By Dan Owen, Golf News Equipment Editor
Electric trolleys have improved significantly in recent years. Lithium batteries saw a huge jump in performance, as well as saving a bunch of weight, while more compact designs have helped people save space in their cars and homes, and enabled some golfers to have a trolley when it may just not have been previously practical.
This year feels like the year that remote- controlled models have hit the mainstream.
While they’ve been around for quite a long time, some strong new models from PowaKaddy, Stewart Golf and Motocaddy have all hit the market this season, and it seems like a turning point in their retail story, so I was excited to give the latter’s new M7 GPS a run out.
What does the m7 gps look like
Out of the box, the M7 GPS looks the business, with its stylish design and quality materials giving it a very modern aesthetic. It requires minimal setup – with just the stabilizer bar, main wheel and battery to be attached, and you’re good to go. Folding and unfolding is also a breeze, with two user-friendly levers, while the handle is easily adjustable to accommodate different heights.
At just 14.9kg, the M7 GPS is on par with its competitors. When folded, it becomes nicely compact, and you can even invert the wheels to make it more storage-friendly.
You can start the trolley with the silver button on the handle or by using the remote control. Choose from nine speeds, ranging from a leisurely stroll to a brisk jog, and make smooth turns with the left and right buttons or pivot turns by holding them down.
Safety is a top priority for the M7 Remote, featuring Automatic Downhill Control to maintain speed on slopes, an anti-tip wheel for added stability, and auto-shutoff and auto-stop features for extra peace of mind.
Motocaddy’s EASILOCK system avoids the need for cumbersome lower straps, while also serving to lock the golf bag securely into the base of the cart – providing you own a Motocaddy bag, which most Motocaddy trolley users seem to have for that reason.
What features does the M7 GPS HAVE
Getting started with the GPS is easy. After a quick search, the GPS accurately lists nearby golf courses. The M7 GPS’s smartphone notifications allow you to stay on top of important texts, missed calls, and other app updates while you focus on your game. The 3.5-inch M7 GPS LCD screen presents a crystal-clear depiction of the course, offering front, middle, and back yardages, along with a round timer and trolley speed display. And if you want more detailed information, simply tap ‘Green’ to access the Green Map, where you can adjust the pin’s location with a quick tap. For strategic shot planning, the dynamic element on the hole screen updates distances instantly with your preferred location.
The M7 GPS comes with a 12-month subscription to the Motocaddy Performance Plan, which unleashes a host of advanced features, such as hole mapping, detailed green views, and comprehensive statistic tracking. Those features cost £49.99 per year after the initial trial, so you’ll have to figure out if it’s something you will use or not.
The M7 GPS isn’t cheap, but if you’re playing regularly, it’s a real investment in your game. Switching to an electric trolley was a game changer for me – I feel like I have so much more energy left in the tank at the end of a round. Moving to a remote made my round even more relaxed, especially when you realised you’ve left your bag on the wrong side of the green. While the price jump from the standard M7 Remote is punchy, for some golfers not having to faff with a separate device is going to be more than worth it.
RRP: £1,499. motocaddy.com