18Birdies: Golf GPS Tracker

I used to use the free version of this app when I first started golfing about 3 years ago. Since I have gotten better and have started to hone in on my distances with each club, the premium version of this app has helped me shave almost 16 strokes off my game (from 36 to about a 20) and I keep getting better. Yes, the more I golf the better I get but this app definitely assists me out of the course - it’s like having a caddy in your pocket. The distance feature helps me decide which club to hit, the GPS is very accurate and with the ability to see distances to lay-up spots and traps I have gained more confidence. Why spend 200+ dollars on a range finer when this app does that and way more. I like being able to pair up with others in my group for easy scoring, and it cuts down on the amount of cards I need to keep. If you take the time to put in your GIR, fairways hit, birdies, and par goals, it also does a great job of showing you metrics on where you tend to miss. Overall, I am very happy with this purchase and would recommend it to any golfer regardless of handicap. Furthermore, it does not drain my battery like most other apps do (I can sit on 15% battery with the battery saver feature in the phone settings on for just about the entire round).

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Great app for use on every course I have played so far. GPS is usually very accurate and helps with club selection. One thing they changed though is how many golf bucks (currency used in app to enter contests) you get per round played. You use these golf bucks to get scratch cards for 5 per scratch. You used to get 40-50 per round depending on if you played with another 18Birdies user. And another 10 for sharing your round. Now you get five for finishing a round and one to share your round while the scratch cards are still five per ticket. There are options to share your shots or share your score per hole for five GB each but I don’t understand why that gives you more than playing a full round. I get the social aspect they are pushing but that is going the wrong way with it. I don’t understand that change and had to write a review since they respond to each one it seems like. Just looking for clarification on the golf bucks change. It used to be my favorite part of the app and kept me coming back to it but now with that change, golf bucks seem pointless now

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The major problem with the app is when using the Apple Watch. Yardages are not consistent. Example; I could be standing on a par 3 tee box and look for yardage say 140 yds. The next time I raise my wrist it displays 709 yds. And it doesn’t change til I move 10-20 yds away. These yardage discrepancies could happen anywhere and almost always every time that I use the watch a 2nd 3rd 4th time. As I stated this is only with the Apple Watch. When I use the phone yardage is always correct. This is quite annoying and does nothing to speed up play. I am currently in touch with someone from support and watch is configured as the app directs. I have deleted and reinstalled the app on both the watch and iPhone and has not improved and phone and watch os are up to date. The other thing is with support he claims that I am not responding to his emails, which I am, so there is delays in him responding to my questions. I don’t know whether there is a problem with your email system. I will follow up with another review when and If they can get it working.

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May have to switch golf apps. I’ve liked the app very much and think it’s well developed, but don’t care for recent changes that will have me looking elsewhere. The ‘solid shot’ feature, while well intentioned, is annoying and pretty worthless. Leave it as a buried option, but make it less prominent. The GPS and tracking seems to be less accurate than previously. I regularly had been using as a striving-to-improve amateur the shot tracking feature that was available with the free version, but now is only available as an advanced feature with paid subscription. Honestly, I would consider paying for the app, but $99 a year is exorbitant, especially as most the other golf apps are nowhere near that and I’m a 2-3 times a month golfer, if that. A lot of the advanced features seem nice, but are more than I need currently. The shot tracking is very nice to have to improve club distance knowledge. I would consider a one-time fee app or paid ‘lite’ version with fewer features including shot tracking, but not worth current subscription price. It’s really too bad.

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This is a great app. Elevation changes don’t always work great in areas where it is really hilly and possible shotty phone service. I also much preferred the old shot tracker. The new one is way to complex and harder to use. Takes more time to get the exact post up of the shot and could lead to misleading shot yardage’s. The old one allowed you to move the pins to disk in the exact location and give you a read. If it was not for that I would give 5/5 rating. Edit* After further use of the app I am still just as unpleased after the recent update and will be looking for other apps. Golf bucks are worse in every way now, elevation changes do not show up most of the time, shot tracking is extremely inaccurate and hard to use (due to lag and takes longer to dial in your location which just adds to length of round and takes your actual focus off playing golf), and wind is always off. Bring back the older version or make significant improvements. That being said the yardage’s are accurate and good. Nice for keeping score.