The Motocaddy M3 Pro trolley is essentially the same basic trolley as the excellent Motocaddy M1 Pro trolley, but with a few extra bells and whistles.
The M3 Pro uses the same chassis and has the same key benefit of how small it is when folded. So to save repeating myself then the best thing is to read the Motocaddy M1 Pro trolley review and watch the video at the foot of the page to see how easily I got it to fold down.
This is not a complete cop-out on my part, as if you are thinking about buying either model then it would pay you to read both reviews before you part with the extra £50 for the M3 Pro.
All the great unique M1 Pro features of the compact size, integrated GPS holder, USB charger and adjustable handle are still there in the M3 Pro.
So too is the traditional Motocaddy handle, which is not the comfiest thing in the world to hold. I am also not mad on horizontal speed dials as they are too easy to nudge the power off by mistake, but most brands seem to have them now so I guess I will just have to be more careful.
So why would you upgrade to the M3 Pro? The answer is Easilock and gadgets.
If you have a golf trolley you will be familiar with the strap around the base of the bag that requires at least two attempts to touch your toes during a round of golf to a secure and then unsecure your golf bag.
Since the first wheel turned on a golf trolley, securing the bag has been done with straps of some kind, but now Motocaddy has used the M3 Pro to launch their Easilock system. This replaces the base strap with two pins on the base of the bag that click into place on the base of the trolley. To unclip the bag you just have to give it a sharp pull up, which takes a bit of getting used to.
It is a brilliantly simple idea and makes the M3 Pro one of the most user friendly golf trolleys on the market. I tested the trolley and bag across some rough terrain and even shook it around and the Easilock held it more firmly than a traditional bag strap. You can also now get Easilock on the M1 Pro, but this was not there at the launch.
The bag slots into place with a click and to take it off, you just undo the top strap and lift it off. If using base bag straps keeps you awake at night then this feature is definitely worth £50 of your hard earned cash to give you a good night's sleep.
You will of course also need to buy a Motocaddy bag with the Easilock connectors too, but many retailers do bag deals with the trolley, so that could work out cheaper if you are needing a new bag as well. If you want to use a different bag then the M3 Pro comes with a removable fabric base strap already in place.
On the other hand the gadgets are less likely to get me releasing the moths from my wallet for the upgrade.
Now this is nothing personal against Motocaddy, as my review of the Powakaddy FW7 trolley proves. Rather it is something personal against pointless display clutter on the control panel, which is a plague affecting them both.
Compared to the M1 Pro which just has speed and a 3 point automatic distance function, the M3 Pro the display shows time (good), 5 minute lost ball timer (good), round time (good, but starts from when battery connected so has to be reset manually), automatic distance function up to 50 yards in 5 yard gaps (good, but 10 options overkill), distance measuring for shots (pointless as have to go in straight line), total distance (pointless as can't be reset per round) and security pin code (OK if paranoid).
The 4-digit security pin code is a Motocaddy innovation and you can choose your own memorable number. On the plus side I suppose it can provide peace of mind, but I am not sure how big trolley theft is. I would imagine if they can't get the trolley to start, they will take the clubs anyway, so better to put the whole lot somewhere safe if your golf gear is likely to go walkies. Maybe it is more useful to stop friends or family borrowing your Motocaddy without your permission.
To be fair the Motocaddy display clutter is better than most of the other versions of display clutter on the market as it is clearer and the navigation is better thanks to the dial and the two buttons below the screen. However unless you like this sort of stuff, it is probably not worth the extra investment.
Like the M1 Pro, the M3 Pro has a choice of white or black frames and lead acid or lithium batteries, as well as a wide range of Motocaddy bag colours to get you all coordinated.The lithium battery option is the one to go for it is lighter, charges quicker and sits flush in the base for a clean, sleek look.
Overall I do like the M3 Pro and for those who like having the top of the range model with every option, then it will be money well spent. For me, I would go for the M1 Pro and re-invest the extra £50 in an Motocaddy Easilock bag or a lithium battery as you get all the key features in a great compact design,