Shot Scope V5 GPS Golf Watch: Full Review (Six Months On)

At just over £200, the Shot Scope V5 is an affordable and feature-packed golf watch, but is it any good? Find out everything you need to know in this review as I share my thoughts having put it through its paces over the last six months.

The Shot Scope V5, launched in April 2024, is a budget-friendly, feature-rich GPS and shot-tracking golf watch currently priced at £239.99 (£203 with my code ‘ANDYSGOLF’). This review will cover its key features, performance on the course, and value for money based on over six months of thorough testing.

If you’re considering purchasing the Shot Scope V5, visit the Shot Scope store and use my discount code ‘ANDYSGOLF’ at checkout to save 15%.

Design & Build Quality

The Shot Scope V5 closely resembles the premium Shot Scope X5 model in its sleek design, with the main difference being a matte bezel, which, in truth, I find more appealing than the X5’s shiny one. Unlike the X5, the V5 isn’t touchscreen; instead, it’s controlled by four easy-to-use buttons, making it particularly reliable in wet conditions, where touchscreens can struggle.

At just 50g, the V5 is incredibly light and comfortable, and its silicone strap feels secure, flexible, and resists sand and dust build-up. The strap design, essential for the watch’s shot-tracking function, is reversed compared to most watches, which does catch some people by surprise, but it’s easy to get used to and is nothing new for most existing Shot Scope users.

Initial Setup

Out of the box, the V5 is quick to set up. The main process involve downloading the Shot Scope app, registering an account, pairing the device, configuring preferences, and installing and assigning the club tracking tags (more on these later). The app includes a helpful onboarding process and Shot Scope does supply an easy to follow quick-start guide to make the set up-process easier – which can be completed in about 20–30 minutes – or less for experienced users.

While the watch has some battery charge out of the box, a full charge (via a supplied USB cable) is recommended before the first round. It takes about 1–2 hours to charge, though the cable is specific to this device, so it’s worth storing it somewhere safe.

GPS Performance

On the course, the V5 offers two modes: GPS Only and GPS + Track. I mostly use the GPS + Track mode, which displays any nearby golf courses upon selection. With over 36,000 preloaded courses worldwide, I haven’t come across one that hasn’t been mapped yet. The watch takes less than a minute to connect to GPS, allowing you to start your round promptly. During testing, both home and away, the V5 has always obtained a GPS connection quickly and without issue.

In golf mode, the main screen displays distances to the front, middle, and back of each green, dynamically updating as you move closer or farther away. Distance accuracy is reliable, typically within a few yards of course markers or my laser rangefinder. I have had one or two completely incorrect yardages displayed but after submitting a course re-mapping request with Shot Scope, these haven’t appeared since. The V5 also has a hazard menu showing the reach and carry distances for bunkers and water hazards, as well as a layup guide to help you choose your next shot for the best positioning – particularly useful for longer par 5’s.

A standout feature on the V5 is the hole overview map, which provides a clear outline of each hole, allowing you to gauge the layout and distance to various points, which is particularly useful when planning shots from the tee during rounds on courses you’re not familiar with. You can also view a green map with an adjustable pin location, though this function relies on button presses, making it more time-consuming that doing so on the X5.

Shot Tracking

Shot Scope devices generally excel at shot tracking, and the V5 is no exception. The initial setup involves screwing 16 club-tracking tags into each grip and assigning them in the app. The newer second generation tags fit more snugly and have increased range, although I personally felt the original tags worked perfectly well. The good news is that if you already use a Shot Scope device with tracking tags (with the exception of Shot Scope Connex), there’s no need to swap tags and reassign until you want to as your existing tags will work with the V5.

For automatic tracking, all you need to do is wear the watch on your lead wrist, ensure the club tag is within 10cm of the watch strap and take a couple of practise swings – the V5 does the rest. During my first few rounds with the V5, it missed a few shots, but it improved with use, and now rarely misses any at all. For me, the only time the V5 misses shots is when I take two from the same location e.g. two strokes to get out of a bunker – which will be recorded as one due to their close proximity to each other.

In my experience, most tracking issues are usually user-related, often due to users not following the correct set up process. The good news, though, if a shot is missed, it’s easy enough to add it during post-round editing.

The V5’s tracking is unobtrusive, letting you focus on your game. The only interaction required is standing over the hole after putting out and selecting the number of putts taken. If you forget, you can update it on the next hole and adjust in post-round editing. 

Order the Shot Scope V5

Visit the Shot Scope website using the link below and enter my exclusive discount code, ‘ANDYSGOLF’ at checkout to save an extra 15%.

With this affiliate link, I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases but at no extra cost to you. This code can be used on a range of products, and worldwide.

Other Useful Features

The V5 has a built-in digital scorecard that prompts you to enter putts and overall strokes after each hole. You can view your total score to par throughout the round or access a scorecard menu for adjustments. The V5 also allows you to view how far you have hit your last shot using the – perfect if you like to brag to your mates about your 300+ yard drives during your round.

A penalties menu allows you to add penalty strokes with various options, including a handy three-minute lost-ball timer. While I prefer adding penalties during editing, my Shot Scope penalty tutorial may help if you’d rather do it on the course.

Finally, as the V5 is designed to be used both on and off the golf course, it allows you to choose from several clock face displays and counts your steps when worn. Whilst the idea of the step counter is nice, it resets at midnight and no daily step counts are logged, so in truth, it’s a bit pointless and could be so much better.

Post-Round Editing

Once your round is uploaded to your Shot Scope account, it’s ready for editing. Editing takes about 20 minutes, depending on required adjustments and familiarity with the process. Although Shot Scope’s GPS is accurate within 5–16 feet, some tweaks improve the shot locations for better statistics.

For those who aren’t concerned about extreme accuracy, the Quick Sign-off option allows you to confirm shot counts and finalise the round, although it disables leaderboard competition. If you’re interested, check out my full editing tutorials for both the web browser and mobile app.

User Interface and Usability

The V5’s interface is simple to navigate with its buttons, although the screen is on the dim side and has no brightness adjustment. However, it’s backlit, activating for a few seconds when a button is pressed, which makes it readable even in low light. For customisation, the watch offers five colour themes (blue, green, red, orange, and pink).

Battery Life

The V5 easily lasts two rounds from a full charge, as advertised. I typically use about 20% of the battery per round at my home course, where I don’t interact much with the watch. On unfamiliar courses with more use of maps and hazard menus, battery consumption is a bit higher, but it consistently manages a full round and more.

In regular watch mode, it can last several days, and it automatically powers down to preserve battery when stationary, which is useful if you take it off to sleep or keep it in your golf bag.

Performance Statistics

One of the V5’s major benefits and reasons golfers buy and use Shot Scope devices like the V5 is for access to Shot Scope’s in-depth performance statistics. With over 100 tour-level stats available, it provides valuable insights into every aspect of your game, from club distances and accuracy to strokes gained analysis against various handicap groups

If you’re interested in finding out more about the type of data the V5 can provide you with to improve your golf game, check out the video below where I take a closer look at the Shot Scope Dashboard (and my poor golf stats!).

Pros and Cons

So, as you can see, the Shot Scope V5 has a lot to offer but isn’t without its flaws. To help summarise, here are the V5’s main good and bad points. 

Pros

  • Affordable: At £203.99 with my code ‘ANDYSGOLF,’ it’s competitively priced for its features.
  • Subscription-Free: No ongoing fees after purchase.
  • Comfortable and Lightweight: The 50g silicone strap is secure, flexible, and dust-resistant.
  • Reliable Buttons: Works in all weather, unlike touchscreens.
  • Accurate GPS: Provides dependable front, middle, and back green distances, hazard details, and layup guidance.
  • Hole and Green Maps: Visual aids for hole and green layouts, with pin location adjustment for precision.
  • Automatic Shot Tracking: Shot tracking is fully automatic, requiring minimal interaction.
  • Comprehensive Post-Round Stats: Access to over 100 performance metrics, including strokes gained analysis.
  • Long Battery Life: Easily lasts two rounds on a full charge, with auto power-down.
  • Custom Colour Themes: Personalise with five colour options.
  • MyStrategy Tool: Free access to a data-based course planning tool.
  • 36,000 Preloaded Courses: With 48-hour updates for new courses.
  • Money-Back Guarantee and Warranty: 30-day refund and a 2-year warranty for peace of mind.
  • Excellent Support: Strong customer service with a 4.6/5 TrustPilot rating.

Pros

  • Non-Touchscreen: Operated solely with buttons.
  • Fiddly Pin Positioning: Pin location adjustment on greens is button-based.
  • Dim Display: No brightness adjustment, though a backlight assists visibility.
  • Single-Day Step Tracking: Steps are only counted for one day and are not logged or tracked for account.
  • Occasional Missed Shots: Close consecutive shots might not register, requiring editing.
  • Short, Unique Charging Cable: The cable is device-specific, so avoid misplacing it.
  • Limited In-Round Editing: Editing shots mid-round isn’t possible.

Final thoughts and where to buy

I’ve been a Shot Scope user since the V1 model was released in 2016, and the V5 more than upholds Shot Scope’s reputation for accessible and professional-level shot tracking. With no ongoing subscription fees, reliable accuracy, and easy post-round editing, the V5 really does offer excellent value for money. Whilst it’s not perfect, it’s pretty damn good and in my opinion, a solid investment for any golfer looking to better understand and improve their game. 

Order your Shot Scope V5 directly from Shot Scope and enter my exclusive discount code ‘ANDYSGOLF’ at checkout to save a whopping 15%. This code can be used worldwide against all other Shot Scope products including their laser rangefinder range.

Struggling to work out the difference between the Shot Scope X5 and V5 and want to know which one I’d recommend – check out my ‘Shot Scope X5 VS V5: What’s the Difference and Which One Should I Buy?’ video.

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