Callaway Upro mx+, Skycaddy SGXw or Garmin G6?

Solutions Etcetera · July 19, 2012

While I always try to remain as objective as possible when discussing the pros and cons of any product, I'd like to offer up some intangibles that mean something to me regarding Garmin. I'll preface this by admitting that I have used, almost exclusively, Garmin aviation and marine gear for years and all our top notch. I welcome their heritage in my golf devices. In fact, I was thrilled when they entered the golf market.

One is the size and available resources of such an entity building a golf GPS. Second is build quality. Third is customer service. What other manufacturer is wiling to completely refurb a broken, out of warranty unit, complete with new case and screen for $99? I was told some time ago that you can drive a golf cart over it and that rate will remain the same. I read many unhappy comments here regarding out of warranty rangefinders from OEMs whose only option is for them to buy a new unit.

While this may be of no consequence to the "money is no object" crowd, as an engineer, it says to me it is a higher quality, better engineered and supported unit than some device subbed out to others by a smaller shop, which has no facility other than to throw away a malfunctioning device. Being in control of every aspect of design and manufacturing ensures better support going forward. For instance, I know that even SkyGolf did not write their own OS for the SGX, so they are at the mercy of those who did for fixes, updates, and future features. Callaway got stung by this big time, paralyzed by the developer they hired. Other smaller players as well.

I also appreciate the fact that they make no bones about their accuracy, and spec it for every unit. They also don't stop displaying data when you get to the green like other GPS units. You can easily gauge the accuracy of the hardware/mapping combo by standing in the center of the green.

Also neat is the full tracking info recorded. You can export these tracks from the unit into Google earth and relive your round in every detail (animated overhead tour, speed/elevation timelines). It is very cool.

dcmidnight · July 19, 2012

My MX was replaced for free when the charging prong broke off - no questions asked. I've had a half dozen or so similar interactions with their CS folks in the last couple years. Always free repairs or something that goes above and beyond. Forums are full of the same stories.

I'd put Callaway's customer service up against anyone's in the business - or in any other business for that matter.

Solutions Etcetera · July 19, 2012

[quote name='dcmidnight' timestamp='1342716877' post='5309222']I'd put Callaway's customer service up against anyone's[/quote]

Agreed. Didn't mean to infer otherwise. But Call'y couldn't fix my MX issues. They just weren't close enough to the guts of the product. I wanted an MX pretty bad (in addition to my Garmin), just for the imagery, but couldn't get one that worked.

When I see that they have implemented all the features to come I may well try it again (but wished the scree was bigger). I guess in my perfect world they would have abandoned the hardware and developed their app for the iPhone. Imagine their imagery on the retina display!

dcmidnight · July 19, 2012

Yeah for me - again just personally - I havent liked the phone apps because it causes me to need to lug my phone around. And I have a great phone (Evo 4G) but its just too much. I like the smaller units (primarily why I dont like the SkyCaddies) so I can overlook some other stuff if it means having something small and lightweight.

Again, just me. If I had to I could probably make an argument for why any of the 4 or 5 top units are good.

TM_HOYER · July 19, 2012

Skycaddie has a back in play service. For around $90 (if out of warranty), they will send you a refurb replacement unit that has been synced with your current courses. It will be sent 2nd day air and they will supply a label to ship the broken unit back to them.

And when it comes to customer service, I will agree you will not find much better than Callaway.

prestiege · July 20, 2012

ive tried the sgx and mx+. the annual fee for sgx to me is well worth it, so you may play one less round a year due to the fee but thats all it is, one round of golf. you should try to test them all if you can but obviously thats not an option for everyone. i like the larger screen of the sgx, the battery life is much better than the mx, the mx going to sleep all the time was a pain. i get an extra round out of the sgx over the mx and the sgx screen stays on all the time. the scoring feature although only for one person on the sgx vs a 4some on the mx is much more easy to use on the sgx. i have no issue with syncing on a an imac with either unit, i dont have the delay issues with either unit that a lot of people are complaining about syncing. the sgx will rotate the green with where you are on the course, the mx doesnt do that. when slicing or hooking a drive into the next fairway i find it very useful. sgx wins hands down for me. i had an sgx and started using a laser, liked the laser more and sold the sgx. started to play a lot of new courses this year and the laser didnt quite cut it so i bought the sgx again after buying and returning the mx+

phillypete · July 21, 2012

[quote name='prestiege' timestamp='1342833097' post='5319152']
ive tried the sgx and mx+. the annual fee for sgx to me is well worth it, so you may play one less round a year due to the fee but thats all it is, one round of golf. you should try to test them all if you can but obviously thats not an option for everyone. i like the larger screen of the sgx, the battery life is much better than the mx, the mx going to sleep all the time was a pain. i get an extra round out of the sgx over the mx and the sgx screen stays on all the time. the scoring feature although only for one person on the sgx vs a 4some on the mx is much more easy to use on the sgx. i have no issue with syncing on a an imac with either unit, i dont have the delay issues with either unit that a lot of people are complaining about syncing. the sgx will rotate the green with where you are on the course, the mx doesnt do that. when slicing or hooking a drive into the next fairway i find it very useful. sgx wins hands down for me. i had an sgx and started using a laser, liked the laser more and sold the sgx. started to play a lot of new courses this year and the laser didnt quite cut it so i bought the sgx again after buying and returning the mx+
[/quote]

Excellent post!

I am in a similar situation as you. I was a laser guy and unfortunately it must have been tossed from the cart when I was fleeing a thunderstorm a couple of weeks ago. Now that I am in the market and also having moved myrtle beach, I am considering the SGX or something like it. When playing different places all the time it is nice to be able to accurately measure lay ups.

Harob11 · July 21, 2012

I went to Golfsmith yesterday and had a look at the SGX, SGXw, Callaway MX and the G6. The Callaway's screen is just too small in my opinion... that and all the problems i've read about it having made it a pretty easy decision not to buy it. The G6 was small and light but the screen resolution and graphics weren't very good. I'm kind of into that stuff so I wasn't impressed. It seemed simple and easy to use, though. The Skycaddie was by far the nicest looking unit, had the nicest, brightest screen and resolution, and the build quality was excellent. Hard to compare all the on course features as I was in a store but the physical appearance, resolution of the screen and the features were enough to cause me to buy it... on ebay. Ha.
Thanks for the help guys.

chas521 · July 21, 2012

[quote name='Harob11' timestamp='1342894470' post='5322442']
I went to Golfsmith yesterday and had a look at the SGX, SGXw, Callaway MX and the G6. The Callaway's screen is just too small in my opinion... that and all the problems i've read about it having made it a pretty easy decision not to buy it. The G6 was small and light but the screen resolution and graphics weren't very good. I'm kind of into that stuff so I wasn't impressed. It seemed simple and easy to use, though. The Skycaddie was by far the nicest looking unit, had the nicest, brightest screen and resolution, and the build quality was excellent. Hard to compare all the on course features as I was in a store but the physical appearance, resolution of the screen and the features were enough to cause me to buy it... on ebay. Ha.
Thanks for the help guys.
[/quote]

Best of luck with your choice.

BlackDiamondPar5 · July 21, 2012

[quote name='Harob11' timestamp='1342894470' post='5322442']
I went to Golfsmith yesterday and had a look at the SGX, SGXw, Callaway MX and the G6. The Callaway's screen is just too small in my opinion... that and all the problems i've read about it having made it a pretty easy decision not to buy it. The G6 was small and light but the screen resolution and graphics weren't very good. I'm kind of into that stuff so I wasn't impressed. It seemed simple and easy to use, though. The Skycaddie was by far the nicest looking unit, had the nicest, brightest screen and resolution, and the build quality was excellent. Hard to compare all the on course features as I was in a store but the physical appearance, resolution of the screen and the features were enough to cause me to buy it... on ebay. Ha.
Thanks for the help guys.
[/quote]

As you can see there is really no right or wrong answer, but you did your due diligence; read reviews, opinions on this forum and checked out the devices in person and you selected the one that best fit your liking. And since you are an Ebayer you know you can always sell it if you want to try something different.

Good luck with your choice.