SkyCaddie 2.5 v 5

[bazlambo]

Another GPS question, and thanks for previous posts.

After looking into this a bit more am i right in thinking that the only differences between SC2.5 & SC5 are a larger screen that is in colour, and for this you pay an extra £130.

Are there any other differences in features I am missing?

 

[SammmeBee]

Screen is bigger too.......

 

[SammmeBee]

Can't get 2.5 with the Christmas bundle either......

 

[USER1999]

Bigger is better, but if you can't afford it (or justify it) then I am sure a 2.5 is fine.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

The display is much larger on the 5 compared to the 2.5 much easier if you just want a quick glance if it is attached to your belt or bag. Both a great bits of kit as I've said on here many times before and SC gets my vote over any similar devices on the market

 

[vig]

Just to throw another one into the ring, what about sonocaddie. No subscription, tracks scores..... also colour

 

[SS2]

The sonocaddie looks quite good (apart from the awful name...)

My concern with the plethora of golf GPS systems now available is that there doesn't seem to be an industry standard format for courses.

In an ideal world, the surveying of a golf course would be device independent, i.e. the survey would be carried out using agreed standards and measurements then made available on any of the different bits of GPS hardware. That way the winners in the hardware war would have to have the best features/price as opposed to the largest number of mapped courses.

I am also not convinced by the accuracy of some of the course surveys and the frequency of their updates. The one thing you need from a GPS system is accurate info and if the survey is wrong or out of date then you won't get accurate info.

Until the market stabilises, I shall stick to paper-based course guides although some of these are, quite frankly, a waste of £4.

 

[viscount17]

you're right about the paper based systems, so few are updated as the courses change but then how often are the courses themselves remeasured following changes (or the SS recalculated). in theory the gps systems should be more accurate, at the moment, and <u>if</u> they have measured the courses for themselves, but this I strongly doubt (have any of you seen any of the army of surveyors that there must be out on your courses?)
given the number of car gps systems that don't provide updates, making successive models obsolete instead, I too will wait until the first flush is over.

 

[backwoodsman]

My tuppence worth is that the SG2.5 (or in my case, the older SG2) is absolutely fine. Nice big display - if you're in "big mode" but still very clear if you're in "Pro" or "Green" mode. I've been round something like 20-25 different courses with it so far - and never been dissatisfied with the distances indicated. Ive always reckoned myself a good judge of "pacing" and if the skycaddie said 150, then on occasion, I've paced it at about 150. Likewise, the mates I usually play with are usually satified with the distance the thing says - if it say 185 then they pick a club for 185 and are usually happy. As regards the SG5 - not used one, but with the way things are with the SG2, I really don't see the point of spending an extra £130 or so

As Homer has said before, someone from Skycaddie actually visits the courses to plot the features - by standing at centre of green and "recording" the location - likewise the other course features. The only problems arise are when a course is redesigned and a green or other feature is relocated. (Obviously it doesn't matter if a tee is moved). But I haven't come across this yet in the courses I've been to.

 

[Leftie]

<u>if</u> they have measured the courses for themselves, but this I strongly doubt (have any of you seen any of the army of surveyors that there must be out on your courses?)

Yes.

Can't remember exactly when (probably last year) but was playing Croham Hurst in Croydon and there were two guys on the 16th with GPS surveying gear slowly walking around and plotting a bunker. Don't know who they were working for though.

Recently got a Skycaddie 2.5 and am quite happy to put up with the smaller and black and white screen. I believe that the only other difference is that the 5 may hold details of more courses on the unit.

 

[happyhacker]

I've seen a SG2.5 for £150 so think I will plump for that next pay day. My eye sight is ok and I think I can live without colour and a slightly smaller screen, so can't see any reason to plump for the 5 when I can put that money I save towards a possible new 909 driver!

Will let you know how I get on.

 

[PeterPumpkinEater]

I have the 2.5 and am very happy with it.

Apart from it being a larger display and colour I dont think that there are any more differences.

Why not get the 2.5 save yourself £140 and have some lessons or upgrade clubs etc?

 

[bazlambo]

Went to my local DG last night to ask there opinion and they were about as much help as the 150 yd markers at my club.

Going to settle on the 2.5, and off to New York next week so see if I can catch a nice price over there (Just my luck that currency rates moving against me at the moment)