Nothing helps you play better golf than knowing your yardages; this goes for anyone, from a high handicapped amateur to a tour pro. There are numerous golf GPS devices on the market, from golf gps watches to laser rangefinders, there are tons of options. The GolfBuddy Voice 2 takes a different approach to the Golf GPS market, by providing a user friendly voice based gps device.
Check out our complete review to find out if this is a good option for you.
Here’s the Short Version:
The GolfBuddy Voice 2 is a no frills voice based golf gps meant for any player who wants a compact gps to quickly find out yardages to lower their scores. If you’re looking for a good value rangefinder, this is an awesome choice. It comes in 4 colors, has attachment options, and has a clear display for green yardages.
What is the Golf Buddy Voice 2?
This is the newest version of the Golf Buddy Voice, updated with extra capabilities and user friendly additions. At it’s very core, it’s a voice based Golf GPS with a 1″ Mono LCD screen. The device displays front middle and back of the green readings, with dynamic green view technology.
The Golf Buddy Voice 2 has been upgraded from the original version in a few key areas, optimizing it’s usability. GolfBuddy extended the battery life in this version, added additional courses in its inventory, additional language options, and added a new yardage display. This device is perfect for any type of golfer, whether you are a recreational golfer or scratch golfer you’ll be able to find value using the Voice 2.
Key Features
As mentioned, the Golf Buddy Voice 2 has some great new upgrades that set it apart from its predecessor and other gps devices available on the market. One highlight is the upgraded battery life. The original Golf Buddy Voice had 9 hours of battery life, while the Voice 2 flaunts a 14 hour battery life! This is a huge upgrade and can last roughly 3 rounds of golf.
In addition to the extended battery life, there are also additional courses added into the device’s inventory. There are now over 40,000 courses loaded which makes any golfer more confident that the course they are playing will be included in the Golf Buddy Voice 2.
If you are looking for a product that is available in multiple languages, this is another reason why the Voice 2 is so user friendly. With the free Golfbuddy Manager program, you can update your device to have 11 languages rather than the preloaded 8.
The newest model also has a dynamic green view that allows you to change the measuring point to multiple areas on the green. This also displays all yardages on the screen and gives you the choice between looking at the screen for the front, middle, and back yardages or just using the voice option to tell you.
Our Impressions
Accuracy and Performance
We took the GolfBuddy Voice 2 out on the course for a head to head comparison against a golf gps watch and a laser rangefinder, to see how the yardages compared. In every situation, we found the Voice 2 to be very reliable. This golf gps was able to match the laser within a yard of accuracy to the front middle and back of the green.
It’s worth noting that you can use the GolfBuddy Voice 2 either by voice gps, or by glancing at the screen. Many voice gps models don’t have a screen option, and the original Voice didn’t show front and back green yardages, instead only displaying center green yardages. This functionality makes it so you can use this gps rangefinder similarly to a golf watch, or keep it clipped onto your hat or shorts for a quick voice measurement.
User Friendliness
One thing that stood out to us when we took this device on the course is how easy it was to use. Once you buy the Voice 2, you simply charge it up and turn it on when you are on the course. It will automatically detect the course you are on in the same way any other golf rangefinder would.
The GolfBuddy Voice 2 is really straight forward. It has what you need and doesn’t have any extra settings and features that could be confusing. The Voice 2 has a total of 5 buttons – the power button, two that control the volume, and the remaining two control the voice, change the display, and allow you to measure your shots. It is very straight forward for any golfer and you won’t have to worry about fumbling with the device to get it to do what you want on the course.
To read yardage, you just need to hit the shot measurement button next to the screen and it will verbalize how far you are from the center of the green. It’s easy to clip this onto your hat or shorts and use it while evaluating your shot.
A final note is that you can turn the voice feature off. While I love the voice function when I play solo, if I’m playing in a serious match or hitting the course with a group of friends I may not be as excited for it. Turning off the voice you can still access the front middle and back yardages on the display.
Price and Value
We would consider this a mid range golf gps in terms of price, coming in just over $100. For us, 3 rounds of golf and reliable accuracy makes this a great grab around that price point. The performance is very comparable to much more expensive rangefinders. There are no additional fees or subscriptions to use this gps, it is very much a plug and play system.
You can also modify the Voice 2 if you don’t want to clip it onto yourself. You can buy a watch attachment, or a cart mount. Having these options makes this a pretty versatile golf gps and even better value for your money.
Alternatives
If you don’t like to GolfBuddy Voice 2 and want some more options to consider, your best option would be to go for a laser rangefinder. They are extremely accurate and will give you exact measurements to the flag or anything else you’d like to find distance for. A laser rangefinder can help you with layup shots and club selection (if you need to know how far the water is or a bunker is, it really comes in handy). We’ve done a complete review to the best golf laser rangefinders, so feel free to check that out!
Your other option is a golf gps watch, which will provide similar functions to the Voice 2 without the voice feature. You’ll get your front middle back readings, and a larger display. Check out our complete review on golf gps watches to see which is right for you.
Final Thoughts
The Golf Buddy Voice 2 is a great option for a golf gps device and has all of the newest features to make it super user friendly and helpful on the course. It has a 14 hour battery life, over 40,000 courses in its inventory, has a useful screen that displays yardage and a voice that can tell you with just a click of a button. This device is small and can clip onto any hat or belt. There are also accessories available to make it into a watch so it is comfortably on your wrist.
This is a really solid option as a golf gps with multiple ways to retrieve yardages. If you’re looking for a bang for buck option that comes with voice capabilities, this is definitely a great pick for you.
Did you like this post? Feel free to check out more of our accessories reviews, like our roundup of the best putting aids on the market, or even our review of the best golf towels to keep your clubs and golf balls clean throughout your round. Thanks for reading!
