My latest gamer in the golf GPS department has been the GolfBuddy VS4 Golf GPS. The VS4 is a tiny golf GPS, the size of a watch but without a watch band. Not only is this golf GPS tiny, it speaks your yardages to you. Suggested retail price on this unit is $179.99 but I’ve seen street pricing averaging at around $149.99.
GolfBuddy VS4 Feature List
Speaks yardages as well as informing golfer that he’s on a certain hole/tee box (just don’t hit shot from one hole to next tee box!)
Detachable back allows unit to be mounted to hat, belt
Water Resistant
Displays yardages to front/center/back of the green
Green view
Preloaded with 37,000+ global courses
Automatic course & hole recognition
Measures shot distances
10 hour battery life
Standard micro-usb charging cable
On The Course
I’ve found the convenience of the VS4 to be stellar. The unit is so small and light that I usually carry it in my left pocket (right pocket is tees and divot tool). When I want a yardage I can push the talk button through my pocket and the lady’s voice tells me “180 yards to center of green.” I’ve also mounted the unit on my belt and can easily see the center yardages as well as front and back. But lately I’ve had a Game Golf digital tracking device on my belt and don’t want a second device there. Another convenient place I can mount the unit is on the brim of my hat, similar to another brand of talking GPS.
The yardages in this unit are solid and accurate. I use a golf laser rangefinder as well, and the yardages to green center are either exact, or within 2-3 yards. The advantage of the GPS over the laser is that I can get yardages from anywhere without having to have a straight line of sight. And lately with my driving accuracy issues, I need yardages from behind trees, houses, cars, buildings, airplanes, mountains.
GolfBuddy VS4 Golf GPS
The unit lasts close to two rounds, about 10 hours. I make sure to charge it before every round.
Speaking of charging… a big gripe I have with watch sized golf GPS units is that they all have proprietary charging cables. So if you forget your cable, you can’t charge it by using a standard cable. That especially sucks when you are on a golf vacation. The VS4 uses a standard micro-usb cable for charging. Very convenient and if one forgets the cable, a new one can be purchased nearly anywhere for super cheap, like less than $2.00.
Critiques
The only missing feature I can think of with this great golf GPS unit is changing voices. I’d die and go to heaven if they put in the “scottish caddie” voice. When you click the button a burly caddie speaks to you in indecipherable gibberish and at the end of the yardage says “f*&*ing hit it!”
Accessories
I’m not a watch wearer but for those who are, an optional watch band allows this unit to be worn on the wrist.
Conclusion
I have at least 10 golf GPS units in my garage thanks to running a popular blog. The VS4 is the unit I’ve chosen as my go-to gamer. This is the one in the bag. The size, convenience, and accuracy make the GolfBuddy VS4 my GPS of choice.
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