Updated in April 2026 to include a full review of Arccos Air, the Smart Laser rangefinder, the Link Pro, and the latest app updates.
When it comes to products I’ve reviewed here on Breaking Eighty, Arccos might be the one I’ve had the longest relationship with.
I still remember the first time I saw the tech. I played the Course at Yale (amazing, by the way) with Sal the Founder, a few months before they officially launched the product. I was blown away. I couldn’t believe how much it could track, and more importantly, how accurately it could do it.
That was 2014.
Fast forward to 2026, and here we are. I’ve now played over 400 rounds with Arccos. The company has gone through multiple generations of hardware. The app looks nothing like that early beta version. And they’ve built out an entire ecosystem around the original sensors, including a couple of new products that have genuinely changed how I use the system every single round.
So here’s the question: has it all paid off? Is Arccos worth it in 2026?
Short answer? Yes, but there’s more nuance to the answer now than there used to be. It’s getting more expensive, and that’s a real pain point for a lot of people. So let’s dig into all of it: what’s great, what’s new, what’s not perfect, and how it compares to the competition.
What Is Arccos Golf?
Next to a reliable rangefinder, I think Arccos may be the best piece of golf tech an amateur golfer can own. Yeah, I know, big claim. But after 400+ rounds, I’m still as much of a fan as ever.
Arccos is a game tracking system. You put sensors on your clubs, it pairs with the app, and from there it tells you everything you need to know about your golf game:
- How far you hit every shot.
- How many fairways you hit.
- How many greens you hit.
- Whether you were in a bunker.
- It gives you strokes gained statistics for your drives, approach, sand play, and putting. Basically the same analytics Tour pros use, in your pocket, for every round you play.
On top of that, when you’re on the course, Arccos functions as a full GPS caddie.
It doesn’t just provide yardages to the front, middle, and back of the green, it takes into account weather, elevation, wind, and wind direction to give you what they claim are the most accurate “plays like” distances in the game. Having tracked over 1.5 billion shots, the AI behind all of this is genuinely well-trained.
But perhaps my favorite thing about it, and this is the thing I don’t talk about enough, is that Arccos has become my de facto golf travel journal. I travel a lot for golf. I’m still working through the top 100 courses in the world, shooting videos, writing reviews. To have every shot from every round on every course I’ve ever played sitting in an app I can scroll through anytime? That’s kind of incredible.
I can tell you that on the 7th hole at Ballyneal last summer, I hit driver to 2 feet and made eagle.
I can pull up the road hole at the Old Course and see driver, 3-wood, 8-iron, 20-foot putt for par.
I can find the hole-out from 165 I made for Eagle at Champions Retreat in Augusta during Masters week.
All of it, right there. For me, that’s actually the best part of Arccos, even more than the data.
What’s New: The Arccos Ecosystem in 2026
Last time I did a full review of Arccos, the hardware story was pretty simple: Smart Sensors or Smart Grips. That’s still the foundation, but Arccos has now built a full hardware ecosystem around it, and the additions are worth understanding before you decide what to buy.
Arccos Smart Sensors
The Smart Sensors are the classic entry point. You get 16 sensors in the box (a few extras for clubs you rotate in and out), including a putter sensor that’s a bit more sensitive than the rest. You screw them into the butt of your clubs, pair them to the app, and you’re off.
The pairing process is genuinely painless. The app prompts you club by club, you point your camera at the sensor, it registers automatically, and you move on. The whole thing takes maybe 5-7 minutes. A little tedious by the end, but nothing dramatic.
Battery life is a question I hear a lot. Arccos gives a 2-year warranty on the sensors, and every time your subscription renews, you get five replacement sensors sent to you for free (just pay shipping). In practice, I’ve had very few battery issues, and there’s a software development that makes this even less of a concern, which I’ll get to in a second.
The big advantage of sensors over grips: transferability. New clubs? Unscrew and re-pair. Easy. If you rotate equipment a lot (or, like me, you’re constantly reviewing new drivers without Arccos sensors on them), the sensors give you the flexibility you need.
Price: $250 (use code BE15 for 15% off — final price around $212)
Arccos Golf provides tour-level statistics about every aspect of your golf game. And the ecosystem is more robust than ever.
Use code BE15 to save 15%.
Arccos Smart Grips
The Smart Grips are Golf Pride Tour Velvet or MCC Plus4 grips with the sensors already built in. Nothing to screw in, nothing to fiddle with. They look like normal grips, they feel like normal grips, and the accuracy is on par with the standalone sensors.
The experience is more elegant. There’s nothing sticking out of the top of your club. If I weren’t constantly switching clubs and grips for reviews, I’d run the Smart Grips; they’re just that much more user-friendly.
The trade-off is obvious: if you get new clubs, you can’t transfer them, and because they don’t have a hole in the butt of the club, you can’t screw in any other accessories either. For competitive players who don’t change equipment often, these are probably the move.
With these, you get 13 grips, and one putter sensor.
Price: $299.99 to $349.99, depending on grip model. But again, the Arccos code BE15 will knock 15% off.
Don't like the idea of having sensors on your clubs, but want tour level statistics? Arccos Smart Grips are a little more expensive, but a more elegant way to get Arccos data.
Use code BE15 to save 15%.
Arccos Air
Arccos Air (Formerly the Link Pro)
The Arccos Air is the evolution of what used to be called the Link Pro. It’s the same physical device, same form factor, but with a firmware update that unlocks a significant new capability.
First, everything the Link Pro was known for is still here. If you didn’t want your phone in your front pocket during a round, this solved it.
If you wanted to listen to music through a Bluetooth speaker while using Arccos, this solved that too.
You clip it to your belt or drop it in your pocket, pair it with your phone at the start of the round, put your phone away, and Arccos tracks everything. There’s also a button on the side that sets the pin, which, as I mentioned above, matters a lot for the accuracy of your approach and putting data.
What’s new is that Arccos Air now also supports sensorless shot tracking.
No sensors on your clubs, no phone required. You just put the device in your pocket, and Arccos uses AI trained on over 1.5 billion shots to detect every swing and figure out what you hit. I’ve played four rounds with it in sensorless mode, and shot detection is excellent; it missed maybe two or three shots across all four rounds. Where you’ll notice the difference compared to sensor-based tracking is club identification. Without sensors, the app is making an educated guess, and in my experience it gets it right about 60–70% of the time.
Editing is quick and easy, but there’s more of it in sensorless mode than you’d have with sensors on your clubs.
Already own a Link Pro? You already have Arccos Air. The firmware update is free. Just update your device, and sensorless tracking is unlocked. The only physical difference in the new packaging is that the charger says “Air” on it. So if you’ve been sitting on a Link Pro and haven’t updated the firmware yet, go do it now.
If you’re someone who wants to ditch sensors entirely and doesn’t mind a few post-round edits on club assignments, Arccos Air is a genuinely compelling option. If accuracy of club tracking is your top priority, the traditional sensor setup is still the better call.
Here’s my full Arccos Air review.
Love the idea of gametracking, but hate having sensors on your clubs? You'll want to check out Arccos Air.
Arccos Smart Laser
The Arccos Smart Laser is their first rangefinder, and it’s a genuinely good one.
The glass is excellent. It locks onto the flag reliably, the display is crisp, and it performs as well as most of the better rangefinders I’ve reviewed. But what makes it interesting for Arccos users are the two smart features baked in.
First: when you range the flag, you get three numbers in the viewfinder — the actual laser distance, a “plays like” distance that accounts for environment, wind, elevation, and wind direction, and a gust number that tells you what a wind gust could do to your shot. The plays-like numbers have been surprisingly accurate and useful in my experience.
Second, and more importantly for the Arccos ecosystem: when you shoot the flag, it automatically sets the pin. That’s it. You’ve ranged the green; the pin is set. No walking up to the flag, no tapping a button on your watch. It just happens.
This sounds like a small thing, but it’s had a big impact on my data accuracy. Pin placement is one of the biggest factors in getting reliable approach and putting stats, and this makes it almost effortless. It’s now the reason I use the Arccos rangefinder for almost every round I play.
I’ll be honest about the GPS accuracy: I’d call it around 80%. There are holes where I’ll set the pin and notice it ended up in the wrong spot on the map, which is just a reality of GPS signal and mapping variance. But it’s easy to adjust manually after the fact, and the snail trail in the app showing exactly where you walked on the green makes figuring out where the pin actually was pretty easy.
Now, the pricing on this is where things get contentious. The Smart Laser is $299, and if you want to use any of its connected features, you need a subscription. If you already have the game tracking subscription ($199/year), you can add the rangefinder subscription for an extra $99/year with your first year free. If you just want the rangefinder on its own without game tracking, it’s $299 plus $199/year for just the rangefinder subscription.
I’ve never received more negative comments on a video than I did on my Smart Laser video review. And honestly? I get it. Two subscriptions is a lot to swallow. My response is: for the power Arccos user, it genuinely enhances the experience. But for most people, this is something to consider once you’re already invested in the ecosystem, not as a first purchase.
Here’s my full review of the Arccos Smart Laser.
If you're an Arccos power user this rangefinder will enhance your experience in a number of ways. The added subscription is less than ideal, but in terms of performance, this thing delivers.
Use code BE15 to save 15%.
How Arccos Works On the Course
Arccos has mapped essentially every golf course you’d want to play. Fairways, bunkers, greens, hazards, all of it is GPS-mapped.
When you start a round, you see a GPS overlay of the hole you’re playing, and as you hit shots, they appear on the map in real time. As you walk up to your ball, you can see in real time that you hit a 258-yard drive, for instance. When you hit your next shot, it locks that previous distance in and starts tracking the new one.
What I really like about this is just how hands-on or hands-off you can make it.
If you want everything, plays-like distances, AI strategy on every hole, green maps, etc., you can be in the app on basically every shot, and it’ll give you legitimately useful information. Or you can leave the phone in your pocket for 18 holes and come back to find your round is maybe 85% accurate, with a few shots or putts to add in. Both are valid ways to use it.
A few on-course features worth calling out specifically:
AI Caddie Recommendations — This feature shows you a club-by-club breakdown for every shot, including a dispersion chart of your most recent swings with each club and a projected score for each option. You can even pre-plan a round the night before on a course you’ve never played, which I’ve found really useful when traveling. Not everyone wants this level of analysis on the course, but for those who do, it’s genuinely impressive.
Green Maps — A newer addition (iOS only for now) that shows a heat map of breaks on each green, with optional arrows showing the direction. Useful if you’re playing somewhere totally unfamiliar and can’t read the green from where you’re approaching. Personally, I don’t think it’s a game-changer for most amateurs. Just aim at the center of the green, but it’s a nice-to-have feature.
Set Pin Button — This might be the single biggest improvement since I last did this review three years ago. The accuracy of your approach and putting data is directly tied to how precisely Arccos knows where the pin is. You can set it from your phone (walk up, tap a button), from your Apple Watch or Arccos Air (easier) , or automatically with the Smart Laser (easiest of all). If you’re not setting pins currently, start doing it. It makes a meaningful difference in data quality, and there are a lot of Arccos users who don’t even realize this feature exists.
How Accurate Is Arccos?
Overall, I’d say Arccos with sensors is dead-on about 90–95% of the time. If you hit a shot, it knows you hit a shot. If for some reason it didn’t auto-tag, you can go back, see the spot on the map, confirm it, tell it the club, and move on. These days I very rarely experience situations where the system loses track of where I am on the course.
A couple of things to know: penalty strokes always need to be added manually, and if you take a gimme or a total tap-in, you may need to add or remove a putt. Also, if you’re playing a tight course where holes are close together, occasionally the app might not realize you’ve moved on to the next hole — that’s gotten much rarer, but it can happen.
I also want to mention something I’ve noticed more and more over the last couple of years: Arccos has gotten remarkably good at detecting shots even when the sensor on that club is dead, or not even there at all. I review a lot of drivers that don’t have Arccos sensors on them, and I’ll come back to find that Arccos has accurately tagged essentially every drive I hit, because it knows I’m on a tee box, knows I’m making a full swing, and assumes it’s likely with a driver. It’s pretty wild when you think about it, and it’s the technology underpinning Arccos Air.
No game tracking solution is perfect. GPS variance, mapping variance, and the realities of the tech mean there will always be some editing required. If you expect perfection, you’ll be disappointed. But within those constraints, Arccos is as good as it gets.
The Data: What You Get After the Round
The Player tab in the app is where the real magic happens for the improvement-focused golfer.
You can sort by however many rounds you want, set a target handicap for comparison, and see exactly where you’re gaining and losing strokes relative to that benchmark. I’m currently a 10 handicap shooting for something lower, and the app tells me with uncomfortable clarity that I’m losing strokes in specific areas that I don’t always want to admit.
Sometimes the thing you think you’re good at turns out to be your actual weakness, and vice versa.
Arccos also gives you Smart Distance for each club: your expected distance on a well-struck shot, with mishits and flukes filtered out. That number on the Clubs tab is what you actually want to pull up when you’re standing over a shot on the course.
And then there’s the Activity tab, where every round you’ve played lives, shot by shot — available forever. As someone who plays a lot of bucket list courses, this is one of my favorite features.
What I Don’t Like About Arccos
My complaints about Arccos these days are few, but they’re real.
The cost is the biggest issue. Sensors retail for $250 (though the BE15 code brings it to around $212). Then there’s a $199/year subscription. Your first year is free, which helps, but $200 a year is a lot of money, especially if you’re a casual golfer or if you live somewhere like the Northeast and can only play five months out of the year. If you’re only getting out once or twice a month, the per-round cost starts to feel steep. I completely understand everyone who’s decided it’s not worth it for them.
Throw in a second subscription if you want to use the rangefinder, and the total cost of the full Arccos ecosystem is genuinely high. Do I think it’s higher than it should be? Honestly, yes. Do I think there should be a single subscription rather than two separate ones? Also, yes. But they do provide a good product, and you have to decide for yourself if the value is there for how often you play.
The buzzing sound. Apparently, some people can hear a very faint buzzing from the sensors when they’re activated. My hearing isn’t great (I’ve had my left eardrum rebuilt twice), so I’ve never noticed it. But it’s worth knowing that some people find it distracting.
Sensors can loosen over time. Occasionally, after a lot of rounds, the rubber hole a sensor screws into can loosen, and you’ll need to re-tighten it. I haven’t experienced this being much of an issue personally. Yes, every once in awhile one needs to get screwed back in, but this hasn’t been a major issue for me.
That said, I’ve heard from others that they’ve had more frequent problems, so that’s something worth considering.
Beyond that? The accuracy improvements over the last few years have addressed most of the concerns I had previously. If you stopped using Arccos a few years ago because of tracking issues, I’d genuinely encourage you to give it another look.
How Does It Compare to the Alternatives?
I’ve tested the main competitors enough to give you an honest take.
Shot Scope is the one I’d send budget-conscious golfers to first. No subscription, ever. Their V5 or X5 watches automatically track every shot and come with GPS built in, all for around $250–$300 (use Shot Scope code BREAKINGEIGHTY to save 15%). Is the app experience as good as Arccos? No. It feels more dated, more bare-bones, and (last I checked) you can’t edit shots in real time during the round, only after. The user experience gap between Shot Scope and Arccos in 2026 is significant. But if the Arccos subscription model is a dealbreaker, Shot Scope gets the job done, and the price is right.
It may not be the absolute highest-end and most feature-rich watch, but the Shot Scope V5 offers outstanding bang for the buck. Use code BREAKINGEIGHTY to save 15%!
Garmin has the CT10 sensors that auto-track shots, but they require a compatible Garmin watch to function — and the cheapest compatible watch is around $299. So you’re looking at $600+ to get started. And while I love Garmin for health and fitness tracking (I’ve switched from Apple Watch to Garmin and I’m not going back), their Garmin Golf app just hasn’t kept up. The maps aren’t great, the shot data isn’t as deep, and the CT10 sensors haven’t seen meaningful updates in years. I keep hoping they’ll do a full overhaul, and maybe they will, but right now it’s not close to Arccos on the shot tracking side. The one exception: if you have a higher-end Garmin golf watch like the Approach S70 or Fenix 8, you can try their built-in shot tracking before buying any sensors, which is worth doing to see if you even like the concept.
Are you in the Garmin ecosystem and want shot tracking for all your rounds? These are the sensors for you.
My bottom line on comparisons: Arccos is the best. The app is more polished, more accurate, and more useful than anything else out there. But “best” doesn’t mean “right for everyone,” and if the price doesn’t work for you, Shot Scope is a legitimate alternative.
And if you’re a Garmin watch user already? It’s a perfectly capable system as well, just a little lacking on stat tracking and app experience compared to the others.
How Much Does Arccos Cost in 2026?
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| Smart Sensors | $249.99 (~$212 with code BE15) |
| Smart Grips | $299.99-$349.99 |
| Arccos Air | $349 (~$297 with code BE15) |
| Smart Laser | $299 (~254 with code BE15) |
| Annual Game Tracking Subscription | $199/year (first year free) |
| Rangefinder Add-on Subscription | $99/year (first year free) |
Smart Sensors vs. Smart Grips vs. Arccos Air: Which Should You Get?
Go with Smart Sensors if you’re new to the system, you change clubs frequently, or you want the most flexibility. They’re the most proven, easiest to transfer, and the best starting point for most people.
Go with Smart Grips if you have a stable set of clubs, want the cleanest look without anything sticking out of your grips, and are willing to head to a shop for installation. The experience is more elegant.
Go with Arccos Air if you have a real aversion to putting anything on your clubs, or you already own a Link Pro (in which case you already have it via firmware update and should absolutely try it). Just go in knowing that club identification will require more editing than the sensor-based systems. Also best if you play with rental clubs a lot, and still want to track Arccos data.
Add the Smart Laser if you don’t already have a rangefinder you love, or you’re deep into the ecosystem and want truly automatic pin setting. It’s a legitimate premium rangefinder on its own merits, and the Arccos integration is genuinely useful. Just keep in mind it won’t work at all if you don’t have the rangefinder subscription.
Final Thoughts on the Arccos Golf System
Over four hundred rounds later, I still love Arccos. Still use it for nearly every round I play. I still love digging into the data to figure out what I actually need to be working on.
The system has matured in all the right ways. The biggest friction points from a few years ago, needing your phone in your pocket, not being able to listen to music, having to manually set pins — are all addressed through Arccos Air, Apple Watch integration, and the Smart Laser. The AI caddie recommendations have gotten more useful. The shot detection has gotten more accurate. And the addition of green maps, pre-round strategy tools, and sensorless tracking has made this a legitimately full ecosystem rather than just a stat tracker.
Is it expensive? Yes. More expensive than it should be? Probably. Worth it if you play regularly and care about your game? Absolutely.
If you play more than a couple times a month, like to compete against yourself, and want to really know where your strokes are going, there is nothing else like it.
Arccos Golf provides tour-level statistics about every aspect of your golf game. And the ecosystem is more robust than ever.
Use code BE15 to save 15%.
Recent Updates:
April 16th, 2026: Full update of the entire Arccos System for 2026. Review of Arccos Sensors, Arccos Grips, Arccos Air, and Smart Laser. Updated features and pricing. Comparisons to other products, and commentary on which of the Arccos golf products are worth buying, and for whom. Added video review as well.
May 1st, 2023: Review of the Arccos Gen 3 sensors
This page contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Everything I recommend is something I’ve personally used and stand behind.
Yes, It's Expensive. But it's still one of my all time favorite pieces of golf tech.
Over a decade after it's first release, Arccos golf continues to be the best way for amateurs to get tour level statistics about their game and rounds of golf. It's not perfect, and the subscription model has turned a lot of people away. But over 400 rounds later, it continues to be an indispensable part of my golf life, and it only continues to improve.
The Good
- Shot tracking has continued to get more reliable
- AI features are genuinely useful
- 3 different ways for people to track shots depending on personal preference
The Bad
- The subscription is steep, especially if you opt for the rangefinder
- Tracking isn't perfect, there will always be at least some element of manual adjustment
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Presentation
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Performance
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Features and Quality
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Price
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Personal Affinity
40 Comments
How the battery last long in sensors? For me the biggest no-go will be exactly that fron pocket.
They should last up to 5 years. I’ve been using my 360 sensors for about 2 years and none have died yet.
Do the grips come in different sizes?
No at this point I believe they just have one size grip.
You can purchase different sized grips from Cobra Golf.
I’ve been using Arccos twice a week for about a year. I agree with everything in the article except one, but it’s big. Sean may have had no trouble with the sensors coming off, but I sure have. I constantly have to screw them back in because the hole at the club end is enlarged by the sensor. It’s gotten so bad lately that I lose them. I had one replaced,but have lost two more. Yesterday one flew out of my driver while hitting on the range, and later while playing, and I never found it. I’m considering the grips, but that annual fee is a hindrance.
Agree. Bought Arccos Driver and grip started popping out almost immediately, eventually lost in first round used on course. Annual fee for grips makes no sense unless it’s for replacement service when they get worn out.
So there’s an annual fee for the grips but not the sensors?
Having had the Arccos 360 for about two years I have come up with various ways to handle the sensors. My current, and only failsafe method, is the following. Purchase some commercial grade heat shrink tubing that fits easily over the sensor and grips. Screw the sensors into the grip. Cut each heat shrink tube to about an inch, making sure to keep the squared-up on at least the sensor end. Slide the heat shrink over the sensors until it just covers the area below the microphone. Add a small strip of masking tape to the bottom of the tubing so that it remains in place during the shrink process. Using a heat gun slowly shrink the tubing, keep rotating the club so there isn’t any uneven shrinkage. I have had no problems since that easy fix.
I currently use Golfshot app – which is great for on course information but I rarely use the shot tracker. I keep my phone on my cart on the handle. I HATE having stuff in my pockets when playing golf. Is it absolutely essential to have it in a pocket ?
Does it also accurately track your swing distance (e.g. I lose lots of shots from 100 yards in – half swing with an 8 iron or 3/4 swing with pitching wedge because I am never really sure of how far I hit them).
I am very interested in Arccos subject to the above point.
It is absolutely necessary to carry the phone in my pocket? It dosn’t work if it goes in the pocket of the bag?
Thanks
No, it has to be in your pocket. However they just released a device called the Arccos Link, which negates the need for this.
I’ve been using it for a couple of months now. I have sensors, not grips.
Very good product, happy with it. Excellent customer service.
What I would request they should review is: the god system is kind of off, many times shows lower yardage and not very precise. Take a look at SwingxSwing app, it’s really good.
@sean Have you tried Golf Pad Tags? Would love to hear your views. Though I like Arcoss the price in a bit of a blocker.
The gps is outstanding…very accurate. The system fails because the parts easily unscrew when they are being taken in and out of the golf bag.
The worst thing is that the company doesn’t sell replacements. Strange decision to sell packs to the public but not support people who have already purchased their system. Each sensor is the same so why not sell some individually to currrnt customers.
Don’t buy
Thanks for the comment Bryon. I had that issue with one club, but after dozens of rounds didnt have issues with any of my other ones (just the three wood). And they do sell replacements here: https://www.arccosgolf.com/products/arccos-360-single-sensor
You mentioned that the Apple watch works really well with the Arccos. Does that mean that the watch can be used in lieu of an iPhone in the front pocket?
Not yet, but I believe thats a feature coming out in the not too distant future.
I too had a problem with sensors coming off on one set of clubs (I was switching from one set to another, testing, the never happy golfer) I also had trouble with them flying off when hitting off of mats. Luckily, I never lost one, but came close a few times, certainly slowed the round because I had to look for it. My solution, glue them on with a little RTV or caulk. Worked like a charm. The best part, the caulk peeled off the sensor and club grip cleanly. A little dab will do you.
By the way I love this system. He customer service has been top notch. Had a sensor fail, they sent another. Needed the newer slim line sensor for my putter because the replaceable battery model was eating batteries like m&m’s, they sent it to me. I’ve gotten several emails from them inquiring about abnormalities he system picked up during my rounds (excessive number of putts that were added post round, they were gimme putts I’d added post round. They thought I might be having sensor trouble, you’re supposed to putt out.
Works great and Arccos support is top notch.
First off, I purchased this product in 2016 and it languished on the shelf for a year, surprising since I wanted it so bad. Only pairing problem I had was with the putter, thought it might be the battery, it was, changed it, problem solved. I have used it on three different courses thus far, no course problems. Had an issue where I teed off on the first hole, I’d left my phone in the cart, had to edit the drive. No real issue with editing, except that it is difficult to be precise even zooming in and picking out the right tee box from the image. So no problem with the unit, this was a user error.
Biggest disappointment, Apple Watch support :
One of the reasons I had not installed the product, I was reluctant use it because I’d would have to carry a phone in my pocket. I hate carrying anything in my pockets while playing golf, with the exception of tees, a ball marker, and a glove, especially something as heavy as a phone and in the front pocket no less. I’m happy to report that it is not that big of a deal. The box intimated that the product worked with the Apple Watch, I wanted an Apple Watch but only if it had GPS and could call without a phone. So when the Apple Watch 3 came out I was all over it. But This unit and the Apple Watch do not work as I thought. You end up with all three, the AW3 does not work directly with it, you only get yardage info, the AW3 does not capture shot to shot info from the tag, you still need the phone for that. Moreover the AW3, goes to sleep and returns to the watch face when it awakens, forcing you to have to open the application each time to get yardage. The first time I used it it did not do that, it stayed on the Arccos screen, it appears that after the most recent AW iOS update it no longer stays on the Arccos app, if there is a setting I’m missing somewhere please advise. I do love the yardage info along with the “plays like distance” info. You can edit the number putts from the Watch, which is nice.
Arccos support:
After a recent round, I was pleasantly surprised to get an email from Arccos telling me that they’d noticed an unusual amount of “gimme” putts during my round. They informed me (which I knew from the instructions) that I needed to address tap ins so the software would record correctly. I thought I’d done a reasonably good job of that, but I had casually bumped in a few with a half stance.
UPDATE (Nov 30, 2018) I’M STILL IN LOVE
I had a problem with sensors coming off on one set of clubs (I was switching from one set to another, testing, the never happy golfer) I also had trouble with them flying off when hitting off of mats. Luckily, I never lost one, but came close a few times, certainly slowed the round because I had to look for it. My solution, glue them on with a little RTV or caulk. Worked like a charm. The best part, the caulk peeled off the sensor and club grip cleanly. A little dab will do ya.
By the way I love this system. Customer service has been top notch. Had a sensor fail, they sent another. Needed the newer slim line sensor for my putter because the replaceable battery model was eating batteries like m&m’s, they sent it to me. I’ve gotten several emails from them inquiring about abnormalities the system picked up during my rounds (excessive number of putts that were added post round, they were gimme putts I’d added post round. They thought I might be having sensor trouble, you’re supposed to putt out.
Go ahead and trust the Caddie, your score will thank you. Convinced my cousin to buy the system. He’s a good golfer by my standards, a 9. He had major back surgery, thought he wouldn’t play golf again, changed his swing, bought this system to track his progress, now 20 months later he’s a solid 6. We live far apart, but this system allows us to peek in on each other. We talk on the phone or text about hole by hole play we “see” from each other’s round. What a blast, good time to be alive in America guys and gals.
Just received a set of grips for a gift from my family. I too, lost several sensors on the range that was never recovered. My first set of Arccos 360 worked well after i had to return 4 of the sensors that would not pair. My grip set paired well enough with the exception of the putter. Two years later, you would think that someone would resolve whatever issue is creating this. There should be a better way of recording putts, especially tap ins. Why not just utilize the push button feature on the original sensors to self record instead of adjusting your shot routine.
It’s all your fault Sean. I bought the 1st gen system back when you first reviewed it and I loved it. I just recently ordered the Gen2 (since I love my Medium CP2 grips) and just now released Link. I refused to play golf with my phone in my front pocket so the new Link GPS pushed me over the edge.
I’m told by a friend who works at Arccos that with Link and Gen2 sensors (360 and/or Grips) that missed shots are so rare that I’ll be surprised the first time it happens. My Gen1 sensors may miss a shot or two a round, but I’d still consider that really good. Looking forward to even better detection and not having to carry my phone at all.
They have a new feature coming for Apple watch to allow that to be your shot detection – ie, no phone in your pocket. I can’t stand wearing a watch while playing so Link is the best of both worlds.
I’ve been using Arccos once in a week for about last 1 year. I agree with everything in the article except one, but it’s big. you may have had no trouble with the sensors coming off, but I sure have. I constantly have to screw them back in because the hole at the club end is enlarged by the sensor. so, tell me solution of this problem i am facing.
What is the new Link? would love to purchase the Arccos Caddie if I did not have to my phone in my front pocket.
Question – I am in the process of changing phones – do I need to pair them with the new phone or is it paired with the app?
Might be obvious by I am not that Tech literate
You’ll need to pair them with your new phone.
I’m very keen to purchase this product. Is it supported by Apple Watch yet?
Anyone else had success in glueing the sensors with something like silicone adhesive? I imagine this might work ok and allow you to detached them (with a little force) when needed. Just bought these and after reading how many people have lost sensors, I want to avoid if possible.
Also, is the Link on sale anywhere (I see it’s out of stock on the Arccos site)?
How does this product work for practicing sessions note range? Can set the data to practice vs actual rounds? Ex. If I hit 50, 7 irons on the range, can I retrieve data for that practice session?
Since no one else responded to this, but other readers may be interested in the answer – no, you can’t use the Arccos on the range (you can hit with them on your clubs, but you can’t use the tech at the range).
Basically, the tech works by detecting you’ve hit a specific club in your bag and then gets the distance by registering your GPS location at the time of impact and then calculating the distance to your ball when you hit your next shot (so, calculating your total distance from your last shot). It works a lot like other similar apps, but the difference is the sensors mean you don’t have to manually select which clubs you’re using for each shot. So, it wouldn’t work on the range since you wouldn’t be hitting your next shot from where your range ball landed. It doesn’t have launch-monitor capabilities, the sensor only works to broadcast that you’re using club X and then your phone listens for the impact of the ball and it registers a shot. It’s relying heavily on the app more than the sensors being all that versatile or smart.
used it for more than two years. lost a sensor on my putter but was given one for free. some batteries died after two years but was replaced at no cost. I just LOVE this system. Newer had any problem with sensors coming off on my clubs except for the putter witch now is glued on. I’m 70 years young and this gadget has made golf so much more fun so thank you Arcoss.
I think it just a mater of time that aids like these will be allowed in the amateur game. There are so many App’s now that offer “feels like” or caddie information. It’s impossible to police. Some people say it an unfair advantage? you have “bought an advantage”. I disagree, simply because if it improves your game and helps reduce your handicap then I think you should be allowed to use all technology that is on the market. you still need to play the shot. I have used similar systems to Arccos Caddie but ended up for one reason or another to eventually remove them from my equipment. without a doubt Arccos is light years ahead of everyone.
Only been using the Arccos sensors for 6 rounds and having a lot of trouble with some shots not registering and also with shot editing, especially on course. After the round os’s easier on my desktop, but still cumbersome.
I’ve religiously kept my phone in my front pocket so I’m puzzled why shots are not registering.
Hey Sean, Thanks for the review. If using the Apple watch with Arccos, is the Link needed?
No, you can use the Apple Watch on it’s own. But it should be a Gen 6 or above, otherwise you might run into issues with battery life.
How are your averages effected by quarter or half swings around the green?
They use what they call “smart distances” to throw out any abnormally high or low shots, so the number it gives you should be pretty accurate to a full swing with each club.
Hi Sean
If you choose between Arccos or Mevo, which one would you choose to buy first?!
Personally, Arccos. But they serve different purposes, so go with what feels best for you.
I’m not an I-phone guy. Any insight as to how well the system works with Android? I see the app in the Play Store, but haven’t seen any info on it. Otherwise, it looks very interesting. Thanks for the review.