Sky Caddie...waste of money ?

[billyg]

well chaps,

ive joined the gps generation with an sg2.5. Haven't had a chance to use it yet (see thread on left hand injury) but before doing this I took it out and recorded a course that we were playing on holiday. Takes about 30 seconds to do each hole. Piece of cake if you want the raw distances.

My girlfriend bought it for me as a birthday gift and found it on the net for sale at way(and I do mean waaay) below rrp - like almost half price. I would think if they are starting to sell them off this cheaply there may be another generation just around the corner but i'm just speculating.

Will post a full report on it when I actually get a chance to use the thing.

 

[OldWindy]

I'd love to have one of these, particularly the SG5. I think they are invaluable for marking out your shots and the course but I draw the line at using them in comps as I fully believe that the game is better off without assistance at this level. It just takes the judgement out which must be part of the skill in my eyes.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I agree with your sentiments oldwindy. I wouldn't dream of using it in any club competition or match as I consider it an unfair advantage. However by using it to map out extra reference yardages and adding them to my clubs strokesaver booklet I feel I have as much information re yardages as I'm likely to get without using the machine.

 

[Marko77]

I agree with your sentiments oldwindy. I wouldn't dream of using it in any club competition or match as I consider it an unfair advantage. However by using it to map out extra reference yardages and adding them to my clubs strokesaver booklet I feel I have as much information re yardages as I'm likely to get without using the machine.

Unfair advantage? so, someone has a device that automatically tells them distance without wasting time pacing up and down between markers - I suppose there's advantage in that you won't be as tired at the end of the day!

Say someone your playing only has a steel shafted driver, you gonna put your graphite shafted big stick away so not to have an advantage? Its not like the GPS hits the shot for you?

 

[TonyN]

What about yardage markers on the course, do people close there eyes when they walk past these?

Dont see why sky caddies cant be used!

 

[toonarmy]

I can't believe amateur golfers can think there is something 'wrong' about using a gps for yardage in a competition.

Do you think pros tell their caddies 'don't tell me the distance, it wouldn't be fair. Me gauging the distance is all part of the skill'? Cobblers.

Knowing how far you are from the hazards, green and pin is something pros have all the time and they are much better than we are, so why on earth shouldn't we use a device that effectively does 30% of what a pro's caddy does?

I can't wait to get my hands on one. Anyone who thinks they shouldn't use one in a comp (if local rules allow) is either supremely arrogant or just plain daft.

I keep waiting for GM to do a feature on them to give us a good idea of the differences.

That, or hope they send me one to test as part of the reader's panel!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Thats my point. Local (i.e. club rules) don't allow them to be used. As golf is about honesty and honour I have to say I'd feel uneasy about using one to gain and advantage about club selection when 90% of the field couldn't.

The argument about graphite and steel shafts is mute. Neither is banned and the selection of one over the other is down to how each player swings.

 

[madandra]

Homer, since I got my Caddy Lite I have not been cut as I am not hitting the shots I need to hit in order to score so although the GPS gives me a number it does not hit the ball for me.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Madandra

Strangely enough I haven't been cut either. However on the rounds I have used it I have played close to or under my handicap. Perhaps it is my inability to deal with the pressure of a competition card and the new swing changes?

I have to say though I do find the SC a godsend when I use it particularly when I carve one onto another fairway or hit a dirty great top, to know exactly how far I have to the green or the hazards to decide on my strategy.

I have to say though the numpty holding the club can have Tiger Woods bagman giving him everything a tour player would get over each shot and I still couldn't gurantee to keep it in the same postcode at the moment

 

[toonarmy]

Thats my point. Local (i.e. club rules) don't allow them to be used.

Well, that's a different matter and of course not all local rules permit/prohibit the use of the devices at the moment.

Let's face it though, now the R&A have allowed them, they will be standard within a couple of years tops. And so they should be. As madandra said, knowing how far it is to the pin is the smallest factor of the golf. None of that knowledge helps you hit the ball.

 

[SammmeBee]

I agree with your sentiments oldwindy. I wouldn't dream of using it in any club competition or match as I consider it an unfair advantage. However by using it to map out extra reference yardages and adding them to my clubs strokesaver booklet I feel I have as much information re yardages as I'm likely to get without using the machine.

Homer....14 months on....is this still the case?

 

[RGDave]

Crikey. When did this old thread get a new lease of life?

f.w.i.w. 6 months ago, I was anti-skycaddie. I felt it offered no more than a score-saver/yardage chart.

Having seen one in action, I'm a convert!

Just need to find the £cash.....

Saves time and energy, not to mention those moments when there's nothing to go by at all and you just have to guess...."250? dunno?"

 

[HomerJSimpson]

In answer to the question, I was using yardage charts as the club hadn't approved SC usage as a local rule. SInce that changed I'm using in every event and reaping the benefits of knowing exactly how far I have from some very far flung parts of the course

 

[RGDave]

In answer to the question, I was using yardage charts as the club hadn't approved SC usage as a local rule. Since that changed I'm using in every event and reaping the benefits of knowing exactly how far I have from some very far flung parts of the course

far flung parts?

I know what you mean.

I played today with another forumer (farneyman) and on a few occasions, we had no idea at all!!!

What's depressingly rubbish about score-savers is when you see "tree-on-the-right" is 187 on the score-saver, but there are now 10 trees!!

I messed up my tee shot in the 18th, had no idea how far to the pond (where you have to lay up on the drive), hit an 8 iron straight into the water. If I'd known it was 140 to the drink, I'd have gone with a 9.....hmmm.....costly.....

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I know what you mean Dave. Played horrific golf. My swing ha totally gone to pot in terms of technique and timing although to be fair I'm having real problems controlling my diabetes at the moment and the blood count is all over the shop and I felt rubbish from the 1st hole.

One of those days where no two swings were the same and in the end it gets to the point where you don't actually make a committed swing through the ball. I tried the 3 wood experiement based on a previous thread and lets just say that particular club won't be seeing the light of day again soon unless in a dire emergency.

I managed to lose 3(!!!!!) balls (ok one was a huge shank into lost tribe country) but one was a slice left on the simple (my arse) par 3 6th and a hook left and probably still going left as I type on 17. Stood over the ball without a clue where it was going. Short game was OK and putting was 7/10 but seriously doubting whether to play int he stableford as I still feel rubbish (blood count at 11 - should be between 5 and 7) and I've lost all confidence.

At least SC5 told me how far I had each time and so made it easy to lay up (I was never going to take any shot on today) and it helped choose the right wedge for when I finally got in sight of the right green.

Not a happy camper on all fronts - now HID has got the hump as well!

 

[RGDave]

Do you know. If I bought a 2.5 model, would I have to pay anything extra in the first year to have my home course?

I'm looking at this (£169.99) but wondered if you can use it straight out the box?

 

[jammydodger]

Nope , you've got to subscribe to be able to download the courses you want to use

 

[Dodger]

The best investment you will ever make.....Skycaddie all the way for me.

 

[Smiffy]

The best investment you will ever make.....Skycaddie all the way for me.

I hardly use mine now.
I'll keep it for use on links courses though, where it really does come into it's own.

 

[Imurg]

Having had a SG2.5 and sold it I can honestly say that my golf hasn't suffered (well, judging the distance anyway!) as a result. Having said that, there are a number of 150 yard posts on my new course that don't look right to me. Also the 150 posts are only on 1 side of the fairway. If you're in the rough on the opposite side it makes life pretty tricky.
So I'm hoping to get another GPS at some stage. Whether it will be another SG2.5 or maybe a GolfBuddy I'm not sure. But I think in time I will get another.