There can be beauty and function in simplicity. That’s the case with the newly designed MGI Zip X1 electric caddy from Australian-based company MGI Golf.
I must admit when I first received the Zip X1 for review, I was a little disappointed that it didn’t have a remote control. I envisioned it following me around the golf course, with no need to adjust speed or direction. But after taking the X1 out for a spin, I’m not sure I don’t like it better without a remote. Let me explain…
No remote means that’s one less thing that I have to think about (or lose) when I’m on the golf course where I do too much thinking as it is. My fear was that it not being a remote control cart I would have to constantly have my hands on the unit to get it to where I wanted it to be. And that the speeds would always be a little too slow or too fast. Or that the X1 could run away from me. None of these things turned out to be true.
(Image credit: Mike Bailey)
Powered by a 24-volt lithium battery with 250Wh that easily snaps into place, the X1 can be used for 36 holes or more in one day. I’ll never put it to a two-round test, but I can report that it was going strong at the end of every round I employed it. If for some reason it does run out of juice, you can put the large back wheels in free-rolling mode to finish your round.
I found the Zip X1 easy to operate, especially at $699 suggested retail price (many of the best electric caddies cost twice as much or more.) The four-wheel X1 has a T-bar handle, which you don’t really need to grab for the most part unless you’re going up or down a steep hill. There’s a control wheel and a digital screen on top. Push a button and it goes. Turning the control wheel adjusts the speed. I found that “4” was the most comfortable pace on the course (it goes up to 9 if you feel like running), and for the most part I simply pointed the X1 in the right direction and followed it, nudging it one way or the other to make small adjustments in direction.
(Image credit: Mike Bailey)
Initially, I thought that might have been too much effort. But when I finished my rounds on a course that does have some hills to climb, I found myself 100 percent less tired than when I use a manual push cart. Having an electric caddy, even one without a remote, lifts a pretty good physical burden off the golfer.
The other advantage to not having a remote is that you’re always going to be close to the unit. Even though this has a stabilizing (fourth)…
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