SmartWatch for Golf

Seve OB · 02-07-2020 10:20am

willabur wrote: »

Played a comp with my vivoactive 4s. First comp using it. As described above it offers basic distance and score tracking functions. Halfway through the round my playing partner told my the watch was illegal for tournament play - is it? I was pretty sure that it was okay but he was adamant that gui have outlawed use of GPS that track scores

No it’s not illegal.

Any time someone questions something like this just ask them to point out the rule.

DuckSlice · 02-07-2020 10:52am

youcancallmeal wrote: »

He was probably thinking of the 'plays like' feature that some dedicated Garmin golf watches have, it's gives you distances adjusted for whether green is above or below your current position. I have it on my S60 but it has a competition mode which disables this feature. All other features are perfectly legal. I would guess the vivoactive 4s doesn't have competition mode because it doesn't have the plays like feature.

Edit: Actually just googled it and the 4s does have a tournament mode. The PinPointer feature is also not allowed in tournaments.

S62 has a wind direction feature and a caddie feature too, I think they get switched off in tournament mode also

youcancallmeal · 02-07-2020 10:59am

etxp wrote: »

S62 has a wind direction feature and a caddie feature too, I think they get switched off in tournament mode also

I was thinking that, the wind feature sounds incredibly useful if it works well

willabur · 02-07-2020 11:42am

youcancallmeal wrote: »

He was probably thinking of the 'plays like' feature that some dedicated Garmin golf watches have, it's gives you distances adjusted for whether green is above or below your current position. I have it on my S60 but it has a competition mode which disables this feature. All other features are perfectly legal. I would guess the vivoactive 4s doesn't have competition mode because it doesn't have the plays like feature.

Edit: Actually just googled it and the 4s does have a tournament mode. The PinPointer feature is also not allowed in tournaments.

ah there is tournament mode on the watch. Thanks for that

When I knock it off it stops giving me the direction to the pin (which i think is a pretty useless feature anyways). There is another setting called Club Prompt which I have toggled on and off but cannot see additional functions related to it

DuckSlice · 02-07-2020 11:57am

willabur wrote: »

ah there is tournament mode on the watch. Thanks for that

When I knock it off it stops giving me the direction to the pin (which i think is a pretty useless feature anyways). There is another setting called Club Prompt which I have toggled on and off but cannot see additional functions related to it

You say that, but have you ever had a super wild t-shot on a links course with large dunes and you have no idea where the green is? This feature would be brilliant for that kind of situations.

Euphoriasean · 03-07-2020 11:28am

willabur wrote: »

ah there is tournament mode on the watch. Thanks for that

When I knock it off it stops giving me the direction to the pin (which i think is a pretty useless feature anyways). There is another setting called Club Prompt which I have toggled on and off but cannot see additional functions related to it

AFAIK you can't use club prompt either for competition play. It's sound like the caddie feature which would prompt what club you should use based on distance and previous yardages.

MarcusP12 · 03-07-2020 12:25pm

etxp wrote: »

You say that, but have you ever had a super wild t-shot on a links course with large dunes and you have no idea where the green is? This feature would be brilliant for that kind of situations.

Agree with this....i think its actually nearly more useful in a scenario where you have dense trees between you and the green (this is the only time i've bothered to use it myself) after a similarly wild tee shot. The difference being that at least with the dunes, more often than not, back in the day, you'd get your mate to stand at the top and give you a line....can't do that with trees, unless you're playing with a very skilled chimpanzee, like that one from the tarzan movies!

Another function that you'll lose with tournament play is the "plays like" function which can be handy on hilly courses....

slingerz · 03-07-2020 2:43pm

Seve OB wrote: »

No it’s not illegal.

Any time someone questions something like this just ask them to point out the rule.

could simply point to the scorecard you are holding to track scores....

redzerdrog · 03-07-2020 6:53pm

Approach s62 just arrived and I process of setting up.

Playing tomorrow morning so interested to see how it goes

DuckSlice · 03-07-2020 7:18pm

redzerdrog wrote: »

Approach s62 just arrived and I process of setting up.

Playing tomorrow morning so interested to see how it goes

Enjoy! I think the stats it gives you is great. More you play the more you will learn I think. Hoping to get out tomorrow too.

Did you get any sensors?

redzerdrog · 03-07-2020 11:05pm

Yeh got the 3 so just have connected them to my putter, 52 and 56 degree wedges so looking forward to see how they work out

DuckSlice · 06-07-2020 10:58am

redzerdrog wrote: »

Approach s62 just arrived and I process of setting up.

Playing tomorrow morning so interested to see how it goes

how did you find the watch? I have 2 rounds played with mine and am loving the stats I'm getting back from them.

What's peoples views on shot tracking, should I keep every shot or should I delete the very bad shots. for example I hit one drive 171, but this was a complete mi****, my average is up at 240, should I delete the 171 or keep all shots?

Similarly I hit a PW 157 total, I deleted this one as it was throwing my average up near my 8 or 9 iron distances.

Euphoriasean · 06-07-2020 2:36pm

Shotscopoe V3 now on general sale.

https://shotscope.com/ie/?utm_source=sendinblue

redzerdrog · 06-07-2020 5:19pm

etxp wrote: »

how did you find the watch? I have 2 rounds played with mine and am loving the stats I'm getting back from them.

What's peoples views on shot tracking, should I keep every shot or should I delete the very bad shots. for example I hit one drive 171, but this was a complete mi****, my average is up at 240, should I delete the 171 or keep all shots?

Similarly I hit a PW 157 total, I deleted this one as it was throwing my average up near my 8 or 9 iron distances.

Took me a few holes to figure it out. I had shot prompts turned off and couldn't figure out why it wasn't letting me log clubs! Once I figured it was pretty straight forward.

Iv never had a gps watch before and was so use to going to my bag for handheld devices but the watch is just so so handy!

I played the worst golf of my life and putted like a blind man but seeing the stats in front of you is an eye opener. I had 35 putts including 1 1 putt and 4 holes I didn't even get to putt on!!!!!

I don't think I will go down the route if deleting shots as I hope they will balance out. Also I play links golf with lots of punch shots or shots that the wind has an impact so just need to be careful when looking at the distances.

For example I hit 1 9 iron 182 yards (down hill and down wind) so my average for that club is now at 156 yards after 1 round. As shots accumulate those averages should even out. I do need to look into it more though

I found having the sensors on the putter a d wedges extremely handy. I am near tempted to get a full set but gona give it is few weeks before fully deciding

OffalyMedic · 06-07-2020 9:10pm

Going to bite the bullet and buy the v3. Had game golf for a while and loved looking at the stats but unfortunately forgot to tag more often than not. Have a fitness watch already so don't need garmin s62 features although they are impressive. Think v3 is right option for me

jamfer · 24-07-2020 6:16pm

I bought a Shot Scope V3 a few weeks back on foot of a marketing email offering a reduced price. I've played 5 rounds with the watch and trackers active. It is an amazing piece of kit. Other than entering how many puts whilst standing besde the flag (so you can mark the pin position) there is no further need to interact with the watch on your round. I use meters and the device gives same distance as my Bushnell Tour V3 range finder. As I carry my bag I've decided to ditch the laser to save the weight. I like reviewing my round, the way it superimposes your shots onto GoogleMaps is great. It gives good insights into your game also, distances, accuracy around the greens, what your percentages are with clubs etc, the more rounds the more data and the more useful the information becomes. I would recommend.

OffalyMedic · 24-07-2020 6:38pm

jamfer wrote:

I bought a Shot Scope V3 a few weeks back on foot of a marketing email offering a reduced price. I've played 5 rounds with the watch and trackers active. It is an amazing piece of kit. Other than entering how many puts whilst standing besde the flag (so you can mark the pin position) there is no further need to interact with the watch on your round. I use meters and the device gives same distance as my Bushnell Tour V3 range finder. As I carry my bag I've decided to ditch the laser to save the weight. I like reviewing my round, the way it superimposes your shots onto GoogleMaps is great. It gives good insights into your game also, distances, accuracy around the greens, what your percentages are with clubs etc, the more rounds the more data and the more useful the information becomes. I would recommend.

Mine came in the post today. Can't wait to get out and use it in the Medal tomorrow

flugel · 24-07-2020 11:18pm

Re shot scope v3,

Does it miss any shots? Like playing a greenside chip or a chip out sideways under trees for example? Basically if you ain't doing a full swing

I've game golf, have the tagging engrained as part of the routine and find the auto detection works well when I do forget.

Be afraid of shot scope missing some shots altogether

Synode · 24-07-2020 11:27pm

Garmin must have been hacked. All their servers are down and have been for 2 days now. They must have a serious amount of info on their users.

willabur · 29-07-2020 12:49pm

Picked up a v3.
Have just played with it once so far and it was a practice session more than a round with plenty of mulligans thrown in there.

Took a long enough time to get GPS signal. Turned it on at first tee, had first hole complete by the time it had started

The screw for putter doesn't fit my stroke lab putter. Advice on their website is to glue the tag to the top of the club which is terrible advice. Especially if you want to compare performance of clubs.

It doesn't look great. It isn't touchscreen which is ok. Garmin design is streets ahead of it. Menu and user flows are not super intuitive. Really feel like I need to read the instructions (what the hell)

Good points are that it feels good on the wrist, ergonomically it's great for me.
GPS seems accurate. Will play at least 5 rounds to see how it performs in the post round experience which I believe is where it really sets itself apart.

Oh and the not having to tag clubs is great

wardides · 29-07-2020 2:10pm

Just picked up a V3 last week. Finding it ok so far. Think functionally it works ok, only played and tagged probably one round. Had to amend a couple of shots in and around the green where either putts were incorrect or approaches were slightly wrong. Nothing major though.

Only gripe I have about it would be design. Firstly I think the strap quality is pretty average for the price. Usually wear my Samsung Galaxy smartwatch when playing and strap is far better, much more elastic considering the use. And secondly is the need to wear it on a specific hand. Somebody might be able to help me out on this one. I'm right handed in all walks of golf but play golf left handed. Usually wear all my watches on my left. However from setup, once I chose left handed golfer it directed me to wear it on my right hand, which just does not feel natural from me. 2 questions;

Can I choose right handed on set up and then continue to play with the watch on my left wrist. Or will the fact I'm swinging left handed lead to a non pick up of shots? Technically the sensors will be the same distance apart on swings.

And is there anyway to change lock button? Because it is close to my glove, at times it jumps holes as i obviously keep hitting the bottom left trigger and then all the other buttons come into play!

MorganIRL · 29-07-2020 7:37pm

Bought a 2nd hand Garmin S60 on eBay. Very impressed with it. Loving the way it records the distance of my clubs after I hit. Still learning the bits. Watch faces not great, but I didn't buy for that reason.

yes there · 30-07-2020 12:20am

Anyone have any success I switching the vivoactive4 to yards instead of metres? Changed it on the garmin app, both in general user and golf activity specific settings but watch still measures in metres.

Synode · 30-07-2020 1:24am

yes there wrote: »

Anyone have any success I switching the vivoactive4 to yards instead of metres? Changed it on the garmin app, both in general user and golf activity specific settings but watch still measures in metres.

On the 3 you open the Connect App and press the button with the picture of the watch in it towards the top (with the circle that shows sync progress). That gives you the watch settings, then it's general, distance and set it to miles

Flopshot77 · 30-07-2020 9:07am

Anyone have any idea where I could get a shotscope v3? Seems to be sold out anywhere I've tried.

Baymax2020 · 30-07-2020 11:11am

Flopshot77 wrote: »

Anyone have any idea where I could get a shotscope v3? Seems to be sold out anywhere I've tried.

Same boat here can't be got online, dropped in to local halpannys they said they'll see if they can source one, haven't heard back yet. I emailed shotscope direct they said won't be back in until October

Flopshot77 · 30-07-2020 1:42pm

Baymax2020 wrote:

Same boat here can't be got online, dropped in to local halpannys they said they'll see if they can source one, haven't heard back yet. I emailed shotscope direct they said won't be back in until October

Yeah plenty of V2s about but v3 sold out everywhere.That seems mad to be missing out on sales all the way to October. Cheers anyway. I guess I'll carry on with my S10 until later on in the year so.

Whiplash85 · 30-07-2020 4:51pm

I got the shotscope G3 without the performance tagging. I just thought it would be too much of a distraction although I can see the uses and potential benefits if you want to cut shots off your handicap or are very competitive. The yardage is very accurate and distance to hazards/bunkers etc top notch too. It is good value for €170 and can be worn like an everyday watch. Very good battery life and picked up GPS signal in under 2 mins each of 2 times I have used it. I used old bushnell/golf buddy and sometimes if you hit it onto wrong fairway it would pick up yardage for the wrong hole and took time to realign or readjust but thankfully can adjust for that with the shotscope.

lettuce97 · 31-07-2020 8:41pm

yes there wrote: »

Anyone have any success I switching the vivoactive4 to yards instead of metres? Changed it on the garmin app, both in general user and golf activity specific settings but watch still measures in metres.

I was the same, neither app mad a difference (on the 3). What works for me is changing the units on the watch's settings, ie not on an app, from km to miles

slingerz · 01-08-2020 7:45pm

Anyone use the Arccos system? Either the belt tag or phone in pocket option

flugel · 02-08-2020 8:14am

Reading online seems some people having issues with V3, from missed shots, to ghost shots to few with strap breaking.

Being used to game golf (which is dying a death) I wish shot scope brought a similar device with manually tagging. Far as I can see only way to guarantee no shot is missed (other than user error). Can't be arsed with arcoss if I gotta change batteries in clubs

redzerdrog · 02-08-2020 9:12am

For anyone tracking stats.

If you use your putter from off the green and then take a further putt. Is this recorded as a 1 putt or 2 putt?

When prompted as to how many putts I have been inputting 2 but think this is wrong and will actually mess up the stats

joebloggs32 · 02-08-2020 11:15am

redzerdrog wrote: »

For anyone tracking stats.

If you use your putter from off the green and then take a further putt. Is this recorded as a 1 putt or 2 putt?

When prompted as to how many putts I have been inputting 2 but think this is wrong and will actually mess up the stats

On the pro tours putting stats are only counted for putts taken on the green.

finglashoop · 02-08-2020 11:24am

redzerdrog wrote: »

For anyone tracking stats.

If you use your putter from off the green and then take a further putt. Is this recorded as a 1 putt or 2 putt?

When prompted as to how many putts I have been inputting 2 but think this is wrong and will actually mess up the stats

It will be added as a putting stat.

Baymax2020 · 02-08-2020 11:27am

slingerz wrote: »

Anyone use the Arccos system? Either the belt tag or phone in pocket option

Interested in this too from what I can gather there is the extra cost of $99 a year subscription, seems a decent piece of kit though.

Seve OB · 04-08-2020 11:12am

redzerdrog wrote: »

For anyone tracking stats.

If you use your putter from off the green and then take a further putt. Is this recorded as a 1 putt or 2 putt?

When prompted as to how many putts I have been inputting 2 but think this is wrong and will actually mess up the stats

technically it would be only considered a one putt

i personally would look at how far you are off the green, if it's on the fringe or close, don't kid yourself, it's a 2 putt.... if it's yards away, it's a one putt

redzerdrog · 04-08-2020 6:44pm

Yeh think the problem is from the edge my tag has picked up a putt and then when confirming my score I have kinda double logged it by saying I'd 2 putts. So it will show up a putt from the edge and then 2 putts by the looks of things.

Deporhostia · 08-08-2020 3:09pm

Hi there, I recently got a second hand shot scope v2.

It worked fine, managed to get a round fully synced and checked all the info after, no problem.

Since then though, the watch seems to work fine at the course, but then when I try to synch my round to my iPad or to my phone, I set the watch to Bluetooth, I ‘connect band’, band gets connected, I synch rounds, it says ‘synching rounds’, it then gets to either 1 or 2 or 3% and then nothing.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

not yet · 10-08-2020 6:30pm

Lads, Just got a Garmin g30 hand held, it doesn't seem to be picking up a GPS signal, any ideas on what I need to do...

not yet · 10-08-2020 7:08pm

not yet wrote: »

Lads, Just got a Garmin g30 hand held, it doesn't seem to be picking up a GPS signal, any ideas on what I need to do...

False alarm, I didn't realise you needed to bring the devise outside. Just brought it out, showed it the sky and just like magic it picked up all the local courses.

redzerdrog · 21-08-2020 10:40pm

The indexs on 2 of the holes of my home club are wrong. Any idea if this can be easily resolved?

finglashoop · 21-08-2020 11:25pm

redzerdrog wrote: »

The indexs on 2 of the holes of my home club are wrong. Any idea if this can be easily resolved?

Email them scorecard.

They are very quick to update any issues

Neewollah · 18-09-2020 10:49am

Hi all,

Looking at investing in a new GPS watch or rangefinder. I have currently Shot Scope v2 but I feel the yardages have been out by about 20 yards from time to time in last couple of rounds so I've lost trust in it.

What do people find better...Watch or Rangefinder?

Any recommendations on whats best on the market at the moment would be appreciated

Kiith · 18-09-2020 11:32am

I'll probably get a rangefinder over a watch soon. Less to worry about with those, especially when in the arse end of nowhere.

newindublin · 18-09-2020 10:39pm

Kiith wrote: »

I'll probably get a rangefinder over a watch soon. Less to worry about with those, especially when in the arse end of nowhere.

I have a watch and rangefinder, and the watch is 10x more useful for me, in general. It takes half a second to check my range anywhere on the course, and that includes obstructed views the to the green. I have saved many shots just knowing how far away I am if I don't have a clear view, which a rangefinder is only useful for.

That said I LOVE having a rangefinder, but only when I have a short iron shot and am hoping to dial in a good one.

I think there is a lot of personal preference here, but also play style and ability. I admit bomb and gouge was the style I grew up with, but I am trying to convert to better course management now.

Neewollah · 19-09-2020 9:58am

I think that's the way I'm leaning as well. The watch has a bit more variation and detail. The rangefinder is very handy for precision and might get one at a later date.

DuckSlice · 12-10-2020 3:49pm

So we are getting into winter now. Played the weekend and I hit so many knockdown shots into the wind. Hit a full on 4iron 135 yards.

Question I have, do the people keeping stats disregard their stats for the winter. In the garmin golf app I can disregard a scorecard from the stats. The reason I ask its going to bring down the average distance I hit each club. Id prefer to have the average distance I hit a club in reasonably weather.

What's peoples thoughts on this?

MarcusP12 · 12-10-2020 4:08pm

etxp wrote: »

So we are getting into winter now. Played the weekend and I hit so many knockdown shots into the wind. Hit a full on 4iron 135 yards.

Question I have, do the people keeping stats disregard their stats for the winter. In the garmin golf app I can disregard a scorecard from the stats. The reason I ask its going to bring down the average distance I hit each club. Id prefer to have the average distance I hit a club in reasonably weather.

What's peoples thoughts on this?

I've found myself wondering the same thing with regards to mis-hits and half/punch shots like you describe.....I think its mentioned in this thread but i think it takes more of a statistical approach to the average it gives. i.e. it doesn't just give a simple average of the distance by taking the total distance and dividing it by the number of shots.....i think its more of a bell curve approach whereby the outliers are omitted to give a more accurate representation of how far you normally hit...

blue note · 12-10-2020 5:13pm

I have the garmin golf app too. As far as I can see, the app automatically disregards your really short shots. But not your really long ones.

So for me the winter stats are closer to my actual distances. Coming into summer it told me my driver distance was an average of 238m. Which is a bit long for winter, but probably about right including run. Now it tells me my average is 261m. It most certainly is not! But because of run, wind, elevation I was getting a few to that distance and beyond (maxed out at 300m). But my drives into a modest enough wind could be just under 200m and I think it ignores them.

What I always say about the garmin distance app is it's a great tool to help you work out your distances, but it's not a tool that does it for you. You're very rarely hitting a shot not affected by wind, run, elevation and the app doesn't consider them. You probably have set distances in your head for each club. Take the distance from your watch, adjust for other factors and pay attention to whether or not you're consistently long or short with your clubs. I think that's the best way to do it.

spacecoyote · 12-10-2020 7:03pm

Once it gets into winter conditions I tend to stop using my gamegolf for that reason. If you're not getting realistic or meaningful data I don't see the point

SmartWatch for Golf

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