Using a smart watch as your range finder

[tshirttan408]

Hello,

 

So I've just bought myself a bargain moto 360 smart watch on ebay with a view to using it for my range finding on course. I use golfpad gps on my phone and I know that links to smart watches, but I wanted to see what people's experiences were and if other apps like hole 19 are generally considered better?

 

Cheers

[hacker49]

Don't know how it compared but Golfshot has an Apple watch app. Not sure if they have one for Android. I have the app on my phone and like it a lot. Very user friendly.

[LeoLeo99]

Hello,

 

So I've just bought myself a bargain moto 360 smart watch on ebay with a view to using it for my range finding on course. I use golfpad gps on my phone and I know that links to smart watches, but I wanted to see what people's experiences were and if other apps like hole 19 are generally considered better?

 

Cheers

 

I couldn't get golfpad to link to my Samsung smartwatch during the trial period. I'm leaning heavily towards getting a dedicated device.

[bubbagumpshrimp]

Hello,

 

So I've just bought myself a bargain moto 360 smart watch on ebay with a view to using it for my range finding on course. I use golfpad gps on my phone and I know that links to smart watches, but I wanted to see what people's experiences were and if other apps like hole 19 are generally considered better?

 

Cheers

 

I couldn't get golfpad to link to my Samsung smartwatch during the trial period. I'm leaning heavily towards getting a dedicated device.

 

Yup. I picked up a Garmin Approach S20 recently (GPS watch). It's easy to use (download maps via phone) and hassle free on the course. With how cheap these things have gotten (I think I paid $120)...I'm surprised that I don't see more of them.

[purdy]

I have had golf watches as well as Apple Watch, but prefer rangefinder or phone app. Depends on if wearing a Watch while playing bothers you, it did me occasionally and eventually stopped wearing one

[sofc]

Just bought a vivoactive to do the same (hilly courses around here and can't always see the pin to shoot it with a rangefinder.) Updates coming when I play tomorrow and Tuesday.

[BlackM00Nlight]

Use swing by swing app on my phone. It's free, accurate, has every course I've played in Iowa of all states, and it's free. I just have to have a fully charged phone or bring a charge pack, which I do for my speaker anyway.

[IsleOfMan]

I used to use Golfpad with an LG G Watch with very good results until I misplaced the watch. I replaced it with a $15 (ebay) Magellan Echo watch which also works very well with Golfpad and is phenomenal for the price. Only real drawbacks of the Magellan Echo is it's a little chunky (compared to the relatively slim G Watch) and it seems to be more taxing on the phone battery than the G Watch (I think it's using an older Bluetooth version that's not LE). One big bonus of the Echo is it uses a coin-style battery that's good for 6-9 months of charge, so I can just toss it in my bag after a round and not worry about charging it (I keep a spare coin battery in a zip-lock with my spike wrench, bandaids, etc).

 

As for smart watch as range finder in general, I've had very good luck with it. I really like how it integrates with Golfpad (especially after adding their Tags) for data collection/analysis and club recommendation. The App + Tags + Watch combo is pretty solid and I only have to take my phone out of my pocket for yardages other than to the green/pin (i.e. to clear a hazard/trap, layup club, etc) or if I forget to log a shot at its origin.

[hahanice]

I have the Moto 360 as well. I used to use it as a golf GPS with great results.

 

I used hole19 and golf shot. Remember that it's using the phones GPS so keep your phone nearby. If you go far away from your phone it will need to reconnect.

 

Hole19 was probably better, gave distances to the middle, back, and center. I switched because when I went too far away from my phone it would forget some of the scores I entered on previous holes. Then I would be scrambling trying to figure out the past few scores and my round would fall apart.

 

Golfshot doesn't keep score, and while I could have just not used the score feature on hole19 I use golfshot out of spite.

 

They both work well enough but I have a laser so I decided I want the watch to keep me notified so I don't miss anything and I'll use my laser.

If I'm at a new course I'll use the grint so I can see distances and hole layouts. Makes it easier since I use the grint to track my handicap.

 

Makes a great golf GPS though. I just prefer to use it for notifications. Would never play without it

[jrwingate6]

I don't know how you golf with a watch on. I tried it once and I felt like it screwed with my wrist hinge.

[Augster]

I don't know how you golf with a watch on. I tried it once and I felt like it screwed with my wrist hinge.

 

Whoa. You're wearing it wrong if it interferes with your wrist hinge.

 

I wear an Apple Watch every round. The only adjustment I had to make was wearing the face on the inside of my forearm during play. It's so reflective you can often see the reflection of the sun go back and forth on the ground while you putt. Too distracting.

[Delvecchioforza]

Don't know how it compared but Golfshot has an Apple watch app. Not sure if they have one for Android. I have the app on my phone and like it a lot. Very user friendly.

 

used to use this but i found the grint...love the set up on the watch way better