Review: Shot Scope V2 GPS Watch with Automated Performance Tracking

Written by: Tony Korologos | Monday, May 14th, 2018
Categories: Apps • Golf Accessories • Golf For Women • Golf Gear • Reviews
Tags: Shot Scope V2

This has been, and continues to be an extremely interesting and informative golf accessory review for me. I’ve been working with the Shot Scope V2, a GPS Watch which also tracks all shots, distances, and statistics. The Shot Scope V2 combines the best of the GPS watch world and the shot tracking worlds of Arccos and Game Golf. Shot Scope V2 has some major advantages, which I’ll highlight shortly. For now let’s take a look at the features of the Shot Scope V2.

Shot Scope V2 Features

There are three modes in the SCV2: First is a standard GPS. When running in GPS mode, the unit quickly and accurately shows yardages to the front, middle, and back of the green. It also shows yardages to hazards.

The 2nd mode is Pro mode. In Pro mode the golfer tracks his/her shots with each club. Each club’s distance, accuracy and result is tracked. Later on at the computer or mobile device, the user can look at each shot over a map, or look at highly thought-through and educational club, game, and performance stats.

The 3rd mode (my go to mode) is GPS + Track. Yes, this is the combination of GPS watch mode with full shot tracking.

How Shot Scope V2 Works

As strictly a GPS Watch, Shot Scope V2 is fantastic. The GPS is very easy to read and the yardages are quick and accurate. There’s not much more to it than making sure the watch has the course loaded before the round starts. The watch will automagically pick the course if you’re on property.

GPS Mode

The GPS unit will also show distances to hazards as seen below.

322 to the water hazard. No problem! Swing away.

To do the shot tracking, sensors are put on the end of each golf club. The sensors (seen in the first photo in the lower-middle), easily screw into the air hole at the end of the grip. In Pro or GPS + Track mode, the unit senses practice swings and real shots and what club hit them. The unit must be on the golfer’s wrist.

Full swings and even putts are registered. However the unit does not “know” when the ball goes in the hole, nor does the unit know where the hole is. So the golfer must “tag” the hole location when finishing, and also select the number of putts. This “tagging” of shots is very similar to using other products like Game Golf, except the only tagging necessary is the final putt. Even so, I often forgot to tag the final putt and had to fix the mistake later with the application.

After the round, the user syncs the data via the Shot Scope application. After syncing the data is available for analysis and editing if necessary.

On The Course

I don’t wear watches and I’ve resisted wearing GPS watches while golfing. In fact, I typically connect the watch to my golf bag and check the yardage there before I pull a club. I gave a good faith effort with the Shot Scope V2 and wore it while playing. I was surprised to find that the watch didn’t bother me or interfere with most of my shots. I say most because there are a couple of situations where I did have issues. I’ll mention those in my critiques section below. In general, wearing the watch was not an issue, and the convenience of instantly knowing yardages by looking at my wrist is great.

After The Round

This is where Shot Scope’s awesomeness shines. Following the round I sync my unit with my computer, which uploads all my shot data to the Shot Scope website. Once synced I can view every shot mapped on a Google map, see ball striking, fairways hit, putts per round, and more.

Map of all my shots at Bonneville. User can zoom in to each hole and even closer.

The wealth of statistics is tremendous, and very educational if not slightly depressing. Yes I realized where my weaknesses were, but I also realized that…well, I’m not as good, or as long as I thought I was. The only part of my game I knew was good is putting, and the stats back that up.

Below I’ll show a few of the interesting ways that Shot Scope V2 shoes the shot data and analysis. This is great stuff.

Tee accuracy and how it translates to scoring

Above you can see scoring stats, and how they relate to accuracy off the tee.

Sand wedge accuracy breakdown – I never miss left! I never GO LEFT.

Above is a very educational analysis of my sand wedge. I hit 50% of my approaches with it, and 100% of my attempts are right of center. Quite telling.

Performance average

In the “performance average” above, outlier shots are thrown out so they don’t skew the numbers. What can I learn from this? Like most amateur golfers, I do not hit the ball as far as I think I do.

Above are some putting stats (not all of them). I 1-putt 39% of the time and 3-putt 7% of the time, or 7 times out of 100. I average 28.9 putts per round. I’m not unhappy about these stats.

Critiques

In all of my reviews I try to post some critiques and thoughts on what can be improved. Shot Scope V2 is a fantastic system; probably the best out there for this type of data collection of one’s golf game. That said, having to wear a large GPS watch can sometimes be inconvenient or interfere with the swing.

The metal fork that goes through the holes on the watch band can stick out. It often does not lay flat. When I’m choked down on a short game shot that fork has caught the club in my swing, causing an errant shot.

Tagging putts is something I’m not used to and even after many rounds, I still forget. It’s not what I’m thinking about when I just missed a short putt to go 2-down in a big money game, or in league tournaments etc.

Occasionally shots are not registered, or the wrong shot is registered. This is an issue which happens across every shot tracking system I’ve ever tried. Missed or incorrect shots can be edited after the round.

Final Thoughts

The wealth of information I’ve accumulated about my personal golf game this spring has opened my eyes to my weaknesses. I knew some of them, but seeing the raw numbers really clarifies and shows me what I need to work on. As a result, I’ve been practicing harder on those weak areas. One such area is greens in regulation. I’ve been around 33%, which is not very good. But with lots of work at the range and focusing on my irons and approaches, my last round was better, 50%. Still not as good as I want, but getting better. For reference, the best player on the PGA Tour right now in greens in regulation is Henrik Stenson at 74%. The worst on Tour is 53%.

Thanks to the Shot Scope V2 I now have a much better idea of my tendencies with each club (sand wedge above for example), and how far I really hit them. Armed with that information I can make better club choices and more confident swings on the course.

I can’t help thinking that Shot Scope V2, if used to its full capabilities, can really help golfers improve their game in both physical ball striking ways, but in the form of better game and course management.

Wallaroo Shelton Sun Protection Hat Review

Written by: Tony Korologos | Thursday, May 10th, 2018
Categories: Golf Accessories • Golf Apparel • Golf For Women • Golf Gear • Reviews
Tags: Wallaroo Hat Company

During yesterday’s sunny golf round the temperatures reached 87 degrees. Knowing how sunny it was going to be I chose my hat scripting wisely, the Wallaroo Hat Company Shelton sun protection hat. Great decision. I kept my head, face, neck protected and kept myself cool. Let’s take a look at some of the Shelton’s details.

The Wallaroo Shelton is great for hiking….

Shelton Sun Protection Hat

The Shelton features an 8.5 inch flap on under the back half of the hat. See photo below. This flap protects the head and neck from the sun, as the 1005 cotton fabric in the hat provides 50+ UPF protection. 97.5% of ultraviolet rays are blocked.

The soft and flexible brim of the hat is 2.5 inches. The inside of the Shelton’s brim is a drawstring for the user to be able to adjust the fit of the hat.

The hat is packable, so it can conveniently be shoved into a pocket in the golf bag and conveniently ready for use when needed.

As mentioned, the drawstring helps the user adjust the size. The base sizes are M/L and L/XL.

On The Course

I’ve enjoyed the Shelton on the golf course. It helps keep me cool and free of frying my head and neck. I’ve also used the Shelton while hiking (first pic), working in the yard, and on family walks. The hat is very comfortable.

The neck cover also helps prevent insect bites. In the spring and fall when we can have a lot of mosquitos here, the neck flap protects against bites. I haven’t tried the Shelton in rain yet. I imagine it is great in light rain, but the cotton may soak up the water in heavier rain.

Final Thoughts

The $48 Shelton is a great investment in personal skin health, sun protection, and heat protection both on and off the golf course.

Review: Trekz Titanium Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones by Aftershokz

Written by: Tony Korologos | Monday, May 7th, 2018
Categories: Golf Accessories • Golf For Women • Golf Gear • Reviews
Tags: Trekz

Disclaimer: Before entering the glamorous world of golf blogging, I spent 25 years owning and operating an audio recording studio. I used to teach recording techniques to audio engineering students, and have deep experience in the physics of audio. And now, back to the golf blogging…

I must say, I have a great looking ear…

Trekz Titanium Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones by Aftershokz

The Trekz concept is very interesting. The ear pieces do not cover the ear or sit in the ear canal like a regular ear bud or headphone. Instead they mount in front of the ear, engaging the cheekbone. The cheekbone serves as a conduit for the sound. Let’s look a list of the features.

Bone conduction technology allows the user to hear the audio and still hear ambient sound
Wireless bluetooth technology connects to mobile devices, phones, computers
“Leakslayer” technology reduces natural sound leakage
Noise cancelling microphone for speaking into device, talking on the phone etc.
Six hour battery life
Moisture resistent
Equalizer presets

In Action

I’ve spent a few months now using the Trekz Titanium Wireless Bluetooth Bone Conduction Headphones in various situations; working at my desk, evening walks, hitting golf balls on the practice range. They’re quite comfortable. Being able to hear what’s going on around is fantastic. One can be listening to tunes or a book on tape but still be able to hear if the guy in the cubicle next to you is recommending you for a raise. More importantly I’d think joggers and bike riders would benefit from hearing traffic from behind.

In the box…

My normal go-to headphones are old school Sony MDR-7506’s, which are large diaphragm over-the-ear cans. They have a killer sound, especially great bass. I had hoped for the same result from the Trekz, but that’s not the case. The Trekz lack in low end (bass) which was surprising. So if I’m cranking up the tunes, its the Sonys. My primary use for the Trekz has morphed to working on my computer and listening to talk radio. They’re well suited for that, and like I said, I can hear what’s going on around me in the office.

I have not worn the Trekz while playing a round of golf, for two reasons. I don’t listen to music while I’m golfing. Also, I can’t wear my sunglasses with the Trekz on since the Trekz go over the ear and interfere with the glasses.

I really dig the wireless bluetooth capability, which beats the Sonys. The Sonys have an old-school curly cable which knots up and pulls my phone off the desk when I move around. The “lady” inside the headphones lets me know when my battery is running low. There are volume and settings knobs right on the headphones so I can tweak the volume without having to touch the source device.

Critiques

As mentioned, one can’t comfortably wear glasses/sunglasses while wearing the Trekz. I also find the audio quality to be much lower than I’d hoped, but once again, I’m probably more discerning than the average user.

Advantages

The advantages and best selling points are the unique design that lets the user hear an audio program while still being able to hear what’s going on around him, along with the wireless bluetooth capability.

Conclusion

I hope this review has given you a good basis for a possible buying decision. Weigh the advantages and critiques, and my opinion above and cross them with your needs. I’ve found a good place for my “bone conduction headphones,” and they fill a great spot in my electronics lineup.

Happy Cinco de Mayo 2018

Written by: Tony Korologos | Saturday, May 5th, 2018
Categories: Miscellaneous

Happy Cinco de Mayo to HOG patrons and special shout out to Eat Golf.

First Look: EC-BC Falcon 22 Inch Rolling Duffle

Written by: Tony Korologos | Wednesday, May 2nd, 2018
Categories: Golf Accessories • Golf Gear
Tags: ec-bc • Golf Travel Bag • Travel Blog

In for review is a terrific looking carry-on bag from ec-bc, the Falcon wheeled duffle bag.

ec-bc Falcon Rolling Duffle Carry-On Bag

This Falcon is a 22-inch rolling duffle bag with a very long handle, lots of pockets, and even came with a portable USB charging unit for mobile devices.

This looks to be a great bag for one of those long weekend golf buddy trips. I’ll be testing out the bag soon. Just need to go on a golf trip now. Stay tuned.