The Golfshot app on Apple Watch isn’t new, having previously offered a suite of GPS and motion data that ranges from on-course distances and greens, hazards and doglegs to scoring, strokes gained, and swing analysis. But now, thanks to the high-frequency accelerometer and gyroscope found in the latest Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 9, the newest version of Golfshot includes what it calls Swing ID On-Range, which is designed to improve your golf game.
When on the tee, the app identifies and maps certain targets on the range, which is a valuable feature since you can’t always trust the yardage signs at driving ranges. As you swing away, it tracks your shots, showing both distance and dispersion. You can even perform a similar routine and get the same data while hitting into a net in your yard. We recently spent time with the Apple Watch Ultra 2 to play with the updated Golfshot app on the driving range at NYC’s Chelsea Piers Golf Club. Here’s what you should know before investing in either the hardware or the app.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is powered by the company’s lightning-fast S9 chip and features the unique Double Tap Gesture, a feature available within the new watchOS. The Apple Watch Ultra 2’s case is crafted from 95% recycled titanium, and we love how, even with the brighter screen, the extended battery life can get you through 18 holes of golf without worrying about running out of juice.
The newest version of the Golfshot app offers interesting, in-depth data on your swing thanks to the high-frequency accelerometer and gyroscope found in the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Golfshot’s Swing ID On-Range experience is also available on the Apple Watch Series 8 and later, as well as the Apple Watch Ultra and later.
What I liked about it
Tracks the path of your swing
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Golfshot app can trace the entire track of your swing, providing info about swing path, transition and wrist motion. After each swing, the app can inform you of whether your swing or your wrists are open or closed. Likewise, you can get feedback on how steep your swing is coming into the ball.
This information helps identify problems and make corrections, either on your own or in conjunction with a swing coach. At the end of any session, you can swap to a different app view on the phone that shows your aggregate data. This filters out the noise of an occasional bad swing (or good one) and can show how you trended throughout your play. The app even compares your numbers to a target score, which gives you something fun to play toward. The targets themselves are adjustable, so it’s easy to customize them to your needs.
Beyond the strict tutorial value, the data offers an interesting glimpse at how the parts of your golf swing work together. For instance, if you realize you’re consistently swinging a little over the top, you can intentionally move your path inside and see how the ball flight changes. Or, you can adjust your closed wrist position and force it open.
Provides important but often overlooked swing data
The app also does a good job of showing your wrist speed, tempo (the speed of your swing in seconds) and rhythm (the ratio of elapsed time on your backswing compared to your downswing) of your swing. As the book “Tour Tempo” proved, the best golfers play with a specific and consistent rhythm, and it’s possible to correct a lot of flaws in your motion simply by getting the ratio right.
Unfortunately, that key swing information is often overlooked, possibly because it’s hard to acquire without expensive tracking equipment, precise timing devices or frame-by-frame video breakdowns. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Golfshot change that for wearable users, and for fine-tuning a swing, it may be the most important breakthrough the combination has to offer.
What I didn’t like about it
Apple only opened the code to access the accelerometer and gyroscope a year ago, and the developers have since spent time training the app on how to detect a golf shot from a practice swing or even a random arm motion.
Aided by a machine-learning algorithm, they’ve done well. During a 45-minute range session, the watch never recorded a false hit. Even practice swings that intentionally bottomed out hard into the mat did not fool it. It did, however, miss a few actual hits — I registered two or three missed hits during one 45-minute session.
Additionally, when I extended my wrist on two other swings during the follow-through, it forced the back of my hand against the side of the watch, which pressed the crown and reset the app. This wasn’t a big deal as it meant that the data was broken into three sessions instead of one. It is less than ideal for post-practice analysis but not a true hardship.
Bottom line
The Golfshot app is fun to play with and a great addition to your golf gear if you want in-depth swing analytics, though you may miss things like club head speed. What you do get is swing path, wrist motion and transition insights that can help improve your game on the fly. You can be in the middle of playing a hole and use the feedback to immediately adjust your swing. This kind of information is invaluable for a golfer of any skill level.
But where the app truly shines is with its integration with the Apple Watch Ultra 2. If you’re generally not a fan of phone-based GPS and tracking — which many aren’t because it’s tedious and clumsy — the Apple Watch-Golfshot combo solves that problem. You never need to look at anything but the watch while you’re on the golf course or driving range. Accessing the app on your iPhone also presents a great opportunity to accumulate and analyze your data by reliving your round in shot-by-shot flyovers shown in detailed full-color 3D images. Just remember, you’ll get the good, the bad and the ugly. Proceed with caution.