Product · SkyCaddie
SkyCaddie LX5: HD maps, 3 year membership included
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The SkyCaddie LX5 suits golfers who want the most map detail they can get on a wrist and do not mind a watch that leans towards the course rather than daily wear. Its two distinguishing points are a 1.39 inch colour touchscreen, which SkyCaddie calls the largest and brightest in golf, and a three year prepaid worldwide membership to more than 35,000 ground verified course maps.
- Courses
- 35,000+ ground verified
- Battery
- Up to two rounds
- Display
- 1.39 inch colour touchscreen
- Green detail
- IntelliGreen green shape, pan and zoom
- Subscription
- 3 year prepaid membership included
In its favour
- Large 1.39 inch colour touchscreen with zoom and pan for hazards and layups.
- IntelliGreen shows the exact green shape rotated to your line of play.
- 3 year prepaid worldwide membership is included in the box.
Good to know
- Course maps depend on a membership, so ongoing costs return after the prepaid term.
- Battery is listed at up to two rounds, so it needs regular charging.
Our take
Ground verified maps and the membership
SkyCaddie's selling point has long been that its course data is mapped by people walking the course rather than taken only from satellite images. The listing says over 35,000 maps are covered, and the box includes a membership card for three prepaid years.
That removes an ongoing cost for the first three years, but the listing does not describe what happens after that period. Budget for a renewal if you plan to keep the watch longer.
IntelliGreen and targeting
IntelliGreen shows the exact shape of the green, rotated to your line of approach, with distances to the front and back. You can move a cursor to the pin for a precise figure. On the hole view, you can zoom and pan, then slide the cursor to a hazard or layup point for an exact distance.
On long par fives, being able to drop the cursor on a fairway target and read the remaining distance makes club choice much more deliberate.
Battery, connectivity and extras
Battery life is listed as up to two rounds, with a separate 10 hour figure in the product details. Updates run over WiFi rather than Bluetooth. Scoring, stats, a target list, heart rate and a step counter are included. The box carries small and large wristbands, a charger and documentation, and the watch weighs 64 g according to Amazon.
Against the Bushnell iON Elite and Garmin S44
The Bushnell iON Elite offers a movable pin and slope compensated distances, which the LX5 listing does not mention. The Garmin Approach S44 is slimmer, adds smart notifications and lasts up to 15 hours in GPS mode. The LX5 wins on screen size and the included membership.
Who should skip it
If you want a watch for everyday wear that happens to do golf, the S44 is a better fit. Golfers who never look past the front and back figures will not use the zoom and pan features, and the Garmin Approach S12 will serve them with a longer battery.
Verdict
The SkyCaddie LX5 is the pick for golfers who want large, detailed, ground verified maps and three years of membership included. If slope distances matter, look at the Bushnell iON Elite, and if you want a slimmer everyday smartwatch, the Garmin Approach S44 is the alternative.
Compared with alternatives in: Best golf GPS watches
Amazon listing title: LX5, GPS Golf Watch with Touchscreen Display and HD Color CourseView Maps, Black, Small