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Research has revealed that golfers have discovered that physical as well as mental tiredness over the closing holes can seriously affect your score.  Indeed coaches of young rising stars have discovered that the use of a powered trolley can maintain energy levels to such an extent that while bag carriers' shoulders and heads droop over the closing holes, powered trolley pushers can walk tall and gain a crucial edge.

In an era of fears about obesity, golfers of all shapes and sizes have decided that £200-£300 in a powered trolley is perhaps a better investment than even a go-faster driver.

So what do we need from a powered trolley?

Reliability is crucial.  Once you have graduated to a powered trolley after carrying or pulling your clubs, and paid several hundred pounds for the privilege, you need to be able to trust that the battery re-charges and that the motor wont seize mid-round.

Very little else can go wrong, so our advice is to stick with a reputable brand with a solid after sales service.

Fold-away features?

The ability to collapse and fold-away the electric trolley so that it fits neatly into the boot of your car and subsequently into a small corner of your home, is a highly desirable aspect of modern trolleys.

Most have an easy assembly and disassembly mechanism and most have spring-loaded clips so you can take off the wheels to make it even more compact.

What kind of battery do you need?

The leading brands offer two battery options and you have to decide just how passionate you are about your golf and how often and how much you want to play.

Most 12-volt batteries (26Ah) will ensure your trolley - most are powered by a 200-230w motor - will comfortably complete 18 holes even on the hilliest course and as many as 27 holes on more even ground.  You can also obtain a 12-volt (33Ah) battery that will ensure it lasts for 36 holes.  Most powered trolleys also include a free battery charger.

The exception to this is the brand new 2008 range of digital trollies from Motocaddy featuring 12-volt (22Ah) batteries as standard which are smaller and lighter than its competitors.  Thanks to Motocaddy's digital technology, their trolleys operate more efficiently than others that use a standard speed controller (potentiometer).  This allows their smaller, lighter battery to be used without any loss in performance.  For those of you keen on saving the planet, you will be pleased to know their batteries also require less charging than others.

How important is a trolley's weight?

The lighter the trolley (most are under 8kg) the more efficiently it tends to be powered.  Most are constructed with a lightweight but very sturdy aluminium frame, similar to that used in the aerospace industry, with the plastic parts made from durable nylon.  One of the latest designs by GoKart is almost entirely built from thermoplastic polymers, glass re-inforced for strength.

Do I need digital read-outs?

An on-off button will suffice for many golfers new to the powered trolley, but they are getting more sophisticated by the day.  For example, the award winning S3 Digital from Motocaddy offers a wide range of unique functions including distance measurement and ADC (adjustable distance control) which would only be possible on a digital trolley.  It's sister trolley, the brand new S1 Digital offers a more simple, digital control combining the speed control and on-off functions in one simple to use button.  It's also widely acknowledged that digital trolleys are more energy efficient and reliable than standard analogue controlled trolleys.

Does an electric trolley need brakes?

While many seaside courses tend to be built behind sand dunes on flatter land, many parkland and heathland courses can include undulating land where the electric trolley performs brilliantly uphill but is less stable downhill.  The need for a braking system therefore, might be an advantage.

As a market leader in the powered trolley industry, it's perhaps appropriate that PowaKaddy were the first to introduce a state of the art progressive braking system with its The Freeway Digital Brake model.  By simply turning the control knob backwards, it delivers three levels of traction for greater downhill control.

How long will your trolley last?

Most powered trolleys are guaranteed for parts and repair for 12 months.  Some manufacturers, such as PowerPro, now offer a 2 year Warranty as standard.  Much will depend on how well the product is treated and maintained and how severe the test is it faces each time you play.

A battery should last at least 12 months and if it is kept on charge, as the makers recommend when not being used, should probably last if not a lifetime, at least as long as a car battery.

How much should you pay for an electric trolley?

I have seen them 'new' for as little as £100, and even less if you purchase on some internet auction sites.  But often you wont receive the appropriate guarantee and certainly not the after-sales service in which most leading brands pride themselves.

You can pick up a powered trolley for between £120-£250, but price often reflects quality.  Shelling out a few extra pounds is often worth it in the long run.