In what is arguably the worst kept secret in golf, the V3 edition of Shot Scope is being launched and the company listened to every aspect of consumer feedback to bring a fantastic device to market.
Rewinding a bit before diving into the technology and our early feedback, Shot Scop3 V2 was extremely well liked, although some users found it to be a bit bulky on the wrist. Those that used the previous version generally liked the data, accuracy and overall user interface quite a bit.
Hitting golf stores now, the V3 takes that GPS and Performance Tracking watch, and like the movie Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, makes it tiny in comparison. To use a comparison, this is right around the same size and shape of an Apple Watch, and weighs next to nothing. In fact, during my first round, I actually forgot I was wearing it and this is coming from a golfer that never wears a watch during play.
So what is new? A lot. A whole lot actually. The V3 added dual GPS Accuracy, which is designed to give it industry leading accuracy on the course. But what about the changes you can see? The V2 had kind of a bland screen, so it has been upgraded with full color, which is fantastic when needing a quick glance to get hazard info. The unit is actually preloaded now with 35,000 courses, rather than needing to sync the device. Want style? The V3 drops in multiple watch band colors to coordinate if you would like. Finally, battery life, actually more on that shortly.
The story behind V3 is what Shot Scope calls AI Swing and Performance Tracking Technology. That is a mouthful, but what it means is that the more you play using the device, the more data it collects and will be able to offer some incredible statistics aimed at making you better. This is all done in the background, so it is nothing you have to fidget with during the round. In fact, the only thing you need to do is tell the device how many putts you had after completing each hole by a simple click of one of the four buttons (if you five putt, you have bigger issues), and then move on to the next hole. No phone in the pocket, no screens to mess with, nothing at all, just play your game and Shot Scope works in the background.
We get asked a lot about battery life and the V2 definitely had no issues getting in a full round of golf. The V3 offers 10+ hours, and in our testing it might be even more. Testing it on the course I was on the green on the 14th hole of the 3rd round over the course of 4 days before it went caput.
When you get the device, there are a couple of things you need to do to get going right away. Obviously the simple part is charging it up with the supplied cord and then making sure you download the mobile app that matches your cell phone. Quick note, we have only tried the iOS app, but it worked extremely well. Like a traditional watch (and yes, this can be worn as one with what they call Everyday Watch Mode), you wear it on your left wrist for RH golfers or right wrist for LH golfers, then screw in the club tags in the grip end of your clubs. This step sounds tedious, but it is super easy. When you get to the course click play and choose the mode you would like (GPS, GPS and Data or Data). The first time we used it the load time took several minutes at the course, so give yourself a few while at the range or putting green. Then you are ready to play.
On the course, all you have to do is use Pin Collect, which is their quick version mentioned earlier about pressing the button associated with how many putts you had on a given hole. The rest is done for you, unless you are like me and hit a couple of hazards. I was genuinely surprised to see how well the watch handled the penalties. You click the button in the top left for menu and then press which penalty you had. That is it.
There are competitions with other Shot Scope users that can be had during the round, but since we were using the device before it was released, we have not tried it out as of yet.
For the golfer that is unsure if they want the statistics or data, let me share with you a quick story because like you, I never wanted to know. Didn’t care and assumed I knew. I was tasked with jotting down the clubs that I use the most and least in my bag and then play 5 rounds of golf wearing the V3. Turns out, I was way off base and Shot Scope not only told me about what clubs were used, but also how well I used them (not anything like I had thought).
After using this for a number of rounds, I am not sure I want to go without it. Not only did we find the GPS extremely accurate and match up to the GPS on the golf carts we used, but the post round data through the free mobile app is extremely enjoyable and done so without a monthly subscription fee, unlike a few other data tracking devices that charge a fee.
Shot Scope is also launching a standard GPS Watch to go along with the V3 and they call it the G3. It does everything the V3 does, minus the data tracking. Still loaded with 35,000 courses, still has Dual GPS and a color screen. Still no subscription.
The Details
In Stores: Now
Cost: V3 Launch Price $179 and MAP is $219
Cost: G3 Launch Price $159 and MAP is $179
I cut the treads off and use Duct Tape to hold it on.
I think ShotScope has a tag available for purchase that will fit backweighted putters.
Forgot to mention as I don’t know just how familiar you are with the watch, but you have to change to the manual putting method on the watch itself in Settings.
https://www.thehackersparadise.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-2021-data-experience-sponsored-by-shot-scope.8930623/
Repalced once for same.
My dear is the straps over time must have the transmitters antenna break down and signal range is less.
This product seems half baked because of this
Will send back again and will be without my watch for 2nd time during golf season.
Sent from my SM-N986W using Tapatalk
Hoping this will lead to proper readings.
Their customer service had been top notch!
1) How quick is the watch to recognize the course you are playing? Or do you need to download the course in each time?
2) How does it tell the distance of a shot? do you need to go to the ball and then tap something (or the watch)?
3) If the ball goes out of bounds -what do you do with the watch? Is there a feature where you can record the extra stroke?
4) Those who made the purchase last year, are you still using it? What were the biggest problems you have encountered the past year?
Thanks.
(1) The courses are pre-loaded on the V3 watch, if its in their database, but it does take a minute or so for the GPS to lock in and find where you’re at. You’ll want to do this before you get to the 1st tee box.
If there are multiple courses nearby, the watch will give you a list to choose from.
(2) Shot locations are detected by the watch band based on the screw-in tag in the club you use. From these locations, it calculates the distance between consecutive shots, after both are recorded.
A recently added feature calculates the distance from the last recorded shot. If you access this on the way to your ball, the number will increase as you get farther away from the last shot location. There is no tapping, like Game Golf, to record a shot.
There are automatic and manual putting modes to choose from, as well.
(3) Penalties
(4) I have the tags on a secondary set, but they haven’t gotten much use recently. I still use the watch, as I like the convenience of F/M/B yardages at times, as opposed to using the rangefinder each shot. The yardages to hazards are nice to have, too.
The biggest problems I’ve had are course mapping issues. Some of the maps on the desktop dashboard are not large enough to cover some parts of the hole (e.g., on a sharp dogleg, some of the fairway is cut off). Some holes also have tee boxes and fairways marked incorrectly. Their customer service has been very responsive to the requests I’ve made to fix some of these.
My biggest issues are me. I forget to record the putts at the hole, which skews approach shot and putt distance stats. I forget to bring the watch. Stuff like that.
I quite like the convenience of getting F/M/B numbers to the green and hazards.
The watch usually takes a minute or two to find the course. If you start it as you exit your car or as you pay your greens fee you’ll be fine. If you start on the first tee it may not be ready by the time you tee off.
Overall I’m very happy with the product.
Where are you seeing the strokes gained info?
Hope my instructions are clear. Any questions PM me.
Get ready for this coming soon.
https://www.thehackersparadise.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-2021-data-experience-sponsored-by-shot-scope.8930623/
1. How does it differentiate between practice swings and real swings, especially with the putter?
2. I putt left hand low. Has anyone that putts this way that has the watch have an issue with registering the putts in Auto mode or should I just use Manual as a safety?
3. Do you have to select manual mode for putting each round or is it once you set it, that is what is selected until you choose auto?
4. Has anyone played a 9 hole course vs an 18 hole course and the watch knows if you play the 9 holes twice to play a full 18?
5. If only playing 9 holes instead of a traditional 18, how does the watch know?
6. Do you select penalties (i.e., ball goes OB or in the water or bunker) during the round or is this done during post round editing?
7. What if you have zero putts (i.e., you chip in or hole out)? I have only noticed you all saying 1, 2, 3, or 4 as the options on the screen. How does one track this?
Thanks in advance! I have read through this thread and probably missed some of this info, so sorry if I have asked something that has already been answered, lol.
I try to get as close to the pin as I can when I hit enter how many putts.
I accept that it’s not perfect or if the green has a lot of branches on around it, it’s not going to get it exactly.
Tell you what, now golfing with it for 4+ years, I wouldn’t want to golf without it.
Phil#s pretty much nailed the answers. I am popping in to confirm you simply End Round. Not asked but important – be sure to take a practice swing or two with the club you are going to hit so the watch records the club.
Thanks man! The only one that I’m trying to figure out is if I play my local 9 hole course (which I do a lot because it’s close), but walk it twice if I have to do 2 separate rounds or if I can pick 18 holes.
From my understanding, yes, you should linger over the hole for a few seconds.
I definitely still love it, just sort of noticed that little quirk over the last few rounds. I’m usually pretty quick so as not to hold up playing partners but will start give it just a couple more seconds. I usually run right up and tap the number right there but it’s probably unreasonable to expect it to pin it exactly in microseconds.
Has anyone used it in a tournament, say a 4 man scramble where actual numbers would be skewed, but use it for distance purposes and then delete the round after? I guess the overall question is does the app allow you to delete a round like that?
And if you want to, you can record the round but never edit it, it won’t go against your stats.
IIRC you can edit or delete any round
View attachment 9011913
Follow the directions
It’s already setup. Seems super easy to use. Just need to decide if I am going to do the auto or manual putting and I am going to download the manual from online and read it as well.
I would criss-cross the putter tag with electrical tape as well.
There is no way to use this device for the range as you have to move to the result of your shot for it to track the distance of your shot. Track mode would be for tournaments where no distance measuring is allowed. Eliminates the GPS yardages being shown. It would still "track" all the performance data for your round.
Ah this makes sense now. As far as electrical tape goes, do you have it on yours? Just would like to see a pic of it to see if it looks weird…
I used Duct Tape in Black – Cut in half long ways and Criss-Crossed it
That doesn’t look bad. I was able to get mine to sit flush on the butt of the grip, so wonder if I need the tape. I also have the larger strokelab grip, not the pistol. Is the pistol what you have?
Deleting rounds is always an option but you can still edit it but choose not to include it in your performance stats by unchecking the box before signing off:
View attachment 9011959
That’s on the larger Stroke Lab that came with the Double-Wide. If you are concerned you can always go with the manual mode for putting, in which case you don’t even need the putter tag.
That looks better than mine does – Well Done!
I really like that this feature is available!
It doesn’t seem to affect the tag being captured/recognized by the watch band either. As I have been switching among three putters I ordered their set of three putter tags so I don’t have to go back and forth with the one tag which also gives me an extra, just in case.
I’ll probably put some electrical tape on there tonight once I get home for the day. If I can do auto mode, I would rather do it. The big thing will be if it’s detected with my left hand low grip. I read in the manual it has to be within 10cm to read it, but we will see. Worst case I will bump it against the band like you suggested and if that doesn’t work, then just switch to manual mode.
Has anywhere been said how long the sensors will last? As in before they go dead?
If you use the "Show Club" feature you will know if the club in your hand, including putter if you are using the putter tag, has been picked up by the watch.
Not to say that a tag can’t go bad but it should be rare as there are no batteries or anything like Arccos uses. I used Game Golf Classic for years which uses the same NFC technology and only experienced one tag in all that time that could no longer be detected. With a couple of extra tags, X1 and X2, unless you are carrying 16 clubs in your bag that should not be a major concern using the My Bag feature on their website "Dashboard".
I’m kind of a technology geek to begin with and I did a lot of research before buying the V3. I think I read their user manual, every FAQ on their website, and viewed every review on YouTube before buying. I think at one time or another since getting it last July I’ve experimented with every option in Settings.
When my tag broke, I super glued it to the grip. It worked great.
That is another good option, especially if you stick to one putter and typically don’t change putter grips very often (or never like me!). For the set of 3 putter tags from Shot Scope, two have no threads but an adhesive disk on the underside. I also have some glue "dots" that I got off Amazon that can work really well, too. I guess I’m a suspenders and belt guy because I still use the electrical tape.
I still use tags from the first set, still work (V3 Tags are said to be more accurate)
Just can’t bang your clubs in to the bag.
How did the glue dots work? I think I have some of those at the house and actually like that a little better than the electrical tape. I don’t switch putters, so…
I will say this is one thing that worried me about putting the clubs back in the bag. I don’t really ever slam my clubs in but sometimes they don’t go all the way in because they are caught and once I hit a bump in the cart or with the push cart they fall to the bottom.
If I wanted to avoid the electrical tape and NOT use super glue, I think I’d use two of the glue dots. I also might consider using double-sided tape cut to match the shape of the tag and keep as much of the threads as I could and screw the tag through the double-sided tape, which can be fairly thick, into the hole in the grip.