MyStrategy from Shot Scope may prove to be one of the most useful innovations in the shot/data tracking game since its inception.
Yeah, we just wrote that.
Shot Scope is unveiling the MyStrategy function today with relatively little fanfare. But if it does what we think it does, you may be able to practically apply all your shot data to actually playing the game. Based on what we’ve seen so far – granted, we’ve only scratched the surface – competitive golfers and golf trip junkies will be able to strategically plan their next rounds.
MyStrategy from Shot Scope: The Basics
MyStrategy is a new function on the Shot Scope dashboard on your computer and on your phone. It uses all your distance and dispersion shot data to help you decide how you’d like to play any hole on any mapped course.
In other words, it allows you to build a game plan based on history, not hope.
“Shot Scope golfers can actually match their performance stats with each hole,” says Shot Scope CEO David Hunter. “This insight is invaluable for competitive tournament players or golfers playing a new course for the first time.”
MyStrategy from Shot Scope serves two functions. First, it gives you the overhead GPS view of a given hole and tells you stats on how other Shot Scope golfers have played it and from what tee box. Those stats can be filtered by handicap.
Second, you can then determine, based on your saved data, the best way for you to play that hole. You can compare what you could reasonably expect from your driver, 3-wood and driving iron. You can also see with each club how many strokes you might take to hole out from whatever lie you happen to be on.
Using MyStrategy
Shot Scope recommends plotting your strategy from your dashboard on a laptop or desktop. Once you select the new MyStrategy tab on the Shot Scope dashboard, you select the course you want to play and the appropriate tee box.
From there, you can strategize hole by hole. On the left side of the screen, you’ll see stats from other Shot Scope users who’ve played the same hole. In the illustration below, you see how Shot Scopers have played the Road Hole on the Old Course at St Andrews.
On the bottom left of the GPS image, you select a club to hit from the tee box using the P-AVG setting. That will access your data. If you haven’t tracked shots, you can manually add a club. Once you’ve selected your club, you’ll see a wedge showing the ideal landing area.
MyStrategy, in this example, shows your average driver distance to be 262 yards. MyStrategy also gives you the distance remaining to the center of the green and the average shots to finish whether you’re in the rough or fairway. In this example, you can see that, statistically speaking, you’re slightly better off in the rough.
You can also move your target line left or right to see what would happen if you pulled your drive wide left or sliced it into the Old Course Hotel.
Plenty of Options
If you don’t like what you see with your driver, you can change the club to see how that might work out. It’ll show you where you can reasonably expect your shot to land based on your history with that club and how many shots it’ll take to finish, depending on lie.
So if you’re trying to decide between driver or long iron on a narrow-ish, short-ish par-4, you can explore both scenarios. MyStrategy will also include elevation changes, wind speed/direction and your own dispersion tendencies – with all of that plotted out for you on the screen.
Of course, you still have to pull the club and hit the shot but past performance is a strong predictor of future results.
You can also add up to three notes per hole during the strategy-building process. For example, you can write in something like “Target the water tower in the left-hand side with driver” for your tee shot. And for your approach, you can write something like “8-iron to the middle, 9-iron if with the wind.”
When you save the strategy for an entire course, it transfers automatically to Shot Scope’s mobile app. You can use it before the round to prepare or during the round as part of the GPS function. You’ll see the planned shot layout on the GPS along with club selections, predicted shots to finish and any playing notes you may have added.
MyStrategy From Shot Scope: How Much?
MyStrategy from Shot Scope is free for any Shot Scope user. If you use any generation of Shot Scope shot tracking watch, the new CONNEX shot tracking system or the H4 device (standalone or with the Pro LX+ rangefinder), MyStrategy can use all your stored data.
If you don’t use Shot Scope shot tracking, you can still use MyStrategy but it’ll be based on other user data and the info you put in.
And did we mention it’s free?
Shot Scope and Arccos have been the leaders in data tracking but we’re now seeing apps such as GolfShot and SwingU providing you with options. And while it’s great to track shots, the resulting data is useful only if you can use it to improve what you do on the course. Arccos Caddie will give you club recommendations during play while taking wind, elevation and temperature into account which is helpful. MyStrategy from Shot Scope doesn’t do that but it does help you make a plan.
If you’re making a buddy trip to a new destination, it could be the difference between reaching into their pockets for a little or for a lot.
For more information, visit the Shot Scope website.
