uPro Golf GPS by Callaway Golf

The Callaway uPro Golf GPS is easily the most sophisticated golf GPS on the market. It not only gives you distances, but also various views of any of thousands of courses. When you buy the uPro golf GPS by Callaway Golf, you get one free download of a golf course. The rest you can get on a pay per download basis. If you’ve ever been in the position of playing a new course and getting frustrated, then the uPro golf GPS by Callaway Golf might easily be the solution for you.

However, there are a few things essentials you need to know about the Callaway uPro golf GPS. Following are the specifics about the uPro.

State of the Art Technology

The Callaway uPro golf GPS employs state of the art engineering. It’s quite a bit more sophisticated than its closest competitors. For instance, it has the capability to render and detail thousands of golf courses; this is made possible by very sophisticated GPS technology as well as aerial and satellite imaging. Specifically, the uPro Golf GPS by Callaway Golf has what Callaway calls “SmartView” technology. This allows you to see everything you need to see for your next shot through an aerial view. In addition, the uPro has what’s called “AnyPoint” technology. This helps you measure distances along the course from any point on the course.

The uPro Golf GPS by Callaway Golf has two modes: basic and pro. Essentially, the basic mode gives you locations on the fairway and hazards in relation to where you are on the course. As well, the uPro allows you to look at the course from an aerial perspective. In this aerial view, the uPro Golf GPS by Callaway Golf shows you 100, 150, and 200 yard marks from the center of the green.

High Resolution Screen

The Callaway uPro Golf GPS system has a high resolution screen that is easy to see in any light, even though it’s only a 2.2? screen, which is 320 x 240 pixels in size. The only real complaints about the screen have been in the pro mode in very bright sunlight. You might have to angle the device slightly in order to get the best view of the screen. However, many other GPS units have the very same problem as all screens are difficult to see in direct, bright sunlight. In order to resolve this problem, uPro Golf GPS by Callaway Golf comes with a transflective screen, which minimizes the sunglare issue.

Easy of Use

Golfers state that the uPro Golf GPS by Callaway Golf is remarkably easy to use. One remarkably convenient tool is when you approach a hole, you get a flyover overview. This includes yardage lines measured from the center of the green.

The device is light and easy to carry. You can wear it on your belt or put it in your pocket. It’s so small that it will not alter your swing at all. As a matter of fact, you’ll hardly know it’s even there. Callaway states that it’s actually the sleekest, thinnest model on the market. Some other golf GPS devices are a little bulky. Not the uPro Golf GPS by Callaway Golf.

In addition to being really easy to carry and store, you don’t have to fiddle with a lot of buttons while you’re golfing. The uPro enables you to give voice commands; this hands-free feature can be quite beneficial when on the golf course.

The uPro Golf GPS by Callaway Golf has a fast GPS satellite lock-in system. In fact, the uPro has one of the fastest lock-in systems on the market, if not the fastest. Currently, it generally takes all golf GPS systems a few minutes to get sync’d once they are turned on. However, the uPro Golf GPS by Callaway Golf is the fastest available.

Thousands of Golf Courses Available

Your uPro Golf GPS by Callaway Golf can tell you which courses are currently near your current location. So, whether you are at home or on a vacation in Hawaii, you will be able to find a course that works with the uPro Golf GPS by Callaway Golf.  Downloading more courses is really easy and the courses are purchased on a pay per download basis. So, you can buy the courses you play at most often, or if you’re taking a golf vacation, you can buy the course you will play at while on vacation.

With the up-to-date technology, ease of use, and flexibility that this Golf GPS has to offer, it really is a must-have for any person who golfs or is planning to golf on a regular basis. The uPro Golf GPS by Callaway Golf is a great value for the money and can really be beneficial to your game. Take it from me, an experienced golf addict, if you buy uPro Golf GPS, you will see on your first round how valuable it is!

GolfLogix Garmin GPS

The Garmin Golflogix GPS 8 can actually lower your score on the golf course. If that’s not reason enough for you to just go ahead, whip out your credit card, and buy it, then keep reading. In this review of the Garmin Golflogix GPS 8, I’ll cover the basics of what the Golflogix does and how well it does it. Once you finish this review, you’ll be in a much better position to evaluate the GPS 8.

What the Garmin Golflogix GPS 8 does is actually calculate the distance from wherever you are at on the course to the front, center and back of the green. It also calculates bunker and hazard distances. You can see this information on a large, easy-to-read screen with no trouble at all. As a matter of fact, you don’t even have to press a button to get this information.

The Golflogix GPS 8 by Garmin is very precise and very user-friendly. As you probably know, Garmin is the top manufacturer of automotive GPS devices in the world. Their technology is “the best”, at least according to them, and they’ve put their expertise into the engineering of this golf GPS.

Ease of use might be one of the biggest reasons to buy a Garmin Golflogix GPS 8. To get course information into your device, all you need to do is to hook up your Golflogix to your computer and download course data. You can download 20 courses in a matter of two minutes or so. If you want more than just information, then you can download course maps. You get one free when you buy the device and with a very reasonable subscription, you get access to over 15,000 other golf courses.

One of the best features of the Garmin Golflogix GPS 8 is the fact that it’s very lightweight and small. It fits right into the palm of your hand, and weighs only 5.3 ounces with batteries. It’s a mere 1.2 inches thin. The case is completely waterproof. (It’s actually been tested by submersion.) It’s also shock and impact proof. The LCD screen is 1.25” x 2.25”, has excellent visibility, and for direct sunlight you can adjust screen contrasts.

Other features include a distance of last shot feature, personal name on the screen and anti-theft protection, displays in yards or meters, also it includes a multi-use belt or bag clip.

It comes with a 1-year warranty. Also, comes with the USB cables necessary to hook it up to your computer.

All in all, for the money the Garmin Golflogix GPS 8 is a very good buy. Garmin’s reputation for excellent GPS engineering and quality manufacturing is well earned. For more information, check out what Amazon has to say about the Garmin Golflogix GPS 8. If you buy the Golflogix GPS 8, you won’t be disappointed.

Sonocaddie V300 Color GPS Unit

One of the premier golf GPS devices on the market is the Sonocaddie V300 Color Golf GPS. It’s not the market leader, but still the Sonocaddie might easily be the right choice for you, if you’re in the market for a golf GPS. It’s got tons of features. Holds information on plenty of courses, can keep score and also give you a historical readout of past scores, can figure out the distance of your last shot, and finally it can group shots together for great analysis.

The Sonocaddie V300 Color Golf GPS has really nice graphics. Especially when you consider that the device can fit into your palm. With the Sonocaddie you get a full graphic view of the whole course, not just the green. This is very helpful in planning your approach, especially if you’re on an unfamiliar course.

The V300 locks into its satellite signal rapidly. According to the manufacturer, it’s one of the fastest lock-ins on the market.

One of the best features of the Sonocaddie to my mind is the fact you can use it to map hazards and other waypoints. It will store this information so you can use it next time you play that particular course.

One of the cons of the Sonocaddie is that not all courses are mapped. That’s not just Sonocaddie. That’s all golf GPS manufacturers. The deal here is you want to know how responsive a particular manufacturer would be to putting your course in their data. The maker of Sonocaddie is reported to be very responsive.

All in all the Sonocaddie V300 Color Golf GPS is certainly one of the front runners in its price range.

With the Golf Buddy Tour GPS Range Finder you can display the distance to the hole and also to way points along the course. You can even customize your own targets. Don’t like messing around with buttons while you golf? With the Golf Buddy Tour GPS Range Finder you won’t have to do that. It has the unique ability to recognize not only what course you’re playing, but what hole! How’s that for intelligent?

In addition, you get all your courses pre-downloaded. There’s no annual fee like there is with some other golf GPS devices. The Golf Buddy Tour GPS Range Finder is water resistant, has a score-tracking feature, and has a great color display. Find out more about this excellent golf GPS range finder, today.

GPS Golf Guru 4 Precise GPS/PDA Golf Rangefinder with Multi-application capabilities

Looking for a great golf GPS? Well, I’ve got news for you. The GPS Golf Guru 4 might easily be what you’re looking for. It’s really easy to use, and it has all the high-tech features of other models–and great graphics to boot! What could be better?

Here are some of the best features of the GPS Golf Guru 4:

• Touch Screen
• Aerial view graphics
• Enhances statistics (doesn’t just keep score)
• Stores up to 200 courses
• Free access to course maps! (No subscription fee!)
• Measures shot distance
• Small and lightweight

The GPS Golf Guru 4 certainly has many more features than this, and you can click over the Amazon to learn about them. If you’re looking for sophistication with ease of use, then the GPS Golf Guru 4 might easily be the right golf GPS for you!

Sonocaddie V100 GPS Unit

Authors Review:

Take a look at the Sonocaddie V100, if you’re looking for a golf GPS that’s not going to break the bank, but which will give you the information you need. The Sonocaddie V100 might look like a budget golf GPS, but it’s really not. Alright, alright! It doesn’t have the fancy graphics of a Callaway uPro or a Garmin Approach. But it still probably has all the technology you need, if you don’t need to actually “see” the course ahead of you as you play.

After all, it’s the graphics that separates the $350 to $400 models from the $150 to $250 models. And the Sonocaddie V100 can do everything…except the fancy graphics.

It can show you the distance to the green. It can also show you distances to various way points that you input, yourself. It can tell you the distance of your last shot, and also has personalized target setting.

That’s on the plus side. On the minus size, the Sonocaddie V100, is somewhat of what I like to call a clunker. By that I mean, it’s a little bigger and heavier than some of the newer, sleeker golf GPS devices. Now, it’s not big and it’s not heavy, just a little less sleek than some of the other more expensive models.

There’s something to be said for being bigger, though! Bigger means more real estate for the screen, and after all, that’s what you want, isn’t it? As far as portability, I clip my golf GPS to my golf bag, but still I think that even if you carry the Sonocaddie V100 in your pocket, you’re not going to be hampered by its presence.

There are two more things that the Sonocaddie V100 GPS Unit has going for it. It’s really, really easy to use. You don’t have to “learn” how to use it. The user interface is awesome! You just turn it on and basically start playing. I like that, since I hate reading instruction manuels! Also, instead of paying an annual fee, you only have to pay a once-in-a-lifetime fee of about $30, then you can download whatever course you want. Since I’m sort of a penny pincher, I like that also.

All in all, if you’re looking for an entry level golf GPS, the Sonocaddie V100 GPS Unit should easily make its way onto your short list. It’s not as sophisticated as some of it’s newer brothers and sisters, but it’s so doggone easy to use! Having said that, in this price range, I would probably go for the equally functional, but oh so much smaller iGolf Neo. You decide! You wont’ go wrong with the Sonocaddie V100 GPS Unit, however.

Readers Review:

It our goal to have our readers rate the products reviewed here so that we all can get an overall picture of what the Golf community thinks about each Golf GPS. You will see that on the Best Golf GPS Reviews home page I have posted an overall comparison of all Golf GPS rated by the golf community and myself. This will give a community intelligence when it comes to Golf GPS Reviews and help you decide which Golf GPS to buy. I would ask you if you found this blog to be helpful use the resources I have provided you to purchase the your Golf GPS of choice. You can rate this Golf GPS product and many other on this blog.

IZZO Swami 1500 Golf GPS Unit

Don’t really want to spend hundreds of dollars on a gadget but want to improve your game? Well, then the Izzo Swami 1500 golf GPS unit just might be the answer for you. Whether you are just beginning or are a pro-golfer, this simple, easy to use GPS unit is a fun gadget that can help improve your game.

Effective

If you are looking for a golf GPS unit with all the bells and whistles then the Izzo Swami 1500 golf GPS unit is probably not your best choice. Instead, you would likely be happier with the Callaway uPro Golf GPS. The Callaway uPro does everything you could ever want and then some, as long as you are willing to invest a few hundred dollars to get it.

However, if you are looking for an inexpensive unit that simply calculates the distance to the front, center and back of the green (but no other obstacles) then the Izzo Swami 1500 golf GPS unit is definitely the way to go.

Actually, because the Izzo is powered by the latest SIRFStar III chip and equipped with Insta-Lok technology, it is known to be great at instantly calculating the distance to the front, center and back of the green on more than 12,000 courses all across the United States; and the best part is that the Izzo Swami 1500 golf GPS unit is accurate!

GPS vs. Laser Rangefinder

I think most agree that there are pros and cons to both GPS units and laser rangefinders. If you are trying to decide between the two and are leaning toward the rangefinder, I highly recommend the Bushnell Golf Pinseeker which is the best rangefinder out there.

However, I prefer the Izzo Swami 1500 golf GPS unit. The Swami is a powerful tool that is easier to use and more accurate than a rangefinder. While a rangefinder can only measure to certain defined objects that are within its sight, with the Swami you don’t need a direct line of sight to the target in order to get an accurate read. So, even if you are shooting over trees, buildings, or other such obstacles, you can get an accurate yardage read. Also, while a rangefinder’s accuracy is dependent on your distance from the target, the GPS technology of the Izzo Swami 1500 golf GPS unitgives accurate distances instantly regardless of the distance!

A Ton of Courses

There are currently over 12, 000 courses already available for the Izzo Swami 1500 golf GPS unit; you will likely not have any trouble finding the course you want. Another feature that users love about the Izzo Swami is that it stores up to 10 courses at a time, and the moment you turn it on, it recognizes the course you are currently on.

Although the Swami is priced right at less than $100, a yearly subscription of $35 gives you access to all the courses. Actually, Izzo really made it a win/win; they made the Izzo Swami 1500 golf GPS unit inexpensive but then implemented a yearly subscription which is affordable for the user.

Simple to Use

A feature that all golfers appreciate is the Swami’s ease of use. The Izzo Swami 1500 golf GPS unit is incredibly light, in fact it is one of the lightest GPS units available. It can easily be thrown in your pocket or attached to your belt for easy travel. As well, it has simple to use buttons with a large display, making it a breeze to cycle from hole to hole.

The Izzo Swami 1500 golf GPS unit has an internal lithium ion battery that is rechargeable. The battery can be charged in several ways: by plugging the Swami into a wall outlet using the USB AC converter,  by USB when plugged into your computer, or with your car charger.

Critiques

Something to keep in mind if you are a Mac user is that the Swami is not compatible, I am sad to say. However, you can run Windows on your Mac which solved the issue for me.

Also, there has been some talk that the Izzo Swami is not as accurate as others such as the Garmin Approach G3 GPS. However, others, such as myself find the unit to be very accurate.

The Bottom Line

Overall, for less than $100 bucks, you won’t find a better unit than the Izzo Swami 1500 golf GPS unit. For a few extra dollars, you can get the Izzo Swami 1500 Golf GPS Bundle which also includes the car charger, case, and screen protectors.

Keep in mind though, the Swami is a simple, no frills GPS unit that does not have any of the extra features that the more expensive models contain. So, if all you need is an accurate read from the front, center, and back of the green then the Izzo Swami 1500 golf GPS is the unit for you!

iGolf neo Pocketsize Golf GPS

The iGolf Neo Pocketsize Golf GPS is another one of the hottest selling golf GPS systems on the market. It doesn’t cost quite as much as a Garmin Approach G5 or a Callaway uPro, but it can still get the job done very well. The difference between the iGolf and the Garmin Approach and the Callaway uPro is the lack of graphics. Both the Garmin and Callaway have excellent graphics, bird’s eye views of the course and the green, for instance. The iGolf Neo Pocketsize Golf GPS lacks this, but it still gives you the very accurate information you need to plan your club selection and lower your score.

Really, it’s the distances you’re after with Golf GPS devices. Other than the “cool” factor (which is quite high! ), what a golf GPS does is accurately calculate where you are via the Global Positioning System and use that information to calculate distances to the various parts of the green and various hazards. The iGolf Neo Pocketsize Golf GPS can do all of this, very accurately. It can tell you the distance from wherever you happen to be to the front, center, and back of the green. It can also tell you locations of various hazards. You can input information into it about your favorite golf course as you play, and that information will be there next time. As long as you have a good idea of how far you hit with each club, you can use the iGolf Neo Pocketsize Golf GPS to make your game much more accurate.

Another feature about the iGolf Neo is its size. It easily slips into your pocket, and weighs only 2.5 ounces. Although they’re very sleek too, the Garmin Approach and Callaway uPro are bigger. This is not to say they’re too big, just bigger. The iGolf comes with a USB cable and all you have to do to download your first course is get online at iGolf’s website. This process is very easy to do. If you want more courses, you’ll have to pay a subscription, but that’s very reasonable.

Currently the iGolf Neo Pocketsize Golf GPS sells for about half of what the Garmin Approach G5 and the Callaway uPro sell for. To learn more just click here.