There is no brand name as well known in the distance measurement device segment as Bushnell Golf. Not only are they among the originators, but innovation also remains at the forefront of all that they do. Honestly, there may not be better example of that than the Wingman. While the first attempt at blending their GPS with a speaker may have just been OK, Bushnell thinks they have gotten it all the way right this time. Have they? Read on to find out.
Quick Take
The new Wingman View from Bushnell finally sees the company putting together all the pieces to make the most complete distance measuring dance party in a box out there. Brings the GPS accuracy you expect from Bushnell and marries it with full, vibrant, audio as well as an evolved app which ties it all together.
Bushnell Wingman View
Look, if you are someone who doesn’t enjoy music while golfing then it is totally understandable that the new Wingman View may at first look to be something you skip over. However, after spending a lot of time on and off the course with the new Wingman, I would implore you to think about the versatility that exists in this device. The Wingman View is no more just a GPS than it is just a speaker, in fact, it is a chameleon of sorts with far more usefulness than I expected.
Upon getting the Wingman View in hand for this review, I had mixed feelings. The reason for that was based upon not only my past experiences with other brands creating similar GPS/Speaker combos that left me wanting as well as how not-quite-right some of Bushnell’s other products that blended GPS into them (I’m looking at you Bushnell Hybrid) were for me. After unboxing, I found myself impressed at the quality and sturdiness, even before ever turning it on.
Turns out, the Wingman View is a pretty brilliant device. Bushnell could have taken the previous model, slapped a GPS screen on it and called it a day had they truly wanted to. Instead, they evolved from the ground up, starting even with the shape. Gone is the round design and instead the triangular shape of the View not only allows a better surface area for the magnet and the new GPS screen, but it also made the Wingman more functional as a whole.
That shape change showcases the LCD display in the unit and prevents glare from being an issue as it is always angled, either in towards the seat if on the driver side or out away from the cart if on the passenger side. While that may not seem like much, I found it made things more functional. The information displayed will be as expected for anyone who has used a Bushnell GPS in the past, it shows front/middle/back as well as hole number and par along with up to 6 hazard distances which are accessed with a specific button push.
In order to use the unit though, you will need to sync your phone to it via Bluetooth and through the Bushnell Golf app. The app not only walks you through setup making it a breeze, but it is where you connect the GPS for your current round. I am blown away by how far the app has come compared to my previous use of it as not only is it easier to use, but it offers a plethora of information and data. You can access the GPS data, operate the Wingman, see a full color overview of the hole with numbers, and even track your rounds/statistics with ease. So, it may initially seem like an annoying step, but there is some legitimate depth and benefit potential here for golfers.
On the speaker side of things, this one packs a punch. Not only can you choose from two different EQ’s (indoor/outdoor), but through the app you can even pair two Wingman View’s together to play the same music in two carts (within 32 feet) or have a dual speaker stereo output. This is where the unit was more versatile than I expected as I actually used it at the pool and in the garage as I would other one-trick speakers and was impressed by the quality. Plus, the LCD display will show you all the pertinent information for the track you have on at the time, which a music nerd like me enjoys seeing.
Overall, the Wingman View was a lot of fun to test. Not only was it easy to use, the GPS delivered on Bushnell’s typical accuracy. I never had any issues with dropping the signal over my rounds and the speed which it connects through the app is much faster than a lot of standalone watches I have used. The device also moved from hole to hole well, though any issues there are easily remedied in the app or on the unit with the correct button pushes (read the manual!). Add in the handy remote which you can keep in your pocket to have the speaker announce yardages when away from the cart or change tracks, and I found no real weaknesses here.
Bushnell claims a 10 hour battery life, two rounds apparently based on their 5-hour slow play baseline, and that was accurate for me as I put four 2.5 hour rounds on a single charge before depleting. Another nice feature is the ability to use the View as a power source to charge other devices in a pinch. The Wingman View also has the best magnet I have ever seen in a speaker/GPS like this with its neodymium BITE magnet. In fact, it is so strong that there is a warning in the manual for those who have pacemakers or internal defibrillators. Now that is wild.
The Details
The Wingman View is available now through Bushnell as well as retailers worldwide, and at $199.99 there is actually solid bang for your buck. If you like to use a golf GPS, and you enjoy having a speaker with good sound for on or off the course, then the View is absolutely worth a look. Plus, if the overall form and function weren’t enough, maybe you can also have a ton of fun with the custom tee introductions and sound bites along the way. After all, golf is supposed to be fun.
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