Hill Billy Electric Trolley Reader Review

By: Golf Shake | Tue 15 Dec 2015

Hill Billy have been making lightweight and robust no-nonsense electric trolleys since 1992. Their 2015 models have seen big improvements meaning that Hill Billy are a force to be reckoned with in today's electric trolley market. What sets Hill Billy apart from other trolley brands is that they allow consumers to purchase direct from the website meaning that transactions are simple, no-nonsense and cost effective.

So, just how good is the new Hill Billy model? We sent some Golfshake readers out onto The Belfry's Brabazon Course to find out.

What Hill Billy Say

After 23 years in the business, Hill Billy know a thing or two about what golfers want from their electric trolleys. Simplicity, reliability and easy transportation are usually top of the list, which is why the new Hill Billy has been created around these fundamental characteristics.

The first area for the attention was the battery system, often a source of frustration for trolley owners who’ve experienced attaching theirs can be more trouble than it’s worth. Hill Billy designers have provided the perfect solution in Plug ‘n’ Play, a system that allows the battery to slot straight into place; no fiddly connectors or wires necessary.

“We want you to try your Hill Billy and, if you’re not happy, just let us know within 28 days and we will give you your money back in full,” said the brand’s marketing guru, Mei Tierney.

“However, we can’t really see that being an issue as the 2015 Hill Billy is easily the best performing trolley we have ever made. Its motor is the most powerful yet quietest we have ever created, the frame is as strong as it gets and our batteries are the best on the market.

Golfshake readers took to The Belfry's Brabazon Course to test the Hill Billy Trolley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf9L4EhyFDw

Looks

Matt Holbrook: With the Hill Billy bag mounted on the trolley the pair look great together and would have no problem sitting along side any other brand on the market

Jim Parkes: The frame looks solid and well built with a smart black finish. The compact plug and play battery blends in unnoticed when compared to other trollies which might have a more obvious larger battery with exposed wires and connections

Phillip Stock: The looks of the trolley were very modern. Almost a little futuristic with regards the battery housing update when compared to other brands.

Lawrence Ford: Looks are basic but slick. Not cluttered with buttons and screens. Just a simple dial for stop start and speed adjustment. There's a variety of colour. I had a black and red one which matched my golf gear perfectly.

Usability

Matt: It stood up well through the wet rough which is important for most club golfers. The different speed that you can control as you go up and down is easy to change and comes in very handy when you may need that little extra push.

Jim: The trolley uses a single button operation which controls speed and power. Performance was consistent throughout the round, the top speed would be suitable for a Olympic road walker or amateur jogger so if you prefer a more leisurely pace a lower setting is more than suitable

Phillip: At times I felt like the battery dipped in performance, almost felt like a surge of power to push the trolley forward, but no massive faults or negative feedback on the overall performance. It does what it says on the tin, mobile bag carrier to aid the golfer in fatigue!

Lawerence: It did the job for me. I haven't used an electric trolley before, so I can't compare it to others. But there was nothing to complain about. The speed was easily adjustable from a slow stroll to jogging speed that I could just about keep up with. I would have liked a break on it, but that's a reasonable compromise to keep it simple and lightweight.

Hill Billy Electric Trolleys

Pros

Matt: Simple design, simple to use and the speed setting is great

Jim: Lightweight, smart looks and compact battery fitting

Phillip: Strong points I can allude to are that's it's well built, light-weight structure, feels solid when the bag is on over all aspects of the course.

Lawerence: Simple and uncluttered, lightweight, smart looking and conveniently folds down to quite a small size to fit into your car boot. Battery lasted well for all 18 holes on a pretty hilly course.

Cons

Matt: No break and difficult to pull the trolley backwards if you need to.

Jim: Single push button operation would benefit from a dial to reference current speed settings and the trolley would something race off or dordle away dependent upon your last setting. No brake fitting may cause issues on more uneven courses

Phillip: Maybe a little expensive.

Lawerence: A bit basic and plasticky, but not cheap looking. No break or gizmos. But that suited me fine.

The Bottom Line

Matt: I feel that Hillbilly are clearly after the entry level market with the product and price point. In my opinion it will do very well indeed as it gives you everything you would probably look for in an entry level electric trolley.

Jim: Good functional trolley that appears well built and designed with ease of use in mind. Ideal for the novice trolley user.

Phillip: To summarise, the Hill Billy trolley is a well built trolley that is capable to conduct the task required of the golfer. It offers limited functionalities and solely focuses on maneuvering the bag around electronically. Overall totally satisfied with this product and would recommend as a first time trolley user to purchase.

Lawerence: The HillBilly electric cart would be good for any golfer of any capability. But especially those that prefer simplicity. If you want electronic gizmos or remote control, then this isn't the cart for you, but if you want to just concentrate on your game and have the assistance of an electric cart to conserve your energy and save your back, then this could be the cart for you have been looking for. I certainly enjoyed it and at these prices I wouldn't hesitate to buy one if I was looking to upgrade from my push and pull trolley.