I've Never Liked Handheld GPS Devices But This One Has Changed My Mind
Are handheld GPS devices back in fashion? Joel Tadman takes the new H50 from Shot Scope out on the course to put it through its paces over multiple rounds
At this price point, the Shot Scope H50 GPS is a compelling option for golfers wanting a more comprehensive approach to strategy building to enhance decision making. It does the basics well but has extra feature that add value, and for nomadic golfers, it will be a valuable tool to take on new courses.
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Responsive touchscreen
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Multiple features to enhance accuracy
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Versatile use and storage options
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Takes a while to locate course
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Green heat maps were inconsistent
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The influx of GPS watches and smartphone apps had perhaps initiated something of a shift away from golfers using handheld GPS devices on the course. Yet new products like the Pinned The Caddie and Sky Caddie Pro 4X suggest they might be on the comeback and the new Shot Scope H50 is another example looking to steer golfers away from the rangefinder or watch.
The H50 comes in at a very respectable £249 compared with other GPS devices and I was lucky enough to be able to put it to the test over multiple rounds - here are my thoughts.
Out of the box it undoubtedly has a sleek, premium feel. It weighs 270g, so less than a Pro ZR rangefinder, and has a tacky outer rubber shell that makes it easy to hold. Turning it on for the first time, it required a pretty lengthy firmware update - no big deal - and it paired easily with my Shot Scope app.
With a good first impression in the books, I took it to the course. The display on the whole looks clean and modern. It took far longer than I’d have liked to locate the course I was on (sometimes around a minute) although the instructions do say to connect to the course five minutes before your round.
I’m torn on the hole maps. Initially I thought they looked a bit basic and dated, but on reflection this graphical style ensures you’re able to see what lies ahead as clearly as possible. Touch the screen and the pointer will give you specific yardage to that point.
The touch screen was very responsive, even with my gloved hand, which is a crucial factor on devices like this, although there was a little lag in loading some of the other screen options like settings.
There are lots of cool features on the H50, like having slope-adjusted ‘Plays Like’ yardages for greater accuracy as well as distance arcs both off the tee and then into the green to show you what lies in wait 200, 150 and 100 yards away from the green.
Hit the green view option and you’re able to move the pin position on the green for a more specific distance if you want to go pin hunting - this is particularly useful if you’ve been given a sheet with the day’s pin positions or if you can clearly see where the flag is positioned.
Get on the green and then the fun really starts, in theory at least. The H50 has the option of seeing a heat map of the green, displaying the subtle breaks via arrows and a colour chart with light green being a gentle slope to dark blue being severe.
In reality, however, many of the arrows didn’t reflect the actual slope of the green and on some holes at my home course the arrows were missing altogether. Other devices I’ve tested that offer a similar feature I’ve also found to be lacking, so I’d take them with a healthy pinch of salt. However, I did find it a useful reference when I wasn’t really sure of the break on a given putt to show the general slope of the green.
Obviously a lot of these features (plays like distances, green heat maps) are not legal for competition play - you just need to check the tournament mode before starting your round and all the non-confirming features become disabled. But even then, the H50 is an incredibly useful tool to help you build a strategy and choose clubs that will keep you out of trouble.
I also liked how versatile the H50 was. I could keep it in my back or side pocket, or clip it to my bag using the included carabiner. The latter was a good option when employing the big numbers mode so I could glance at the front, middle and back distances without having to pick it up.
You’ve also got the option of the built-in magnet, which is great for cart users looking for always on, hands-free access to crucial distance information.
The battery life impresses too - I got at least 2 rounds from a full charge with some juice to spare - Shot Scope say the H50 should last 15 hours and I’ve got no reason to dispute this.
Overall, my experience with the H50 was a very positive one. I’m not sure it will fully convert me away from using a rangefinder but when playing new courses, the color hole maps and level of detail and interaction were incredibly helpful in plotting my way around. If you know your club distances, it will enhance your strategy and decision making, which is an area many golfers could make big improvements in to lower their scores.
