Skycaddie SG5 vs. uPro

[jeffstaylor]

Give me your thoughts Pro and Cons

The title says it all. Give me your thoughts on on the SG5 or the uPro. Subscriptions are not an issue.

[rankoutsider]

I have used both, and much prefer my Skycaddie. Not shilling, but just saying....

I don't mind the subscription fee. It is a bit hefty if you golf in Europe for a couple weeks a year, like I do most years, so that isn't super fantastic, but I have really come to love this thing.

Just got the 5 and haven't used the intelligreen yet, but I suspect that is going to be worth the price of the thing for me, because I stink at green reading.

[alfie]

I have the Upro and pretty happy with it (was a b-day gift, or else, I would have been just fine with my LaserRange finder). Anyways, u ask & I shall reply:

Pros:
a. NO annual fee!!!
b. Easy set up, connection & course downloads for standard basic course information
c. A great amount of courses available (I found ALL the courses I have played & the all the ones that I will hope to play in the near future)
d. So freakin' small, it's unreal! (it's like holding a small cellphone in your hands)
e. Clear, color, easy to read & see display panel
f. Easy to use interface while playing or while doing your settings
g. You wanna get fancy?, there's the ProMode feature of many golf courses laid out (You get an initial "free" ProMode course of your choosing to download, sort of for you to test it out... it's nice, but I'm fine with having the basic course info.)

Cons:
a. You have to constantly be manipulating it, as u have to put it on Power Save Mode or else, the batteries will most likely not last the entire 18 holes round
b. No stats or score keeping features
c. The box package is basically bare bones. No clip, no silicone cover, no screen protector... nothing for free
d. Make sure you turn on the Upro waaay in advance before you tee off (like maybe 5 mins. before), as I've experienced a few times No Satellite signal, which takes about a minute or so to clear... I guess it's trying to connect
e. It's small... I have this "fear" that I'm gonna drop it, accidentally (or leave it behind somewhere) and then there goes over $200 in golf equipment... poof!
f. The prices for the ProMode files are kinda high... I mean, $10 for 1 course? It's cheaper if you buy the credits in "bulk", but I just want maybe 2 to 3 more courses!
g. Lastly, was contemplating in getting the silicone casing, but after seen the price for it, no way... $25!?

[milfordj]

One more previously unmentioned Con: You can't do any self-mapping, to include adding targets. I have a U-Pro, and one of the courses I play has a deep "Drop-off" area that is reachable from the tee. It is NOT MAPPED as a hazard on my U-Pro (probably because satellite mapping could not discern any difference between that area and fairway). I would love to be able to map the front and back of that drop-off. Even though I have the Pro-Mode map of that course, there are no distinguishing areas (for example proximity to dogleg or fairway bunker) to let me "measure" those drop-off distances.

[alfie]

True... no self-mapping, but I think sort of get by/get around this by using the "AnyPoint" feature in the ProMode, sort of planning your next couple of shots depending on your current location. Of course, as a "con", u would have to have to purchase the golf course in the ProMode...

Edit... forgot to attach the link for u guys to see what I mean 'bout the AnyPoint thingy!: [url="http://www.uprogps.com/features/"]http://www.uprogps.com/features/[/url]

[slightdraw]

The uPro gets the nod for me, mostly on the basis of its size/weight and the ability to get distances to any point. I think the G5 doesn't have the ability to let you plan a couple shots (which I actually use on occasion for par 5s). One downside for the uPro is that the screen can seem washed out depending on the light - the SG5 is always easy to read. I haven't tried the new Intelligreen. That is the kind of detail that SkyCaddie only will ever have and will seemingly always set it apart - I can't believe they are trying to do that, and I can't imagine how long it will take to get good coverage of greens across the country. In my area there aren't many courses that have that feature yet (it is still in beta, though still costs $$ if you upgrade for a unit, kinda strange).

And if someone could explain to me why neither has a scorecard....!

[ronbo]

SkyGolf has had a scorecard for over a year.

[aussieb]

My SG5 has a scorecard as part of the upgrade. I prefer it to the Upro for the battery life, accuracy and the new features are useful if they apply to the course you are on. I got the 3 year deal that let's me do any course and it works out to be a dime a day.