About this Shot Scope V3 review
In this equipment review, I’ll share with you my open and honest opinion of the Shot Scope V3 golf watch after nearly 3 years of use. I’ve been using it since before it was released in the Summer of 2020 and have captured many, many rounds – so I’d like to think that I have tested it thoroughly enough to review.
In this review, I’ll tell you how the watch works and highlight its key features, discuss how easy it is to set up and use, talk about its looks, fit and comfort, how well it performs on the golf course and how easy it is to edit your rounds and view the performance statistics. I’ll also highlight what I think are the pros and cons of the V3.
By the end of this review, you’ll hopefully be armed with enough information to help you decide if the Shot Scope V3 is the right golf watch for you. And, if that is the case then feel free to use my discount code ‘ANDYSGOLF‘ at checkout when buying directly from Shot Scope for an extra 15% off.
Pressed for time? Read this micro review
The Shot Scope V3 is a golf watch with GPS and automatic shot tracking capabilities, offering access to over 100 tour level statistics about your golf game. It comes pre-loaded with over 36,000 golf courses worldwide, has a 10 hour battery life, conforms to the rules of golf, and has no on-going subscription fees. The V3 is easy to set up and use, the strap is comfortable, and the device lightweight.
The GPS distances are generally accurate, and the hazard/layup features are useful. Post-round editing is required due to GPS accuracy limitations, but the level of performance tracking is unmatched by other devices. The V3’s price is very competitive, but the watch does look a little basic compared to other watches on the market, and there is no green/hole overview or ability to move the pin to specific locations. Overall, the Shot Scope V3 is a reliable and useful GPS golf watch, perfect for serious golfers looking to improve their game.
1 - Shot Scope V3 Product overview and features
The Shot Scope V3 is a GPS and performance-tracking golf watch, meaning that not only will it give you accurate GPS information to the front, middle and back of the green on the hole you are playing but it will also automatically track each stroke you make, allowing you to access over 100 tour-level statistics about your golf game.
It comes pre-loaded with over 36,000 golf courses worldwide, has a 10-hour battery life capable of lasting two rounds from a single charge, conforms to the rules of golf so can be used during competitive rounds, and has no ongoing subscription fees.
2 - Setting up the V3 Device
The V3 comes with everything you need in the box and is really easy to set up. It comes with a handy quick start guide designed to help get you started, but Shot Scope do also have a getting started video and full user guide you can refer to if you’re stuck.
Essentially, all you need to do is download the Shot Scope mobile app and create a new account, pair your V3 watch with your mobile using Bluetooth and follow the onboarding steps outlined in the app. After this, it’s a case of screwing the shot tracking tags into your grips, correctly assigning them within your Shot Scope account and charging the device using the charging cable provided.
Shot Scope has made every effort to make the process as straightforward as possible and provide a wide range of support materials to help along the way, so even if you’re not too technically minded, it shouldn’t be too difficult to get set up provided you follow the guidance correctly.
3 - Looks, fit and comfort
In terms of looks, when compared with other premium golf watches on the market, of which there are many, there’s no denying that the V3 does look a little basic. However, it is available in a range of strap colours for those of you who do like to wear something a little more colourful.
Size-wise, it’s smaller than an Apple watch and incredibly lightweight – so much so that I actually forget I’m wearing it half of the time. The strap is comfortable and secures the watch firmly to the wrist with no movement during swings, although, the fixing clasp does occasionally pop out which can be a little bit annoying as the strap then flaps about if not clipped back in.
Those of you with an eye for detail may have noticed that the strap appears to be the wrong way round, however, this is by design. The RFID technology that allows the watch to work in partnership with the tag on the end of your golf club to record each stroke is actually built into the strap (specifically the one without the buckle), so the strap must be fitted this way. Unfortunately, this does mean that only the official shot scope straps can be used with the V3 watch, although, a range of colourful replacement straps are available.
Now that we’ve talked about the set-up process and the watch’s appearance, let’s talk about how well it performs on the course.
4 - Shot tracking and GPS performance
When it comes to on-course performance, there are two main areas of focus: Shot tracking and GPS distance information. But first, let’s talk about how easy it is to set the watch up before your round.
4.1 - On-course set up
The V3 has three main modes; GPS and Track, Tracking only and GPS only. Personally, I pretty much only ever use GPS and Track mode as I like to record all of my rounds and I find the GPS distance information incredibly helpful.
Provided you have subscribed to the course you are playing and have synchronised it with your device before you play, there shouldn’t be any issues locating the course and obtaining a GPS connection.
Whilst I can usually get connected to my home course in under a minute, I have noticed on occasion that this can take quite a lot longer, sometimes up to around 5 minutes. For this reason, I now start my round as I make my way down to the golf course and use the Pause feature so that the watch remains paused and unable to record my warm-up shots before heading to the first tee.
Putting the occasional delay to one side, it really is straightforward to initiate a round on the V3. It’s essentially a case of turning the watch on, choosing your game mode, selecting your course and heading to the first tee.
4.2 - Automatic Shot Tracking
The real USP of the Shot Scope V3 is the fact that it can automatically track your golf shots during your round, giving you access to over 100 tour-level statistics to help you improve your golf game.
In order to track each shot, the tag screwed into each of your clubs works in tandem with the RFID technology in the strap and the GPS satellites in the sky to record your position and club used for each and every shot. Unlike some other shot-tracking devices, there is no requirement to manually touch the tag on the device or its strap – all you need to do is swing and your shot will be recorded.
In all honesty, I really cannot fault my V3 when it comes to its automatic shot tracking. I’ve been using it for nearly 3 years and it very, very rarely misses any of my strokes. Shot Scope recommends taking practise swings before each shot but this is something that I have not done for a long time and still haven’t really experienced any issues with missing shots.
On the odd occasion where a shot is missed, for example, if two shots are played from the same location like a bunker and are only recorded as one, I’ll just add the extra shot when editing my round after I’ve finished.
Whilst the watch does display on the screen the tag ID for the last club recorded, it does not show you your live score for the hole or round, and there is no option to manually add or remove strokes as you play. For this reason, I normally write my score down on a scorecard alongside the number of putts taken on each hole to refer back to during the editing process just in case anything is captured incorrectly.
In my experience, though, if you follow the advice Shot Scope provides then you shouldn’t have any issues with performance tracking, especially after the first 3 or so rounds when the watch is being calibrated to your swing.
When it comes to the overall accuracy of the recorded strokes in terms of location, the V3 does a fairly good job. Most recorded shots are usually accurate to within around 4-10 yards, which is a limitation of the current GPS technology available to all golf GPS manufacturers, not just Shot Scope. This does mean that a little repositioning may be required during post-round editing but it’s nothing too taxing and isn’t always required unless you’re really pedantic.
4.3 - GPS distances and hazard information
As well being useful for shot tracking, the V3 also provides on-course GPS distances.
These are calculated and displayed to the front, middle and back of the green on the hole you are playing, provided you are using the GPS and Track or GPS modes. Distances can be displayed in either yards or meters depending on the setting you choose, and will update as you walk closer or further away from the hole.
The daylight-readable screen makes the information displayed on the screen clear and easy to read even in varying lighting conditions. The distance to the middle of the green is displayed in large white font with the front and back distances displayed below, making it quick and easy to identify the distance you’re interested in at a glance.
In my experience, the GPS distances displayed on the watch are generally consistent with on-course markers and my laser rangefinder readings. Even if they are slightly out due to the GPS technology limitations mentioned earlier, a few yards is never going to be enough to cause major issues for most amateur golfers.
It is worth mentioning, however, that there have been a few occasions whereby the watch has either jumped to the next hole automatically before I’ve finished playing it or has displayed crazy yardages like 999 yards. On these occasions, I reported these issues to Shot Scope who identified mapping issues and promptly released updates to the course maps.
Shot Scope map all of their courses in-house so if you do experience any mapping issues or your course hasn’t yet been mapped, they offer to correct these within 48 hours, which in my opinion is fantastic service.
As well as GPS distances to the green, the watch also displays distances to reach and to carry various hazards on the hole you are playing, as well as whether they are on the left or right-hand side. This feature is particularly useful when playing a course you are not familiar with or a blind hole.
The same menu also allows you to view distances to layup points for 100/150/200 yards or meters to the middle of the green, which is handy for long par 5’s.
Whilst in terms of GPS information the watch has a lot to offer, sadly, it does not provide any map views of the hole or green you are playing, which is a shame. It would be great to be able to move the pin and be shown specific yardages to that location or see a view of the entire hole you are about to play like some of the other golf watches do.
4.4 - Battery life
In terms of battery life, I’ve used my V3 numerous times to capture two rounds on the same day from one single charge without issue. It is sometimes the case, especially when using GPS and Track mode, that it gets close to running out towards the end of the second round, but that generally depends on how long the course is and how slow the pace of play is.
5 - Post round editing and statistics
So, we’ve discussed how the V3 performs on the golf course. Let’s now talk about editing rounds and viewing performance statistics.
5.1 - Uploading your round
After you have finished your round, all you need to do is open the Shot Scope mobile app, connect your V3 and synchronise your rounds. A smart phone/tablet is required at this stage to import your round from the watch to your Shot Scope account. Once you have transferred your round, the next step is to edit.
5.2 - Editing your round
Now, as mentioned earlier, there will always likely be a requirement to perform some basic editing of your round before you can access your performance statistics. You can either edit your round using the Shot scope mobile app or the online dashboard on a desktop computer or laptop. I’ve created two detailed tutorials taking you through the editing process for both the desktop editing tool and mobile editor, so be sure to check those videos if you’re unsure about the editing process.
In my opinion, the editing process isn’t difficult and with practise can be completed in around about 10 minutes. It’s definitely easier doing so using the online dashboard version, however, I personally like editing whilst at the golf course on the app whilst the round is fresh in my mind.
5.3 - VIEWING PERFORMANCE STATISTICS
For most users, the main reason for buying a Shot Scope V3 is for its performance-tracking capability and access to such a high level of data about their golf game. I have to be honest, I’m constantly blown away by just how much information this device gathers and how useful it can be in targeting areas for improvement.
The online dashboard and Shot Scope mobile apps both provide access to performance statistics including how far you hit each club, tee shot distance and accuracy, approach shot proximity, short game scrambling success rate, putting and much more.
As well as general performance statistics like these, Shot Scope also provides detailed strokes gained information for tee shots, approach shots, short game and putting for individual or collective rounds. These can also be compared against players of varying handicap groups, so you can see exactly which area of your golf game is costing you strokes.
The number of statistics available and the level of detail each of them go into is incredible and is honestly unlike anything else available on the market. There is no doubt that Shot Scope is the industry leader in this area.
6 - Pros and Cons
Now that we’ve covered how well the watch performs on the golf course and the statistics you get access to, let’s quickly run through the main pros and cons of the V3, starting with the positives
6.1 - PROS
- Easy to set up and use with 36,000 courses already mapped and pre-loaded
- Your shorts are automatically tracked so there’s no need for manual tagging
- The GPS distances are generally accurate and the hazard/layup features are very useful
- You get access to over 100 tour-level statistics to help you improve your game
- Mobile apps are available for iOS and Android devices in addition to the online dashboard
- You get free updates for life and there is no monthly or yearly subscription
- The Shot Scope Support is absolutely fantastic and scores 4.2/5 on Trustpilot. I’ve had to contact them a few times over the years and have always had my issues resolved in a polite and timely fashion.
- Shot Scope gives you a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 2-year warranty on the V3
- Price wise, at around £150, it’s really competitively priced when compared with other GPS watches on the market
6.2 - CONS
- Visually, the watch face does look a little bit basic compared to other watches on the market
- No green/hole overview is provided and you cannot move the pin to specific locations
- A mobile device (smart phone or tablet) is required to set up the device and synchronise rounds with your account before editing.
- Most rounds will require some degree of editing due to GPS accuracy limitations
- The charging cable is really short and is specific to the device – a USB C or micro USB would have been better
7 - Final summary
In summary, the Shot Scope V3 really is a brilliant piece of kit and is perfect for golfers who are serious about improving their golf game but also want a reliable watch to use on the golf course. The automatic shot tracking means that you can focus on playing your best golf and leave the watch to track your performance by itself. Whilst it may have a few minor flaws, you get an awful lot for your money and I honestly believe you’ll struggle to find a golf watch packed with as many useful features for under £150.
If you’re in the market for a new golf watch and are looking for a reliable option that won’t break the bank, the Shot Scope V3 is definitely worth considering. It’s easy to set up and use, provides accurate GPS distance information, and automatically tracks your shots to give you access to a wealth of performance statistics.
In conclusion, the Shot Scope V3 is an excellent golf watch that delivers on its promises and provides a whole host of useful features at an affordable price. If you’re serious about improving your golf game, this watch is definitely worth checking out.
Shop the Shot Scope V3
If you’re interested in purchasing the Shot Scope V3 or just want to find out more, visit the official Shot Scope website to guarantee the best price and level of aftercare. You can also enter the discount code ‘ANDYSGOLF‘ at the checkout to save an extra 15% on the Shot Scope V3 and G3 watches, the Shot Scope H4 Handheld and Shot Scope’s PRO L1, PRO LX and PRO LX+ laser rangefinders.
Thank you for reading this product review – I really hope you found it interesting and that it has helped you make up your mind if you were considering buying a Shot Scope V3. Also, feel free to leave any comments or questions about this Shot Scope V3 golf watch, this article or my blog in general below. If you like the sound of what the Shot Scope V3 has to offer but don’t like wearing a watch then the Shot Scope H4 device that I have also reviewed might be perfect for you.
Finally, be sure to check out my Equipment Reviews page for more Shot Scope/general product reviews.
Andy
