How Accurate are Apple Watch GPS Distances?

[FormerBigDaddy]

I have an apple watch ultra and have never used a golf app on it.  I do have the premium grint app but have always been hesitant to use it b/c I have a hard time believing the gps on my watch can be as accurate and consistent as my lazer but I see a lot of people using them.

 

Also, do any of the watch app also include slope/elevation? 

[bm11]

Pretty accurate. Within a foot or two based on my experiences with Arccos logging putt data. 

[FormerBigDaddy]

29 minutes ago, bm11 said:

Pretty accurate. Within a foot or two based on my experiences with Arccos logging putt data. 

Do any of the apps also accurately include slope/elevation?  

[Pepperturbo]

1 hour ago, FormerBigDaddy said:

I have an apple watch ultra and have never used a golf app on it.  I do have the premium grint app but have always been hesitant to use it b/c I have a hard time believing the gps on my watch can be as accurate and consistent as my lazer but I see a lot of people using them.

 

Also, do any of the watch app also include slope/elevation? 

My buddy has an Apple Watch, I have Garmin Fenix 6X Sapphire and Approach Z82 which is a Laser & GPS.  His reading never matches mine.

 

PS, I always trust Laser yardages, NOT so much GPS.  GPS is good for ballpark.

Edited September 10, 2024 by Pepperturbo

[ThinkingPlus]

GPS implemented for recreation purposes is at best good to about 3 - 4 yards. That's per spec. If you find a device that uses multiple frequencies from multiple satellite constellations, then 30 cm is supposedly achievable, but I don't know of any golf device doing that.

 

Also keep in mind that weather, trees, buildings, etc... can degrade GPS signal and thus impacts accuracy. In addition, the course mapping accuracy vs. flagstick location can easily be off by a couple 2 or 3 yards.

 

Finally, LRFs are typically accurate to 1 yard with the caveat they will likely have a 1 or 2 yard offset vs. truth that is typically not calibrated out. You can determine the offset by finding a known distance (football field, track, walk it off with a wheel, etc...) and measure with your LRF. The offset will apply to all ranges.

[Cellis]

I use a few different apps on my Ultra. I will say it is more than accurate enough for me. Like the above said, I am looking for a range of a few yards normally and I have never been off enough to complain, but I am basically always shooting for middle or large parts of greens, not pin seeking. I have not used an app on my watch that calculates slope and elevation as well.

[bm11]

1 hour ago, FormerBigDaddy said:

Do any of the apps also accurately include slope/elevation?  

Yeah. Arccos includes slope as well as wind. The wind thing is only as accurate as whatever source they are getting it from. I always look at the true distance as well as the "plays as" distance and make a gut call as to how much I trust it. 

[cpadave]

Watch is as accurate as GPS can be, which for me is just fine. I've always been happy with Grint and also I've been using the Tangent app this year. Very pleased.

[goaliedad30]

In find that GPS distances are more accurate than I am. I'd love to have a consistent 3 yard distribution pattern. That said, I do use a laser inside of 100 yards, where I'm trying to be a little more precise, but again, the measurement instrument is far more accurate than the execution engine ....

[Tommy56]

I use the Tag Heuer app on my Apple Watch and find it +/- 3 yards of my LRF, to the point where I rarely mess with the LRF any more.  Like others said, it within my own execution tolerance.

[MattM97]

Pretty much most basic GPS accuracy these days is on average a +/-1.5-2m radius and should be fine at a golf course, only way to really get it more accurate is use a booster but for 99.95% of golfers using a GPS that accuracy is plenty enough.  

[bcjim]

1 hour ago, goaliedad30 said:

In find that GPS distances are more accurate than I am. I'd love to have a consistent 3 yard distribution pattern. That said, I do use a laser inside of 100 yards, where I'm trying to be a little more precise, but again, the measurement instrument is far more accurate than the execution engine ....

Agree.  I'll check a laser if I can't tell where the flag is.  Our greens are big, "middle" pin could be 70 or could be 80. But the the GPS is plenty accurate for me in most cases. 

[Yakhandicap]

I was using the garmin s62 (it was as accurate as I need it to be since I’m not good enough to be worried about a couple of yards off) and now have an Apple Watch ultra I’m trying Golfshot on. So far it sees functionally equivalent to the garmin. 

[dishantchhabra]

On 9/10/2024 at 12:54 PM, Pepperturbo said:

My buddy has an Apple Watch, I have Garmin Fenix 6X Sapphire and Approach Z82 which is a Laser & GPS.  His reading never matches mine.

 

PS, I always trust Laser yardages, NOT so much GPS.  GPS is good for ballpark.

Whats the difference from laser to watch gps?

[2Down]

On 9/10/2024 at 2:54 PM, cpadave said:

also I've been using the Tangent app this year. Very pleased.

just downloaded and hope to try it tomorrow.  

are you still using both (Grint - Tangent)  or switched to one.   

[cpadave]

1 minute ago, 2Down said:

just downloaded and hope to try it tomorrow.  

are you still using both (Grint - Tangent)  or switched to one.   

 

I'm just using Tangent now

[hunterdog]

On 3/17/2025 at 9:18 PM, cpadave said:

 

I'm just using Tangent now

Do you use the Apple Watch? I’m trialing the app, using the watch, and I keep getting messages about low power because iPhone not near watch. Do you carry the phone in your pocket?

[Pepperturbo]

On 2/5/2025 at 12:36 PM, dishantchhabra said:

Whats the difference from laser to watch gps?

The difference is accuracy.  I recently bought a new Fenix 8 AMOLED sapphire watch.  It has very accurate GPS over golf courses and mountain ranges, to the general vicinity of where I am located, and gives yardages to a pin that's partially hidden.  Laser is to a target, such as a pin, or bunker, trees, etc., and usually accurate within a yard. 

 

When I am in the mountains, watch GPS is used to mark my way on a map, on the course it gives me highly accurate yardages to front, middle and back pins.  In my DD I rely on an R7 2-3mi Laser with built-in GPS.  Much like my Garmin Approach Z82 Laser & GPS; it targets objects using a laser, GPS picks up where I am in relation, and when finished playing it provides a map of where I traveled in golf cart or walked, and weather, plus added data points.

[cpadave]

12 hours ago, hunterdog said:

Do you use the Apple Watch? I’m trialing the app, using the watch, and I keep getting messages about low power because iPhone not near watch. Do you carry the phone in your pocket?

Yeah I'm using apple watch. I've never had that message, my phone is typically not in my pocket, it will be either in my bag or maybe in the cart if I'm riding.

 

[596]

I use a Bushnell watch, laser, and the app.  The Ion Elite watch calculates slope and wind in the distance.  I pretty much stick to the watch.  I find using the app a pain in and out of my pocket v looking at my wrist.  It's quite accurate when compared to the laser.  

[hunterdog]

10 hours ago, cpadave said:

Yeah I'm using apple watch. I've never had that message, my phone is typically not in my pocket, it will be either in my bag or maybe in the cart if I'm riding.

 

Thanks. App owner told me how to shut off watch low mode.

[awtryau89]

FYI, I have an Ultra and use Golfshot. I have compared my watch to my playing partners Garmin S70 many times on course while walking. They are alway identical. The Ultra definitely has better GPS than a standard though.

[Nickb333]

I use an Ultra and the GHIN app. No battery issues ever, and it’s always within a yard of the sprinkler heads.