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Sonocaddie V100 Pocket Golf GPS

$142.99

User Reviews about Sonocaddie V100 Pocket Golf GPS

I've had this GPS for nearly 2 years.

Pros:
1) Size - small and fits easily into your pocket.
2) No subscriptions - 29.95 gets you unlimited course downloads, let's you store your top 30 courses online, and 10 courses on the GPS. There seems to be a decent array of courses available, though any courses built in the last 4-5 years don't seem to be on there.
3) Simplicity - very easy to use, especially the distance information and marking shot distance.
4) Ability to course map.
5) Battery life is above average
6) Display is clear and works well in most conditions.
7) Durable - I've dropped it a couple times on hard surfaces and it works fine.

Cons:
1) Distances on courses can vary compared to other GPS units. Have compared #s to friends GPS units while playing and often the V100 was the most disparate compared to the others, generally by 3-5 yards.
2) Distances to hazards on most courses I've played are often inaccurate.
3) On at least 3 courses I've downloaded, I showed up at the course and the course information would not work (i.e., I would get 999 on every hole). There are courses supposedly mapped, but you can never know for sure until you get to the course.
4) Course mapping is a little bit of a pain and not something you can do in seconds while you play a round, despite what the instructions may say.
5) Customer services is average - when I've emailed to ask questions I often get form-email answers. A great example was when I requested a course to be mapped and the response was something my 6 year old nephew could write.
6) The belt clip that comes with it is kinda cheap and the clip loses it's grip after a while.
7) No ability to keep your score information.

To me, for basic information about distances to the green, it's fine. But the consistency of information, especially to hazards as well as the fact that courses in the database sometimes do not work and can't be confirmed prior to going to the course to me makes it not worth it and why I'm in the market for a new one. For just a few bucks more, units like the Calloway uPro, or the Bushnell Neo and a few others are better values for the money. -- Pretty good ... but

The V100 GPS unit is one of the less expensive GPS units, however, if you are looking for a device that is easy to use, accurate and that does not break the bank in monthly or yearly subscription fees, then this one might be for you.

There are a couple of idiosyncrasies with it that you do need to know about however. First is that when you download a course from Sonocaddie's website, be sure and check the details. If that course doesn't have information listed as to origin of the information for you chosen course, it is probably empty of all information other than the course name. I downloaded Cedar Pines (local 9-hole course close to Wichita, Kansas) and though it shows up in the menu...it has NO yardages and only one Hole. I tried mapping that course manually and it wouldn't allow me to move past hole #1. It's no big deal for if you just start a "New Course" you can go ahead and map it manually. However, if you downloaded the course and it was empty, you will have to delete the course you downloaded from your GPS AND you will have burned up one of the initial 5 free course selections.

Again, that is not a big deal because most people will opt for the $30 one-time subscription that allows unlimited downloads.

When mapping fairway "targets" (hazards) from the Fairway View, the V100 shows you three lanes that represent the left rough, the fairway and the right rough. There are three positions in each "lane" to specify the type of hazard and supposedly, their relative distance from the green. HOWEVER, instead of having the potential of marking 9 fairway targets per hole, you have ONLY 3. You can place those three in any of the "lanes" but you can put only one in each of those relative positions from the green. For instance, you cannot put more than one target in the furthest position from the green even though one is in the right rough and the other in the left or in the fairway. Attempts to do so will erase the one previously entered. I did not see that limitation documented in any of the manuals nor in any of the reviews of the V100 that I'd found.

That really is the only "negative" comments I have about the little unit.

It is very good about locking onto satellites in my area even in cloudy weather (actually was misting the first time I used it and I was locked onto 9 satellites!)

After mapping the Cedar Pines course, I found the data provided by the GPS to be very accurate as confirmed by both checking it against Tee Box yardages and also by stepping off the distances on a couple of PAR 3's.

The "Mark" function seems to be accurate also as checked by stepping off the yardage from the point of the shot and the location of the ball after the strike. Unfortunately, my shots were not NEARLY as long as I'd convinced myself they were! Need to work on that

The displayed data (yardages) are easily read. The fonts are large and contrast is high. -- Very Good Economical GPS

I was finally able to use my Christmas present....Sonocaddie V100. I was impressed. I had done a lot of research on all the golf gps units out there and chose the V100 over all the others and I am not disappointed. The three big pluses the V100 offers is low price, internal re-chargeable battery, and no annual fees. I did opt for the birdie package (one time $30 fee) so I have lifetime downloads of any course. The unit holds 10 courses and your on-line folder with Sonocaddie allows you to store 30 courses.
My main concern for a yardage indicator was just that.......give me the yardage. I do not need to see the hole layout as the only courses I play are in my backyard and I am familiar with their layouts. Plus, you do have the option of adding your own "marks" for each hole. The options are somewhat limited....bunkers, trees, OB, creek and pond. It would be nice if more icons are available, for example: cart path on a dog-leg, or a pole, etc.
Bottom line...the V100 performed flawlessly. I played a course today with gps in the cart and I truly believe the V100 was more accurate. I do not particularly like the belt clip provided so the unit was in my pocket all day except when it was used.......it stayed on, the yardage was displayed when I pulled it out of my pocket, and did not lose a signal.
If your main concern with a golf gps is yardage, I dont think you can go wrong with this unit. One note is that the loading of the software for downloading courses did not like me using google chrome as my browser. Once I switched to IE7 on vista, I was on my way.
I would definitely purchase this unit again and recommend to my golfing partners. -- Sonocaddie V100

I purchased this GPS over the winter and just had my first chance to try it out, I could not be more pleased. This GPS was very easy to read, gave very accurate yardage and helps to speed up your game, no looking for markers. One course that I play was not mapped so I contacted Sonocaddie, a person actually answered the phone, I e-mailed a scorecard to them and had the course for download in 3 days. My friend had just purchased a Callaway GPS for $250.00 plus a $50.00 download and aside from his having pretty pictures of the course they both did the same thing. In my opinion you can not go wrong with this product. -- Sonocaddie V100 Great GPS

This device is very simple golf GPS. I have played few courses here in Oregon and found some hazards that are either missing or off the marks. But it works for me since my main concerned is to find out the yardages to the green. Again, you get what you pay for.

As to the customer service at Sonocaddie, they are pretty good (both phone calls and emails). I'm still in a process of hazards errors with their customer service to figure out if it's the device or the mapping is outdated. -- You get what you pay for...