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The Voice Caddie SL2 Hybrid Rangefinder adds a color touchscreen to an outstanding laser. Loads of information yet very easy to use. The most impressive product in this category, and a distinct advantage for strategy.
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Introduction
A few months back, I reviewed the Voice Caddie SL1 [read more HERE] and found it to be the best rangefinder/GPS hybrid I’d ever used. With the new SL2, Voice Caddie raised the bar again. This amazing hybrid adds a touchscreen to the full-color GPS, giving golfers more information and a real strategic advantage on the course.
Check out the new Voice Caddie TL1 rangefinder HERE
Set Up & Ease of Use
As with the SL1, Voice Caddie has taken a device that could be staggeringly complicated to use and made it simple. The laser rangefinder functions just as any other: push the power button to bring up the aiming reticle, push it again to get your yardage. There are four modes which you can rotate through with a press and hold of the “M” button. Normal Mode scans continuously, Pin Mode will lock on to a target and vibrate. Each of these modes has tournament-legal and slope-adjusted versions.
The GPS comes to life with a tap of the screen. From the main screen, you can start a round or go into the settings. As with most GPS units, the SL2 takes a minute to locate the course you’re at, then asks you to head to the tee box. You can toggle between a hole overview, Front/Middle/Back yardages, or an elevation map of the green with a swipe.
One final note: make sure to update your SL2 before you play your first round. Voice Caddie is continually updating course maps, and you’ll want to have the latest info on your device. You can perform the update through the VC Manager HERE.
Accuracy & Performance
I’ll start with the laser rangefinder side of the Voice Caddie SL2. As you would expect from a premium rangefinder, the SL2 is very quick and accurate. It also has the ability to provide slope-adjusted distances.
Where it starts to separate itself from other rangefinders is with its display. The SL2 has a red and green OLED display that’s intelligently laid out, very bright, and sharp. It’s easy to read no matter the light conditions.
Voice Caddie’s Pin Assist feature combines the GPS and rangefinder to do something that truly elevates the performance of the SL2. In this mode, the SL2 uses its knowledge of the green’s location to filter out background targets from the rangefinder. Imagine there are trees behind the green. You’re trying to target the pin, but your hands aren’t steady. The SL2, knowing that the pin is between, say, 200 and 220 yards away, won’t display distances that are outside that range. This is a brilliant feature that works exactly as promised and makes it faster and easier to get the right number.
Now let’s turn to the GPS. The display is roughly 1.5″ in diameter, bright, and easy to read. The touchscreen is responsive, and the screens are laid out to minimize misread touches or swipes. On each hole, you can switch between an overview of the hole, front/middle/back yardages, and a view of the green.
Voice Caddie has over 40,000 courses mapped worldwide, and many of those include elevation maps of the greens. These green maps are a huge advantage in terms of course management. Imagine knowing in advance that the green has a false front. That could save you a full stroke or more!
The addition of a touchscreen eliminates my only complaint about the SL1, and the addition of hole overviews further adds to the value. There is no other device I know of that can provide this kind of strategic advantage on the golf course.
Value
The Voice Caddie SL2 is the state of the art at this time, so it does come with a heavier price tag of $600. Plugged In Golf readers can support the site and save $50 by buying it HERE.
While $550 is a substantial price tag for a rangefinder, you do get a lot for your money. This isn’t a phony upgrade that’s nothing more than a new name and fancier packaging. The SL2 has features that I haven’t seen anywhere else.
If you’re on a tighter budget and need a basic, dependable laser, check out the Voice Caddie L5 HERE.
Conclusion
With so much technology in golf it’s easy to get jaded, but the Voice Caddie SL2 is a genuine jaw-dropper. This hybrid rangefinder/GPS provides everything I could think to ask for, and several things I didn’t know I needed. If you want the state of the art in distance measuring, you need to put this in your bag.
Buy the Voice Caddie SL2 HERE
Matt Saternus
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great review matt! what are your thought on the older bushnell tour v5 I think? also hoping for a new TaylorMade TP5 ball review soon!
I have a Tour V5 Shift review here: https://pluggedingolf.com/bushnell-tour-v5-shift-laser-rangefinder-review/
Hey Matt,
How would you compare this to the Garmin Approach Z82 Laser Rangefinder with GPS? They are the same price point.
John,
Matt Meeker reviewed the Z82 here: https://pluggedingolf.com/garmin-approach-z82-laser-rangefinder-with-gps-review/
My experience is not as extensive as Matt’s, but I found the Z82’s GPS a bit slow. Also, it doesn’t have the green mapping like the SL2.
-Matt
I’ve been using the Z82 for over a year now and have traveled near and far with the unit. Ive found it to be consistent in all circumstances. There are few drawbacks: 1) GPS is a little sluggish to kick on but if you press the button as you begin to raise the unit it is ready to shoot by the time your get a focus, 2) Bluetooth phone connectivity (wind speed & direction) seems to drop if you use your phone for another app (e.g. Arccos or Spotify), and no green slope/heat map (ala GolfWorx or the VC SL1/SL2). I’m looking forward to seeing the SL2 screen shots from the view finder. From what I’ve seen so far the data on the Z82 is more in depth with regard to yardages to all hazards and standard yardage from green distances (50/150/250). The Z82 also has a nice feature for pin direction when the shot is otherwise blind. I’ve managed not to leave the Z82 behind (like so many other RF’s of days gone by) probably because I subconsciously know it has a ‘Find My Garmin” feature!
Precision Pro R 1 seems more accurate to specific conditions since it includes weather data. Lots of other information available with their app. I searched here and didn’t see a review of this. What are your thoughts?
Thomas,
Our review of the R1 has been pushed back several times because of delays in production, so I can’t speak to that unit firsthand yet. What I will say is that, for me, any DMD that requires interaction with my phone is downgraded slightly compared a standalone unit.
Best,
Matt
will there be a new TP5 review coming soon for the new model?
We don’t have any plans for that at the moment, but if enough readers want that review we will put it on the docket.
-Matt
awesome! fingers crossed!
As long as the voice feature doesn’t comment AFTER my shot, I’m ok with the price!