Sky Caddie or Range Finder

I'm trying to figure out which one I want to invest in. I know there are pro's and cons with both. I play about 3 times a week by myself and at least once a week in a charity best ball tournament with the same 4 guys. We are always arguing about how much yardage we have left and I think something like a GPS or Rangefinder would help us out big time.

With your choices I would go with the SkyCaddie. But I went with a different one altogether (see sig).

I've got a SkyCaddie and I love it. It's the SG4 which can be had for under 200 now.

Lots of people like the bushnell range finders (or something like them) too. The biggest pro for the gps over the range finders IMO is that you get multiple distances on the screen at the same time and it adjusts automatically as you walk. It's just easier for me.

Laser Rangefinder vs. GPS

There is no right or wrong choice; you'll find the users divided on this issue.

The GPS guys love their units, and the laser boys enjoy theirs.

I’ve had the opportunity to use both technologies, numerous times.

My personal experiences about the pros and cons of a GPS… (Skycaddy )

Pros:

GPS devices are brainless to operate. Just look at the screen and your information is right there. On “5 star” tracks, many of the hazards are pointed out, and most forced carry distances are also included in the database. After hitting, you can easily measure your shots. Front/center/back green numbers were quite useful, and the constantly adjusting distances are actually pretty nice. The Skycaddy definitely has a “coolness” factor.

Cons:

Specifically, "some" blind hazards are not mentioned, several times for no apparent reason it doesn't get a signal. Precise distances to the flag are "guesstimates" at best. The data for user-measured tracks is only as good as the person pacing the green.

Not every course is in the database. You can pace off your own course information, but that’s of little help the first time you play a course.

For Skycaddy (and a few other brands) you have to pay an annual subscription fee. The fee is less if you just use courses in one state, if you want a national plan, the fee is higher. This is a recurring cost, you never “own” the information. Prior to playing a course, you have to upload the specific course information from your PC to your unit. It’s not at all difficult to do.

One day I got hooked up with a guy who had the exact same unit as myself. Side by side the numbers were very close, but rarely matched each other exactly. That really made me think twice about the accuracy of the unit.


My personal experience with Laser Units…

Pros:

EXACT distances to flags. This is especially useful on those 100 yards and in wedge shots. I really like the exact number you can get on the Par 3's. No uploading courses, you can pull your rangefinder out and measure just about anything, anytime. The ability to play any course in the world, anytime is for me the most glaring difference in the technologies.

I have recently upgraded my rangefinder to one that uses “Pinseeker” technology. It is absolutely light years ahead of my old Bushnell 400. I can now capture flags almost instantly from hundreds of yards out.

If you need to know how far ahead the group in front of you is, or exact carry over a trap, or how far your archery target is placed, or anything else you can see. The information can be had instantly.

Plus the magnification makes it real easy to check out the cart girl...Battery life is phenomenal, one 9 volt battery goes many, many rounds. Once the low battery indicator lights, I still have about 4 rounds left before it dies. I've become adept at measuring to/over hazards, carry numbers and lay-ups.

You can measure the information you need for that particular shot. For example, if a hazard crosses the fairway at an angle, you can shoot any part of the hazard to get the carry on your line, not just the part that the GPS unit assumes or has measured.

At the practice range, you can shoot the 100/150/200/etc. signs and find out exactly how far they are from your teebox.

Remember, you can measure anything, anytime.

No recurring fees. Except for a $3 battery you can purchase anywhere, and it will last a long, long time (assuming you are using the one that requires a 9 volt)

I *really* like the no downloading or annual fee feature. I really can't be bothered with that nonsense. Plus, Caye Chapel in Belize is not in any GPS database....

My golf game (bad as it is) takes me to tracks on a moments notice, my Bushnell is ready to fire anytime.

Cons:

Sometimes flags 300 + yards out are difficult to "shoot" (especially red/blue ones). You need a line of sight to the target or, you have to chop the distances. Measuring played shots is a little different as well, i.e., you normally have to shoot the ball washer/tee bench if you want to figure your tee shots from the fairway.

You'll hear GPS proponents say repeatedly "You need a line of site to get a lasered number".

It’s absolutely true a line of sight is needed.

However, I play golf on some amazingly hilly, treed terrain, I still have a line of site for just about all of my shots to the green.

It's rarely an issue. If it’s 5% of my shots, I’ll trade the ability to use it on 100% of all the golf courses for being able to use the device only 95% of the time.

There have been many rounds where it's never been a problem.

If I am stuck behind a tree, I can still use my laser to shoot the top of the tree to get a carry number over the tree. (Remember the measure anything, anytime feature)

Trust me, if your main problem is a recurring need to find the distance from 3 fairways over, your issues will not be resolved with any distance-measuring device.

Personally, for my purposes, I prefer the rangefinder. Of course, that's my opinion.

Demo both if you can. I don’t think you can go wrong with either.


YMMV

I wish they would just integrate both into a single device. Then we'd all be happy.

Thatd be AWESOME but itd cost like 700$$$$

I currently have a range finder, had it for more then 10 years, while it has it's positives, I am looking to get a gps unit also. My range finder is to large and I have found I only use it on par 3's on courses I don't play very often.

I totally agree. Both types have their pros and cons.

Right now, Bushnell manufactures both the laser units and the GPS units. Soon enough they'll integrate the technologies. It will probably also be a phone, 400 megapixel camera and baby monitor!

I would go with the GPS because it offers so much more.

Please define "so much more". Thanks.

It is an actual map of the course. Instantly gives you distance to front, middle and back of the green, not just to the pin which you have to find with the rangefinder. That is the biggest advantage right there. Some advanced GPS also give you the contour of the green. GPS gives you distance to land marks like water and traps that you can't easily obtain with a rangefinder. All this is right there for your viewing without having to point and shoot with a rangefinder, which can't always find the landmark you're looking for. You can also mark your distance off the tee with a GPS.

Which GPS gives you green contours?

I gave up on my Skycaddy for several reasons. The quality of the GPS information is only as good as the data it's programmed with. If every hazard for every course was immediately available on my Skycaddy, I would probably still be using it. However that's certainly not the case. I was playing a course in Las Vegas called Aliante. It was a supposed 5 star course. It was my first time playing the course. I was extremely disappointed in the mapping of the course. I lost my ball in a hazard that didn't exist. Once we headed to meet the boys at a golf course and the cell phone rang. Apparently the guys got there and found out the greens had just been aerated. We rerouted to another course. Since I didn't have the other course preloaded into the Skycaddy, it was useless. IMO, the accuracy is suspect. The civilian use of the GPS signal has a built in margin of error of + or - 3 meters. So that green front that Skycaddy tells you is 75 yards out, could be anywhere for 72-79. Also, although you had a solid estimate to the center of the green, I could never get an exact number to the flag. For some folks, estimated number for approach shots are fine. I really like exact numbers, especially 75 yards and in. I would occasionally have issues with initializing a signal. I know some Skycaddy's have never had that problem. Mine did. Why bother? I can obtain the information I need on any course, anytime with my laser. The other day we played and the course had 3 temporary greens (yuck, I know, but it's winter here). Anyway, my laser was able to get the repositioned pins. A Skycaddy would still have the other greens in the database. I've used them both. For my money (which only needs to be spent once with a laser) I'll take a Pinseeker any day over a Skycaddy. With all that said, I still understand why guys love the Skycaddys. When they work right, they're a great tool. I hope yours gives you years of perfect service and many birdies!

wow, the rangefinder sounds nice.

ive heard the term "pinseeker" thrown around alot. exactly what is "pinseeking technology" and why is it better than the alternative?

[QUOTE=Mr3Putt;256692]Which GPS gives you green contours?



IMO, the accuracy is suspect. The civilian use of the GPS signal has a built in margin of error of + or - 3 meters. So that green front that Skycaddy tells you is 75 yards out, could be anywhere for 72-79. Also, although you had a solid estimate to the center of the green, I could never get an exact number to the flag. For some folks, estimated number for approach shots are fine. I really like exact numbers, especially 75 yards and in.

But, in order to properly plan your approach, you need more than just distance to the flag. Distance to front, back and middle of the green are crucial.

As defined by Binocularsdirect ... Pinseeker Technology: Featured on certain models, this highly advanced technology automatically provides the distance to the closest object if two objects are inadvertently ranged. For example: a golfer intends to range to the flag, but the laser also picks up the background behind the flag. Normally, the distance to the larger object or more reflective object would be displayed. However, with pinseeker technology, the range finder is able to provide the golfer the distance to the flag and not the background. My thoughts: I used a much older rangefinder for years (Bushnell 400). Although it was better than nothing, it was unable to grab small, non reflective objects much past 200 yards. If there were trees or a hillside behind the flag, (insert Bronx accent) fuggetaboutit!. The newer models with the Pinseeker feature are much faster at getting the right number on tougher to hit targets. The performance difference is night and day. If your purchasing a rangefinder specifically for golf. Don't try to save money on non Pinseeking models. I traded my pacing off/eyeballing distance method for my Bushnell 400, then swapped the 400 for a Skycaddy, then swapped the Skycaddy for the Pinseeker. When something better comes out, I'll upgrade again.

I don't think we disagree on that point. From about 100 yards and in, estimates are OK, but to really get pin high, ya gotta know where pin high is. On a 35-40 yard deep green, the middle of the green could be 85, if the flags at 69, that's a club apart. On most of my approaches, I can get the exact front edge of the green, the exact carry needed for any hazards, and exact number to the flag. I routinely play a par 3 with a 50 yard deep green. I know what club is needed to hit the center of the green, but without detailed information, you can hit the center and still be left with a massive putt. For me, that's the crucial information required for hitting my most confident shot. For others, front-center-back numbers are the best way to play. And that's OK.

Two other things about range finders.

One, you must have a direct line of sight to the target,m they won't work through trees, around doglegs etc.. The GPS can tell you distances to your targets from anywhere on the hole.

Two, those with shaky hands or on windy days will find difficult to line up the target.

One. It's true you need a line of sight. As I stated before, that's rarely an issue. I'll trade the availability of every golf course I play, for the rare inconvenience of not having a line of sight. When you can't see the target with your Skycaddy, do you go and look at the green before hitting? I do.

Two. If your hands are that shaky, maybe golf shouldn't be your gig. I've never had an issue with the wind. It's usually easier to shoot the flag when it's windy because the flag is not hanging limp. The wind makes the flag a larger target. Here are some actual reviews found on Amazon regarding the Skycaddy... Out 0f 18 reviews, 10 were 1 or 2 stars. 13 of 13 people found the following review helpful: 1.0 out of 5 stars BEWARE ...before buying SkyCaddie read this..., December 2, 2006 By driveG35 - See all my reviews Think twice before you buy a SkyCaddie! Their customer service is horrendous, there are problems with getting it to connect to your PC and their website is not functioning properly. I bought a SkyCaddie a couple weeks ago and I regret it. At first, I couldn't get it to connect to the SkyCaddie servers because of a known issue in which users who are on Microsoft XP Service Pack 2 can't get through the firewall to connect. It takes some doing to correct that issue. Then I tried to register on their website for a membership. What a nightmare! Nothing is working and my registration still hasn't been processed. And then they claim you can upgrade to add a state to a Birdie membership for $5 but instead their website only allows you to upgrade for $10. I've spend countless hours on hold trying to reach them by phone and they're deluged with calls from customers having the same problem. I'm returning my device and going elsewhere. This company has BIG problems! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? YesNo Report this | Permalink Comment Comment 12 of 13 people found the following review helpful: 1.0 out of 5 stars Don't Buy this Product, November 4, 2006 By William R. Gromer (Harbor Springs, mi United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME) I was at the golf show a few years ago when this first came out, and I thought, what a wonderful idea. I was going to buy one, then I got a chance to play with a guy who had one, and I had my rangefinder. The skycaddy, was always off 5-10 yards, didn't even lock in until the 5th hole, and was a complete waste of time. My friend is so PO'd about it, he was a babbling idiot, he can't get hold of the service people, can't get it to operate, etc, etc....I hear that several pro shops around the country are dropping them, because their members are so upset after buying one from them...I just bought a new Nikon 500, and its a dream, small and extremely accurate....too bad skycaddy blew this product, I'm sure someone will come out with a better mouse trap, color, etc, but the reputation of gps because of skycaddy will hurt them. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? YesNo Report this | Permalink Comment Comment 6 of 7 people found the following review helpful: 1.0 out of 5 stars Caveat Emptor--Don't Buy It, December 29, 2006 By Golf Hawk (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews I purchased an SG1 as a Christmas gift for my husband, and we both are sorely disappointed. A GPS rangefinder for golf seems like such a great idea, but, alas, after 7 days of trying for numerous hours on the computer, we were never able to activate the SkyCaddie nor to subscribe to the $50 membership you need to get access to the database of golf courses. We even had a computer tech. come to our house and try, and he gave up after a couple of hours. What we have concluded is that the company's website is essentially non-functional, but you have to learn this the hard way. There is no phone number you can call for technical help. The Help menu says you can request a Help number by email, but we did not receive one. With no ability to activate the SkyCaddie, and no way to communicate with any technical support, either on the internet or by phone, we had no choice but to return the unit to Golf Galaxy where it was purchased. I hate to bash a company that has come up with such an excellent concept, but I would not recommend buying this product--at least not at this time. Buyer beware.... Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? YesNo Report this | Permalink Comment Comments (2) 9 of 12 people found the following review helpful: 1.0 out of 5 stars SkyGolf support is terrible, save your money, January 28, 2006 By R. Reed "Smoothswinger" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME) I was an early purchaser of the SkyCaddie. I thought it worked just "okay" until my buddie bought one (after playing a round with mine)and, standing side by side with our two SkyCaddies, his satelite reception was 4 bars vs my 1 bar, and his yardages was always 5 or 6 yards different then mine. Upon calling Skygolf, they said it must be my firmware that needed updating. Well, it's been two weeks after they received my unit and still no status on when I'm getting it back. Save your money, buy a Bushnell laser yardage finder. It's simpler, more reliable and more accurate. UPDATE: The good news: I got my unit back. The bad news: It does not work any better. I'm sticking w/my Bushnell laser finder. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? YesNo