Shot Scope V3 Watch Review (After 32 Rounds)

What is The Shot Scope V3?

The Shot Scope V3 is a golf GPS watch that comes with 16 club tracking sensors. With these, you’ll be able to see distances to the green and hazards on the course as well as being able to track your club distances and game stats.

I’m sure you’ve played a lot of golf where you were just guessing the yardage to the pin or different hazards. Sure, you have the 100, 150, and 200-yard markers, but if you really want to dial in your game, you’ll need more specific numbers.

This is where some sort of yardage finder that’ll tell you the distance to the green, bunkers, or ponds comes into play. You have a few different options, such as a laser rangefinder, app on your phone, handheld GPS, or a GPS watch.

In my opinion, the most convenient is a golf watch. One of the most popular models on the market is the Shot Scope V3, which comes with the following:

• Golf GPS watch
• Charging cable
• 16x tracking tags

The GPS watch is what you’ll use to see the distance to the front, middle, and back of the green as well as the distance to different hazards (front and distance to clear) like bunkers, doglegs, and water.

The tracking tags are what you screw into the ends of your grips to record data about your game. Every shot during your round will be automatically tracked and recorded. This info will let you analyze your game to see your shot distances with each club as well as info about your tee shots, approach shots, short game, and putting.

Shot Scope V3 Setup

Before you head to the course, you’ll want to make sure you’ve set the watch up and connected it to the mobile app. It’s a pretty simple process, but if you want a more in-depth tutorial, you can read the Shot Scope V3 user guide here.

Here are the steps you’ll need to take to get everything set up:

1. Charge watch.
2. Download app.
3. Connect app to phone.
4. Subscribe to local courses and sync.
5. Setup bag and add tags.

Charging watch: The first thing you’ll want to do is charge your watch. When I got mine, the battery was at 0%, so it took roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes to fully charge. I’m sure you don’t need an explanation for how to charge it, but if you do, check out the demo video below or the user guide above.

Download app: After you’ve charged the watch, it’ll tell you to download the app. Simply go to the app store on whatever phone you have, search for “shot scope”, and download the app. It’ll then get you to create an account, put in some info, and connect to your watch.

Subscribe to courses: It’s then going to ask you to subscribe to some of your local courses. I’d recommend adding any of the courses you normally go to, but you can always do this later. There’s a quick little tutorial that’ll walk you through this process.

Setup bag & tags: The final step is to build your bag and connect the tracking tags to your clubs. Head on over to the app, click on “more”, and then “my bag”.

You’ll then want to select whatever clubs you have in the bag and add the make and model. You can then attach one of the tracking tags to each club. The tag that has “D” on it is for the driver. Make sure you put the right tag on the right club. The tag with “P” on it will only work on the putter.

Starting A Round With The Shot Scope V3

Before you step up to the first tee and take your shot, you’ll want to be sure that you’ve started the round on your watch. It can take a few minutes for things to connect, so that’s why I’d recommend doing this 5-10 minutes before you hit.

Here’s how to start your round on the Shot Scope V3:

1. Press the bottom left button.
2. Navigate to play.
3. Press the top right button.
4. Select the mode you want to play.
5. Press the top right button.
6. Select the course you’re playing.

Getting started is super simple and you shouldn’t have any issues getting things working. The only thing you’ll need to figure out is what mode you want to use. The watch has three different modes:

• GPS.
• Track.
• GPS + Track.

GPS mode: This is the most basic mode and is probably the main thing you bought the watch for. This will tell you the distance to the green, hazards, and layup spots. The club trackers won’t be used so you won’t get any analytics about your game.

Track mode: This mode probably won’ be used a whole lot and is mainly for if you already have some sort of yardage finder. The GPS function won’t work (distance to the green, hazards, etc), but your club distances and game stats will be tracked.

GPS + track mode: This is the mode you’ll use the majority of the time because it uses both features. You’ll get course info as well as data about your game. The downside is that it’ll use the most battery.

Shot Scope V3: Build Quality & Design

I’ve never been much of a watch guy, so there have been a few golf watches in the past that I didn’t find too comfortable. They might offer more features or are more rugged, but the increase in size isn’t worth it for me.

That being said, if we’re going to spend a couple of hundred bucks on a watch, we need to be sure the quality is there and it’s also comfortable. Both are a must for me.

In terms of comfort, the watch actually fit my wrist really well. I don’t have big wrists so the watch sat on top really nicely. My dad has bigger wrists than me, so I got him to try the watch on and he said it was pretty comfortable too.

If you’ve used the Shot Scope V2 in the past, you’ll know that it’s kind of big and bulky (the reason I didn’t use it). The newer V3 is much more compact and I think it’s a lot more comfortable.

It’s also somewhat similar to the Garmin S10 in terms of shape (the V3 is much better). The V3 is longer than both of them and has a bigger screen size. The width and depth of the V3 are less than the other two and I think it makes the watch a bit more comfortable.

In terms of quality, I’ve only had the watch for a few months, but there aren’t any signs of faultiness. I didn’t really feel like dropping the watch, so I can’t really comment on the quality of the screen.

The buckle on the strap is also plastic, so that could be something that might break if dropped. That being said, you can always buy a replacement strap.

Other than that, the strap itself seems really durable and is attached well to the screen. I’ve pulled on it pretty well and there’s no sign of things breaking.

I also like the fact that it uses buttons instead of a touchscreen. Other watches I’ve tried in the past were kind of glitchy and they aren’t going to work if you’re wearing two gloves (I do often).

Shot Scope V3: On-Course Features

This is the main section you’d be interested in so I wanted to go over all the different features the V3 offers. Compared to other watches, some features were missing while some were not on others.

Courses: If the course you normally play isn’t on the watch then there really isn’t a reason to buy one. Right now, there are somewhere around 36,000 courses from around the world on the watch.

In my area, all of the courses I normally play were already on the watch. I was also surprised that the unkept pitch and putt across the street were on there too. One of the courses I play often that’s out of town wasn’t on it, but I requested it to be mapped, and was available within about a week.

Distances: The reason you wanted a golf GPS was to see the distances to different parts of the course, such as the distance to the front, middle, and back of the green. This watch isn’t as advanced as some, but that’s fine because it offers other things.

You’ll also be able to see the distance to hazards and layup spots. For hazards (bunkers, water, etc), you’ll see the distance to the front and back of them as well as what side of the fairway they’re on.

The one thing that wasn’t available was the distance to doglegs. It would be nice to have but it’s not a huge deal, in my opinion.

Shot distance: One of the features I like to use the most is the shot distance function. Everyone wants to know how far they crushed their drive (even if it’s two fairways over). After your shot, click on the top left button, select last shot, and you’ll see how far you hit it.

Club distances: If you were anything like me in the past, you probably just guessed how far you were from the hole, picked whatever club you thought would get there, and let it rip.

The problem is that more often than not, you’d be 20 yards long or short. Actually knowing how far you hit each club is incredibly useful if you want to improve scores. The tags you put on each club will track your distances and give you an average number in the app.

Scorecard: One of the downsides to this watch is that you can’t actually see a live scorecard of your round. You’ll still need to carry a paper scorecard if you’re playing against your buddy for money.

That being said, you’ll be able to see your scorecard after you finish your round and upload the data to the app. Not ideal, at least you can keep track of things over time.

Stat tracking: This is pretty cool because it’ll let you see an in-depth analysis of your game and where you need to improve. Once your round is uploaded to the app, you’ll be able to see an overhead view of each hole and where you hit each shot.

After you play a few rounds, you’ll be able to see stats about your game. You can see fairways hit, how often you missed left or right, strokes gained, number of putts, whether you miss the green long or short, and a number of other cool things.

Manual pin placement: Certain watches will let you drag the pin to different spots on the green to give you a more precise distance. Unfortunately, the V3 doesn’t offer that. It only gives the distance to the front, middle, and back of the green.

Slope/elevation: I’m sure you’ve hit a shot where you were hitting downhill 150 yards from the pin, grabbed your standard club, and blasted it 20 yards long. That’s because you didn’t factor in elevation.

Some GPS units will figure that out for you and will tell you the 150-yard shot plays like 130 yards. The V3 doesn’t offer this though, which would be nice, but it’s not a deal-breaker for me. Plus, this isn’t allowed in tournament play.

Shot Scope V3: Off-Course Features

When it comes to watches, some people just want something that’ll work on the course. They’re after golf-specific features, only want to analyze their game, and don’t care about anything else.

On the other hand, you have people that want to use their watch off the course as well. They might want to track their workouts, heart rate, swimming stats, or whatever else they’re into.

The main benefit of the V3 is that it’ll give you pretty much all you need on the course, for a good price. The downside is that it doesn’t really do anything else.

Here are the non-golf features the V3 offers:

• Time
• Date

That’s pretty much it. There aren’t a whole lot of bells and whistles on this watch, but for the avid golfer who wants to improve their game, it shouldn’t really matter.

Shot Scope V3: Golf App

The app is one of the main reasons you’d get a watch like this. Other watches on the market have similar features to the V3, but the biggest difference is that the V3 tracks your game and shows you data.

Here are just a few of the features of the app:

• Round overview
• Fairway & greens in regulation
• Hole overview
• Club distances
• Tee, approach, and short-game stats

Let’s start with the round overview. Once you finish your round you’ll be able to upload it to the app and see your scorecard and a number of other numbers (right image below). You’ll also be able to see your fairway and greens in regulation stats as well as putts per hole.

The second thing you’ll be able to see is an overhead view of each hole. You’ll be able to see where you hit the ball on each hole and how long your shot was (left image above). You can also make any edits for errors or penalties.

One of the most helpful things is the club distance tracker (below). I don’t know about you, but I never really knew how far I hit each of my clubs and it was always a guess. Some shots went way too long while others landed 20 yards short.

It’s not really something I’ve looked at much, but you’ll be able to track milestones on the course. Driving distance, driving accuracy, and a number of other things to work towards.

I’m sure you know what your most common miss is, but it’s always helpful to see the actual numbers. You’ll be able to see your approach shot stats (middle image below) to see what percent of your shots hit the green and what percent miss left or right.

The same goes for your tee shots (right image above). You can see how many fairways you hit and how many missed left or right. It’ll also tell you your longest drive (I played the round above with a 6 iron off the tee, in case you were laughing at my distance).

The final thing to look at is how you performed on the green (left image above). You can see how many you left short or how many you blasted past the hole. Average putts per round and putts per hole are also shown.

How Accurate Is The Shot Scope V3?

On average, the Shot Scope V3 was always within 5 yards of the course markers and my laser rangefinder. These numbers are quite standard compared to other leading golf watches.

Obviously, you need a unit that will be accurate, otherwise, there’s really no reason to have it. I didn’t expect the V3 to be perfect 100% of the time, but it was close enough for me.

A lot of the time, the numbers were almost identical to the course markers and also my laser rangefinder. There were a few times when the numbers were 4-5 yards different, but in my opinion, that’s still close enough.

It could have been slightly different because my rangefinding skills were off that day, but who knows? All I know is that the leading GPS units aren’t always 100% accurate.

Shot Scope V3: Battery Life

On average, the Shot Scope V3 battery will last 10 hours on GPS + Track mode. After playing 9 holes (2.5 hours) with a full charge the V3 had 74% of its battery life left.

This is exactly what Shot Scope said, which was good to see. If you just use Track or GPS mode (and not both), you might be able to squeeze a bit more out of it.

Basically, if you play two rounds at a normal speed, you should only need one charge. If you play two rounds on a slow day, it might be a little tight. I don’t know about you, but I never play two rounds back to back. All you have to do is charge it when you get home and you’ll be good to go.

Shot Scope V3 vs Shot Scope V2

Compared to the V2, the Shot Scope V3 is a much more compact watch that also comes with more accurate technology, interchangeable straps, and better battery life.

The V2 came out in 2017, and even though it’s quite a bit cheaper, I’d much rather have the newer V3. The size and shape of the V3 are so much better and are worth the extra cost.

If you ever want to get a new strap or change the color, the V3 is the only one that can do that. Plus, the battery life on the V3 is somewhere around 4 hours more.

Shot Scope V3 vs Arccos Caddie

The V3 and Arccos systems are both high-quality devices that offer a lot of the same features. The main benefits of the V3 are that you don’t have to pay an annual subscription fee and you can see the yardages on your watch, instead of needing your phone.

Before the V3 came out, the Arccos Caddie was my favorite club tracker. The biggest downside was that you needed to carry your phone with you (and have it in your front pocket if you don’t have the Link).

Also, with their latest system, you have to pay an annual fee ($99). I really don’t like that, and it’s a big selling point of the V3.

Shot Scope V3 vs Garmin S42

The Shot Scope V3 is a less expensive golf watch that’s easier to use and also offers the most golf-specific features. The Garmin S42 is a watch that’s not only built for people who want to use it on the course, but it also offers the features of an everyday smartwatch.

The V3 isn’t going to cost you as much but it’s something that you’ll only use on the golf course. I did find it easier to use on the course and the analysis of your game is as good as it gets.

The S42 is a bit higher quality and better looking and is something you can use as an everyday watch. The downside is that you don’t get as many golf-specific features, and if you do want those, you’ll have to spend even more on an additional accessory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Use Shot Scope V3 At The Driving Range? Shot Scope devices are built solely for the course and cannot be used at the driving range. Having already mapped out boundaries is what enables Shot Scope to provide the data and info about your game.

Does Shot Scope Keep Score? Shot Scope devices don’t act as a scorecard, so you won’t be able to keep your score during a round. However, you’ll be able to see your scorecard after the round once you’ve uploaded your round to the app.

Does Shot Scope V3 Have Slope? Shot Scope watches don’t take into account elevation and slope. They provide a straight line distance to different parts of the course, which makes them legal for tournament play.

Is The Shot Scope V3 Worth It?

When deciding whether or not to get this watch, it really comes down to what you’re looking for. For some people, it could be perfect. For others, it might not be the best choice.

If you’re someone who’s serious about golf, wants to improve their game, and wants the most golf-specific features, I think the V3 is the right choice for you.

There are other good choices on the market, but most of them come with their downsides. Some require you to carry your phone while others require another accessory to give you the same info.

Also, if you want to save some money and don’t really care about tracking your club distances and game stats, Shot Scope has its G3 model. The watch is exactly the same as the V3, but it doesn’t come with tracking tags.

If you’re still unsure about whether or not the Shot Scope is right for you, I’d recommend you check out our article on the best GPS units for golf. It’ll give you some of our favorite units as well as which one will be perfect for you.

If you have any questions or want to share your experience with the V3, make sure to leave a comment below.