Considering Switching from Arccos to Shot Scope - Talk to me

[Junkyard]

While I know how much it happens with Arccos, I had the same thing happen with my X5 even with tapping the tag to the band and seeing that the right club displayed. SS was missing a lot of shots for me, which made for a long time after editing my round and that's the biggest reason I abandoned it in favour of their ranger finder and the GHIN app.

I'm actually on the opposite end of the spectrum - I have to be careful when pulling more than one club that the watch doesn't pick up the one I wind up not hitting.

I will say one thing for Shot Scope: you either seem to have a great experience or a negative one.

 

[lambeau]

Echoing a lot of what others have said...I used Arccos for a couple years before switch to Shot Scope for the last 2 years. It's simply not possible for me to be happier with the performance, value, and direct support.

I've also noticed the yardage tends to be off from the watch or other GPS

Both my X5 and V5 watches will show yardages to f/b/m or hazards etc that are within 1 yard of what I expect based on rangefinder laser.

4) The tags I feel will be much less apt to get ripped out or fall out than the Arccos heavier tags ( 7-8grams ).

I've had zero issues with the tags, and I even use a bag that has a press fit feature in the bottom to secure the clubs in place.
I am in the habit of checking tightness occasionally by twisting them as I replace the club after a shot.

- If you've made this same transition, would you do it again? And what are the biggest differences?

Shot Scope is run by people who actually care about you. Both here on THP and direct via support. I had a requested tee update on my course completed only 9 minutes after my message!

- How accurate is Shot Scope compared to Arccos tags?

I found them to both be accurate enough to provide solid data. I have way fewer issues with Shot Scope because they did their own mapping and it is every 1 foot. So it gets it right most of the time between being in the sand trap or just outside.
Others have mentioned putting. I use auto putting and I'm satisfied. The difference between 13' and 14' from the cup really doesn't matter to me. It has very accurately told me to work on my 5-10' putts.

Welcome! Can't wait to hear your experiences!

 

[darthweasel]

Data and analysis post collection is vastly superior.

so a few questions. I currently use a phone app. Quite happy with it. Lets me collect data across custom range, set numbers of rounds, months, etc. Separates by clubs etc.

The one downside for it is if I use...say...a 50 degree, lets pick that. I rarely swing it full but when I do I want 125. 3/4 just over shoulder height is 104, just under 85, half swing 54 yards. My app does not let me differentiate between different swings with the same club.

Does shotscope a) allow that and B) do it automatically?

I am completely unfamiliar with shotscope and honestly, outside of that one thing likely would not even look at it but that might be worth considering and would help my data collection.

 

[Jeff Spicoli]

I'm a huge fan of my X5. Been using it for a while and I have no issues with it. I love that there are no subscription fees. I have not used anything else, so I can't compare it. Biggest issue is that I find it's much easier to edit a round on a laptop than through an app or even iPad.

 

[mikefrench]

- How accurate is Shot Scope compared to Arccos tags?
In my experience I feel they are very similar. Both of them are going based on the gps data of your phone, neither are perfect but good enough.

Minor correction. The Shotscope watch has it's own GPS chip and can work independently of a mobile phone during the round.

 

[mikefrench]

so a few questions. I currently use a phone app. Quite happy with it. Lets me collect data across custom range, set numbers of rounds, months, etc. Separates by clubs etc.

The one downside for it is if I use...say...a 50 degree, lets pick that. I rarely swing it full but when I do I want 125. 3/4 just over shoulder height is 104, just under 85, half swing 54 yards. My app does not let me differentiate between different swings with the same club.

Does shotscope a) allow that and B) do it automatically?

I am completely unfamiliar with shotscope and honestly, outside of that one thing likely would not even look at it but that might be worth considering and would help my data collection.

You are able to set any shot as "positional" in the review and edit of your round. I'll typically use it for punching out from trees with say a 5i or 6i when it might be 100yds rather than a normal distance.

Shots within 50 yards are also treated differently - from the intenet as they said it so much better than I could:

How Shot Scope Handles Short Game Shots

• Categorization: Shots from 50 yards and closer are automatically categorized as "Short Game" shots in the Shot Scope system. This helps you analyze a crucial part of your game where scores are significantly impacted.
• Data Analysis: The data is used to provide detailed statistics on your short game performance, including:
  • Up-and-down percentages from different lies and distances.
  • Proximity to the hole.
  • Greenside bunker play analysis.
• Distance Averages: Short game shots are intentionally left out of your main club distance averages (e.g., your 54-degree wedge average). This prevents partial swings or positional shots from skewing the data for full-swing distances.
• Positional Shots: If you are intentionally laying up or punching out from under a tree within 50 yards, some users suggest you can mark them as "positional" in the app post-round if you want them excluded from specific short game analysis, though this is a user preference.

So I would say yes.

Full shots = fine leave them as they are and they will get calculated in your average
3/4ish = positional
half swing or less = short game

 

[TWright]

Minor correction. The Shotscope watch has it's own GPS chip and can work independently of a mobile phone during the round.

Yes, good correction. Thanks for that.

 

[Duffer Waldorf]

- If you've made this same transition, would you do it again? And what are the biggest differences?

Absolutely, without a doubt. Using the watch is much more convenient than relying on Link or a phone to do the same. My old phone was awful at recording the shots -- sometimes missing over 20 shots per round. Link was a big improvement, but still not as good as the ShotScope watch.

Battery-powered sensors are going to die at some point. The ShotScope tags won't.

- Should I go with a V5 or X5 watch? ( Just looked on the Shot Scope site and for some reason they are out of stock on X5 but V5 is still available )

The only gripe I have is that the X5 will be pushing it to get 36 holes in on one charge. I don't play 36 often, but if you can't charge it a bit between the rounds, it will be on fumes at the end of the second one.

The menu options rotate the opposite direction as to what I expected when turning the knob on the X5. Maybe that's a 'me' problem, I don't know.

- How accurate is Shot Scope compared to Arccos tags?

I think it is more accurate just because it doesn't miss as many shots as I experienced with Arccos. It's been a while since I used Arccos, though, so it's hard to compare it in the way you're probably asking here. I've never used both at the same time.

Shot tagging is also only as good as the underlying Google map for the course. A recent Google map update in my area had the satellite images misaligned with their road map overlays; the drawn street lines were noticeably displaced from the actual roads in the satellite image. I had to move every shot to get them in the right place on the map. Now, a correction from Google has everything from recent rounds in the wrong places again.

 

[willplaysgolf]

I switched from Arccos to SS a few years ago. At first I thought the UI when editing rounds was quite a bit better with Arccos. That has improved on SS for sure but I’m a bit too far removed from Arccos to really say one way or the other. IMO they both require about the same amount of editing after the round to have accurate stats.

I’ve used the X5 and V5 and definitely prefer the V5. If you get an ex display model with one of the discount codes floating around they are pretty darn cheap.

I’ve gone through several SS watches because they stopped reading the tags. Eventually I found out I needed to take the band off and clean the connection points every couple months, which is annoying but not annoying enough to pay all the extra costs for Arccos.

I haven’t really had issues losing tags but this year I did break 4-5 tags at the stem on a shot. Not sure the exact mechanism of why it’s happening but might have something to do with my JumboMax grips. But again, 30 bucks a year to replace tags is better than the alternative.

Outside of the tracking, I haven’t used any other watches, but I find the distances generally accurate and don’t really know of any features I would add as a pure gps watch.

 

[Mayor McCheese]

Not sure how I missed this thread until today. Seems like pretty much all the pros of Shot Scope have been covered at length, so I’ll just say that I have been extremely happy with my V3 followed by V5 watches, and customer service has been outstanding anytime I needed to reach out to them.

 

[Phil75070]

I have to be careful when pulling more than one club that the watch doesn't pick up the one I wind up not hitting.

I make sure after grabbing the club or clubs from the bag that I hold them near the hosel. About the only time the watch has picked up the club when I didn't want it to was when I would forget and hold the club in that lead hand while probing the underbrush looking for a lost ball, mine or my partner's. If I have gripped the club, preparing to take my shot and changed my mind about club selection, I would make sure to tap the watch band with the club I was actually using. So far, it has never failed to be accurate with regard to club selection for that shot.

 

[Phil75070]

I looked into Arccos after using Game Golf for several years, A deep dive said their batteries in their tags would last about 50 rounds, probably enough for the average golfer. However, I am retired and get that many rounds in over a three-month period and could not see having to be without a tag or waiting for a replacement tag because the battery dies in one. I definitely prefer the NFC technology Shot Scope uses.

 

[PatsFan]

I made the switch 2 years ago after I got tired of Paying for new sensors and the $150 yearly fee.
There is No yearly fee with Shotscope so it was a easy choice.

 

[Tevenor]

I know this isn't Shot Scope's issue but man some shippers really aren't great. I get its the holiday season and every shipper is struggling to keep up but this seems a little much.

Left NYC 5 days ago. It's a 6 1/2 hour drive from here. Not sure where it is but I hope the V5 is seeing the country on its epic journey.

 

[Tevenor]

Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and opinions. After a wacky shipping journey, finally arrived. 2026 should be a fun year trying out a new platform.

 

[K.P.]

As someone who absolutely hates rubber watch bands, how are the SS bands?

 

[mikefrench]

As someone who absolutely hates rubber watch bands, how are the SS bands?

Apart from the fact that they buckle the opposite way to the way you would expect I'm fine with them.

I do only wear the watch on the course, have an Apple Watch for my main device and so it doesn't have extended time on my wrist but it is supple, doesn't rub or pinch, breathes well, and stays clean.

Given that there has to be tech inside for picking up the club tag - not sure they could do much better.

 

[Mayor McCheese]

As someone who absolutely hates rubber watch bands, how are the SS bands?

I’ve never felt any issue with them. They’re pretty comfy and don’t seem to snag on hair or anything like that

 

[Tevenor]

Apart from the fact that they buckle the opposite way to the way you would expect I'm fine with them.

Didn't realize this until I tried to put it on. Awkward but not blocker. Just annoying.

I like the