Golf Technology to Improve Your Game

Golf TechnologyRemember when we used to play golf with pebbles and wooden clubs? Of course not, but that’s what the sport was like when it first began in Scotland in the 1400’s.

Today, you can buy high-tech clubs with adjustable loft, face, and shape, GPS watches that tell you exactly how far away from the hole you are, and sensors that map your swing.

Relatively speaking, the way we play golf and the way we solve problems with technology today is new. But, with all these new pieces of golf technology, it’s even easier to help players, new and veteran, improve their golf game.

To help you improve your game, we’ve compiled a list of golf electronics that can help you improve your game.

Typical Golf Problems

For this purpose, let’s say golf problems tend to fall into one of three categories: swing, distance, and grip.

Swing

Swing problems are far and away the hardest problem golfers have because there are so many types of swing problems. When you swing a golf club, so many muscle groups have to coordinate to result in the golf ball going as far, high, and straight as you want it to.

While you can easily find guides to fixing different swing problems in magazines, the best way to nowadays are video tutorials and lessons.  Check out Adam Young’s The Strike Plan for a 17 Video Series on the proper golf swing!

Distance

Not being able to visualize distance and adjust your power to how far you want the ball to go is a common issue and is something that requires a bit of coaching to fix.

You might also face challenges where your swing is not powerful enough to get your ball far enough down the fairway. This simply takes practice and strength exercises but can be fixed in the interim with a stronger golf club to make up the difference.

Grip

Your grip on the club has a heavy influence on your swing and how the golf ball will go down the range. As with swing problems, you can find plenty of published articles on how to adjust your grip to improve your golf game.

The other grip to consider is your grip on the ground. Having traction on the ground can help you make faster movements when you strike the ball. Over recent years, there have been many traction improvements in golf shoes which allow the wearer to rotate and lift off the ground when he wants.

Golf Technology to Improve Your Game

Swing Analyzerzepp swing analyzer

Most golf sources agree that the Zepp Golf 3D training system provides the best value for your money. It’s an easy-to-use device with a simple user interface.

The sensor clips onto the back of your golf club and continuously links to your phone (iOS or Android) over bluetooth. With each swing, the Zepp records hundreds of data points like club head speed, tempo, and swing plane.

After each swing, the app provides a 3D rendering of your swing and points out areas where you can improve. You can even compare your swing to those of professional golfers.

Here are some other swing analyzers to consider, or buy the Zepp Swing Analyzer on Amazon!

Swing Coach App

If you want a bit more instruction on your swing, try a golf coaching app.

V1 Golf allows you to take videos of yourself doing different swings. The app then points out areas where there are inconsistencies or where you could improve.

For a bit more coaching, you can send the videos to one of the thousands of golf professionals who are available on the app.  Download it on IOS!

GPS Watch

GPS watches only recently entered the golf technology space. Runners have used them to track their speed over distance for years, and now golfers can use them to determine the distance to the green.

There are plenty of sleek options on the market, but Garmin has the most reliable lineup of golf watches. The Garmin Approach series and S40 series offer a variety of styles and price ranges, but both series offer real time distance to the hole and thousands of pre-loaded courses.

Be sure to read our reviews of golf GPS watches.

Range Finder

GPS watches might not be for everyone, but it’s still useful to know how far away you are from certain landmarks on the golf course.

The Leupold RX-1300 is a rangefinder with all the bells and whistles. It’s drop-proof, waterproof, and ridiculously accurate. Simply look through the viewfinder and use the laser pointer to mark your target, then the rangefinder tells you how far away it is.

Using a rangefinder can help you learn how to adjust your power for different distances.

Spiked Shoes

As we mentioned, spiked shoes give you more traction which helps you put more power behind your swing.

Adidas has been in the golf shoe game for many years, and their products never fail to impress their users. Their power brand Boa Boost has been a long standing go-to for players, and their new release has only improved upon last year’s model.

The shoes are waterproof, easily adjustable, and offer great mid-sole and lateral support.

Before buying spiked shoes, check with your regular course to ensure they allow spiked shoes.

Club Upgrade

Club upgrades should be dictated by where you’re experiencing problems in your golf game. Highly adjustable clubs can help if you tend to hit left and other clubs can help you improve speed.Callaway Big Bertha Epic Driver

The Callaway Epic Driver is as high tech as you can get. The club tapped into research from Boeing to develop the “energy lensing” concept which causes the majority of the impact to be taken by the face of the club.

Because the club can take on more impact, you get more ball speed and greater distance from the tee. It’s ultralight and a great investment for anyone looking to get greater ball speed and distance.

Connected Video Game

For those of you who think about your golf game constantly, consider getting the Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2014 game from EA. The game works with XBOX Kinect and PlayStation Move to analyze your posture, head movement, and swing plane.

You get to see the whole picture of your swing without needing to leave your living room. The epitome of golf technology.

Harnessing Golf Technology

While some may yearn for the days where golf was a simpler sport, others embrace the many advances in golf technology to help them improve their game.

Not all these technologies will make sense for you and your game, but they’re worth checking out.

For updates on newly available golf technology, check back with our blog regularly.

Choosing the Best Golf GPS Watch

Hate carrying additional things around in your pocket?  Don’t mind wearing a watch when you play?  Want to see what time it is, and how far you are from the green in one glance?  Then, a golf GPS watch is the tool for you!  The convenience, portability, and power of many GPS watches on the market today have begun to make  traditional handheld devices obsolete.  So, what’s the best golf GPS watch available?  Well, that depends on what kind of golfer you are:

Top-of-the-line:  Garmin Approach S6

If you don’t mind spending the big bucks, and only want the best of the best, then the new Approach S6 Golf Watch (released September 2014) from GPS specialist Garmin is the device for you.  It comes in three different colorways, and has all the latest bells and whistles: a full color, sunlight-readable, touch screen interface (glove friendly), smart notification for emails and texts, and fantastic battery life (10 hours on GPS mode).  It comes pre-packed with over 38,000 courses from around the world, and does everything you would expect from a top GPS:  pinpoint accurate distances to greens, layups, and doglegs, score/stats keeping, and customizable yardage points.   This watch even calculates your swing strength and tempo, so you can train yourself to swing more consistently. The watch also just looks fantastic, and will definitely draw the envy from other golfers.

If the $400 price tag doesn’t make you flinch, and you want the latest, greatest tech available, then this is the best golf GPS watch for you.

Golfers on a budget:  GolfBuddy WT6

Looking for something a bit more affordable? The GolfBuddy WT6 GPS Watch is a great, no-frills alternatives to full featured watches like the Garmin S6.  It has all the basic features you need, including 38,000 preloaded courses, and decent battery life (6 – 8 hours on GPS).  It will give you measurements to front/back/center green, as well as your shot distance.  It’s a bit bulky to wear, and will definitely not help you make any fashion statements. But, for just a little over $100 on Amazon, you can always use the money saved to buy some great looking clothes instead.  The WT6 gets the job done, and is our choice for the best budget-friendly golf GPS watch.

 

Best value for money:  Bushnell NEO XS

Want the best value for your money?  The NEO-XS Golf GPS Watch from Bushnell is for those discerning golfers who are always try to find the best balance between price and quality.    The NEO XS is incredibly accurate, comes preloaded with over 33,000 golf courses from around the world, and has absolutely fantastic battery life (about 12 hours or three rounds of golf on a single chrage).  It looks great, is one of the lightest Golf GPS watches on the market, and is very comfortable to wear.  It gives all the basic distance measurements (front/back/center of green), as well as hazards and layup distances.   If you don’t need some of the extra frills of the Garmin S6, the Bushnell NEO XS is easily the best value-for-money golf GPS watch available today.

 

 

Best value #2:  Garmin Approach S1

garmin s1 golf gps watch

If you don’t mind using an older model, then the original Garmin S1 Golf Watch is a  a great buy.  The S1 was originally released in 2011, but still looks great and performs up to par with most newer golf watches.    It comes preloaded with over 14,000 courses (US or Canada), and can be loaded with more for free online.  The S1 has a sunlight-readable screen, and will always provide you with pinpoint accurate measurements thanks to Garmin’s patented GPS technology.  It has also has various features like an odometer and automatic time-zone adjustments.

Despite its age, the Garmin S1 is still one of the best golf GPS watches available…especially if you can find a used one.