SwingU Golf App - 2023 Forum Review

[CudaKota66]

Congrats to the testers! I'm very interested in how the app-based shot-tracking compares to existing hardware-based systems.

[Glenmore5]

You lucky ones

[EasyPutter]

On 6/21/2023 at 2:11 AM, GolfSpy_APH said:

Testers Announced! 

Please welcome and congratulate our testers!

@acatalano32

@Bluesman57

@MuniGolfer

@DeBartola_B

@B_R_A_D_Y

@Dave73nl

   Congratulations Testers!!!   

I have been using SwingU app before it was SwingU and based on the phone's internal GPS system it is more screen time and brightness that uses battery power so make sure you have a backup power source to keep the screen up (will go to screen off power save if not touched for 10 minutes).

Looking forward to reading all about how others experience compares to my own!

[tdroma98]

Congratulations Testers!!

[Eat My Divots]

On 6/21/2023 at 8:21 AM, Tom the Golf Nut said:

I have received emails from them all the time with golf news and such. I was always interested in the app but never pulled the trigger. This will be interesting to follow along. 

FWIW, I previously used the SwingU app until I was told about 18Birdies, which I like much better. I've only used the free versions of both so I can't compare their relative merits on the paid-only features.

[rkj427]

Congrats. to these testers, interested in seeing how this app may compare to other's currently available.

[Wrong_Fairway]

Hi all, my name is Chris Chaney and I'm the Product Marketing Manager at SwingU. We're excited to take part in this testing and looking forward to @acatalano32 @Bluesman57 @MuniGolfer @DeBartola_B @B_R_A_D_Y and @Dave73nl taking the Pro version of the app for a spin over the next few months.

Like many of you, I've been a fan of MGS for a while, and as a lurker on the forum since *checks profile* 2015, I know firsthand the value this site and these user reviews can offer. 

I've reached out to the testers already (check your email ), but I'm happy to chat, debate and share my own experience with our product here with all of you. Any questions I can answer, confusion I can clear up or suggestions I can take to our product and development team, I'm all ears.

We specifically asked for a wide range of handicappers, hardware users and those using our competitors' products to be included among our testers. Our goal is simple: we want to be the No. 1 golf GPS and game improvement app in the industry, which will allow us to help the most number of golfers play their best as quickly as possible. As such, we're open to comments and suggestions from all sides.

I'm looking forward to the conversation here, both publicly and privately, so don't hesitate to shoot me a PM or an @ in the forum. 

Talk soon,

Chris

Edited June 22, 2023 by Wrong_Fairway

[Dave73nl]

Okayyy it works!!!

oeps…

 

 

[Bluesman57]

@Wrong_FairwayCan we enter our existing GHIN index rather than having SwingU calculate handicap based on 3+ rounds?

[GolfSpy_APH]

16 hours ago, Wrong_Fairway said:

Hi all, my name is Chris Chaney and I'm the Product Marketing Manager at SwingU. We're excited to take part in this testing and looking forward to @acatalano32 @Bluesman57 @MuniGolfer @DeBartola_B @B_R_A_D_Y and @Dave73nl taking the Pro version of the app for a spin over the next few months.

Like many of you, I've been a fan of MGS for a while, and as a lurker on the forum since *checks profile* 2015, I know firsthand the value this site and these user reviews can offer. 

I've reached out to the testers already (check your email ), but I'm happy to chat, debate and share my own experience with our product here with all of you. Any questions I can answer, confusion I can clear up or suggestions I can take to our product and development team, I'm all ears.

We specifically asked for a wide range of handicappers, hardware users and those using our competitors' products to be included among our testers. Our goal is simple: we want to be the No. 1 golf GPS and game improvement app in the industry, which will allow us to help the most number of golfers play their best as quickly as possible. As such, we're open to comments and suggestions from all sides.

I'm looking forward to the conversation here, both publicly and privately, so don't hesitate to shoot me a PM or an @ in the forum. 

Talk soon,

Chris

Always makes such a big difference when the companies get involved in testing. Adds a whole other element and excitement to the testing opportunities.

Thanks for reaching out and we are very excited to see how this fairs for all our testers!

[Wrong_Fairway]

1 hour ago, Bluesman57 said:

@Wrong_FairwayCan we enter our existing GHIN index rather than having SwingU calculate handicap based on 3+ rounds?

Yes, you can set your handicap index for a round in the Play Golf screen. Under your name, you can select tees and course handicap, and the app will keep track of strokes for you.

Unfortunately, at this time, the USGA isn't too keen on other handicap options, so they don't allow the apps to talk to each via API or the like, but manual handicap entry is always an option.

For me, as both a SwingU user and someone needing a GHIN handicap for club/amateur competitions, it's basically the exact same handicap number output once you've coordinated the rounds played/entered. The USGA/GHIN has those trademarks/copyrights, etc. but they can't block a simple math equation from being used.

I simply enter a score into GHIN. SwingU has all the traditional stats GHIN has + strokes gained.

[Wrong_Fairway]

16 hours ago, Dave73nl said:

Okayyy it works!!!

oeps…

 

 

Looks good Dave.

For you - and other users here - I should point out that as we all know, courses all over the place are being renovated, restored, renamed, tee changes, handicap changes - you name it.

With that in mind, we are happy to update courses that you see discrepancies on in the system.

If you notice any issues like previously stated, or a course you're playing simply isn't in the system, you can alert me (I can middleman it between the customer service team) or you can contact [email protected] and they'll adjust to the latest / most accurate version of the course.

[GolfSpy AFG]

Like several others here, I’ll be very interested in this review…I am looking for a GPS and Strokes Gained solution.  
 

Congrats testers; looking forward to following along.

[MuniGolfer]

I put in a few rounds from this weekend to get used to the interface and watched the certification videos SwingU had on YouTube. So far, I like the decisions they have made as far as what to track. However, I find some of the logging confusing. The videos cleared it up, for the most part, but it’s not the most intuitive. You have to make some decisions that you question. Also, I find it interesting that the strokes gained tracking is not enabled automatically when you have a pro account. I would think that would be the whole reason someone would upgrade from the free version, but maybe they have a reason. I am most interested to see if it speeds up my logging on the course. Hopefully I will find out this next week. I will definitely be trying out the drills for my practice this week.

Edited June 24, 2023 by MuniGolfer
Forgot something

[MuniGolfer]

14 hours ago, Wrong_Fairway said:

Looks good Dave.

For you - and other users here - I should point out that as we all know, courses all over the place are being renovated, restored, renamed, tee changes, handicap changes - you name it.

With that in mind, we are happy to update courses that you see discrepancies on in the system.

If you notice any issues like previously stated, or a course you're playing simply isn't in the system, you can alert me (I can middleman it between the customer service team) or you can contact [email protected] and they'll adjust to the latest / most accurate version of the course.

I have noticed the par 3 course (aka the pasture) at Timpanogos Golf Club in Provo, Utah is using the old layout from quite a few years ago. Looks like they got the name change and the championship updates, but not the par 3. It’s not the biggest deal, just being a little short track, but I was excited that your app even had it at all, as most other apps haven’t bothered.

[Wrong_Fairway]

18 hours ago, MuniGolfer said:

I put in a few rounds from this weekend to get used to the interface and watched the certification videos SwingU had on YouTube. So far, I like the decisions they have made as far as what to track. However, I find some of the logging confusing. The videos cleared it up, for the most part, but it’s not the most intuitive. You have to make some decisions that you question. Also, I find it interesting that the strokes gained tracking is not enabled automatically when you have a pro account. I would think that would be the whole reason someone would upgrade from the free version, but maybe they have a reason. I am most interested to see if it speeds up my logging on the course. Hopefully I will find out this next week. I will definitely be trying out the drills for my practice this week.

Good call out on some of the data entry. I'll admit there's a relatively small learning curve, and once you put in a round or two, it becomes more second nature, but I'm happy to hop on a community call / whatever you'd like to go over a few things.

Our Chief Data Officer has his reasonings for the decisions made, which can be spelled out better via the aforementioned community call, but by and large, the thesis of the system is the most simple data entry possible without cutting corners. 

Let me know if you'd be interested in putting together a call that I can answer any questions you may have or shoot me a PM. 

[GolfSpy_APH]

Had an unfortunate injury to one of the testers... However fear not we have another great member to step up!

Please welcome and congratulate @tdc1!

[GolfSpy_BEN]

Congrats @tdc1!

[MuniGolfer]

Sorry to hear that, but welcome @tdc1

[tdc1]

Introduction

Hello Forum Members and fellow SwingU testers!

I know I’m a late addition to the test panel but I’m very excited to be doing my first official MSG test!  Thanks to SwingU and MSG for the opportunity.

My name is Tim, I’m a retired 72-year old who first took up the game at age 40, and live in Mt. Pleasant, MI (a.k.a., the middle of the Mitten).  My current index is 14.8 (under a soft cap) but working back toward my low of 12.  I hope.  I play lots of 9-hole rounds with my also-retired friends but make sure to get in at least one 18-hole round a week.  The majority of my rounds (9- and 18-hole) are walking, and during the off season (before April 1 and after October 31) I carry/play a half set of clubs.

My history with golf “technology” is pretty limited.  In 2019 I got a set of name brand sensors when I got new clubs from my wife as a retirement gift.  I found them to be very inconvenient to use and inconsistent in recording data, and abandoned them when the free trial expired.  Until 2021 I was a find-the-sprinkler-head-and-step-it-off kind of guy for getting yardages but I got a GPS watch (Shot Scope G3) early in the season which I very much enjoy.  In 2022 I began training to become a course rater with Golf Association of Michigan (GAM); one of GAM’s requirements for raters is a laser rangefinder so I got a Nikon Coolshot 50i — another great purchase.  I very briefly (2-3 rounds?) toyed with a free GPS app for my phone but, again, found it to be less useful than the hassle.  I’m hoping that my experience with the SwingU app will be just the opposite.

I have been entering my scores for GHIN using the hole-by-hole with stats option.  I cringe at the number of times I have to enter “Missed Short” under GIR.  I “know” that a significant proportion of those are due to missing the fairway (left or right) and not having a clear shot at the green.  I also “know” that I’m pretty good from 100 yards and in.  SwingU’s stats package should be able to quickly determine whether or not I “know” my game.  Kinda scary but also exciting.

I had hoped to go out for a quick 9-hole test earlier today but with Air Quality index hovering close to 200 thanks to the fires in Quebec I opted to stay indoors.  (I would include some snarky comment about Canadians at this point but my mother’s side of the family is all from Nova Scotia so the cousins wouldn’t appreciate it.). I have an early 18 scheduled for tomorrow and the forecast is for much more breathable air so I’ll give SwingU (and myself) a workout in the morning.

Again, thanks to SwingU and MGS!

Final Review!

[acatalano32]

Played my first round with the app, it was awesome. Using the Apple Watch with the app was awesome, loved being able to track shots and keep score from the watch as well as the phone. Seeing front middle and back yardages were spot on. 

[tdc1]

First Thoughts

@Bluesman57 has posted some very nice screenshots of how the pages of the app display for play so I won't duplicate them.  (I'm only mildly upset that I couldn't do a nice unboxing series of pictures or video but I'm sure everyone is familiar with the App Store or Google Play.)  Download and setup were quite simple and the assist from @Wrong_Fairway in upgrading went quickly and smoothly.  (Thanks, Chris.)

For today's round I forgot to complete one important step before starting play so I did not get to collect the data that will go towards the shots gained stats.  My fault, not the app's.

I found the GPS yardages to coincide with those on my ShotScope G3; I liked the overhead view of the hole being played; entering data into the scorecard was simple and easy; and, tracking shot length was a breeze (except when I forgot to end tracking an individual shot and had a 180 yd. lob wedge BUT deleting the shot was also very simple).

Post-round I got an e-mail reminding me that I could login to the SwingU site and review my stats. 

This was when I began to question whether or not I was ready to be a tester.  I mean, it is one thing to to see your driving stats as they appear on GHIN:

 

 

But it is quite another to see them as they appear on SwingU:

 

I look at GHIN and say:  Hmmm, need some work there, buddy.  I look and SwingU and say:  Holy Camoly, did you hit anyone? 

All kidding aside, I'm looking forward to using the app again tomorrow, and this time with all the features engaged.

 

P.S.  I have a couple of questions for @Wrong_Fairway.  Would you prefer I ask them here of send you an e-mail?

[Bluesman57]

6 hours ago, acatalano32 said:

Played my first round with the app, it was awesome. Using the Apple Watch with the app was awesome, loved being able to track shots and keep score from the watch as well as the phone. Seeing front middle and back yardages were spot on. 

Can you (or @Wrong_Fairway) tell us what additional features having an Apple watch bring to the on-course experience of using the SwingU app?  Thanks.

[acatalano32]

13 minutes ago, Bluesman57 said:

Can you (or @Wrong_Fairway) tell us what additional features having an Apple watch bring to the on-course experience of using the SwingU app?  Thanks.

From my round today, it gives you front middle back yardage. It also allows you to track shots from your where you are standing and you can leave the phone in your cart or bag. You can enter your score at the end of each hole with your watch as well. 
The way I used it was, I got a line for my tee shot using the apps satellite to see how far trouble was and where I needed to aim. Then I would use the watch to get front middle back yardage. Sometimes using the phone to see the “plays like” number. I only used my range finder 3 times today, shot 76, definitely not a bad round but could have been better. 
I hope this helped a little, I will focus more on the watch features next time I’m out. 

[Bluesman57]

8 hours ago, acatalano32 said:

From my round today, it gives you front middle back yardage. It also allows you to track shots from your where you are standing and you can leave the phone in your cart or bag. You can enter your score at the end of each hole with your watch as well. 
The way I used it was, I got a line for my tee shot using the apps satellite to see how far trouble was and where I needed to aim. Then I would use the watch to get front middle back yardage. Sometimes using the phone to see the “plays like” number. I only used my range finder 3 times today, shot 76, definitely not a bad round but could have been better. 
I hope this helped a little, I will focus more on the watch features next time I’m out. 

Thank you!  Sounds great if you already have an Apple watch (what is it with the iOS bias with golf software anyway?).  But especially since I already have a GPS watch, I'm not going to buy another to trial SwingU.  I would love not having to use my (Android) phone during a round, but I assume that one still has to do so in order to collect strokes gained data.

[Sluggo42]

Hey spies,

I tried the free version of this app and actually liked it very much, and also the extension to my iWatch.. I really liked the tracking feature.

what I didn’t like was the instability and freezing up endlessly. It became so bad that I actually quit the app mid-round. I’m just wondering if that was happening due to the endless “commercials” asking you to upgrade to the paid version.

my question is: are you having any trouble with the app freezing up? This glitch keeps me from giving serious consideration about upgrading, which is kind of ironic, if the freeze happens due to its own commercials haha.

anyways, keep posting guys, it’s a very interesting app

 

[acatalano32]

39 minutes ago, Sluggo42 said:

Hey spies,

I tried the free version of this app and actually liked it very much, and also the extension to my iWatch.. I really liked the tracking feature.

what I didn’t like was the instability and freezing up endlessly. It became so bad that I actually quit the app mid-round. I’m just wondering if that was happening due to the endless “commercials” asking you to upgrade to the paid version.

my question is: are you having any trouble with the app freezing up? This glitch keeps me from giving serious consideration about upgrading, which is kind of ironic, if the freeze happens due to its own commercials haha.

anyways, keep posting guys, it’s a very interesting app

 

I didn’t have any issues with it freezing, my tracking on the watch would freeze be slow some times but I played a course out in the country where service wasn’t the best. The way I’m going to use it is, my phone will act as the yardage book showing an overview of the hole to see any trouble and yardages to the trouble. The watch will be for pretty much everything else.

[Bluesman57]

9 hours ago, acatalano32 said:

I didn’t have any issues with it freezing, my tracking on the watch would freeze be slow some times but I played a course out in the country where service wasn’t the best. The way I’m going to use it is, my phone will act as the yardage book showing an overview of the hole to see any trouble and yardages to the trouble. The watch will be for pretty much everything else.

So you *are* able to input all the data necessary for strokes gained as in the screen shot below directly from the watch? 

 

[acatalano32]

8 hours ago, Bluesman57 said:

So you *are* able to input all the data necessary for strokes gained as in the screen shot below directly from the watch? 

 

I can’t see the photo you posted, but you are able to post fairway or not/ which way you missed the fairway. You can enter score and number of putts. I believe that feature appears when you get on the green. 

[Bluesman57]

5 minutes ago, acatalano32 said:

I can’t see the photo you posted, but you are able to post fairway or not/ which way you missed the fairway. You can enter score and number of putts. I believe that feature appears when you get on the green. 

Thanks.  It seems that direct access to the app from a phone is necessary for strokes gained analysis.