Shot Scope is probably ranked in the top 3 for most popular GPS units. They’re well known for their GPS watches with performance tracking tags, but they’ve also started making rangefinders and more basic GPS units, like the G5.
I’ve been using their products for a couple of years now and have experience with the V3 (review HERE) and X5 (review HERE). Both of those are GPS watches, but the difference between them and the G5 is that the G5 doesn’t come with performance tracking tags.
To test the G5, I’ve been using it for the past 3 months and have compared it to one of the basic watches from Garmin. Let’s jump into the details and I’ll try and help you figure out if this watch is the right choice for you.
You can see our favorite GPS units HERE.
Shot Scope G5 Product Details
| Full Hole Maps | No |
| Distances | F/M/B Green F/B Hazards 200/150/100 Layup Doglegs |
| Slope | No |
| Green View | No |
| Interchangeable Straps | Yes |
| Scorecard | Yes |
| Step Tracker | No |
| Performance Tracking | No |
| Subscription | No |
| Courses | 36,000+ |
| Touchscreen | No |
| Watch Diameter | 1.7″ |
| Weight | 42 Grams |
| Battery Life | 8 Hours |
| Company Website | Shot Scope |
The First Impressions
Out of the box, the G5 comes with the watch, a charger, and two different straps. You can pick two different colors, which is nice to change things up every now and then.
The straps are soft and flexible and come with a metal buckle. They also use quick-release straps so you can take one strap off and put the other one on within 30 seconds.
The charger isn’t my favorite, but it does the job. I don’t know why, but Shot Scope uses its own charging connection. It would be so much easier and more convenient if they just used the same USB-C that a lot of other devices use.
The watch itself is nothing to get excited about, as it’s just plastic. It doesn’t have a premium feel, and I wouldn’t want to drop it on something hard. That said, it’s light and comfortable.
I wouldn’t say it’s the nicest looking watch, and it wouldn’t be something I’d wear off the course. That’s fine though because I never expected to.
Compared to the more premium Shot Scope watches, the G5 definitely looks like the cheaper model. It’s quite a bit less money, so I’m fine with that.
Compared to something in its price range (the Garmin S12), the G5 looks cheaper again, and the quality doesn’t seem to be on par. That said, the G5 has a couple of extra features that could give it the edge (we’ll cover this next).
The Features
With a lot of these golf watches, they try to jam in as many features as they can. I’ve found that I never ended up using a lot of them, so the extra cost isn’t always worth it. With the G5, it just has the basics and covers most of what you’d need on the course. Let’s talk about the features.
Distance to the front, middle, and back of the green: This is the most useful feature and I think it’s really helped me hit and stay on more greens.
Knowing the distance to the flag is a good thing to know, but it doesn’t give you the entire picture. What if the flag is 180 yards away and the back of the green is 185 yards away? If the green is firm, you might hit the right spot, but you could also roll off the back.
If your distance control is dialed in then you’ll want the exact distance. If you’re an average player like myself, I find a range (front to back) more useful.
Distance to hazards, doglegs, and layup spots: For hazards (bunkers & water), you’ll get the distance to the front and the distance to clear it. You’ll also get the distance you need to hit in order to reach a dogleg.
One thing that I did notice (with all entry-level GPS units) is that it can sometimes be tough to figure out which hazard the watch is refering to.
Since there isn’t an overhead view of the hole, you’ll only get what type of hazard it is and the distances to it. If there are multiple bunkers on the fairway, it’s not always the easiest to figure things out.
What you can do is used a cheap rangefinder to quickly scan distances or use the Shot Scope app where you can see an overhead view of the course.
What I use a lot is the distance to the 100 and 150 yard layup spot (it also shows the 200 yard point). I’ve been working a lot of my 100 and 150 yard shots, so if I can’t reach a par 5 in two, I try and hit the ball to one of these spots.
Scorecard: One of the main issues I had with the older V3 watch was that it didn’t have a live scorecard. You can now keep track of your round and see your live score on the watch. No more pen and paper.
Shot distance: Most people have no idea how far they hit their clubs. How can you get more consistent if you don’t know your numbers? Every time you hit the ball, it’ll record where you were on the course. You can then walk to wherever your ball is and it’ll tell you how far you hit the ball.
Not only is it good for your game, but I’m sure you have that one friend who claims they hit their driver 290+ yards. You can now check that and let them know how wrong they are.
GPS maps: This feature isn’t included on the watch, but you’ll get access to it anytime you buy a Shot Scope product. You’ll find it on the free app.
What’s cool about this is that you’ll get an overhead view of the course and will be able to see the distance to any part. You can use this before you play or you can use it during your round.
If you’re playing a course for the first time, you can use the course preview feature to go hole-by-hole and figure out your game plan.
You can also use it during your round to get an aerial view and see how far you are from any point on the hole. The downside is that you’ll need another device (your phone), but it’s very useful and is a great complement to a watch that doesn’t have hole view or a laser rangefinder.
The On Course Performance
When you get to the course and are ready to play, the G5 is very easy to get started. All you have to do is press “Play Golf,” select if you want to keep score, and pick the course you’re at.
One thing to note is that it connects to satelites to figure out your location. It usually takes a minute or two to locate your position, but certain times it can take up to 5 minutes. I’d recommend setting it up before you step up to the first tee.
Also, if you find a course isn’t available yet, you can contact them and they’ll get it mapped. I had to do this for an out of town course and they had it done within a few days.
The first thing we’ll talk about is the accuracy. If you need the most accurate numbers, a GPS probably isn’t the best choice (a rangefinder would be better).
I’ve found that most GPS units (Shot Scope, Garmin, etc) are usually within a few yards of course markers and rangefinders. They are sometimes off by more, but on average, they’re more than accurate enough for the average player.
The second thing I wanted to look at was the comfort. Since the watch is pretty basic, it’s on the lighter side and is comfortable to wear.
It weighs in at 42 grams and the diameter is well under 2 inches. Even with smaller wrists, you shouldn’t have any problems wearing it.
The final thing to look at was how long the battery lasted. While the G5 battery won’t last as long as some, it’s good enough for the average player.
I used it a number of times and it was always between 50-60% after 18 holes. Most people won’t play 2 rounds back to back, but if you do, you should be able to make it work.
Should You Buy The Shot Scope G5?
I’ve been using the G5 for the past few months, and have also used the more expensive models as well. I have experience with Garmin watches and also the Arccos sensors, so I can compare them pretty well.
As of right now, the G5 and S12 are priced under $200. If I were in the market for a sub $200 golf watch, the G5 is the one I’d pick.
The build quality isn’t the best, and the software isn’t perfect yet (none are), but it’ll give you 80% of what you’d want on the course. What pushes it over the edge, for me, is the course preview and GPS maps feature.
I know it’s a bit of a hassle, but if you pair the G5 with the GPS map on your phone, you can get the distance to any point on the course. The watch alone is good enough for most though.
One thing that does concern me a bit is the number of negative reviews online. The watch has been great for me, but that doesn’t seem to be the case for everyone.
It does look like a lot of the negative reviews were in 2023/2024, so the bugs might have been worked out by the time I tried. Anyway, I’ll continue using the G5 and will update this post if anything comes up.
If you don’t want to take a chance, or you don’t care about the maps feature and just want a well-built basic golf watch, the Garmin S12 might be the better option.
If you have any questions about the G5 or want to share your experience, be sure to leave a comment below.
15% OFF THE SHOT SCOPE G5
Click the link below and use code “OOBGOLF” to save 15% on your order.
If you use our code, we’ll get a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It doesn’t impact our review or recommendation in any way.
Other Golf Watches To Consider
If you wanted to be able to track your performance (distances, GIR/FIR, etc), you could pay around $100 more and get the Shot Scope V5. There are also other options that could be better for some people, which you can see below:
What To Do Next:
Enter Our Gear Giveaway: Like free golf stuff? A few times per year, we pick a few of our viewers and send them some gifts. Click here to learn more.
Deals & Discounts: We’ve worked with brands to offer discounts to our readers. See our deals and discounts page to see our current promotions.
Write For Us: Calling all hackers, whackers, and golf enthusiasts. Out Of Bounds Golf is looking for writers. If you’d like to get paid to write about golf, click here for more info.
