Which GPS is most accurate?

[Howie]

Has there been any analysis concerning accuracy across the various GPS devices- either by company or specific model?

i believe all- save for perhaps SkyGolf products?- use satellite imagery to create their information. Is there a device which is proven to be the most accurate?

[GSDriver]

They're all pretty accurate today...GPS only gets so close anyway, and golfers probably don't get the mil spec accuracy.....even if did a laser is the really accurate tool.

[BB28403]

The US military’s prob.

[Howie]

Obviously our military's capabilities should be superior to those making GPS golf watches and devices...

I'm wondering if one company's (Garmin, Bushnell, etc.) interpretation of satellite imagery coupled with the GPS technology resulted in best-in-class accuracy. Assuming they all use the same GPS technology (I don't know this for certain), then it boils down to the translation of data from the imagery. The one outlier could be SkyGolf who has marketed for years they actually walk the golf courses (unsure if this is substantiated) to create their coordinate database.

Thanks.

[Stuart_G]

They all pretty much use the same 3rd party tech. The only important difference is in the source and accuracy of the course data.

[LAslicer]

A GPS device will only be as accurate as the map it uses. I don't know that the actual gps hardware is all that different, so the map accuracy is key. I trust the ground mapping over satellite imagery.

[Mikey5e]

I have a Bushnell Neo Xs and it seems very accurate. I often times go to the fairway markers, 100, 150, 200 yards, and it matches up almost perfectly. For at least 90% of the golfers a GPS watch will be adequate in accuracy.

[BrendanH]

I've been pretty happy with my SX500. Not always perfect but pretty darn close. Prior to that I used a Garmin and can't remember having any particular accuracy issues there either. I think the key is to have a dedicated Golf GPS and not rely on an app in your phone. I have found phone GPS to be very inaccurate for golf purposes.

[brew4eagle]

I've done a lot of comparison lately and have found Bushnell gps to be closer to a laser than Garmin gps for the courses I played. Garmin would differ from Bushnell by 2 or 3 yds consistently, and Bushnell would be closer to the laser. Used Garmin G10 and S10, Bushnell Phantom, and Precision Pro NX7 laser. Ended up with the Bushnell Phantom and ditched the rest.

[Metzexpress4]

I have the Garmin G30 and I think it's very accurate. I mainly use the GPS for distances off the tee or certain shots where I am looking to lay up to a certain distance. I have a rangefinder as well and will use that and the GPS to determine front and back of the green and distance to the pin.

[cristphoto]

Can someone explain how Skycaddie actually gets their data. I understand they walk the course and circle the greens. But they can't walk every inch of the course. Do they walk 20 yards into the woods on each side of the fairway on every hole? Or does the Skycaddie have "dead spots" on the course? Or would they also combine some satellite data into their product? I know my Bushnell watch will give me a good number from anywhere on the property.

Also can someone report yardage on a Skycaddie and a satellite GPS device from some wayward locations on the course that you may actually play from? Just curious. Thanks.

[LAslicer]

The skycaddie is telling you how far you are from the map points or wherever you have the cursor on the hole. I know they at least walk the tees, fairways, and greens along with all the hazards. There shouldn't be a need for them to go into the woods since you'll never need to know how far it is to the middle of the woods. You can move your cursor anywhere on the screen to get a distance though, even off of the fairway.

[blkjazz]

I don't think you can do much better than the SX500.

[tbowles411]

One of my buddy's first jobs was walking the courses. He said, they actually make every effort to walk all the courses around the country. Grunt work he called it.

[tbowles411]

I just got my LX5, and I asked about the difference between the watch and the handheld. The watch is essentially a SX500.

[BirdieBob]

The SX500 display is fabulous....just too bad that SkyCaddie doesn't do elevation corrections like Garmin. Why not?

 

[Moby]

SX500

[Pearson10M]

Folks have to recognize that in general, the accuracy of quality GPS devices (marine, golf, auto, and aviation) are 5 meters or less, typically 2-3 meters. So, watches not being in synch with each other is expected. I have a Garmin S20 watch and have a G6 (If anyone wants the Garmin G6, let me know) and both are within a few yard of course markers all the time. Tee box stated distances are sometimes different since they move the tee pegs sometimes +/- 10 yds.

Also, most Golf Watches measure to the middle of the green, whereas the laser measures the actual distance to the flag, which often is not in the middle of the green, so the laser and GPS could be well off each other. For me, it is so easy to rotate my wrist anywhere on the course/hole and know how for to the middle of the green and with a click of a button, know the distances to the various hazards. +/- 3 yards or so, won't make me select a different club. Lasers I found not anymore useful for me and require more time to acquire a reading.

 

[Fustler]

Agree with all this.

[cristphoto]

I have a Bushnell Excel watch and every time I play with someone that has a gps out of curiosity I ask them what their reading is so I can compare. In the majority of cases both devices read within a yard or two of each other. Thus I'd guess that the technology is more than accurate enough for our purposes. One thing I do notice is people that use apps on their phones tend to have less accurate readings. Don't know if its the phone, the app, or that they use different satellites.

[pup142]

What makes a new Skycaddie any better with yardage than a old Skycaddie? I imagine both would give you the same yardage.

[Pearson10M]

The "GPS" in phones is not generally pure "GPS" all the time. True GPS (Satellites) use electronic chips that require considerable power. Most phones, to save power, use cell tower triangulation to locate your position, which is generally not as accurate (maybe within 10 yards or so) as GPS. If your phone is out of cell range, the better phones will switch over to the true GPS chip for location. This is why if you have every used your phone as a navigation tool, it can still give you directions even though your "bars" are low enough to not allow cell reception.

[braincramp52]

They all are close enough for my game. ?

[LAslicer]

I'm sure there has been some slight accuracy increase with the hardware over the years since the early models, but probably nothing major. The benefit in the newer models are the functions/features, battery life, preloaded courses, no need for a computer to sync, etc.

[Hateto3Putt]

Does Skycaddie still charge an annual fee?

 

I'm a laser guy but use an older Golflogix GPS for unfamiliar tracks. My friend has a Skycaddie and just for kicks we compared numbers on the same holes. My $20 (bought used) GPS was close, if not identical, to the data provided by the Skycaddie. Granted his was in vivid color and had some other features, but pound for pound it was the same information.

 

I know my "science project" was quite limited, so I ask, what value does Skycaddie provide (if fees are still a thing)  that can't be found free from just about all other providers?