TomTom dead regular the launch of its initial raid the golf wearables world, with the TomTom golf player obtaining a political candidate unveiling on the day the Ryder Cup launched back in September 2014.
A wet winter restricted our opportunities to induce active with the most recent member of the TomTom MySports family however, once a number of rounds (and additional shots over par than we'd care to admit), we expect we're able to deliver our TomTom golf player finding.
TomTom Golfer: options
Taking on the Garmin Approach vary, the TomTom golf player could be a GPS connected watch that gives the same old array of golf wearable options.
Pound-for-pound, it's most likely most similar, feature-wise, to the Garmin Approach S3, with a touchscreen and custom pin positioning the sole major options missing. but for $50 less – the TomTom golf player is $249 – we expect the satnav specialist is onto a winner.
The Golfer's main options, once out on the course, ar the GPS-powered distances to the front / middle / back of the inexperienced, distances to hazards, doglegs and lay-ups, a inexperienced read (with hazard warnings), and a digital record book.
For a median golf player wanting to induce slightly additional from his or her game, there is not plenty else you'd actually need.
TomTom Golfer: Golf mode
You kick-start the golf mode just by sound right the navigation button (more on it later) and a hunt for your course begins straightaway. With GPS and GLONASS on board, it does not take long to induce a sign barred in and, once you've got confirmed the course you are taking part in, things happen mechanically.
The TomTom golf player can recognise what hole you are on, with the shot distances ever-changing mechanically as you walk towards your ball and, ninetieth of the time, it'll switch to successive hole while not you having to try to to something.
Occasionally, if the tees for successive hole are terribly near the inexperienced of the last, it will get slightly confused on whether or not you've got finished your hole or not. If this happens you just got to faucet up to pick successive hole.
The distances to the inexperienced ar given in yards or metres (it's straightforward to vary this within the settings) associated are given in an improbably clear manner on the most 'in-action' homescreen. Scrolling right from this screen presents you with associate array of additional information, turning the TomTom golf player into a basic caddy for your articulatio radiocarpea.
You'll see a graphical illustration of the opening, with hazards aforethought against a distance chart, a close read of the inexperienced (with form and bunker positions), a lay-up guide if you do not desire channelling your inner Rory, and details of any doglegs your hole contains. Doglegs are indicated on the most distance homescreen by manner of associate arrow inform left or right.
Golf mode conjointly keeps track of your spherical time, the space you traveled associated an estimate of your calorie burn. this can be all helpful, if somewhat redundant information – however we have a tendency to suppose there is no purpose in together with it.
The final facet of golf mode could be a digital record book. it isn't automatic, you will have to enter your stroke count manually once every hole, however it is a cinch to try to to and you are given along with your medal play score and your position against par. Stableford points would be a pleasant addition however having to figure these out manually a minimum of you will have associate excuse to go into the nineteenth for a pint afterward.
It's pretty straightforward to accidentally leave your spherical, either by sound back one screen to way, or just out of the blue once propulsion balls and tees out of your pocket. as luck would have it, there is a resume spherical possibility, though this will reset the timer and distance count.
TomTom Golfer: Apps and syncing
The TomTom golf player pairs up to the MySports desktop computer code associated either an iOS or robot app. In theory, a minimum of – it is a little bit of a pickle if we're honest.
Firstly, you'll have to tether your golf player to your computer or mackintosh to form the initial synchronize to the TomTom servers and acquire the watch's computer code build and course details up up to now (of that it's the main points of over thirty four,000). then again neither the desktop computer code nor the web portal can provide you with any details of your synced scorecards.
For that information, you'll have to Bluetooth synchronize to your TomTom MySports smartphone app – easier aforesaid than done. we have a tendency to tried to synchronize the watch to one or two of robot devices, with no luck. Things were to a small degree sander on iOS fortunately.
Once you've got synced along with your smartphone, there is no want very to each tether to a computer once more – the app is in a position to update course information if necessary.
TomTom Golfer: Build and style
Unlike the high-end Garmin golf watches there's no color show on the golf player, though the one.3-inch, 168 x 144, monochrome screen will supply a bright, straightforward to scan, show and there is a backlight on board for twilight rounds.
It's not a touchscreen – navigation is completed employing a sq. button below the screen with up, down, left and right controls. It's a simple to use system; basic however effective.
At 11.5mm thick and deliberation around 50g, the TomTom golf player is slim line and light-weight and we've fully no complaints in any respect once it involves comfort on the course.
With a 10-hour battery life, it ought to have enough power for consecutive rounds and if it rains, no worries – the golf player is 5ATM waterproof. Charging is formed straightforward with a electronic device that doubles up as a table represent the watch. once you are not in golf mode (i.e. once GPS is not switched on) you will get days of life as an everyday watch.
TomTom Golfer, With GPS and GLONASS on Board