SHOT TRACKERS
SHOT SCOPE V2 £225 www.shotscope.com
WHY IT’S WON: Millions of golfers have chosen GPS watches as the simplest way to access accurate yardages. So it’s a masterstroke by Shot Scope to utilise watch tech in their tracker. We’re big fans of the V2’s different modes, which mean it’s possible to access just yardages, gather data without showing yardages or do both, so you can comply with comp rules. Serious golfers have been at the heart of Shot Scope from the start and it’s thanks to this eye for detail that Shot Scope has developed one of the most useful analytics platforms. You can drill down into interactive graphs and charts to learn everything about your game. Stats are broken down into tee shots, approach shots (outside 50 yards), short game (inside 50 yards) and putting, and the guys at Shot Scope reckon their data is so good at helping you improve, you don’t need an electronic caddie to tell you which club to hit. A sound option for golfers wanting to really break down performance. As the system includes a GPS watch, it’s really good value, too.
ARCCOS 360 £249 www.arccosgolf.com
WHY IT’S WON: By using your phone’s GPS capability, costs are kept under control, but it does mean the phone needs to be kept in your pocket for the system to work, which for some golfers is a drawback. Rumour has it Arccos is working on a new “patch” which can be dropped into a pocket, stuck to a cap or hung around the neck (eliminating the need to keep a phone in your pocket) which we think will make the system a lot more attractive. We love the idea of the AI caddie, which after five rounds starts to make club recommendations (for tee shots) based on your previous shots. The system considers wind speed, wind direction and elevation to give “Plays Like” yardages, too. Just bear in mind the caddie function will set you back £49.99 a year for the privilege. The analytics package is everything a budding tour statistician needs to improve.
GAME GOLF PRO £299.99 www.gamegolf.com
WHY IT’S WON: Game Golf can lay fair claim to creating the shottracking trend. The key to the new Pro version is not having to tag shots, which could be frustrating and easy to forget with the original system. We’re big fans of going hands-free and not having to keep a phone in your pocket, which has been a drawback of some systems. We also like the ability to distinguish between a practice swing and real shot, which historically some systems have struggled with. At nearly £300 a pop the Pro version is a sizeable investment (the previous Game Golf Live version was available for £139) so you’ll need to really want to improve to justify the cost. A smart caddie feature (which is coming later in 2018) will also make recommendations for every shot, where currently others only work for tee shots. There’s also a free coaching dashboard available online, which enables you and a coach to analyse performance and create lesson plans.