Equipment
Arccos: The real time shot-tracking system for your phone
Professional golfers have all kinds of systems and tools for tracking their performance so they can identify their strengths and weaknesses and work on improvements. For the amateur golfer, there really was no such tool a few months ago. First came Game Golf’s introduction of a shot-tracking system, and it appears that there could be several companies competing for market share in that space.
One newcomer is Arccos, a Stamford, Connecticut-based company founded in 2012 that created a GPS golf shot tracking system that automatically tracks your round and gives real-time feedback as you make your way around the course.
[quote_box_center]“If you want to get better, you need to know what to work on to improve,” said Sal Syed, who co-founded the company with friend Ammad Faisal. “Arccos is revealing your game to you, so you can see what to do to refine your game. If you just love golf, now you can track all your rounds in one place, share your stats and connect to other golfers: all without having to do anything differently.”[/quote_box_center]
While tracking golf stats is certainly not a new thing, having the ability to do it instantly and automatically is something that up to now wasn’t possible. That’s what makes Arccos unique; its real-time tracking system enables golfers to get immediate data and feedback right out on the course.
[quote_box_center]”Arccos is also the only system that is fully automatic; no need for additional devices or additional actions,” said Syed. “Once the sensors are on your clubs, all you need to do is swing and Arccos will track everything automatically. And with our Tour Analytics platform, everything that is tracked is also analyzed, giving meaning to each part of your game.”[/quote_box_center]
Here’s how it works.
Arccos consists of a set of 14 intelligent sensors that attach to the grip-end of your club. A player pairs the sensors once with their iPhone so that Arccos knows which sensor is attached to which club. After that, when a shot is taken, Arccos automatically detects when you hit a shot while also intelligently filtering out practice swings.
When the sensor detects that you have taken a shot, it sends a Bluetooth message to the iPhone telling it what club was hit allowing the iPhone to record the location of each shot hit. Arccos calculates the distance of the shot by comparing where a player teed off to where they took the next shot.
[quote_box_center]“Arccos both tracks your stats and analyzes them, making sure you have the numbers you want to see with the context to understand what they mean for your game,” Syed said. “Arccos gives you data in real time as you play. We also give you deep analysis post round.”[/quote_box_center]
Starting with standard stats like GIRs, fairways hit, putts per hole, Arccos then goes deeper using the company’s proprietary tour analytics platform to break down each aspect of your game (driving, approach, chipping, sand game, putting) by handicap and then quantifies your strengths and weaknesses. For example, a 10-handicap golfer might drive like a 15-handicapper while putting like a 2-handicapper, Syed said. Arccos enables golfers to identify their top improvement priorities.
The original technology for Arccos was born in Callaway Research and Development. Syed had met Alan Hocknell, Callaway’s senior vice president of research and development, at the Yale Golf Summit at Bandon Dunes earlier in 2012 and the two developed a friendship. Late in 2012, when the opportunity arose to license the shot-tracking technology developed by Callaway and take it to the market, Syed and Faisal, seeing a much-desired opportunity to work in the golf industry, jumped right in.
Across the board, the demand for golf apps and software is booming.
[quote_box_center]“It is definitely a growing market,” Faisal said. “This tells us there is real demand for golf tracking systems and that the golfer community is ready to welcome technology into the game. We’re excited about this as we know this is just the beginning for golf technology to truly enhance the game we all love.”[/quote_box_center]
Arccos is currently available for pre-order for $299 for iPhone, but Android and Windows Phone versions are on the way. The units are expected to ship in the late summer.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D LS (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold X100
Wedges: TaylorMade Prototype (50-SB09), TaylorMade MG5 (56-HB12, 60-LV07)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400
Putter: TaylorMade TP Juno
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Christiaan Maas’ clubs here.
TaylorMade Golf’s MySpider program underwent a substantial overhaul over the last month. Firstly, the company launched the option to customize the Spider ZT model, and now the program has returned with the MySpider Tour and MySpider Tour X.
The revamped page now gives golfers complete control over every visual and functional detail of their putter on the popular Tour and Tour X head, with every cosmetic idea thought of. In MySpider Tour, golfers can choose from four head finishes, 16 paint fill colors, nine Surlyn face insert colors, three aluminum insert options, six sightline configurations, and four hosel options — L-neck, small slant, double bend, center shaft. Six sightline options are available in MySpider Tour, including the optically engineered True Path alignment system. MySpider Tour X gives builders the option of four head finishes, four hosel configurations, and five sightline options, also including True Path alignment.
One of the more interesting features of the new MySpider program is the availability of three distinct face insert options. Along with the usual Surlyn Pure Roll insert trusted by Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, which can be customized from nine colors, golfers can now also select firmer options. Two are offered with the black aluminum Pure Roll insert, slightly firmer than the traditional insert, or for the firmest feel, golfers can choose from two colors of milled aluminum inserts.
Another fun addition to the MySpider Tour is the ability to use the “Tommy Sightline.” The custom alignment aid design, which was first drawn onto Tommy Fleetwood’s putter by PGA Tour Rep James Holley, is based on the milled sightline on his Spider ZT head. There are five shorter lines on the left and right of a longer central line serving as the traditional short line alignment aid.
See below for the full specifications sheet for MySpider Tour and Tour X:
MySpider Tour
MySpider Tour X
Equipment
Then and now: Comparing Rory McIlroy’s current setup to his record-breaking 2019 Canadian Open victory
In Rory McIlroy’s first appearance at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, he crushed the record books to earn his 16th PGA Tour title in dominating fashion, winning by seven shots over Shane Lowry and Webb Simpson.
McIlroy’s score of 22-under-par 258 is the lowest 72-hole score to date at the Canadian Open, and his closing 61 is also the best final-round score in the history of one of golf’s oldest tournaments. Finally, with his win in 2019, McIlroy became only the sixth player to win the career Triple Crown, adding to his victories at the U.S. Open in 2011 and The Open Championship in 2014, joining Tommy Armour, Walter Hagen, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tiger Woods in a coveted list.
So, with that, why not compare his current setup to the clubs he used to break all the records?
Driver
2019: TaylorMade M5 (9 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees @8), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7X (45 5/8 inches)
McIroy led the Tour in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee in 2019; he’s doing the same in 2026. Between now and then, McIlroy has switched from the Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX (a shaft with slightly more feeling in the tip) to the original Fujikura Ventus Black 7X, having just made the change to the heavier version from playing the 60X.
What’s interesting about McIlroy’s 2019 setup is that the weighting on his driver is actually set in the high-draw setting, using the T-Track weighting system, whereas in the Qi4D, he’s currently using a heavily rear-weighted setup. (Two 13-gram weights in the rear and only two 4-gram front weights.)
The TaylorMade M5 driver he played in during his Canadian Open win was the company’s first head that they claimed to design to initially exceed the USGA’s COR limit, and then injected with tuning resin to bring it back in bounds.
Fairway woods
2019: TaylorMade M6 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX; TaylorMade M5 5-wood (19 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 90 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8X; TaylorMade Qi4D 5-wood (18 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9X
The TaylorMade M6 fairway wood that McIlroy was using during the 2019 season is still in the bag of some of the best golfers on Tour in 2026. Just check out Justin Rose’s winning setup from the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year. This year, though, McIlroy has still been searching for his top-end-of-the-bag setup, having played both the new Qi4D and the Qi10, which he won the Masters with.
The same shaft swap can be seen in the fairway woods as the driver, along with slightly less loft on the 5-wood.
Irons
2019: TaylorMade P750 (4) Buy here, TaylorMade P730 (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0
2026: TaylorMade P760 (4), TaylorMade Rors Proto (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0
The biggest difference between McIlroy’s custom set and the stock P730s is the groove design. While the P730s were constructed with 14 MX-9 grooves on their milled faces, McIlroy’s proto heads instead use the higher-spinning, 16-groove layout of the TW2 grooves. Other big differences between the sets are that McIlroy’s 7- and 8-irons have thinner toplines, are 1 degree stronger in loft, and are 1/4 inch longer than the original P730 builds.
With McIlroy’s 4-iron, the switch from P750 to P760 sees a transition to a two-piece construction with Speed Foam in it, which allows McIlroy to launch the ball slightly higher, with more workability.
Wedges
2019: TaylorMade Milled Grind (48-09SB), TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09SB, 56-09SB, 60-LB09), Shafts: Project X Rifle 6.5
2026: TaylorMade MG5 (46-09SB, 50-09SB, 54-11SB, 60-08LB @61), Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)
Between 2019 and 2026, McIlroy’s focus on his short game has been much more apparent. It was the reason why he switched back to the TP5 golf ball, to help with launch, spin and control with his wedges leading up to his career Grand Slam victory in 2025. The most apparent changes to McIlroy’s wedge setup are his lofts and bounce. He’s slowly delofted his pitching to a sand wedge, but has increased the loft on the lob wedge, bending his current 60-degree to 61. With that, adding more loft to his lob wedge also slightly increases the bounce and leading-edge sit point, so, as a result, he plays a lower-bounce lob wedge compared to 2019. The MG5 wedges are also softer than the first Milled Grind option from 2019. McIlroy also no longer plays the full-face grooves found on the Hi-Toe.
Putter
2019: TaylorMade Spider X
2026: TaylorMade Spider Tour X
Notice anything similar. Yes, the copper finish on Rory McIlroy’s Spider X putter in 2019 is a slightly more reflective finish than the recently released torched PVD finish. McIlroy was using the True Path alignment system, but now uses only a single white sightline.
Ball
2019: 2019 TaylorMade TP5 (#22)
2026: 2025 TaylorMade TP5 (RORS)
As mentioned above, McIlroy had transitioned from the TP5 to TP5x golf ball since his victory in Canada in 2019, but now is black with the same style of golf ball as his victory at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.
Grips
2019: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
2026: Golf Pride MCC
Interesting, McIlroy actually used Golf Pride’s Tour Velvet Cord grips during his victory in 2019 (it was during a 2+ year switch to the corded TV) as opposed to his usual MCC grips, which he has played for most of his career.
What’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
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Details on Jason Day’s latest prototype Avoda iron setup
Christiaan Maas WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D LS (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 X 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black...
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Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees) Shaft:...
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Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Hannah Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
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Ken ROBBINS
Oct 29, 2015 at 7:27 am
the largest problem is keeping the sensors tight. I try not to grip on them but I’m constantly tightening them. I think the holes in my new grips may be larger then normal. How can I tighten them up?
Beforeitsnews.com
Mar 31, 2015 at 1:07 pm
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Chan
Jul 29, 2014 at 3:34 pm
It’s funny that callaway is pulling out of upro gps(web support) at the end of 2014 in order to focus on the clubs and balls(says on upro website), but involved in this kind of business again. Make up your mind callaway and show some respect for your current customers. It’s very disappointing.
jarod
Jul 9, 2014 at 7:53 pm
I don’t know if this has been answered but what about the situation with penalty shot? How do you count this as shot taken?
Arccos Customer Service
Jul 14, 2014 at 5:12 pm
There isn’t any way for the sensors to know that you’ve made a penalty, so penalty shots must be manually entered. We’ve done our best to make it as simple and painless as possible.
myron miller
Jul 9, 2014 at 12:25 pm
From what I’ve read, instantaneous feedback on club usage is not legal according to the USGA. That would make this illegal for any GHIN posting or any event at all. Maybe for only practice rounds but other than that, technically it can’t be used.
Or is there something about this I’m missing?
Arccos Customer Service
Jul 9, 2014 at 4:27 pm
We are working directly with the USGA and seeking a ruling that our product conforms to the rules of golf. When any such ruling is issued we will let everyone know.
Brian Dowling
Jul 11, 2014 at 3:22 pm
Yeah, there’s no way they are getting USGA approval and for this reason I’m going to invest in the GAME GOLF system. Their tags are as light a paper clips so I’m not putting a ‘computer’ on the end of my clubs because there is no way it won’t affect the weight of my clubs, we’re talking 12 grams here. Like the concept but this is a major flaw and must be a huge concern for the makers
Mat
Jul 9, 2014 at 11:14 am
How much do the sensors weigh? This adjusts swing weight, so it would be helpful to know by how much.
John Lahtinen
Jul 9, 2014 at 11:28 am
Hi Mat. Great question. Arccos says the sensors weigh less than 12 grams and that they have no impact on the golf swing.
DC
Jul 9, 2014 at 12:27 pm
Standard conversions used by many clubmakers on this site – including Joe Kwok – state that adding 5 g in the grip alters your SW by 1 point.
So adding 12 g would alter it by almost 2.5 SW points.
Hold a 10g Tour Lock weight in your hand – hard to argue that putting that in the butt end of every club would have absolutely no impact.
Arccos Customer Service
Jul 9, 2014 at 4:05 pm
It’s not our intent to create a debate about swingweight — it’s been discussed here in great detail in the past, as in this thread (http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/820731-how-is-counterbalancing-irons-really-affecting-swingweight/) and different people will have different opinions.
I will say that personally, it had very little effect on the feel of my clubs, and I got used to it almost immediately. That is also the feedback we’ve received from all levels of players, from tour pros to novices.
In all of the feedback we’ve gotten from extensive testing of the product, change in swingweight has essentially been a non-issue.
We offer a 30-day unconditional guarantee on our product. If you order a set and find that you don’t like the way they feel, you can send them back to us for a full refund.
DC
Jul 10, 2014 at 10:20 am
Sorry I was just trying to answer Mat’s question. He asked how much it would change the SW and the answers were that it wont have an impact and dont worry, its a non-issue.
Its fine to say you don’t think its affected your feel or you think the change in SW will be a non issue for people. Those are qualitative measures and are subject to opinion. Which I agree, this is not meant to be a debate on.
But adding 12g of weight to the grip of the club *does* change the SW – and that was Mat’s original question. Adding 12g of weight to a grip changes the SW of the club. How noticeable it is or isnt can be debated elsewhere.
Nagar
Jul 9, 2014 at 8:19 am
In Australia during competition rounds you are not allowed to have a cell phone/mobile device turned on at all.
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bombonera
Jul 9, 2014 at 4:51 am
will this device be making its way to japan anytime soon??
Arccos Customer Service
Jul 9, 2014 at 10:06 am
Our current focus is the North American market. We plan to eventually sell everywhere and cover all courses in the world, but we do not have an official timetable at this time for when we will be in specific countries. When we launch international sales, we will definitely do our best to let the world know.
Erik
Jul 9, 2014 at 4:16 am
The “Swing by swing” app uses nfc tags which are WAY cheaper.
Bob
Jul 8, 2014 at 10:23 pm
Sounds good in theory. However, battery life, having to worry about where or if the connection is working, the so so GPS tracking and the expensive price tag no thanks another poc to waste $ on. Not to mention I’m not wearing my phone when I play. Spend the $ on extra lessons or extra rounds of golf. Not worth my time or money.
Arccos Customer Service
Jul 8, 2014 at 4:52 pm
To answer a few questions:
Yes, the iPhone does need to be on your person. It takes GPS readings at the time you hit your shot. If the phone is too far away, it is not going to give you an accurate location reading, plus beyond a certain distance the bluetooth connection to the club sensors might not work. Having the iPhone in your pocket (or in your golf bag if you’re walking, or clipped to your belt or something) works perfectly.
Battery life should be approximately 50 rounds. They are standard batteries that are easily purchased at retail.
You do not need a cellular signal at the course to use the device. You can set everything up when you do have a signal and then bring your phone to the course ready to play. (GPS signals and cellular data signals are different. Even if you don’t have a cellular signal, the GPS on the phone should work.)
The system is completely seamless. No tapping. Just pull a club from your bag, hit the ball, and the system will know what club you hit and where/when you hit it.
ca1879
Jul 8, 2014 at 5:22 pm
You’ve addressed all of the issues I had with the Game Golf system. You can count on a Windows Phone version sale as soon as you release it.
Philip
Jul 8, 2014 at 10:59 pm
On my golf course we have to use a golf cart. Did you test whether the adapter will handle the extra abuse of bouncing around in a bag on a golf cart?
Philip
Jul 8, 2014 at 11:04 pm
I checked your website and it just says a standard battery, can you just state the battery they use?
50 rounds is barely a season of 5 months.
Arccos Customer Service
Jul 14, 2014 at 5:09 pm
CR2032
Paul
Jul 8, 2014 at 11:21 pm
Does the iphone need to be unlocked whilst you’re playing your round?
or can it remain locked and using virtually no battery?
my iphone only lasts about 9 holes if i run a gps program on it, if it’s locked it lasts much longer
Arccos Customer Service
Jul 14, 2014 at 5:07 pm
I have played a round where I left my phone locked in my pocket for the full 18 holes and never looked at the screen once and it works just fine.
I find that I like to open up the app and check things out every so often to make any necessary edits during my round rather than after. Things like adding a penalty shot if I hit into a hazard, etc.
But yes, you can leave your phone dark during your round and the system keeps working in the background. You just need to open the app and tap a button to start your round on the first tee. You can leave it in your pocket and ignore it after that.
I have a 3 year old 4s that works just fine. I can play a full 18 hole round with charge to spare.
DJ
Jul 9, 2014 at 2:03 am
I’d like to know the range of your LE Bluetooth signal. There are many courses that have holes and bunkers a good distance from where you park your cart and areas with no cart access. What is the max range between your sensor and Iphone? I read that typical BLE range is around 100 feet. I hope that’s not the case because I’d hate to have to remember to not only grab the right club or clubs, but my phone too. Thank for any info you can provide.
DJ
Jul 14, 2014 at 11:58 am
Radio silence! Way to take care of your most important and influential customer’s questions! Glad to know I’ll be using my $300 for anything other than this!
Arccos Customer Service
Jul 14, 2014 at 5:03 pm
Sorry for the slow response. The range of the bluetooth transmitter is relatively immaterial in that you need to have the iPhone on your person to get accurate GPS readings.
The Arccos system utilizes the GPS functionality of the iPhone to record location data. The Arccos sensors themselves are not GPS enabled. So if you left your iPhone in your cart and walked 20 yards to where your ball is and then took a shot, Arccos would record a shot taken at the location of your phone/cart.
Accurate use of the Arccos system requires that your iPhone be on your person. It can be in your pocket or clipped to your belt. If you walk and carry your bag, you could leave it in your golf bag.
DJ
Jul 14, 2014 at 6:01 pm
I truly appreciate your response. We may be small, but we are loud. Best of luck with your business!
Jamie
Jul 8, 2014 at 4:38 pm
…and if you use grip weights you can forget about using this product, too.
DC
Jul 8, 2014 at 3:37 pm
1 – Did I read an earlier review correctly that you have to keep your phone in your pocket for this to work? iPhones may be different but I definitely cant see playing with the Galaxy S5 in my pocket the entire round.
2 – How often – after how many rounds – are the batteries in these sensors going to need to be replaced and how much is each one? Are these generic $5 watch type batteries or are they more specialized?
Mike Howard
Jul 8, 2014 at 3:32 pm
My brother-in-law is a VP of this company so I can offer some answers:
1. Yes, it does use the GPS on your phone.
2. An Android version is coming, the lack of reliable Bluetooth LE drivers is an issue there.
3. Sorry, but I doubt we’ll ever see a Windows Phone version. However, it will work with an iPod touch 5 with some caveats. (I am also a WP user, but my daughter has the iPod touch 5 so I just use that.)
J.U.
Jul 10, 2014 at 10:48 pm
Why do you doubt a windows phone version will ever be developed? The website and copy above say a windows version is in the works. Would hate to know that the company is telling lies even before a product reaches the market.
Isaac
Jul 8, 2014 at 3:17 pm
Does it track the distances itself or does it use gps from my iphone? I do not have reliable service at a few of the courses where I play, if it takes signal it may not be for me.
rgb
Jul 8, 2014 at 3:05 pm
1. Thank god one doesn’t have to tap the club before swinging. Game Golf is a PITA.
2. Get a Windows Phone version then call me.
Nick Chertock
Jul 11, 2014 at 3:16 pm
I just don’t see what’s so difficult about tagging. I actually rather enjoy the ritual.
Joel
Jul 8, 2014 at 2:41 pm
I was a little excited until I read that they don’t have an android version yet.
Bryan
Jul 10, 2014 at 4:24 pm
Would you be willing to get on here again when the android version is released? I’d love to have this once available in android.