changes, adding holes, moving tees back etc. How long before these changes come through the system?
I'm not against GPS, but as yet, have to be convinced of their use.
viscount17
Money List Winner
at my level a waste of money until I can hit distances consistently. it might benefit accurate hitters at mid-level who want to improve in a big way; low handicappers must already be good judges of distance or they wouldn't be where they are.
Atticus_Finch
Journeyman Pro
I can see the benefit if your course has very poor marking or few points of reference. Mine has yardage on every sprinkle head, so your never more than 15yds from one at a time so for me, it would be a waste of cash. Might change my mind if i tried one though, so you can never say never I suppose.
RGuk
Tour Winner
My course has the worst distance referencing I've ever seen. You'll all know the style.....18 identical trees and one of them is 176 to the front.....b*******s.
We have 150 markers and 100 disks, it's pretty hard to go wrong, but I'd be keen to get a GPS, if only to mark up the course planner! My course is on it too.
We have 150 markers and 100 disks, it's pretty hard to go wrong, but I'd be keen to get a GPS, if only to mark up the course planner! My course is on it too.
haplesshacker
Money List Winner
Has anyone got any experiance of the Golflogix unit? I should do a search but you never know what might crop up this time around, and it's relevant! Noticed that they have my club listed as being mapped already. Ta. Purely for comparisons sake.
madandra
Money List Winner
You can get the Caddy Lite for £129.
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
Madandra
Like I've said I'd be dead interested in the caddy lit especially after the great reports you've given it. Only prob is my course ain't on there. I mailed them last week and they said one of their guys was going to approach the club to come along and map it but heard nothing more
Like I've said I'd be dead interested in the caddy lit especially after the great reports you've given it. Only prob is my course ain't on there. I mailed them last week and they said one of their guys was going to approach the club to come along and map it but heard nothing more
steve
Club Champion
hi,i have a sky caddie used it for first time last week ,on a course with loads of trees never lost signal once,i thought it was great.
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
steve
Out of interest which model did you buy and why. As far as I can see the GS3 and GS4 models have been discontinued (are out of stock on the Sky Caddy website) which leaves the basic GS2.5 of the top of the range GS5.
I'd be interested to know what influenced your decision and made you buy the model you did. Might help me make a decision too
Out of interest which model did you buy and why. As far as I can see the GS3 and GS4 models have been discontinued (are out of stock on the Sky Caddy website) which leaves the basic GS2.5 of the top of the range GS5.
I'd be interested to know what influenced your decision and made you buy the model you did. Might help me make a decision too
billyg
Q-School Graduate
Don't know if this helps your decision HJS but , provided one of these systems has your course then what model is not too much of a problem IMHO.
I'm after one because it would be useful to know the distances to the greens. If that's all your after (and after all that is the raison detre of these devices) then it doesn't matter if it's superceded. A few more bells and whistles in future but remember they'll always be limited by what the R&A(subject to local rules) will permit.
Frankly, I don't actually want a device that tells me any more than how far I should be looking to hit the ball. I'm rubbish at judging distances (particularly in a scale I can't imagine many encounter in any other walks of modern life i.e- yards)
My home course has no 150 yard markers on it but coloured metal blobs in the fairway- which is fine if you happen to knock a ball near one but useless otherwise.
I use a fairly good stroke saver at the moment but most of the time it's a guestimate and i'm often caught out.
Finally, i'm a gadget nut.
I'll end up getting the SC system(probably the 2.5) simply because I use a Mac and M's Caddylite doesn't support it. If it did I would buy one of those. It's simply the digital equivilant of having a knowledgable caddy whisper the distances in your ear. No more No less.
I'm after one because it would be useful to know the distances to the greens. If that's all your after (and after all that is the raison detre of these devices) then it doesn't matter if it's superceded. A few more bells and whistles in future but remember they'll always be limited by what the R&A(subject to local rules) will permit.
Frankly, I don't actually want a device that tells me any more than how far I should be looking to hit the ball. I'm rubbish at judging distances (particularly in a scale I can't imagine many encounter in any other walks of modern life i.e- yards)
My home course has no 150 yard markers on it but coloured metal blobs in the fairway- which is fine if you happen to knock a ball near one but useless otherwise.
I use a fairly good stroke saver at the moment but most of the time it's a guestimate and i'm often caught out.
Finally, i'm a gadget nut.
I'll end up getting the SC system(probably the 2.5) simply because I use a Mac and M's Caddylite doesn't support it. If it did I would buy one of those. It's simply the digital equivilant of having a knowledgable caddy whisper the distances in your ear. No more No less.
backwoodsman
Tour Winner
Hapless: If they are moving tees, then it won't make a difference. It will just tell you that you're further from the green/hazard/whatever, and there's nothing to worry about. But if, say, they are moving greens and/or hazards - which are the bits "plotted" - then there is the problem of re-mapping. I don't know for sure, but they seem to map stuff fairly quickly.
If you're like me and have no club but play a lot of new courses, then I think they are very useful. If you're like Homer - who never seems to be anywhere other than at his club (lucky bl**der) and know every blade of grass hump & hollow then some may perhaps argue that there's no need. (Homer: but that's not to say you shouldn't have one if you want one...)
steve
Club Champion
hi,i bought gs5,on rec of my mate who is a pro from a course in cornwall,he sold me one at trade price,as i told him i was going to go for caddylite which has had some good reviews on here.been looking at them for about a year now,had a rangefinder before which was a pain to use.also was looking at the sureshot as well.the s/c is so easy to use clip it on to your bag and away you go.my course was not on there website but emailed them and it was on a week later customer services seem very good.
matthewsgolf
Club Champion
i Have a sky caddie sg5 for sale - £280 - rrp is £299
HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
Although I'm primarily a homester I am occasionally aloud out to other courses, usually in club matches!!!
The reason I like my SC (I've got the 5 because the price I got was the best around including the net but the 2.5 is perfectly functional) is that it has helped me understand exactly how far I hit each club both into and down wind. I have also taken it out and added loads more measurements per hole and added them to those already in the course strokesaver so when I play monthly comps its like having it out there with you.
Personally I like the fact that the exact yardage is at my fingertip including to the front middle and back of every green. Factor in any wind and it takes the guesswork out of club selection. That makes it sooooo much easier to stand over the ball confident you have the right stick and allows you to focus on making a solid controlled wing.
I know they are not everyones cup of tea but everytime I take mine out with me in a friendly game it normally takes no longer than our 2nd (longish par 5) for them to ask me how far they have say to clear the bunker some 70 yards short or what they have left for their 3rd shots. After that it is more or less every hole.
The reason I like my SC (I've got the 5 because the price I got was the best around including the net but the 2.5 is perfectly functional) is that it has helped me understand exactly how far I hit each club both into and down wind. I have also taken it out and added loads more measurements per hole and added them to those already in the course strokesaver so when I play monthly comps its like having it out there with you.
Personally I like the fact that the exact yardage is at my fingertip including to the front middle and back of every green. Factor in any wind and it takes the guesswork out of club selection. That makes it sooooo much easier to stand over the ball confident you have the right stick and allows you to focus on making a solid controlled wing.
I know they are not everyones cup of tea but everytime I take mine out with me in a friendly game it normally takes no longer than our 2nd (longish par 5) for them to ask me how far they have say to clear the bunker some 70 yards short or what they have left for their 3rd shots. After that it is more or less every hole.
RGuk
Tour Winner
I have to say that I'd be keen to know short distances, because I'm really bad at working them out! If I was playing with someone who had one.....I'd probably go and buy immediately!!!
I often add 10 yards to my "guess" at pitch distance to make sure. If I ever get a high-spin wedge, I shall make this a deliberate ploy.
I often add 10 yards to my "guess" at pitch distance to make sure. If I ever get a high-spin wedge, I shall make this a deliberate ploy.
