What GPS unit is right for me

[mcwhiteh]

I have never used a GPS unit (for golf) nor played with anyone who has one. I don't really know where to start or what would be right for me. The things I'm looking for include:

 

Accurate distances including hazards, traps, etc. (obviously)

Ability to log club distances to hone in on how I hit each club

Ability to log scores, GIR, fairways hit, putts, etc.

A GPS unit that will have the necessary imagery, software, etc. for the courses I play

 

Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated since right now I really have no direction.

[GolfSpy Dave]

I have the basic GOlfLogix model and it has been a huge help during the past year. However, it does not log scores and stats. When I was looking at them before, the uPro was at the top of my wish list, but the courses available were not up to the numbers of the others at the time. Hopefully in the last year this has changed.

 

Golf Guru may be another one to look at. http://www.gpsgolfguru.com/

[Tony Covey MGS]

I believe the On Par Golf GPS has all of those features. There's rumors of a uPro update that would add similar capabilities as well.

[MmmmmmBuddy]

I have never used a GPS unit (for golf) nor played with anyone who has one. I don't really know where to start or what would be right for me. The things I'm looking for include:

 

Accurate distances including hazards, traps, etc. (obviously)

Ability to log club distances to hone in on how I hit each club

Ability to log scores, GIR, fairways hit, putts, etc.

A GPS unit that will have the necessary imagery, software, etc. for the courses I play

 

Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated since right now I really have no direction.

It sounds like you are looking for the SkyCaddie SGX. It is not available right now, but should start to show up in stores in about a month. It does all the tasks you are looking for, and has the most accurate maps of any golf GPS company.

[Addicted2Golf]

You might to consider splitting your stat keeping requirement and go with something else for that. If you have a smartphone, particularly iPhone or Android based, there are plenty of low cost apps for tracking and analyzing stats.

 

Doing that might allow you to pick the best GPS that has the best combo of features for tracking yardages without limiting yourself to just devices that do stat tracking. Just food for thought.

[jamo]

The new SkyCddie SGX is good for that. There are also some laser rangefinder models that can do that.

[chipshot]

Is anyone using the Garmin G3 or G5? Of the research I've done, this looks like a good option, although they do not have my home course. When I emailed to find out if they would add it, they said they are "working on it" and they update quarterly - I'm not sure what that means, but if I can't get it until July or August, it's not worth it for me - I can only play golf through Sept/Oct.

 

Just wondering if anyone could share experiences...thanks!

[Tyk]

If they don't have your home course, they are not a good option until they have it. I would not rely on a company's promise to "work on it", it could be months or years before they get to it.

[mainuh]

I purchased a SkyCaddie SG 3.5 a few months ago through a forum buy/sell/swap.

Price...$100. It was perhaps one of the best golf accessories I have ever purchased.

Now while not current state of the art it performs remarkably well.

It has all the bells and whistles, scoring, etc. but for me all I am concerned about is distance from tee and distance to pin. I have all the other doo dahs disabled.

 

My playing partners initially rolled their eyes - " Rob's got a new toy..." but damn if they don't dbl check with me when it comes to approach distances.

Time involved with checking yardage is zero, okay maybe as quickly as it takes to glance at the screen, but thats about it - no having to view a pin/spot through a laser - you get an immediate readout.

 

I would suggest that you peruse the various forums, possibly ebay - you should be able to pick one up for a reasonable cost.

 

There is a fee for the S/C ($25 for my state for the year), not even a consideration when I factor what a new box of balls cost me.

 

rob

[Putterslut]

I just bought a uPro Go from a left coast distributor for $235 including shipping. It usually goes for $299 + S&H. I've dropped about 3 shots a round just by knowing what club to put in my hands!!

[gkatshoots69]

Right now I am using an Izzo Swami and have been for the past two seasons. For $100 and $10 activation fee you can't go wrong! It doesn't have the features that all of the top brands, (Garmin, Upro, Bushnell, etc) have but it is enough to help shave strokes. The Swami gives you Front, Middle and Back of the green which for the average golf is plenty to help select the right club. It stores up to 10 courses at a time and automatically recognizes the course you're playing on power-up. Easy to use buttons and a large display allows you to quickly cycle from hole to hole for quicker play Yea it's nice to have all the extra features but how often do they really get used?

 

I would highly recommend this unit to anyone.

[chipshot]

Thanks for the information. I haven't yet heard back from Garmin, so now I am considering the Callaway uPro.

[cheymike]

Right now I am using an Izzo Swami and have been for the past two seasons. For $100 and $10 activation fee you can't go wrong! It doesn't have the features that all of the top brands, (Garmin, Upro, Bushnell, etc) have but it is enough to help shave strokes. The Swami gives you Front, Middle and Back of the green which for the average golf is plenty to help select the right club. It stores up to 10 courses at a time and automatically recognizes the course you're playing on power-up. Easy to use buttons and a large display allows you to quickly cycle from hole to hole for quicker play Yea it's nice to have all the extra features but how often do they really get used?

 

I would highly recommend this unit to anyone.

I totally agree with gkatshoots. I've got the Izzo Swami and for my caliber of play (not a very good caliber really) it works great! When I get to the point that I can hit an iron within 3 yards of "exactly" where I want it to go, I might upgrade, but till then the Swami works great.

[smooth7iron]

The Bushnell Yardage Pro XGC is a great product. I have had one for over a year now. Has all the features you asked for:

 

1. Front Center Back distances

2. Course Imagery,

3. Yearly memebership fee is very affordable. I think its 39 bucks for the year. Pretty much all the courses.

4. Scorecard feature

5. Other features as well.

 

Product Link

 

Have a good one.

 

Smooth7Iron

[Barberakb]

Does anyone use the Golf Buddy Platinum? I really want one of these but would like to get some honest feedback first. Thanks.

[as1440]

As mcwhiteh said at the top of this post sequence

"Accurate distances including hazards, traps, etc. (obviously)

Ability to log club distances to hone in on how I hit each club

Ability to log scores, GIR, fairways hit, putts, etc.

A GPS unit that will have the necessary imagery, software, etc. for the courses I play"

 

I want to use GPS not only for knowing about the course, distances etc. BUT taking the information back onto a PC so I can do some analysis on my game. Not just GIR, FH etc. but also performance fades, excessive fades(slices), draws, heavy draws (hooks).

 

This info is also useful to my coach and can I play back shots onto say a google earth type map.

Do any of the big commercial products allow this? SGX, GolfLogix, Callaway, Garmin, Shotmiser, Sonocaddie etc.

 

It would be a major differentiator or maybe one of the newer phone based systems?

[djwintz]

I bought a Callaway UPRO about a year ago and could not be happier. It has all the bells and whistles, no annual membership fee. All the courses are free for basic mode, which is all some one really needs, but, you can purchase the Pro mode courses once and they are yours for ever. I picked it up new on Ebay for 220 dollars canadian. It has some great extra features that the others don't. I did alot of research and went with the UPRO, not the UPRO Go. I just got back a few days ago from a month golf vacation in Pheonix, Arizona, and it was a shot saver on these courses i never played before. Happy golfing.

 

Don