Spitzer R5 Digital Remote Control Electric Pushcart - REVIEW

[GolfSpy Dave]

Spitzer R5 Digital Remote Control Golf Cart– REVIEW

An Official MyGolfSpy.com Review

 

http://www.spitzerproducts.com/R5_DIGITAL_Remote_Control_Golf_Cart_p/rcgt005.htm

 

Raising The Bar On The Traditional Push Cart

As you know from my previous reviews, I am a huge fan of push carts. I appreciate that the cart takes the weight of my bag off of my shoulders and back and in doing so, allows me to stay less fatigued through the round and play better golf.

 

For quite a while, I used one of the traditional two-wheel pull carts. It was a touch heavy, and did put some strain on the shoulder as it was dragged along, but it got the clubs off my back. Next came the three-wheeled pushcart. What a revelation that was. Adding that third wheel allows the golfer to easily push the clubs along with minimal effort, again saving more energy for the swinging of the club.

 

But what if you didn't have to push the cart at all? What if you could just tell it where to go while you walked totally unencumbered down the fairway? Previously, this kind of player support could come from the traditional caddy. However, the traditional caddy is more likely to be found with a tour pro or at a high-end course than at the courses that most of us play regularly.

 

What I bring you today is a product that may bridge the gap between the pushcart and the human caddy carrying your clubs. Today, I bring you the Spitzer R5 Digital Remote Control Golf Cart. This is a three-wheeled “pushcart” with the added features of an electric motor, and a remote control. Put your clubs on the cart, and tell it where to go with the remote. With this pushcart, we leave the “push” out of the equation.

 

I will use the same scoring scale that I have used in my previous pushcart reviews:

 

Aesthetics (10 Points)

All in all, I think that the R5 Digital has a pleasing design. I think that this is an accomplishment, as the design has to include a large battery smack dab in the middle of the cart.

 

 

The cables are all threaded through the tubing of the cart, adding to the sleek look of the cart and also keeping them out of harms way on the course.

 

 

The buttons on the console and the remote are large, and simply, yet effectively labeled. The knob on the right side of the console takes away from the overall design lines, but all in all the cart comes in the “attractive” range.

 

 

(To see a “beautiful” cart, look at Spitzer's RL150 remote cart HERE.)

Aesthetics Score: 8/10

 

Innovation (10 Points)

The R5 Digital cart contains a multiple layers of innovation. First, there is the addition of an electric motor to the traditional push cart, thus reducing the effort required to move the cart through the course. Second, there is the addition of the remote control to the electric cart to promote a hands-free operation of the cart on the course.

 

 

It is difficult to truly score these developments as “innovations” because other companies are also producing remote control carts. Spitzer's RL150 probably better represents “innovation” relative to the other remote control carts. That being said, the R5 Digital's fusion of pushcart with electric motor and remote control does place it into a unique niche in the golf market. The cart also gains points for its simple construction, folding and unfolding, and simple remote control interface.

Innovation Score: 8/10

 

Ease of Use (10 Points)

As one would expect, adding a motor and a battery makes the R5 Digital cart heavier than a traditional pushcart. According to the spec sheet on the Spitzer site, the cart weighs in at 31 lbs with the battery adding an additional 27 lbs. This combined weight of 58 lbs places the R5 Digital well above weights of the other carts that I have reviewed. Transporting the cart does become a bit more difficult as a result. What saves theR5 Digital is the ability to easily remove the battery, and wheels, from the cart. If you choose to remove the wheels for transport, they come off and go back on by pushing a single “button”.

 

 

Once these are removed, the folded footprint of the cart is comparable to more traditional pushcarts. It is still heavier though, so it will require more effort to move into and out of the trunk.

 

 

Folding and unfolding the cart is very simple. There in one latch on the main body of the cart that easily secures the cart into operating position.

 

The battery fits snugly into the base of the cart and is then secured with a Velcro strap. The battery plugs neatly into the base, with a simple threaded collar securing it into place.

 

 

The bag attachments fold down with the bag being secured by a Velcro strap at the base and a bungee/hook strap at the top.

 

 

Simple to set-up and simple to take down. Exactly what you would want. The additional weight is really the only detractor.

Ease of Use Score: 8/10

 

Value (10 Points)

Value is a very difficult category to score and probably more subjective for this cart than any other that I have reviewed. This cart lists for $899.99 (with free shipping) on the Spitzer site. At this price, you will need to play a lot to cover the expense of the cart by not renting a riding cart. You are likely looking at a multiple season investment to break even. Based upon the construction of the cart, you will definitely be able to use it for multiple seasons.

 

I think that the subjective value of this cart really may change for the golfer who really wants to walk the course, but finds pushing the traditional cart to be too laborious. In this situation, the R5 Digital may be worth its weight in gold. It could easily provide extra seasons of walking to the golfer who dreads the forced transition to riding.

 

Based upon my current physical health, I can't really justify the Clicgear x4 price, but my situation does not likely represent all who are interested in such a cart. Value will likely be lower for some and higher for others. Construction quality pushes it into the average range for me, even with the premium price.

Value Score: 7/10

 

Performance (60 Points)

OK so lets get down to it. How does it work on the course? Going into this review, I had visions of getting a bag custom made to look like R2-D2 and living out a super nerdy Star Wars fantasy while the R5 Digital and I explored exotic courses. Maybe the expectations here were a little high, but what is cooler than a remote control electric golf cart? Here are the highs and lows from the on-course testing:

 

 

 

Highs

• Battery Life: The battery life is excellent. I initially had some concerns about getting stranded on the course with a dead battery. Totally unfounded. Charging the battery is simple too with a light switching from red to green on the charger when done.

 

• Cart Stability: The additional weight and low center of gravity make the R5 Digital very stable. The addition of a “wheelie bar” at the back of the cart prevents the cart from tipping backward. Never once did the cart fall over during operation.

 

 

• Speed: The range of speeds available should allow any golfer to select a speed that is appropriate for his or her pace. Do be aware that you can get the cart moving pretty fast and that there is a limit on the range of the remote control. In other words, don't go full speed at the lake.

 

• Remote: The remote is very light and easy to operate one handed. Buttons are easy to press and positioned ergonomically on the face. The stop button in particular is easy to find and elicits rapid stopping of the cart. In general, response to the remote was good, but there were some situations where the cart did not speed up when the buttons were pressed, or there was a bit of a lag.

 

• Terrain Interaction: The R5 Digital did great on all of the terrain types that I ran it through. No super soggy mud on the course these days, but it did fine through long, wet rough. It did bounce the bag and clubs around quite a bit on harder ground though.

 

Lows

• Bag Strapping System:* While the straps promote easy attachment of the bag to the cart, my bag did not stay in one secure position during use. The bottom strap would be better if the actual plastic base of the cart was not slick plastic. The plastic golf bag base with the plastic base of the cart is just too slippery. A non-slip rubber pad at the bottom would go a long way toward eliminating this issue. The top bungee system was also too loose for my bag. I would rather see another Velcro strap here, along with a no-slip pad on the plastic bag-holding housing.

 

• No Utility Console: The console to control the cart is fine, but what became painfully obvious when using the cart is the lack of the traditional console found in other pushcarts. There is no storage on this cart. No place for scorecards, balls, tees, and etc. You can purchase one from Spitzer as an option at additional cost. This seems silly to me on a cart that costs $900. Lacking this feature definitely took away from the cart on the course.

 

 

• Turning: The cart has a jerky motion when turning. Watching the video below, you can see that it turns in spurts rather than in a more fluid fashion.

 

Turning the R5 Digital

 

This is not the fault of the operator, but rather the design. The R5 Digital turns by altering the power and the direction to the rear wheels. The front wheel is fixed forward, and slides left or right depending upon the movements of the rear wheels. To turn, the cart must stop the current forward progress, turn the wheels to accomplish the turn (about 23° per click, I estimate), and then continue forward on this new line. Under tight navigation conditions (in the trees) I found steering the cart with the remote to be difficult, and usually just pushed it by hand.

 

 

• Pushing By Hand: While the R5 Digital is surprisingly easy to just push by hand, you must turn off the cart before you can do so. Not a huge irritant, but the need to turn on and off seems like it puts unwelcome strain on the motor. Would be nice to have a neutral gear option.

 

 

• Tracking*: And so we get to the major issue, I could not get the cart to drive straight on the course. The following videos come from the same day out on the course. I apologize for the “Blair Witch” cinematography, but it was a bit of a challenge to use the camera and the remote simultaneously while chasing the cart. What I want you to pay attention to in the videos is that in the first video, the cart pulls to the left, and in the second, it is now pulling to the right.

 

Cart Pulling to the Left

 

Cart Pulling to the Right

 

 

What I found when demoing the cart is that the weight distribution and orientation of the golf bag has a definite impact on the tracking of the cart. Now I have learned my lesson from previous pushcart demos and as such I made sure that the cart tracked straight before ever taking it to the course. I drove the cart back and forth on the street in front of my home and it went straight every time. The only difference was that during this calibration, I did not add a bag of clubs.

 

Initially when the cart started veering offline, I thought that I would have to adjust the front wheel to make it fly straight. Not a huge complicated operation by any stretch, but after watching the degree and direction of the veering vary throughout the round, I knew that the front wheel was not the variable effecting operation.

 

 

The position of the bag on the cart definitely effects path. The issue though for me is that I could never really orientate the bag in a way that promoted straight rolling. Often times, it felt like I had to play a draw or a fade with the cart to have it end up where I wanted it to go without constantly using the remote to steer against the veer. It may be that the bag I am using is not a good fit for the cart, but I thought that the lightweight bag should actually have less of an impact compare to a heavier one.

 

What was very frustrating was the fact that the somewhat jerky method that the cart turns also causes the bag to twist and reposition in the bag holders. This then too contributes to the veering of the cart. I think that the plastic on plastic contact at the bottom bag holding position and again at the top really do not secure the bag enough to avoid this situation. Perhaps the simple addition of a non-skid rubber pad to the bottom holder, or a replacing the top bungee strap with a tighter Velcro buckle like at the base would do the trick. It may be that this cart is more suited for a traditional riding cart bag than my bag, but I don't have one of those bags so I am not sure.

 

What I do know is that this tracking issue is a real deal breaker for me. I was very frustrated trying to pilot the cart in a straight line. After a few holes it was obvious that the use of the cart was taking away from the enjoyment of playing golf. I found myself just wishing I was carrying my clubs…

 

I don't think that this bag situation is a fatal flaw for the R5 Digital by any stretch. The cart responds quickly to the remote, the operation is very quiet, the battery charges quickly and lasts, and the cart really does allow you to walk the course unencumbered. That being said, the tracking issue is something that would have to be fixed before I would use the cart on an every round basis. I bet I could hit the local hardware store and cook up a DIY fix for the bag mounts in a few minutes for minimal cost. But this is really something that the manufacturer should take care of at the factory.

 

*Performance Trial 2 - Sun Mountain Cart Bag

My contact at Spitzer suggested that my issue with tracking may in fact be an issue of bag selection rather than cart design. To make the review as comprehensive and fair as possible, I went and acquired an older Sun Mountain C-130 cart bag and took the R5 digital out for another run.

 

 

As you can see from these photos, the straps are definitely sized to fit the larger, round cart bag. Even without my DIY addition of a non-skid surface to the base of the cart, the bag did not twist or move at all once secured.

 

 

 

I am happy to report that switching to the cart bag made a huge difference in tracking.

Here is the first video where you can see the cart track much straighter over a distance of about 100 yards.

 

In this second video, you can really see that the tracking of the cart off line is not an issue of the cart but rather terrain. Initially it veers a bit to the right of the frame (cart's right). As the cart returns toward the camera, it veers again to the right of the frame, but this is actually now the cart's left. In both cases, the cart is actually slightly veering downhill.

 

In this final video, I took the cart to a flat spot behind the driving range and drove it over fairly severe rough and bumpy terrain. The tracking here was excellent.

 

I think that after watching the videos, one can easily see that we are looking at two very different performance situations with the different golf bags. The R5 Digital behaves like I expected it to once my clubs were housed in a cart bag rather than a lightweight carry bag.

 

Once the cart bag is in use, most of my performance criticisms disappear. The straps fit, the bag doesn't slide, and most importantly, the cart tracks much straighter. Only the need to turn the cart off to push by hand and the lack of console as a standard feature remain issues once the bag is appropriate. No hardware store DIY required.

 

Performance Score Revised for cart bag trial: 55/60

 

Overall Score: 86/100

 

Summary

While I was disappointed by the on-course performance of the R5 Digital with the carry bag, I am happy to report that the performance issues were easily resolved by switching to a cart bag. With a cart bag in place, this cart does meet expectations. Once you use a cart bag, I am far more comfortable and confidents recommending the R5 Digital to a golfer who wants to walk the course but does not want to carry clubs of push a cart.

[Tyk]

What I want is a battery cart that will just follow me around, perhaps following a sensor in my pocket. When they get that worked out, I'm getting one!

[GolfSpy WD]

What I want is a battery cart that will just follow me around, perhaps following a sensor in my pocket. When they get that worked out, I'm getting one!

 

Now that would be a great idea, especially if it was oriented such that the bag opening always faced you (and had a convenient place to store bottles). I can imagine the weight being a problem when going through mud though.

[GolfSpy Dave]

Second performance trial added with a scoring revision.

 

Look for the large blue text in the original review above.

[nurix20]

This was a pretty nice cart . But I think Spin It Golf GC1R “Easy Trek” Remote Controlled Electric Golf Cart is the best option. To me it is the best electric remote control golf cart , no offense.

[MDGolfHacker]

 

Now that would be a great idea, especially if it was oriented such that the bag opening always faced you (and had a convenient place to store bottles). I can imagine the weight being a problem when going through mud though.

I believe there is already a motorized push cart that has a sensor based system which follows you. Makes much more sense that holding a tethered wire to a cart. I'll have to see if I can find the info on it. Www.caddytrek.com and quite a few others if you Google it.

 

MDGolfHacker

[hckymeyer]

Oldie but a goodie, way to bring back an old thread!

 

Also... You guys realize this was 5 1/2 years ago right?  Technology advances

[MDGolfHacker]

Oldie but a goodie, way to bring back an old thread!

 

Also... You guys realize this was 5 1/2 years ago right? Technology advances

LOL, I didn't. I was replying while catching a commuter train. I honestly didn't check the thread start date.

 

MDGolfHacker