Golf gear for UK courses
Know the yardage: rangefinders, launch monitors and trolleys compared.
Which rangefinder locks on the flag, which launch monitor fits your garage and which trolley fits your boot. We compare golf gear on the makers' own figures: range in yards, magnification, slope switch, battery and folded size.
Our top picks
All buying guides- Best compact push golf trolleys
Clicgear Rovic RV1C 2.0: one touch fold
FOLDWEIGHT38 x 33 x 60 cm (listed)
9.1 kg
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Best electric golf trolleys
PowaKaddy FX3: lithium, 5 year UK battery warranty
YDHOLESFOLD18 holes
Lithium, 18 hole
Not stated
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Best golf GPS watches
Garmin Approach S44: AMOLED, 15 h GPS, 43,000+ courses
HOLESUp to 15 h GPS, 10 days watch
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Best golf launch monitors under £700
Voice Caddie SC4 Pro: spin and a built-in screen
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link
Rangefinder maths
Open the calculator →Distance in
LINE
FLAT
UP
150.0 yd
137.2 m
148.5 yd
135.8 m
20.9 yd
19.1 m · 63 ft
Pure geometry. Makers' "plays like" slope figures add their own adjustments, so numbers differ between brands. Under Rule 4.3, distance-only devices are allowed unless a Local Rule bans them; any slope function must be off in competition.
Common golf gear questions
The questions asked most often, each with causes and fixes.
- Trolley rolls when parkedPush golf trolley rolling when parked? Foot and hand brakes checked in turn: dirt, cable tension, worn parts and wheel fit, plus replaceable parts.
- Battery will not chargeMotocaddy trolley charger not charging? Mains, plug fuse, connectors, charger lights, deeply discharged batteries and when the charger or battery is at fault.
- Course not found or wrong distancesGolf GPS watch or handheld not finding the course or showing odd distances? Satellite lock, course updates, software and phone pairing checked in order.
- Will not start, stops or pullsElectric golf trolley will not start, stops mid-round, pulls to one side or the wheels slip? The likely cause and the first fix for each common fault.
- Will not turn on, lock or readBushnell laser will not turn on, lock the flag or show a clear display? Battery, eyepiece, lens, mode and reset checks in order, and when to call Bushnell.
Golf gear by type
Rangefinders, launch monitors, trolleys, GPS watches and what the Rules of Golf allow.
- RangefindersLaser rangefinders compared on range, magnification, slope switch and how quickly they lock on the flag.5 guides · 4 buying guides
- Launch monitorsRadar and camera launch monitors for the range, the garage and a home simulator setup.8 guides · 3 buying guides
- Electric trolleysMotocaddy, PowaKaddy and Stewart trolleys by battery holes, folded size, GPS and remote control.8 guides · 2 buying guides
- Push trolleysThree wheel push trolleys that fold small, roll well on wet UK fairways and fit in the boot.4 guides · 2 buying guides
- GPS watchesGolf GPS watches and handhelds compared on course maps, hazards, battery life and subscriptions.8 guides · 2 buying guides
- Slope and the rulesWhat the Rules of Golf allow, how slope maths works and yards against metres explained.4 guides · 0 buying guides
Calculators
Slope geometry, yards and metres, and smash factor worked out for you.
Comparisons
- Push vs electric golf trolleyEffort over a hilly 18, weight in the boot, battery care and running costs in kWh compared, so you can decide when an electric golf trolley is worth it.
- Push or pull golf trolley: which is easier?Three wheel push trolleys against two wheel pull trolleys and carrying, compared on posture, effort, stability, bag weight and folded size for UK golfers.
- Motocaddy vs Stewart Golf trolleysMotocaddy's classic folding electric trolleys against Stewart Golf's compact and follow designs, compared on weight, fold, control and how each suits UK golfers.
- Motocaddy vs PowaKaddy: which trolley brand?Motocaddy and PowaKaddy compared model for model: fold, braking, battery, GPS, push trolleys and UK service, with listing facts for current models.
- Launch monitor vs golf simulator: what is the difference?The launch monitor measures, the simulator shows: what each part does, and what you need for range practice, a garage net or full virtual rounds at home.
- Slope vs non-slope rangefindersWhat a slope rangefinder adds, why slope is off in competition, and whether the extra features are worth it, with a distance-only and a slope model compared.
Buying guides
Focused guides to one type of golf gear each, compared on what the listings state.
- Best compact push golf trolleys
- Best electric golf trolleys
- Best golf GPS watches
- Best golf launch monitors under £700
- Best golf launch monitors
- Best golf rangefinders under £250
- Best golf rangefinders with slope
- Best golf rangefinders
- Best launch monitors for a home golf simulator
- Best push golf trolleys
- Bushnell golf rangefinders compared
- Garmin Approach range compared
- PowaKaddy trolleys compared
Guides & advice
- Rangefinder features explained: pin seek, jolt, magnetsMagnification, flag lock modes, vibration feedback, magnetic mounts, OLED displays, slope switches and batteries on golf lasers explained in plain English.
- Launch monitor subscriptions explainedWhich launch monitor features work out of the box, which need a yearly plan, and what stops if a plan lapses, brand by brand from the listings.
- Launch monitor numbers explainedClub speed, ball speed, smash factor, launch angle, spin, apex and carry explained in plain English, with what changes each and how to use them in practice.
- How to use a golf rangefinderHow to hold a golf laser steady, scan for the flag, read the lock confirmation and slope figures, and get reliable numbers on misty or dull UK days.
- How to update courses on a Garmin golf watchUpdating course maps on a Garmin Approach watch with the Garmin Golf app or Garmin Express, plus what to try when a course does not show up.
- How to set up a launch monitor indoorsPlacement distances, net and mat, lighting for camera units, ball choice and alignment, step by step for setting up a launch monitor in a UK garage bay.