I use both, particularly when playing a course I’ve never played before, the gps gives me the layout of the hole and the laser gives me the accuracy for the pins.
Thank you for the great video- however Would be more informative to compare the accuracy between these two on the course., and especially on a cloudy day when gps might not be connected all the time, thank you
I have used a GPS watch for years but if I had to switch it would be to the sky caddie. I think the annual fee is £10 too much though considering the price of the equipment to begin with. Good review thanks.
Got both. Laser remains the problem when the flag has a background of trees. I've discussed ways to improve locating pins more easily with a Bushnell representative - there aren't any - so just get used to the pluses and minuses of each. Sky caddie is great when travelling and the buggy can go anywhere but some courses particularly those on the Far East in the wet season keep golfers on the cart paths, so laser is a must. Sky caddie feature for scoring, iron selection and shot yardages are good, BUT Big drawback (I see) is the huge bracket needed to hold the Sky Caddie, it takes up serious space and is bl*&%y expensive. Downloading your scores through the Sky caddies app is OK and getting the latest course updates easy. BUT when you need and exact yardage the laser in the one. Sky Caddie Team personnel are accessible and do come out to remeasure course changes when requested.
Laser is so much better in my opinion! Always knowing exactly how far it is to a pin or just measuring quickly a bunker, hazard or tree with the laser is much more convenient. Btw that Bushnell is OP calculating the altitude and temperature is just awesome! I need one!
Can you see the screen and ALL info on skycaddie in full sun. I use phone app and range finder (either or, never together) - pro's and cons for both! At least with a rangefinder I know EXACTLY how far I CAN'T hit it! 😂⛳
Interesting ~ I have used range finder & GPS ~switched between them for a while ~ for practice I prefer the scope ~ for comp play I prefer the gps as it is a bit quicker ie distance on immediate display and I like the fact you can work out sucker pins quicker with coloured flags with blind holes definitely better on hilly courses. The other issue with both is foggy rainy days can definitely mess the laser even if you can see the pin .(The first golf bushenell had a rain mode) . GPS can get a bit funky on misty days it happened in a comp I played where all the bushnell watches went haywire ~ sky caddie ok .when the mist cleared everyone ok.
i have had both but right now I am using a laser. I hate when a course has made a change on a hole and the update has not come through on the skycaddie. Also having to update and subscription fees suck. I have only had one problem with the laser. Last year I was playing and it was foggy the laser is useless in the fog.
I’m trying to decide what to buy and as a reasonably new golfer starting to feel the need for a measuring device. The laser seems to be less complicated than fiddling around moving pins on the green etc on the gps. I would like to have both really,maybe spend more on a premium laser and buy a cheaper gps that just shows the basic’s. I wear glasses will that make the laser harder to use?
I use a sky caddie aire for f,m and b distances and a bushel with slope feature for exact. I would love a review on launch monitors, like the Garmin g80 or swing caddie 300 but am worried about accuracy.
GM said you were going to show a test between the two devices. Instead this was just an infomercial on the two devices. A test involves actually measuring something. Shame
I bought a skycaddie SGXW a few years ago and it last one month, got it replaced under warranty, it lasted the rest of that season and a month of the next...out of warranty, got it replaced with a couple hundred bucks to the "new better" version...the Breeze, which wasn't wireless....whatever, Im back in business. It didn't work, not at all, so replaced under warranty, lasted the rest of that season. I bought a 3 year membership this time to Skycaddie. It worked all year and sat in my home for the winter. Spring comes, it wont boot up? Called skycaddie, they said it was dead, but also out of warranty. Offered to take a few hundred more bucks to upgrade out of warranty to the new touch....I said, no and was wondering if I could get a refund for the remaining 2 years of my membership which I can now not use, NOPE, said I certainly could use the membership if I bought a new skycaddie. I opted out of the carousel of junk products, with no support. I have been using my bushnell laser since and its fine. I still preferred to have more yardages and on my course, the front nine is very flat, so getting yardages to bunkers, water edges, landing zones etc is almost impossible. The back nine is wooded with lots of dog legs, steep hills etc that prevent a view of the green or flag from many places, so Im often left with no way to get a yardage. I just added a cheap Bushnell Phantom GPS to the bag and the free accompanying app that they he doesn't mention here should satisfy the need for colour pictures.
When you think how much it must cost to update all the courses they do on foot. £30 a year nothing, less than the cost of a costa/Starbucks coffee each month :)
I use both the SX500 and a Bushnell X2. The GPS is important as it gives distances that you cannot get from a laser, such as distance to the front edge of a green, or the distance to carry a hazard to reach the front edge of a green IN LINE with where you place the flag (with a crosshair; doesn't have to be absolutely perfect). As for the magnetic feature... BEWARE!!! I purchased a magnetic sleeve for my very expensive Leupold Laser, and didn't notice when it was shaken loose during driving over bumpy terrain (probably deteriorating cart paths).
Greg Profitt I find that the GPS in the SX500 is better than the ones you’ll find in smartphones that golf GPS apps use. But, full disclaimer, I think the phone GPSes have gotten a lot better in general in the last 5-10 years. When I first tried a phone golf app, I was getting 10 yard differences from a playing partner using the same app!!!
Well.... That was a waste of 12 minutes 57 seconds of my life. Where was the vs test? All you did was talk about features. How about zapping distances then comparing with GPS? That might have been useful!
Sorry but I think Range Finders should be Banned, they are one of the main reasons for Slow Play which is Killing the game! Also, the vast majority of Golfers cannot hit a given distance with any accuracy anyway, so the things are a complete waste of money. Rant over!
@@bengreen1262 I went to one of the Trilby Tour events when they held a regional qualifier at my home course in Manchester. It was interesting watching the guys crumble on the First tee when the cameras started rolling, it wasn't a pretty sight. Watching me Shite myself wouldn't be that pretty either, so I will probably give it a miss. As I play most of my Seniors Golf these days at the same Courses I know my yardages and what club to play so I don't need a Range Finder. And IMO most amateur Golfers aren't consistent enough with each club to enable a Range Finder to be useful.
I use both, particularly when playing a course I’ve never played before, the gps gives me the layout of the hole and the laser gives me the accuracy for the pins.
Love my Garmin watch for GPS, but really love my C9 SEEKER PRO for laser. Can't go wrong with both :-)
Free app on your phone has almost the same features as the swing caddie and still works in the trees. Distances have been consistent
Thank you for the great video- however Would be more informative to compare the accuracy between these two on the course., and especially on a cloudy day when gps might not be connected all the time, thank you
Good video again - however the most important test was missing: distance accuracy comparison between these two?
Love the SkyCaddie app that tracks all my stats. Also we all have blind shots that a laser won’t help with so easy choice for me
I use uswing on my phone, free and works a treat!
I have a SX500 and would not be without it -- Magic device !!!!
I have used a GPS watch for years but if I had to switch it would be to the sky caddie. I think the annual fee is £10 too much though considering the price of the equipment to begin with. Good review thanks.
Bushnell XE pro for me
Just moved on from my previous rangefinder. I have had GPS in the past but you can’t beat a laser!
Got both. Laser remains the problem when the flag has a background of trees. I've discussed ways to improve locating pins more easily with a Bushnell representative - there aren't any - so just get used to the pluses and minuses of each. Sky caddie is great when travelling and the buggy can go anywhere but some courses particularly those on the Far East in the wet season keep golfers on the cart paths, so laser is a must. Sky caddie feature for scoring, iron selection and shot yardages are good, BUT Big drawback (I see) is the huge bracket needed to hold the Sky Caddie, it takes up serious space and is bl*&%y expensive. Downloading your scores through the Sky caddies app is OK and getting the latest course updates easy. BUT when you need and exact yardage the laser in the one. Sky Caddie Team personnel are accessible and do come out to remeasure course changes when requested.
I use GPS and laser. GPS does not give you pin distance or distance to a particular object. Laser does not work when you can't see the target.
I know it’s expensive, but the Garmin Z80 seems to have the best of both words compared to both of the devices.
Laser is so much better in my opinion! Always knowing exactly how far it is to a pin or just measuring quickly a bunker, hazard or tree with the laser is much more convenient. Btw that Bushnell is OP calculating the altitude and temperature is just awesome! I need one!
GPS for me. I use the SGXW and love the look of the 500
Can you see the screen and ALL info on skycaddie in full sun. I use phone app and range finder (either or, never together) - pro's and cons for both!
At least with a rangefinder I know EXACTLY how far I CAN'T hit it! 😂⛳
Laser all day long- no downloading courses, pin seeking and slope tech. Plus with smartphones you can get or buy a workable app. RIP GPS devices imho
Interesting ~ I have used range finder & GPS ~switched between them for a while ~ for practice I prefer the scope ~ for comp play I prefer the gps as it is a bit quicker ie distance on immediate display and I like the fact you can work out sucker pins quicker with coloured flags with blind holes definitely better on hilly courses. The other issue with both is foggy rainy days can definitely mess the laser even if you can see the pin .(The first golf bushenell had a rain mode) . GPS can get a bit funky on misty days it happened in a comp I played where all the bushnell watches went haywire ~ sky caddie ok .when the mist cleared everyone ok.
I preferred Garmin S6 GPS watch and Bushnell Rangefinder on side as well
the courses are already downloaded in the sx 500? if we do not renew the subscription. Are we still enjoying the courses?
Laser all day long. Using bushnell now with slope. Got accurate measurement to flags, bunkers, trees etc.
i have had both but right now I am using a laser. I hate when a course has made a change on a hole and the update has not come through on the skycaddie. Also having to update and subscription fees suck. I have only had one problem with the laser. Last year I was playing and it was foggy the laser is useless in the fog.
I’m trying to decide what to buy and as a reasonably new golfer starting to feel the need for a measuring device. The laser seems to be less complicated than fiddling around moving pins on the green etc on the gps. I would like to have both really,maybe spend more on a premium laser and buy a cheaper gps that just shows the basic’s. I wear glasses will that make the laser harder to use?
I use a sky caddie aire for f,m and b distances and a bushel with slope feature for exact. I would love a review on launch monitors, like the Garmin g80 or swing caddie 300 but am worried about accuracy.
GM said you were going to show a test between the two devices. Instead this was just an infomercial on the two devices. A test involves actually measuring something. Shame
I bought a skycaddie SGXW a few years ago and it last one month, got it replaced under warranty, it lasted the rest of that season and a month of the next...out of warranty, got it replaced with a couple hundred bucks to the "new better" version...the Breeze, which wasn't wireless....whatever, Im back in business. It didn't work, not at all, so replaced under warranty, lasted the rest of that season. I bought a 3 year membership this time to Skycaddie. It worked all year and sat in my home for the winter. Spring comes, it wont boot up? Called skycaddie, they said it was dead, but also out of warranty. Offered to take a few hundred more bucks to upgrade out of warranty to the new touch....I said, no and was wondering if I could get a refund for the remaining 2 years of my membership which I can now not use, NOPE, said I certainly could use the membership if I bought a new skycaddie. I opted out of the carousel of junk products, with no support. I have been using my bushnell laser since and its fine. I still preferred to have more yardages and on my course, the front nine is very flat, so getting yardages to bunkers, water edges, landing zones etc is almost impossible. The back nine is wooded with lots of dog legs, steep hills etc that prevent a view of the green or flag from many places, so Im often left with no way to get a yardage. I just added a cheap Bushnell Phantom GPS to the bag and the free accompanying app that they he doesn't mention here should satisfy the need for colour pictures.
Can you also shoot a bunker,water sand for distance also or just the green?
yes.
Paying an annual fee for the skycaddy is a huge turn off for me.
Off
When you think how much it must cost to update all the courses they do on foot. £30 a year nothing, less than the cost of a costa/Starbucks coffee each month :)
You should try FunGolf for IPhone it dos not need data and over 30.000 courses
Makes you wonder how golfers managed before GPS and rangefinders.
Why Sky Caddie? Reviews on Play store are bang average. Better available if you check...
Laser is the closet to pin point
I use both the SX500 and a Bushnell X2. The GPS is important as it gives distances that you cannot get from a laser, such as distance to the front edge of a green, or the distance to carry a hazard to reach the front edge of a green IN LINE with where you place the flag (with a crosshair; doesn't have to be absolutely perfect). As for the magnetic feature... BEWARE!!! I purchased a magnetic sleeve for my very expensive Leupold Laser, and didn't notice when it was shaken loose during driving over bumpy terrain (probably deteriorating cart paths).
How accurate is the SX500?
Greg Profitt I find that the GPS in the SX500 is better than the ones you’ll find in smartphones that golf GPS apps use. But, full disclaimer, I think the phone GPSes have gotten a lot better in general in the last 5-10 years. When I first tried a phone golf app, I was getting 10 yard differences from a playing partner using the same app!!!
Well.... That was a waste of 12 minutes 57 seconds of my life. Where was the vs test? All you did was talk about features. How about zapping distances then comparing with GPS? That might have been useful!
i thought exactly the same thing!
Picking up a flag 500 yards away? I wouldn't think you'd be using a laser distance finder at this distance 😂
Laser and gps app on phone is plenty. Sky caddie is a waste of money
Thank you, useful, but please stop swaying around.
Sorry but I think Range Finders should be Banned, they are one of the main reasons for Slow Play which is Killing the game!
Also, the vast majority of Golfers cannot hit a given distance with any accuracy anyway, so the things are a complete waste of money.
Rant over!
Are you referring to all measuring devices or just laser range finders?
@@sportacusx Yes, personally I would Ban them all
Trilby tour for you ~ no devices allowed ~ let me know how you get on ~ by the way it’s televised.
@@bengreen1262 I went to one of the Trilby Tour events when they held a regional qualifier at my home course in Manchester. It was interesting watching the guys crumble on the First tee when the cameras started rolling, it wasn't a pretty sight. Watching me Shite myself wouldn't be that pretty either, so I will probably give it a miss. As I play most of my Seniors Golf these days at the same Courses I know my yardages and what club to play so I don't need a Range Finder. And IMO most amateur Golfers aren't consistent enough with each club to enable a Range Finder to be useful.
Mate stop swaying left to right, you’re making me sick
My 3 year old son stands like that when he's holding in his wees XD