Shot Scope V5 Golf GPS Watch Review

We take a look at Shot Scope’s latest wearable GPS offering…

Photo of the Shot Scope V5 GPS Golf watch
(Image credit: Future)
Golf Monthly Verdict

The Shot Scope V5 Golf GPS watch might just be the best value distance measuring device on the market. Exceptional functionality, extremely accurate, and packed with useful game improvement features. For the price point, the value proposition is phenomenal.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    All the features of the X5 for $50 cheaper

  • +

    I preferred the button operation to the touchscreen

  • +

    The strokes gained data is exceptionally useful

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Only comes with one strap color option

Why you can trust Golf Monthly Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Having been thoroughly impressed with the Shot Scope products I have seen of late, including the Pro ZR laser rangefinder and the X5 Golf GPS watch, I was pleased to see another arrive on my doorstep. This time it was the Shot Scope V5 Golf GPS watch, so let’s see if it can find a place amongst the best golf watches.

To be frank, this could easily be one of the shortest reviews I have ever written, as the V5 is the exact same product, with the exact same functionality as the X5, just with four buttons to navigate the menus as opposed to a touch screen. Thus, it is $50 cheaper, that’s it, review over!

Photo of the Shot Scope V5 GPS Golf watch

The Shot Scope V5 GPS golf watch also operates as a standard timepiece and can even count your steps.

(Image credit: Future)

On a serious note, that is essentially it though. Everything other than the touch screen is still present, and, if I am completely honest, I actually prefer the button navigation. It requires less precision and I made fewer errors.

As with the X5, the Shot Scope V5 Golf GPS watch comes preloaded with 36,000 golf courses and will give you accurate yardages to the front, middle, and back of any green along with hazards and run-outs. I cross-referenced the yardages with my Bushnell Tour V6 laser and was very impressed with the accuracy. I feel that when you go to GPS versus laser, you are accepting that you may get a few yards of discrepancy, however on the samples I took, at no point was the V5 watch any more than 2 yards away from the laser.

Photo of the loading screen for the Shot Scope V5 GPS Golf watch

The pairing process of the Shot Scope V5 GPS golf watch is extremely straightforward and intuitive.

(Image credit: Future)

The full hole maps feature allows you to see a really clear and simple overview of the hole in front of you and really helps you visualize and come up with the right game plan. Green view and pin placement are other features that I really liked, making the V5 watch suitable for tournament play, even at the professional level where precise flag distances are crucial to my score.

Photo of the Shot Scope V5 GPS Golf watch

The Shot Scope V5 GPS golf watch comes loaded with 36,000 courses and it is very simple to find the one you need.

(Image credit: Future)

The watch comes with 16 second-generation tracking tags, which allows you to take advantage of the excellent strokes gained statistics facility. I firmly believe that understanding strokes gained is the key to improvement for most golfers. The V5 watch makes this very easy to track and when viewing your results, you will be left in no doubt as to what to prioritize in your next practice session.

Photo of the Shot Scope V5 GPS Golf watch

Yardages are provided to the front, middle, and back of greens, but you can also add pin locations if you have access to them.

(Image credit: Future)

Another important point here is that there are no subscription fees. Hoorah! You simply pay your money, and get your device along with all of its excellent features. Simple, and a huge plus point for me.

The Shot Scope V5 GPS golf watch has a neat and tidy aesthetic, is intuitive to use, and has all the functionality you could ever ask for. I have always been a laser guy, and I will most likely stay that way, but the additional features and statistical element of the Shot Scope V5 Golf GPS watch has really got me thinking. One thing I will say is that if I do switch over to the watch side, this is where I will be starting.

Joe Ferguson
Staff Writer

 

Joe has worked in the golf industry for nearly 20 years in a variety of roles. After a successful amateur career being involved in England squads at every age group, Joe completed his PGA degree qualification in 2014 as one of the top ten graduates in his training year and subsequently went on to become Head PGA Professional at Ryder Cup venue The Celtic Manor Resort. Equipment has always been a huge passion of Joe’s, and during his time at Celtic Manor, he headed up the National Fitting Centres for both Titleist and Taylormade.  He’s excited to bring his knowledge of hardware to Golf Monthly in the form of equipment reviews and buying advice. 

Joe lives in North Devon and still plays sporadically on the PGA West region circuit. His best round in recent years came earlier in 2023 where he managed a 9 under par 63 at Trevose GC in a Devon & Cornwall PGA Tournament.

Joe's current What's In The Bag? 

Driver: Ping G430 Max 10K 9 degree - Fujikura Ventus Red 6X 45.75"

Fairway wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour - Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro White shaft 70TX 43.25"

Irons: Callaway Apex CB 24'  3-11 - Project X LS 6.5 shafts

Wedges: PXG Sugar Daddy 54 and 60 degree - Project X LS 6.0 shafts

Putter: Odyssey Toe Up #9

Ball: TaylorMade 2024 TP5x