Golf GPS Apps For Your Smartphone - What Are the Pros and Cons?

The number of golf GPS devices and the number of apps for smartphones is growing rapidly. It is very difficult to support track as developers try to prick out their niche in the market. As a golfer who is looking for one of these devices, you can be overwhelmed by the number of choices available to you.



First, should you assume a standalone unit like a SkyCaddie or a Callaway uPro, or should you go with a considerable cheaper golf GPS application that you can download for your smartphone? Now, surely there is no plot that a $10 app for the iPhone can match all the features of a SkyCaddie, anymore than a Ford Fiesta can match all the features of a BMW. But people do drive around in inexpensive compact cars and they do gain everywhere they need to go (without the luxury of course) .



So, if you want a golf GPS blueprint that costs less than a round of golf, but one that can level-headed collect you safely around the course, you might think a smartphone app rather than a powerful more expensive standalone intention. Here are some of the pros and cons of using a smartphone app.



Pros



The sign. There is really no comparison here. If you already absorb a smartphone, then the cost of a grand GPS app can be less than one tenth of the cost of a standalone unit.



Free trial. You can download many of these apps for free and try them out with no obligation to take. This is a relatively hassle-free diagram of testing the waters to watch what the various apps have to offer.



Touchscreen. Many phones like the iPhone or the BlackBerry Storm have touchscreens. Smartphone golf apps often indicate an aerial opinion of the course and the golfer can pinpoint any state on the course to obtain instant feedback. This is a feature that some of the more expensive models lack. SkyCaddie, GolfLogix, and Sureshot, for instance, do not have touchscreens and do not have a idea of the fairway at all.



No subscription or annual fees. With most golf GPS apps, you can usually download all the courses you need or you can spend software to intention your bear courses for free. For some of the top brands subscriptions and annual fees alone can cost considerable more than a smartphone app.



Cons



Accuracy of GPS. There is debate about whether or not the GPS chip in smartphones is correct enough for golf. The iPhone claims its GPS is factual to within 1-7 yards. But the maximum error of 7 yards is composed a long design from the 1-3 yards of SkyCaddie or the sub-meter accuracy of Sureshot.



Accuracy and number of mapped courses. You may have to choose for fewer available course maps. Generally with phone apps you will not find professionally mapped courses: there are no armies of mappers (ala SkyCaddie) walking courses to heed all the key spots with pinpoint precision. More likely you will have to determine for self-mapped courses or courses mapped by your fellow software users (mostly from Google Earth) . How apt these maps are is debatable.



Battery life. Golf GPS apps can be a titanic drain on cellphone batteries. You may secure yourself objective barely able to attain a round with a fully charged battery. The standalone devices, on the other hand, have batteries that can last for several rounds of golf.



There may be no sure decision to create here: it will probably near down to personal choice (and economics) .