My GPS and Me

hades

So, probably like many users here i always debated about wether of not i should get a GPS. Especially seeing as i'm a 19 handicapper, i wasn't sure if i'd see real benefit or if would just be another flash in the pan gadget. So recently i got a few quid for my birthday and i decided to splurge on the SkyCaddie SGX and here are my experiences so far.

1: You're not as long as you think you are.

A common enough feeling that most here will atest to, especially going on the drive distance thread from a while back. I found this to be a real let down, not that i had suddenly lost a load of metres that i thought i was getting, but to see such puny numbers after a what i would have deemed a "monster" drive before. Today, on a clear day i can hit the ball 210m off the tee, to be fair there's no run at the moment with the ground being so soft, but allowing for run i'd imagine i'll maybe only get an extra 10m tops. Big let down.

2: Short game is greatly improved

One of my biggest issues is from 100m in, i guess its the same with most amateur golfers. But thankfully now i know almost exactly how far it is to the pin, so while i might look like i'm maybe 15m off the front of the green, i could in fact be almost 30m - 35m to the pin. So instead of having an awkard bump and run shot that i would normally do, i know that i can hit a half swing 60 wedge and i'll get up to the pin. I find distance perception very hard (thinking my drives are huge) , with markers being deceiving so it helps for me to know that while i may be at the 100m marker, its actually 120m to the back of the green, so instead of going for the PW or soft 9, i go back to an 8. All of this of course, helps with my putting woes, as i;m not leaving myself as many monsters anymore.

A knock on from this is, being a high handicapper i tend to not play the hole as it was intended and find myself in all sorts of queer spots, so its great to know that when i'm coming in from the far left of the green how far it actually is. Again, being very happy with my wedges is a real plus here.

3: Confidence is key

Having used it now for a few weeks i have my distances pretty much sorted. I know that if i'm 160m out i go with a 6 iron, etc. Standing over a shot that looks a lot longer than it is, i don't have to force the issue causing me to snatch at the ball. I can now trust the numbers and hit my club knowing that i have enough to get me to the pin. My shots have become a lot more consistant and i'm giving myself a lot more chances at making par.

I always used to think that the GPS was for the better players out there, but alas its not, its for everyone. The key is, knowing your numbers and being able to consistantly swing at the ball. As one of the fella's said to me before, knowing that you're 150m away from the pin is a lot different to being able to hit the ball 150m or knowing what club to hit 150m. But i've found it a really helpful, and hopefully anyone on the fence with a spare few quid should try one too.

golfnut1

Good post.

GreeBo

hades wrote: »

so while i might look like i'm maybe 15m off the front of the green, i could in fact be almost 30m - 35m to the pin

+1 to this.
Makes having a repeatable, dependable range of "short shot swings" much easier which increases confidence over these types of shots.


Anything that you feel is bad or missing from that model?

hades

I'm not missing anything, but i've only been using it a few weeks as i say. It keeps your score and you can input how you played the hole aswell (i know some here are into stats)

My only gripe is the subscription cost, around €35 a year. But that was half the reason i bought it, at least by paying the subs i know my course will be physically walked by SkyCaddie, instead of using satellite images like the Golf Buddy

alxmorgan

Got the 2.5 recently (couldn't strectch to SGX ) and I second all of above.
Knowing what distance you are makes you swing within yourself.
I am taking less clubs to some greens especially par 3s over water that scare me and more to most approachs which is really helping.
On a lot of approaches to par 4s I'll hit a mid iron and think whoah I'm well past that pin only to find I'm pin high when I get there.
As OP says distance perception for most is rubbish so trust the numbers.

Dundrum not mapped fro Saturday though - me crutch is gone and i was looking for it to help me play that dastardly 10th :eek:

hades

My buddy has the 2.5 and its software has been updates recently to include hole view, so you're not missing out on much i'd imagine. The SGX cost me €220 from amazon.com (and then €71 to FedEx, grumble)

1916

alxmorgan wrote: »

Dundrum not mapped fro Saturday though - me crutch is gone and i was looking for it to help me play that dastardly 10th :eek:

Always found Skycaddie fairly quick to respond when you request a course, or inform them a change to a courses index etc. Saturday is a fairly short time span, but maybe its already been mapped and waiting in their systems to enable. At this stage I just mail a contact direct and its sorted

Guess thats part of the reason I'm happy to pay the sub i.e. I see them actually doing something for me

alxmorgan

hades wrote: »

My buddy has the 2.5 and its software has been updates recently to include hole view, so you're not missing out on much i'd imagine. The SGX cost me €220 from amazon.com (and then €71 to FedEx, grumble)

Do you know how recently ?

hades

In the last week or so (i think), he was showing it to me when we were comparing the 2.5 and the SGX during our round on Saturday

alxmorgan

hades wrote: »

In the last week or so (i think), he was showing it to me when we were comparing the 2.5 and the SGX during our round on Saturday

Wasn't called HoleVue by any chance ?

hades

Thats the one, HoleVue

alxmorgan

hades wrote: »

Thats the one, HoleVue

Just tried it and it told my only supported for SGX, SG5 and SG3.
You sure he has a 2.5 and it definitely works ?

Villain

I have an SGX since it was released about 2 years ago now and I'd agree with the op but Skycaddie are slow to release to HoleVue updates for Irish courses. I emailed them several times for over a year before they released it for my club.

I played Mount Juliet at the weekend and logged to see if they had updated it with HoleVue but they hadn't.

hades

alxmorgan wrote: »

Just tried it and it told my only supported for SGX, SG5 and SG3.
You sure he has a 2.5 and it definitely works ?

It may have been the 3, sorry about that i was almost positive it was the 2.5. Apologies.

Waesfjord

I've the Garmin S1, this 'only' gives you distance to frint middel and back of green.

However like OP, have noticed that I sometimes have tended to play to front of green, however sometiems also would have overclubbed, based on the course markers, so has tidied up up my club choices & shooting from 100 - 160yds out.

Now just need to practice my wedge distances, no point having exact yardage at <100yds if you can't hit it accurately to that distance...:P

Tones69

Got myself a Bushnell V2 range finder about 3 months back and i have to say its the best thing ive ever bought. Gives great confidence

Ollieboy

hades wrote: »

I'm not missing anything, but i've only been using it a few weeks as i say. It keeps your score and you can input how you played the hole aswell (i know some here are into stats)

My only gripe is the subscription cost, around €35 a year. But that was half the reason i bought it, at least by paying the subs i know my course will be physically walked by SkyCaddie, instead of using satellite images like the Golf Buddy

Firstly the Golf Buddy doesn't use satellite images and the course are mark out the exact same way at the Sky Caddie, I've even seen them do it.

Secondly if you're hitting a 6 iron 165 mts for a 19 handicap, then you're not going to be 19 to long.

Buddy is the same product with no sub fee yearly, but I do think the Caddie is a better product but more expensive. The Garmin is even a betterproduct but doesn't have enough course on it. I bough the Buddy 18 months ago and totally love it and I'm a 18 handicap and its made a big difference to my iron/putting game.

Almaviva

Ollieboy wrote: »

I bough the Buddy 18....and its made a big difference to my iron/putting game.

Ollieboy

Almaviva wrote: »

I.e. I've shorter puts seen has I'm nearer the hole. My stats have improved by 2/3 shots a round around the green due to less chipping and more single puts, I've even had 3 birdies in 1 round this year.

A sat nav tells you how much to the pin, back and front, so I've stop leaving so may shots short. Also help to build confidence in my pitching game from around 100 meters.

redzerdrog

You just inspired me to buy a gps! I literally just ordered one on amazon after reading this today. Its only a basic one but sure it will do for now only £80 aswell

golfnut1

Just pulled the trigger on a skycaddie sgxw. Waiting very impatiently for delivery!!
Went for skycaddie over others due to accuracy claims and also seeing first hand how inaccurate other brands are so fingers crossed it lives up to its claims. Primarily ill use this for the long game, course management / strategy off the tee and lay ups. specially useful for courses I'm not too familiar with but inside 100 I still think ill use the old reliable laser but with intelligreen it might be handy at times to know yardage to back stops and ridges and the likes as well as exact distance to pin

dak

I have the golf buddie a few months now and also find it great for club selection.

Only gripe I have is my own carelessness where I had accidently changed the display to shade the back of the green distance and ended up overclubbing and scratching a few par 3's .

You also have to be careful it doesn't pick up an adjacent hole on some courses but you would normally notice the large discrepancy in lenght displayed.

golfguy1

Cant understand why you would pay a fee everyyear when golfbuddy give u the exact same details for no fee for worldwide courses.

Golfbuddy is also measured by somebody physically walking the course

GreeBo

dak wrote: »

I have the golf buddie a few months now and also find it great for club selection.

Only gripe I have is my own carelessness where I had accidently changed the display to shade the back of the green distance and ended up overclubbing and scratching a few par 3's .

You also have to be careful it doesn't pick up an adjacent hole on some courses but you would normally notice the large discrepancy in lenght displayed.

It also tells you what hole you are on so just check it if you are at all unsure. (I have only ever had one occasion where mine didnt move to the next hole and thats because the green was only 10 feet from the next tee.

Jazzzman

I'll be looking to pick up a Bushnell v2 soon.

If anyone is looking to offload one let me know:rolleyes:

GreeBo

Yesterday I found a new use for my platinum II.
headed up to the practice area and marked out a single hole for my practicing.
I picked 3 flags 10m apart on the short game green as front, middle, back and now I have can practice any shot distance exactly. Quite handy for determining your shot for those in between distances.
I have worked out an appropriate swing for 70m, 50m, 40m , 30m, 20m distances now.

alxmorgan

GreeBo wrote: »

Yesterday I found a new use for my platinum II.
headed up to the practice area and marked out a single hole for my practicing.
I picked 3 flags 10m apart on the short game green as front, middle, back and now I have can practice any shot distance exactly. Quite handy for determining your shot for those in between distances.
I have worked out an appropriate swing for 70m, 50m, 40m , 30m, 20m distances now.

Did the same with my skycaddie but only for 60 and out. Out of interest what kind of shots you hitting at 40, 30, 20 as i'm struggling from closer in ?