Voice Caddie VC 200 Review: Simple, Effective Voice Guidance
In this Voice Caddie VC 200 review, we will take a deeper look into a simple yet attractive GPS rangefinder. Unlike other models in the category, Voice Caddie VC 200 comes without any display screen at all. It mainly relies on a single button and voice guidance. It is indeed neat and simple – but, does it work?
Below, we will discuss with great detail about:
- The size and weight of the GPS rangefinder
- The design and appearance of the unit
- Whether the device is easy and convenient to use
- The overall performance and accuracy of the unit
- How long the battery life goes per charge
- What accessories that come included in the box
- Whether you should buy Voice Caddie VC 200 or not
Overview
Different golf players may have different preferences when it comes to a rangefinder. Some people want the most detailed information; they want to know the distances to every water hazard and bunker, and they want a full color display too. Some others believe that simplicity is the key and that knowing the yardage to the center of the green is already sufficient.
Of course, both sides are fine in their own ways. There are golf players in both schools of thought that are skilled and successful. However, what type of golf player that you are will greatly decide whether you will enjoy Voice Caddie VC 200 or not.
If you are the first type, who wants the distances to everything and a full color display, this device is not for you; go find a suitable alternative – such as Garmin Approach G8 vs G30, which come with high-resolution color displays and amazingly cool features. But if you are the second type, who prefers simple yet effective things, then you will find that this Voice Caddie VC 200 review is useful to help you understand better about the device.
Size and Weight
First of all, note that Voice Caddie VC 200 is not meant to be a handheld unit. This GPS rangefinder is very compact and lightweight because it is designed to be attached to your cap or belt loop. On the back, there is an integrated clip that allows you to do just that.
The unit measures 37 mm wide, 47 mm long, and 12.5 mm thick. It has a weight of about 24 grams (0.8 oz). It is small enough not to be an intruding piece of equipment on your body. The lightweight housing ensures that Voice Caddie VC 200 will not weigh down when attached to your cap or belt loop. This shows that the unit has been carefully designed to be truly usable in the real environment.
Design
Voice Caddie VC 200 looks neat and simple. The housing is made from plastic. Of course, the plastic housing feels rather cheap when touched, but you are not going to hold the unit in your hand all the time anyway so this is less of a problem. What matters more is the durability; the housing is reasonably rugged and durable.Voice Caddie VC 200 looks neat and simple. The housing is made from plastic. Voice Caddie VC 200 is compact and lightweight because it designed to be clipped to your body.
There are two color options, which are white and black. Both look nice and modern. Both color options are generally suitable for gears of any color. So, choosing the color is a matter of personal preference.
As mentioned above, Voice Caddie VC 200 is designed to be clipped to your body. The most ideal place is the cap. By placing it on your head, you will be able to hear the voice guidance easily. However, you can clip it to virtually any part of your body. You can clip it to your belt loop or pocket.
Unfortunately, the clip is somewhat flimsy. In most cases, the clip is sturdy enough to keep the device safely in place. However, make sure that you clip it properly. Otherwise, if the device is not properly clipped (for example it is only hanging a few millimeters from the edge of the cap), the unit may fall down. While the housing is solid, dropping it from a high enough distance will still break it apart.
Setup and Control
Operating Voice Caddie VC 200 is very simple and straightforward.The first thing to do after you get the unit is to plug it to your computer. It is plug-and-play; it can be detected by the computer without any driver installation. However, a driver program is available for download on the company’s website, just in case.
Afterwards, you need to download the VC Manager program. This program is used to import the courses that you need into the device. You can also find this program on the company’s official website, in the “Download” section. The program’s interface is very intuitive and easy to understand, so you won’t find any problem here. Choose your region and the courses that you play.You need to download the VC Manager program. This program is used to import the courses that you need into the device.
Once you have imported the courses into Voice Caddie VC 200, you can go to your favorite golf course. Although the unit comes with 30,000 pre-loaded courses, it is still better to perform the initial setup with the program to ensure that you have all the course maps that you need.
Then, when you are about to begin your game, turn on the device. It takes about 30 seconds or so to start. Once the unit is ready, it will give a voice message, and you are ready to go. There is also an LED indicator on the top that will give you a visual cue when the unit is turned on.
When you are on the course, all you need to do with the device is press the main button. The unit will tell you the distance from your location to the center of the green.There are also volume up and down buttons on the side which enable you to adjust the volume of the voice guidance.
The company claims that Voice Caddie VC 200 is the world’s first GPS rangefinder with voice guidance. This mechanism is simple yet effective; you don’t need to busy your hands just to get the yardage, so you can focus with the club and the ball.
Additional Features
Voice Caddie VC 200 is able to measure your shot distance. In order to use this feature, you need to use the included marker on the ball. Then, click the unit before the shot. After you hit the ball and the ball has fully stopped, click the unit again. It will tell you the total distance of your shot. This feature is quite handy and useful, especially for beginners who want to improve their distance.Voice Caddie VC 200 comes with two additional features, the shot distance measurement and the swing tempo function.
This device also comes with a built-in swing tempo function, which is called Golf Metronome System. This feature is a little bit surprising because most people do not expect such a budget-friendly rangefinder to come with it. The feature is especially useful for golf players who struggle with tempo issues.
After activating the Golf Metronome System feature, you can choose between the single action mode (which only goes one time) and the continuous action mode (which repeats again and again until you turn it off). Then, you can choose between the full swing count (1, 2, 3) and the putting tempo count (ready, 1, 2). It is simple and effective, and it can benefit practically any golfer.
Performance
The nicest thing about Voice Caddie VC 200 is that it is very simple and convenient to use, while at the same time having very good accuracy. When you turn on the device, it is able to automatically recognize the golf course that you are currently in. You will never need to fumble with buttons to change the course.
Afterwards, as you progress through your game, it is also able to recognize every hole. It is almost always able to give you a correct reading right away every time you hit the button.
Most of the time, it can recognize the holes correctly. However, if the golf course happens to have holes that run almost exactly in parallel of each other, the device may get confused. Pressing the volume buttons simultaneously will change the hole manually so that it can get to where you need it to be.It is able to automatically recognize the golf course that you are currently in. It is also able to recognize every hole. The distance accuracy is pretty good.
The distance measurement is generally good and accurate. According to the specifications, Voice Caddie VC 200 has an accuracy rating of plus-minus 3 yards. Many users are happy and satisfied with the overall performance of Voice Caddie VC 200.
Well, compared to some other rangefinders, this is definitely not the most precise. There are laser rangefinders with an accuracy rating of plus-minus 0.5 yards. However, those laser rangefinders are not as affordable and convenient as Voice Caddie VC 200. At the very least, the unit is able to give you the right general idea about your distance to the center of the green.
Battery Life
The battery life of Voice Caddie VC 200 is also impressive. Although the unit does not have a light indicator for the remaining battery, it will always tell you the remaining battery life right after you power it on. You won’t need to recharge the unit frequently.
According to the specs, the maximum battery life is about 9 continuous hours. That is very good. With a fully charged battery, you can play multiple 18-hole rounds and still have about 40 percent of battery life. It is probably better to recharge the battery at this point, in case that you are going to play a long golf game the next time you use the device.
One important thing to keep in mind is that you should not forget to turn the power switch off every after using it. Voice Caddie VC 200 does not have any form of power saver or automatic turn off feature, so it will stay turned on as long as the power switch is on. If you forget to turn it off, the battery will probably be empty the next time you want to use it.
Included Accessories
The bundle of Voice Caddie VC 200 includes a ball marker (which is used for the shot distance measurement), a USB cable (for computer connection and recharging), and a quick manual. The power adapter is optional, but it is highly recommended that you get the power adapter so that you can recharge the unit easily.
Unlike many other golf rangefinders, Voice Caddie VC 200 does not have any annual fee or download fee. All of the course maps are available for free. You don’t need to subscribe to anything in order to update the course maps. This is definitely a huge advantage for the long run.
– Voice guidance to the green
– Unique and Lightweight design
– One touch operation
– Automatic course & hole recognition
– No annual subscription fee, no hidden costs
Conclusion
If you need a simple and affordable GPS rangefinder without any additional cost besides the initial one, Voice Caddie VC 200 is an excellent choice. The simplicity and ease of use are main reasons to choose this model. It has automatic course and hole recognition, and it gives you the distance to the center of the green. The battery life is very good. It also has two additional features that are quite handy.
Voice Caddie VC 200 Review: Specifications
FEATURES
- Two color options: white and black
- 30,000 courses come preloaded, and over 40,000 courses available worldwide
- Lightest, smallest among GPS rangefinders
- Hands-free operation, carry with a clip on your cap or belt
- Shot distance measurement
- Voice guidance
- Volume control
- Automatic course and hole recognition
- Unique swing tempo function to improve swing rhythm (Golf Metronome System)
- Rechargeable battery (with 9 hours of continuous use)
- No additional fee, no annual subscription fee, no hidden costs
INCLUDED IN THE BOX
Ball Marker, USB Cable, Power Adapter(Optional),Quick Manual
SPECIFICATIONS
- Course Capacity: 30,000 courses preloaded, more than 40,000 courses available worldwide
- Accuracy: +/- 3 yards
- PC Interface : 5-Pin Micro USB
- Buttons : Power Switch, Main Button and Volume Up/Down
- Battery Type: Lithium polymer battery
- Continuous Battery life : Approximately 9 hours
- Product Dimensions: 37 mm x 47 mm x 12.5 mm
- Weight : 24g / 0.8 oz
- Languages: English, Germany, French, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean
Voice Caddie VC 200 Review: Pros
- Very simple operation
- Accurate distance reading
- Comes with nice additional features
- Decent battery life
- Affordable price, no annual or additional fee
Voice Caddie VC 200 Review: Price
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