Ben_Howell34

Introduction My name is Ben Howell and I am 31 years old, living in Hoover, AL with my wife and two daughters. First, I would like to thank MGS for the opportunity to perform this test, and Arccos for providing the system! I love sports, outdoors, and am an extrovert, so golf suits me well. I also love to travel, eat out, and experience new things. I work as a major account sales rep for Xerox, so I get to use golf with my work (or in lieu of it ) sometimes, which is great. Golf I started playing golf later in life. Growing up in a small town we did not have a golf course, and put most of my energy into baseball and football. I thought golf would be too slow and boring (wow was I wrong). Ended up playing college football at the University of Alabama which didn’t leave much time for anything else, but I did pick up golf sparingly. After college, I started playing golf more, but wasn’t until about 5 years ago that I really started getting more serious about it. I play an average of 2-3 times a month. I am not a member of any club, and the Birmingham area has a lot of great public courses. I started to keep an official handicap last year, as well as took a few lessons, which have helped a lot. I have also been fortunate to be able to get some new equipment via a sales program with my work, which is a huge help. My handicap has dropped from a 10.5 to an 8.8 in the past year or so, but more importantly I am having more fun than ever playing golf! One reason I am excited about this test is the strokes gained (SG) aspect. I always "feel" like I know where I am losing strokes, but this should give a better perspective on that. Typically, it seems I lose more shots on approaches than anything else. Generally speaking, my strengths are putting and length off the tee, although accuracy can be wanting. Goals for this test According to the Arccos website, "The average Arccos Caddie member improves their handicap 5.78 strokes in the first year!" I would love to see how that holds up in my own game, in the short and long term. I would also like to see how the strokes gained feature helps gear me towards certain practice habits. Does it help me in terms of practicing correctly, or could it mess with my mental game on the course? How well does the actual product work? Is it a smooth look and feel that works almost seamlessly, or can it be glitchy? Is it something fun to use, or just another something that I have to look at my phone for instead of enjoying the golf course? How accurate are the statistics? Can it compare to other players? Could it replace my current golf app (i.e. 18 birdies, 19th hole, etc.)? I do have one friend who already has this application @Mtbryant01 and he seems to like it. I have not really used it with him, so my "slate is clean" as they say, which is the way I like it with tests such as these. If there is anything you would like to see tested or are curious about this product, please let me know. I am very excited to test this out! First Impressions: 20/20 When I received the package, it was not very big at all, which I great as the smaller the better in my opinion for something like this. The packaging and product are really slick, and I almost felt like I was receiving an Apple product. Clean edges and the sleek white box are a very attractive look for something that is being sold as high tech.   The parts themselves were very easy to install on the clubs and seem durable. I was somewhat worried that the sensors would affect my grip but they are unnoticeable on the few swings I took with it. The app itself has a cool look and is very simplistic (in a good way). One thing that did happen in the setup that was not necessarily easy to find out how to fix was that I double scanned a sensor. There were no instructions on how to correct that, nor a very obvious section in the app to find it. I was able to Google a solution and once I found that, it is easy to change. That would be my one suggestion to Arccos is to include more detailed instructions in that area. My putter has a counter weighted SuperStroke grip on it, so the general putter sensor did not fit my putter. However, there is a $20 alternate sensor for that grip you can purchase that is very easy to install. I would not knock off any points for having to purchase the extra sensor, but I do not see anything on the app, instructions, or website that would tell me beforehand that I needed this (albeit since this is a test, I did not purchase the system). Only because one of the other testers mentioned it did I realize I needed this alternate part. Overall, my first impression of this product is exactly what I believe the company is looking for: high tech, sleek, and metric forward. Aesthetics: 10/10 This product has a great look (it does not hurt that I love green). Very simplistic in it's design, which I like, and it is minimalist in how the sensors go on the clubs. I barely notice them which is great. The app has a great look to it and is pretty easy to navigate once you learn where everything is. The sensors looked like they might not be durable, but after using them seem to be very durable. I have treated my clubs the same way as normal (not rough by any means, but dropping them in the bag normally, dropping a wedge on the ground when I go to putt, etc.) and have not had any ill effects. They do not move either. The Numbers: 8/10 When it comes to the numbers, it performs pretty well, but I would not say it is perfect by any means. It tends to underestimate my yardages, specifically on driver. The irons seem to be pretty accurate, but based on me shooting targets with my range finder versus what yardage it says I hit it, it is lower than what my rangefinder says and how the scorecard reads (which could easily be those two things, but it is more likely the Arccos application). Another place I remove a point is the "recommended club" portion of the app. I would say 7/10 times if I had hit the club they chose for me, it would either have flown the green or, on the tee, I would have been well behind where I had driven it. I am not sure if it adjusts these things for how you are shooting over the short and long term (i.e., player X strokes gained on accuracy with driver is better than average so they can use driver here versus clubbing down), but overall, it is overly conservative in my view. The setup on this is very easy and I would give an A+. The only thing that was even a question was I accidentally scanned one sensor twice in setup, and had to google how to fix that, but it was an easy fix. On the course: 16/20 Overall, I like using it on the course. It is fun to be able to look back and see where you hit each shot and how far it went. Keeping up with your score for you is also nice, as well as not having to change holes manually once you go to the next hole. The only time I have to look at my phone is to delete any extra shots that it might add or add any it missed. This is very rare though. The one thing that makes me remove 4 points is the Link accessory. This is a small object that you hook on your belt or pocket on your lead hip to detect each shot. This allows you to not have to carry your phone with you in your pocket the whole round, you can leave it in the cart or your bag. It also gives you the ability to show where the hole is by double tapping it once on the green. Unfortunately, my experience with this was a negative one as I never had a full round that it worked well. It would either miss multiple shots or disconnect repeatedly from the application. After 5 rounds, I finally decided to give up on it and use just my phone. The nice thing is, you do not need the Link for Arccos to work, as the phone worked great for me. I do not think that on course, the actual in game yardage helped me or hurt me much. However, I do think that the overall stats of the application pointed me in the right direction on where to use my finite amount of practice time. The Good, the Bad, and the In Between: 19/20 Overall, Arccos is really fun to use. However, for me, the fun with it is not really on the course, it is more about reviewing the rounds, hole by hole and shot by shot. I really like the feature where you can see each hole's aerial view and see where you went well or wrong. I also love how you can dive into the strokes gained per club, per round, per segment (driving, approach, short game, putting) and overall. It is fun to see improvement as well as digging into what parts of that game you are losing strokes on (i.e. proximity to the hole vs pure distance). I do feel this has given me new insight into my game overall, seeing where I need to improve and how much these deficiencies are holding me back. This is my main goal overall, so that is what really matters. The only thing that keeps me from giving this a 20/20 is the Link issues described earlier, but I feel it is unfair to ding this twice, but also unfair to give it a 20/20 as well. Play it or Trade it?: 15/20 I am very torn here. I do like using the product and believe it has helped me somewhat. I think the purchase price is more than fair for this technology (around $200). However, I am not sure if it is worth the price of the annual subscription, which is $156 annually, for me personally. I knew going into this that my weakness was my approach play, and this so far has validated that knowledge. I do not think that the product really makes me play my best on "gameday" so to speak, but I do think the knowledge of where to practice will eventually make me better. However, again, there was no "lightbulb" going off from this product, it only validated what I already knew to be true. I have 6 more months of the free trial, so my opinion on this may change. I have only used this during the offseason, so I will be interested in seeing how the spring and summer change my mind, if at all. I do think that for a golfer who is a low handicap (I am an 8.1) looking for the edge in their club championship or getting to scratch or better, it could be worth the $155 per year. Once you get to that point, it seems that the difference in winning and losing are minimal, and this could give you the edge you need. Conclusion: In conclusion, I believe this is a strong product that adds a fun element to the golf experience, mostly post round. It also is something I believe can help the average player find out where their struggles are and how they can gain the most improvement out of practice, as well as the low handicapper finding that extra edge. Final Score: 88/100

Played Greystone CC, Founders Course today for the first time. They host the Regions Tradition annually, which is one of the majors on the champions tour. It was in great shape and lots of fun. I played ok, shot 87. Had 2 birdies though, one on the toughest hole on the course, made a 40 footer. Other birdie was 18, which is always fun to end on a birdie. Driving today was my downfall, only hit 4 fairways and 4 GIR, most of that due to poor drives. However, I putted great, having only 26 putts on the day.

Got this Taylormade Stealth 4 Hybrid. Hit it for the first time today at the range, felt great.

I was in the 5th grade, running an errand to the library for the teacher. As I walked in, everyone was glued to the tv as the 2nd plane hit the tower. I remember my mom crying at dinner that night as we prayed. Was tough to understand the gravity of what happened then as a kid, and is still sad to think about now. God bless those first responders who ran into danger for those they’ve never met before. We are fortunate to have men and women like that protecting us.

Sales for Xerox, gives me a few more excuses per year to play golf. What more needs to be said?

Nowhere is it written that we must root for conferences… incredible marketing job by the these conferences to get all these folks pulling for the conferences as much as their favorite teams in the last 15 years or so. I never heard my parents or grandparents generation when I was growing up say “I’m an SEC fan.” If you were a Bama fan, Auburn and Tennessee could be playing the Soviets and they’d root for Russia…

Played Bent Brook again today, shot 41/39 for an 80. Very happy with my game right now, driving and approaching much better than in the past. Only hit 6 greens but missed a few more just off the fringe. Had zero birdies, had 3 burn the edge and 1 literally do a 360 out of the cup. Shot of the day on 18 I hit a drive on a par 4 right at 370 yards. Thought it went in the water well before that, was about to drop then I see it about 25 yards from the green. Not sure how it hit it so far, must have gotten cart path then perfect roll out. Missed the 8 foot birdie putt though

Good news is that is a garden spider and they shouldn’t bite you or be poisonous. But they are scary looking!

Played for the first time in a month today. Shot 78 (!) hit 5 fairways and 11 (!!!) greens. Score is 2nd best ever and GIR is best ever. Actually didn’t putt great as I had 3 3 jacks but also had 2 birdies and probably the best sand save I’ve ever had. Had rained most of the week so greens were soft but there wasn’t any fairway roll either so probably evens out. Only my 3rd time in the 70s so I’m feeling great today!

Yes, had a pic of Phil promoting the next event on the main page. Wish I’d taken a screenshot, I have not seen it since.

I see MGS has LIV ads now…

Thinking about getting the stealth 4 hybrid as I need a hybrid. Anyone used it before?

Cracked open a Summer Shandy while watching the US Am final after church today. Gives me the itch to play again, has been almost a month sadly!

To me there are two things that matter in driving: distance and consistency to stay out of trouble. If you are hitting it farther and the same or slightly better accuracy, I’d say stick with the new swing. But I’m not Hank Haney or anything…

It is a very tough hole from 180. Basically no miss besides short left. Green is tough as you said also. Last time I played there, I played with two seniors who played the senior tees and I played the 2nd from back. I actually played it to the front of the green and got up and down for par. They both got wet from the tee ha. What was your thoughts on the course?

Yes me too. That outing looks awesome.

I’m rooting for Freeman. Kinda feel like he could end up being a great coach for them. He’s recruiting great this far.

Dude, if ND beats OSU they might not lose a game in regular season.

Finished up my “bachelor weekend” today with a decent 83 at Timberline. Hit my irons much better but left a lot on the bone with some bad reads on 4-5 putts off the fringe. Did not drive it well at all, as I only hit 4 fairways and had 3 penalties. Overall a good day to still “salvage” an 83 and the course was fairly empty too so we finished in 3 hours. Back to real life tomorrow!

Got to play the beautiful Farmlinks at Pursell Farms Saturday. Poured down rain for 30 minutes right before our tee time so it was cart path only. Hit my irons somewhat better than yesterday and putter much better. Driver was slightly worse, but shot a respectable 85, especially since there was zero roll out and we played it at 6950 yards. Had 1 birdie, on the hardest par 3 believe it or not. If you ever get a chance to get out to Farmlinks, do it. Beautiful course and extremely pure greens. Great staff as well.

1st time out in 1.5 months and it showed. Measly 89 with 5(!!) 3 putts. Can’t remember having more than 2 in a round before. Also topped my irons like 4 times. Good news is, I “still” shot 89 and drove it great. Only missed 3 fairways and 2 were on the edge. Distance was there too. Oh well, hopefully knocked the rust off for Pursell Farms tomorrow!!

Congrats @Rickp do you know what the prize is?

Congrats on a new PR! Funny how “boring” those rounds can feel sometimes, then you look and say “holy cow!” One thing I heard Hank Haney say once that’s stuck with me is “there are 3 rules to good golf: 1. No penalties 2. No two chips 3. No 3 putts.” If you think about it, if you can avoid those 3 things your ceiling is bogey golf (unless of course you hit shanks, which are basically penalties anyway).

You ever been to a big time SEC game? Atmosphere is unmatched. Go to Bama at LSU and see if it seems like a minor league game…

Had the best mint julep of my life at Bavette’s in Chicago.