Arccos & Apple Watch

[brazimus]

Was just doing some searches for ways to make my setup better and found this thread. Prior to two weeks ago, I’d be on the “Apple Watch + Arccos = BAD” train.

 

I had an Apple Watch Series 4, and had a heck of a time getting the battery to last 9 holes, much less a full round. I even got to the point where, with the age of the watch and AppleCare, I had the watch replaced under warranty, and had the exact same frustrating issues with battery life.

 

Two weeks ago, my wife decided it was time to replace her Series 3, and so we both ended up purchasing Apple Watch Ultras. Without a doubt, it’s a night-and-day situation with the Apple Watch Ultra + Arccos.

 

Granted, I never had any issues with my Apple Watch missing shots, at least when compared to having my phone track the shots in my pocket. My old Series 4 might miss a putt or two, but it was really good (when the battery worked) at tracking. Sadly, nothing beats being halfway through the 8th hole, looking at your wrist, and realizing your watch’s battery is dead.

 

Took the new Apple Watch Ultra out on the course on Friday. Walked 18, and used my watch for shot tracking, GPS, and everything I could turn on in Arccos. “Let’s test this thing out,” I thought.

 

Tracked 100% of my shots. Didn’t fuss with screen timeouts or turning off features or anything. Just opened Arccos, told it to use my watch, told it to also use my watch for GPS, and started walking.

 

At the end of 18, I was convinced my watch would be running on fumes, battery-wise. Instead, when I synced my round back and closed out Arccos on my watch, I checked the battery level. It was at 64%.

 

I know that $800 for an Apple Watch Ultra *just for golf tracking* is a lot. I use my Watch for much more than tracking, but the primary use case, especially during the summer, was to track my morning rounds.

 

I can’t express how much happier I am with the entire Arccos family of products now that I have a watch with an all-day battery.

[Eagle1018]

Used the Apple Watch 6 for last year and I really have no complaiints.  Over 50 rounds and maybe didn't pick up 2 shots all year.  My only complaint is with the quality of the GPS accuracy.  Mostly on the greens.  I'll look back and it will say8 foot putt when it was like 20 or so.  It could just be my course location, but not sure.  Overall very happy with the combo.

[zap311]

I just saw that Arccos released a new version of the app with improved Apple Watch functionality (for 5 model and newer).

 

Has anyone tried this yet? If so, is it materially improved?

[Pfish]

I would like to know if you can turn your phone off and just go with the watch.  Went to their website w put it wasn’t clear.

[54CW]

@Pfish I think you can. 

 

Arccos just put an update out yesterday and I was able to track on my phone and use my watch for yardages pretty seamlessly. This is the best it has performed for me. I didn't play with it too much but was impressed how quickly the yardages updated without pulling my phone out. This is promising as I would like to go watch only so I can use my Bluetooth speaker while I play. Currently if you track through your phone you cannot use a speaker while you play. 

[Boricua Golf]

I use 18 Birdies just for reference of front, middle and back distances, I too have the Apple Watch Ultra and this app works flawlessly for what I need, since I have a Bushnell Rangefinder I truly don't care what the app really says, I rely on the rangefinder for accurate distances

[capking]

Anyone know if the Arccos handicap it gives you is based on the normal calculations or is it just averaged from every score recorded?

[North Butte]

On 5/1/2023 at 7:51 PM, capking said:

Anyone know if the Arccos handicap it gives you is based on the normal calculations or is it just averaged from every score recorded?

Unless they have changed recently it is their own calculation, not done in the style of USGA or WHS. 

[YouGottaSweepBeforeYouMop]

OK

 

[Chuck_IV]

Just started my free trial yesterday(bought Pin G425's a couple years ago). I fired it up on my Apple watch and while it worked, it worked ok. Missed a few shots but overall not bad. One thing I noticed though was, when I would open it, sometimes it would be showing the prior hole, acting like I needed to do something. I'd have to back out and then I would see it detected a shot on the correct hole and I would open that hole. It's not that it was missing shots at that point, it's just that the watch was stuck on displaying the prior hole. It didn't seem to want to display the proper hole unless I made it show.

 

I say while it worked because my watch was dead by the 15th hole ;( I had an aging Apple Watch 5, so not surprised(time for an upgrade).

[jcace68]

I was using the link for over a year and have an Apple Watch Series 6. I previously tried the watch (with the previous Arccos Apple Watch app) and it did not work well that is why I went to the link last year. After the new Arccos Apple Watch update I gave the watch another try.  I will not go back to using the link. The new upgrade for the Apple Watch is more reliable than the link. Add that you can start the round directly from the watch, have yardage and data on your wrist and can set the pins on the green with a tap of a button (the link has this but not as reliable as the watch).  It is a much better experience than the link at least for me. 

[Golfcrzy]

On 5/29/2023 at 12:01 PM, jcace68 said:

I was using the link for over a year and have an Apple Watch Series 6. I previously tried the watch (with the previous Arccos Apple Watch app) and it did not work well that is why I went to the link last year. After the new Arccos Apple Watch update I gave the watch another try.  I will not go back to using the link. The new upgrade for the Apple Watch is more reliable than the link. Add that you can start the round directly from the watch, have yardage and data on your wrist and can set the pins on the green with a tap of a button (the link has this but not as reliable as the watch).  It is a much better experience than the link at least for me. 

Agree but there’s a lack of distance data on Watch, for me. I’m seriously considering downgrading my Ultra to my old Nikon and S70 if I find it more useful than my phone. Lack of cell service is a real issue for me, and I want hazard info on wrist that’s just not available that I know of on Apple Watch.

Edited June 3, 2023 by Golfcrzy

[phillyspecial]

Anyone have issues with the Ultra picking up putts from a Superstroke sensor?  Im <50%, getting pretty annoying.  

[Golfcrzy]

3 hours ago, phillyspecial said:

Anyone have issues with the Ultra picking up putts from a Superstroke sensor?  Im <50%, getting pretty annoying.  

Sure - the putt is the hardest stroke to capture from my experience. I try to make sure I capture it during the round, or add it after a hole. 
 

Here’s a relevant article: https://support.arccosgolf.com/hc/en-us/articles/360059010451-Why-does-my-putter-sensor-miss-the-occasional-putt-

[TheFatArmadillo]

3 hours ago, phillyspecial said:

Anyone have issues with the Ultra picking up putts from a Superstroke sensor?  Im <50%, getting pretty annoying.  

I’ve noticed if the putt is soft (usually within about 3 feet of the hole) that I have to manually add it.