High-tech sports performance tools continue to be used to improve player performance across all athletic disciplines.
The same is true for golf. This popular, challenging sport can be made more fun and less frustrating with the use of technology.
During the lockdown on coronavirus, golfers continued to train their games using high-tech equipment, such as golf simulators at home.
Golfers can improve their skills by using smartwatches, smartphones and tablets.
Golfers can use three different apps to help them improve their game, book their next golf round, or locate and find the courses they want.
V1 Golf – Swing Analysis & Coaching
Do you want to know how your golf swing compares with the top players in the world? The V1 Golf App allows you to record your golf swing, compare it with that of the pros, and then use the full range of tools available to determine what needs to be improved.
It provides golfers a wide range of video features, such as the ability to share videos with their instructor or receive video voice-over lessons and feedback from your professional. You can find a V1 Sports pro if you do not have one.
The V1 Golf App is a great tool for golfers who want to get feedback on their game from an instructor and don’t play their local course every time.
The ability to receive updated instructions while on the go is an important benefit for young players, as well as aspiring pro’s who play competitively at tournaments. This app is also great for people who are on the go or don’t have time to take a lesson in person.
The technological advantage of this app will not be as beneficial to golfers that are located at home and can see their instructors frequently in person. The app’s capabilities will also be difficult to understand and use by players that aren’t very tech-savvy.
V1 Golf may be downloaded free of charge from Google Play or the App store. The game offers in-app purchase options.
GolfNow – Book Tee Times, Golf GPS
The app has over 5,000 courses available to book at any hour of the day. This includes courses located in Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Canada (including Canada), England, Scotland and Wales.
The app uses your location to show golf courses nearby. This is a great tool for golfers who are always looking for links near them.
GolfNow, which is used by more than 3 million golfers, now includes a golf GPS, golf rangefinders and scorekeeping.
The “Hot Deal” search function enables users to find various discounts and savings — and to get better prices on tee times, with weather protection.
GolfNow’s rewards program is another option worth considering. You can earn points for every golf round you play and combine this with your GolfNow VIP Membership to receive additional discounts and benefits.
While the GolfNow app features the ease of booking a tee time, one thing to keep in mind is that some users have reported issues trying to redeem rewards for weekend reservations — and as is the case with many promotions, other restrictions may apply.
GolfNow may be downloaded free of charge from Google Play or the App store.
GolfLogix GPS + Putt Line
GolfLogix GPS + Putt Line has been a leader among golf apps for many years. The app offers GPS, stats, and free scores. However, the 3D map of each course is also very high-quality and gives precise GPS distances for hazards, greens, layups and other features.
Approach and Putt Break views are particularly impressive.
You can see contours of the green and areas around the green in the Approach view. The tool will help you avoid frustration when your perfect shot ends up drifting from the hole, or off the green. The app will suggest clubs to use as you move the target around the hole. It also shows the distance from that target to the golf green.
This feature is cool, although it requires you to find your ball on the map, and then pull your phone out after each putt. That can be frustrating and take up a lot of time. The “Putt Line”, a feature of the app, shows you a visual representation of the line on the putt to determine the speed and break. This will help you aim the shot.
Many people start by measuring their accuracy and pace on the putting-green. GolfLogix’s accuracy gauge is very precise. However, the speed gauge has a less accurate reading.
The app offers up to four distances for each hole. It also includes a moveable target and an approach view.
You can use the “Play Golf Tab” to search for courses manually or you can create a list based on your location. GolfLogix has more than 35,000 different golf courses. At least 12,000 of them have 3D-mapped greens. You can download the selected course to your phone or tablet within seconds.
The app tracks stats, including score. GolfLogix allows users to choose which stats they want to track and ignore. Stats that can be tracked include: putts and driving distance. They also track fairways, bunkers and fairway-side bunkers. The data can be entered quickly and easily, regardless of whether it is for a simple round score or a compilation of statistics.
Golf Digest offers a round-by-round analysis, and exclusive GolfNow and Golfsmith equipment deals.
GolfLogix GPS + Putt Line can be downloaded for free from Google Play and the App Store. There are in-app purchases available.
The Heading in
Try these apps to find out which ones suit your golfing needs — and let us know what you think in the Reader Comments section below.
Enjoy your next round — and remember to stay out of the bunkers!