Sky Caddie...waste of money ?

[haplesshacker]

After re-reading this and some other GPS based posts. It's amazing how for some, the argument appears to have gone full circle.

Which begs the question. Gimmick or gadget?

I know for a least one on here, they've changed from GPS to a laser scope thing. His reasons for doing so are all very convincing. But it won't suit everyone.

I dunno. I just get the feeling that some have fallen out of love with their GPS units for the time being. Perhaps the market is moving too slowly, or even too quickly? With the intoduction of the Golfbuddy and the Callaway unit, it might just be that we're a little 'put out' by the technology that these new units offer that the good old Skycaddie doesn't.

Or is it that we've now got so used to our home tracks, that any mearsuring device is pretty much useless now?

At least with a laser range finder it does what it does, and is unlikely to be 'up-staged' by a newer flashier model quite as easily as a GPS unit.

I can forsee a number of used Skycaddies on ebay soon though!

 

[Dodger]

I cannot for the life of me understand why once you had used one of these you would be putting it up for sale.....only reason would be the fact that the user still did not have a clue how far he hit the ball so despite having all the yardage info in front of him he hadn't a clue what to hit.
(while I type I'm listening to Poulter again blaming everyone but himself.....change the record you f###ing knob!)

 

[haplesshacker]

I cannot for the life of me understand why once you had used one of these you would be putting it up for sale.....only reason would be the fact that the user still did not have a clue how far he hit the ball so despite having all the yardage info in front of him he hadn't a clue what to hit.
(while I type I'm listening to Poulter again blaming everyone but himself.....change the record you f###ing knob!)

On first reading I thought the last sentence was aimed at me!! It would appear not though.

As to the GPS thing. I would agree. Doesn't matter if you play the same course every week. There will still be times when you will not be able to guess the yardage accurately enough.

Mind you. Talking of distence of each club. Anyone else finding that they can take one less club in this hot weather?

 

[Imurg]

I cannot for the life of me understand why once you had used one of these you would be putting it up for sale.....only reason would be the fact that the user still did not have a clue how far he hit the ball so despite having all the yardage info in front of him he hadn't a clue what to hit.

In my case Dodger, it was to create funds to join a club. But as I say, once I can justify the expense again - I will.

 

[RGDave]

Oohhh.....this is interesting.

1) I'd really like a GPS and WILL be getting one.
2) Would I like to see them allowed in comps?....NO
3) They will not be allowed at my club for the foreseeable future.

After sticking two balls OOB/in water yesterday because I had no idea how far I was away, I'd say they definitely offer an advantage to the user.

I'm totally with the post about yardage markers/score savers but there are times every now and again when even a score saver/knowledge of the course is not as helpful as a GPS.

When I get one, I'll enjoy it. I'll also happily leave it at home for proper comps.

 

[Ethan]

I think the GPS is a better choice if you play lots of unfamiliar courses, but a laser is best if you generally stick to one and you know the layout well enough.

 

[Imurg]

I think the GPS is a better choice if you play lots of unfamiliar courses, but a laser is best if you generally stick to one and you know the layout well enough.

until you have trees that you can clear in front of you but you can't see the pin......

 

[HomerJSimpson]

The way I've been spraying it around lately I'm glad the satellites were there. No way could I have got readings on some holes.

I actually use mine just as much now on my home course as I did when it was new. It's come more into its own now we are getting more roll because I'm playing from different points(assuming I actually get one straight) than normal, i.e close to the green.

I find SC5 a godsend on away courses too and it helped me loads at Leatherhead the other week. The first time I played it I was a bit erratic and although it helped a lot of shots were recovery shots towards 100 yard markers. Last time I was driving it well and so it really helped to know what was left.

Its 18 months since I got mine and I still give SC 5/5

 

[viscount17]

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.

I have to say that is one of the most idiotic statements I've read on the forum.

It's unfair to use them in competition but it's perfectly fair to use the information obtained with one?

just shows how absolutely ridiculous the decisions made by clubs allowing their use in practice but not in competition really are.

(that includes mine).

 

[RGDave]

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.

I have to say that is one of the most idiotic statements I've read on the forum.

It's unfair to use them in competition but it's perfectly fair to use the information obtained with one?

just shows how absolutely ridiculous the decisions made by clubs allowing their use in practice but not in competition really are.

(that includes mine).

You've lost me a bit.

I think the point is (unless I'm way off target) that information gleaned by any way (experience/yardage charts etc.) is certainly acceptable to use. For example, on one hole at mine, the score-saver says 127 from point x, but all the club members know it's wrong...
Now, in a comp, the player with the skycaddie will read 138 to the middle, and the members will know to hit the equivalent of one club more. Anyone playing off the yardage chart will come up short, those with local knowledge and skycaddie will hit the right club.
A new member or visitor will be disadvantaged; a member who's mapped out, say 10 extra distances over a year can rely on the past knowledge of using the GPS in practice. The fact that he/she is playing from a more detailed score-saver is not the same as using a GPS...in my opinion. The GPS is accurate to a yard or two, even the best marked score-saver will have limits, just because the tree you are level with is marked on your super-chart as 185, doesn't mean you are exactly 185....unless you are next to it....certainly on my course, there are plenty of holes where the 150s are far from parallel left or right of the fairway.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

What I was trying to say (badly) was at the time the committee hadn't allowed GPS to be used for ALL comps but were allowed in club matches (go figure). I was using a strokesaver at the time and using GPS in practice rounds to give me as many measurements on the holes as possible to give myself the best information possible.

As it happens, since this thread (way back when) we can use them and so the problem has gone away. As it is allowable and open to everyone to use if they so wish I no longer have a problem using mine competitively