Swing ID by Golfshot

• Swing ID by Golfshot allows you to capture swing data during play.
• The Golfshot app pairs with an Apple Watch to collect data.
• You can review the data during or after your round.

Swing ID by Golfshot may already be in your iPhone

Many of you are loyal Golfshot app users. I understand. Golfshot was one of the first golf apps I downloaded on my first iPhone. Many iPhones have come and gone since my first one and a version of Golfshot lived on each and every one.

Naturally, Golfshot is on my current iPhone.

A few years ago, I chronicled some helpful Apple Watch golf apps. Many of you were kind enough to leave a comment letting me know that I had missed the Golfshot watch app. Turns out I’m not omniscient. Who knew?

Now I’ve come to find out that there is another Golfshot app feature that flew under my radar. Golfshot has a new Swing ID feature for the app and Apple Watch. If you are a Golfshot Pro member, this feature is already available in your app settings.

Those of you with the free Golfshot GPS or the upgraded Golfshot Plus membership can see the Swing ID menu in the app but you will need to pay to use it.

So what is Swing ID and how much does it cost? 

Golfshot Swing ID Technical Requirements

• iPhone 6 or newer to run Golfshot app
• Apple Watch Series 3 and above running Apple watch OS 7.0 or greater
• Apple Watch Series 6 or newer recommended
• Required upgrade to Golfshot Pro
• Free seven-day trial
• After the free trial, it’s US$59.99 a year or US$14.99 a month for free Golfshot members or $39.99 annually or $8.99 monthly for existing Golfshot Plus members.

Swing ID: Golfshot Pro Upgrade Required

Let’s tackle the price first. If you are using the free version of Golfshot, upgrading to Golfshot Pro will cost US $59.99 a year or US$14.99 a month. I’m only going to focus on the Swing ID feature but the upgrade to Golfshot Pro also unlocks a number of additional features in the Golfshot app.

Those of you who have already paid the $119.99 one-time payment for lifetime access to Golfshot Plus will pay a reduced annual ($39.99) or monthly ($8.99) fee to upgrade to Golfshot Pro.

Golfshot Swing ID tracks your swing metrics while you play golf.

Now that we have covered the cost, let’s take a look at what Golfshot’s Swing ID feature is all about. At its essence, Swing ID uses the Apple Watch to record your swing data while you play golf. I may be underselling it a bit in terms of what it records. Here is what Swing ID tracks for you.

Swing ID tracks these Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) as you play, recording data for each of your swings. Yes, it can tell the difference between your practice swings and your golf course swing. Swing ID keeps the swing data for the last one you take before the GPS tracks you walking to your ball.

Unfortunately, this does mean that you should not take rage swings after your shot if you want accurate data.

As you play, Swing ID will record your usual swing metrics, quickly identifying your average values. When you play or review a round, you can then see where you deviated from your norms. Did you pull your 7-iron into the drink on the 14th hole? Swing ID lets you see exactly why that happened.

Can using Swing ID improve your swing?

Will recording all of this swing data help you play better? I’d say yes, although not in a direct fashion. Swing ID records your swing data, be that optimal or sub-optimal. It is useful to know if an errant shot resulted from unusual tempo or a deviation from your normal path.

However, what if your normal tempo and path are deviant?

For this situation, Swing ID will help you see the areas of weakness but will not provide immediate feedback or corrections. Sadly, the B. F. Skinner option, where your Apple Watch shocks you when it records bad swing data, is not yet available.

Knowing the data is very important as that knowledge will help you identify what needs to be fixed. Once you know your issues, the Golfshot app can help you find drills to help your swing faults.

There are hundreds of videos in the Golfshot app. You can easily search the video library for a way to address your issues. (Golf swing issues, anyway.)

Swing ID can identify clubs that don’t fit you.

Have you ever felt there was one club in your bag that just doesn’t work for you? For me, it was my 3-wood. For the longest time, I thought the only purpose of having a 3-wood was to hold my towel. Swinging the thing guaranteed a double-bogey or worse.

Only later did I realize that my 3-wood was totally incompatible with my swing. My swing was OK but not with that club. If I’m being honest, Marsellus Wallace would say my swing was “pretty ****ing far from OK” but that cursed club was making it worse.

Check out the graphic above with the individual club data. Admittedly, the bag make-up is a chaotic amalgamation of brands but the numbers shown are interesting. Look at the 7-iron versus the 9. The tempo and path numbers couldn’t be more different.

Naturally, these numbers are made up but Swing ID has the ability to uncover these deviations in your bag. That would help you to remove the offending club and likely improve your scoring.

Swing ID: The more you know.

Simply stated, Swing ID tells you your swing data. What you do with the data is up to you but it should prove significant. Once you know your swing tendencies, you can work to tighten up your good tendencies and, ideally, eliminate the bad. Swing ID won’t replace your golf instructor but it should help identify what you should be working on with them.

Swing ID does have one significant limitation. While it can track every shot during your round, Swing ID does not work when you practice. Unfortunately, it will not provide data on the driving range. Perhaps this feature is being developed for a future version of the app. This addition would make the app killer.

Really, though, it’s the on-course swing that matters and Swing ID will capture data on all of those swings for you.

Learn more about Golfshot’s Swing ID feature at Golfshot.com