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) wheel, particularly steep terrain can be challenging and can cause it to rock back too far or tip over. This is when you grab the handle to help stabilize it. But here’s the cool part: the X1 was up for climbing every hill on my course. Not having to push it up the hill is a huge effort savings.
(Image credit: Mike Bailey)
Before I took the X1 out on the course, I had to set it up. Folded, It takes up a little more space than my manual Sun Mountain Speed cart, but it’s pretty compact. It really is a zip to unfold. I can do it in under 10 seconds. The battery, which comes with a home charger, snaps into place in a matter of seconds as well.
The trickiest part was getting the golf bag to fit securely on the unit. I didn’t realize until my second round that the top bracket was adjustable, which is important because not all golf bags are the same height.
And not all bags are good fits, particularly stand bags. As much as I love my Ping Hoofer, for example, mine didn’t have a strap to tie up the legs, which kept trying to extend (I did find a bungee cord later to secure the legs). I replaced the Hoofer with a Stitch SL2 Gen 2 bag the next time out, and that worked much better. The design of the Stitch, with all its pockets on the bottom, makes it a good candidate for a walking cart, and it has a strap for the legs. Honestly, though, a regular cart bag is the best option.
(Image credit: Mike Bailey)
Finally, the X1 also breaks down easily. After getting the hang of it, I was able to fold it back down in about 15 seconds before putting it back in my car.
And there are a few accessories, like an umbrella holder, cup holder, and phone/GPS holder you can add. I used all three of those. Other available accessories include a mounted seat, sand bottle holder, weather protector, storage bag, and cooler bag. With the battery, the X1 weighs approximately 27 pounds.
For me, an electric caddy is certainly a game changer. Living on the humid Gulf Coast, I typically stop walking when the temperature reaches 80 degrees F or so. With the X1, I might challenge the 90-degree mark, having just played a round when it was 84 degrees with no ill effects.
