If you’re like most golfers, chances are you love recording your golf swing. Whether you’re in practice and need to figure out how to get out of a swing slump or on the course, documenting your swing is a good idea.
Smartphones have made golf so much easier. You can record your swing and analyze it to help you improve. They make it easy to record your bucket list courses and capture greatness on any swing using a video.
But the problem with most swing videos is that you can’t see the ball flight. While it’s cool to see your full swing, it’d be even better if you could see the ball flight too, just like pros on TV.
Unfortunately, Apple and Android haven’t made this a built-in feature on your photo editing (we can only dream). However, there are shot tracing apps that now make it possible so it looks like you’re watching golf on TV.
Continue reading to learn more about this. Best golf app for shot tracking Consider whether or not shot tracking apps can be worth the cost.
Three Best Shot Tracer Apps to Improve Your Golf Swing
Before getting into the best shot tracer app to make the most of your golf videos, let’s differentiate shot tracing vs. shot tracking.
Shot Tracking vs. Shot Tracing
Shot tracing refers to taking a video of your swing and adding a line to show the flight of the golf balls. This is similar in appearance to what you see while watching golf on TV. The tracer shows the path of the golf ball.
Shot tracing apps can be used to view your golf ball in flight after impact. Think of it like a visual representation of the flight and something you’ve likely seen at places like TopGolf. They use “Shot Tracer Technology” to show your flight, total distance, and calculate your score so you can compete against others.
Shot tracking is, however, very different to ball flight tracking.
An app or program can be used to track your shots and record every shot made on the course. A shot tracking app will capture your round and provide statistics such as fairways, greens in regulation, driving distance and other pertinent information.
Keep track of your statistics is something that we recommend for committed golfers as it’s a good way to learn more about your game. This information can help you improve your practice and give you valuable insight into your game.
Now that you know the difference between shot tracking vs. shot tracing, let’s get into the best shot tracers first. This will make your golf swing videos look professional and can be shared on social media. Plus, we’ll later review our favorite shot trackers to get your game to the next level.
1. Shot Tracer
If you type in “shot tracer” in the app store, chances are this is the first app that shows up to download. Is the shot tracer app worth it?
In my own experience I’ve had mixed reviews when using it on an iPhone. While it’s not highly reviewed on the Apple app store, it’s the most common app I see being used on social media.
First, Shot Tracer is available on iOS, macOS and Android. This is a great bonus. Many apps are limited to one or two of these devices, and not all four. The Shot Tracer app outperforms many other apps, as it can be used on any device.
According to their website “Voted Best Golf App by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine. The Shot Tracer app allows you to track ball flight using your iPhone or iPad. Not only does it track ball flight, but it also traces your golf swing, putt and pitch shots and is fully automatic.”
The app also allows you to add special effects to your ball flight after impact. You can add special effects to your ball flight, such as a rocket launcher or fire swing, lightsabers and more (plus the standard shot tracking lines).
Shot Tracer allows you to add 3D mapping to your swing videos. This allows you to easily illustrate your round and improve video quality. This feature is available for 36,000+ courses around the globe.
You can also showcase your score on each hole with an animated scorecard. This makes it looks like you’re on the PGA Tour and the overlay is a great way to upgrade your video.
Shot Tracer Pro
Although most of the app is free, Shot Tracer Pro on Mac and PC is an enhanced feature. But I think it’s worth it as you get Golf Channel/PGA Tour quality using your home laptop or computer which is pretty cool.
According to their website “Now, for the first time, anyone can access the pinnacle in ball flight tracking for post-production. This software is a content creator’s treasure trove and will help propel your golf vlogs and storytelling to new heights. Now it is your turn to access a technology that has previously been limited to the Golf Channel, the PGA Tour, and the European Tour Production.”
Apart from the standard shot tracer technology, you also receive:
- Swing tracer This allows you to add a tracer for your downswing and backswing. It’s a cool way to analyze your swing and see the graphics, just like announcers do when watching players swing on TV.
- Putt-chip tracer. While full shots are great, let’s not forget the short game either. You can also see your performance on the greens with the putt-chip tracker.
- Camera tracking. This is a cool feature because it tracks your shot, even when the camera moves to follow the ball’s flight. For example, if you’re on a picturesque par 3 and a friend is recording your swing and following the ball, the video will adjust as the camera moves. This allows you to see the ball’s final destination on the green, or even in the hole. It will not affect your video.
The app is compatible for Windows 10, Windows 11, M1 Macs and Intel Macs. To learn more about this upgrade, see pricing below.
2. The Golf Tracer
The Golf Tracer app gets a lot more App store reviews than the other apps on this page. It allows you to do all kinds of custom overlays and graphics that other apps don’t allow.
These are some of the features offered by this app:
- Manual tracer allows you complete control over your tracer style (change color, type, etc.
- The shot yardage function allows you to add yardage and other information to the video, just as you would when watching golf on TV.
- Swing sequence allows you to create a sequence of swings with a single tap.
- The video looper allows for looping your swing video to get repeat views.
- Finally, the app allows you to add golf emojis, scoreboards, and crowds, just like you’re a professional golfer.
Search “The Golf Tracer” on your app store to learn more about it now.
3. Golf Shot Tracer
The Golf Shot Tracer, which offers a similar shot-tracing app, is also free for a three day trial. After that, you will need to subscribe. What’s great about this app is that you can use it without the internet to save battery life and can make swing videos, even if you’re not in a Wi-Fi friendly location. Here are some of these features:
- Create 3D animations for ball flight.
- Export in multiple formats to optimize for each social media platform.
- Easy to use – just upload your video and let the app do the hard work. You should be able trace your shot in less than 10 seconds.
- With access to more than 30,000 courses, you can overlay your shots on 3D hole maps.
- To set points and measure distance, use the GPS data attached to your video.
The monthly fee for the paid service is $1.99 and can be purchased through the App Store. This allows you to add map features and enhance your videos.
Recording Your Swing
Make sure you properly record your swing to make the most of these swing videos. A tripod is a good idea for getting the right angle on the driving range to capture a down-the-line video. This will allow you to upload your video to these apps correctly and make it easier. Analyse your swing.
If you’re on the golf course, try to have a friend get the right angle too. To get the best video of your swing, have them position themselves directly behind you with their hands at hip height. This will allow you to capture your full swing and ensure the shot tracer app is at the right angle.
Click here for more information about recording your swing.
More Information about the Best Golf Shot-Tracking Apps
You may have wondered, now that we know a bit about shot tracers. Are golf shot trackers worth the effort?
It’s a good question as there are tons of golf shot tracking apps that can also give you new insight into your golf game.
Shot tracers are not for vanity but are great tools to analyze your game. The incredible technology available to us to analyze the data would shock Ben Hogan and other legends of golf.
These apps are great for collecting data about all your clubs.
Pro Golfer
I love their slogan – smart golfers score lower! Game Golf Pro will allow you to learn more about each club as well as one of the best apps on the market.
Here’s what the company said about the app, “We track every shot, yardage and club hit, even giving you recommendations as you play. Our sensors allow for fully automatic shot detection to play with absolute freedom.”
The coach dashboard is unrivalled. You can send your data directly to your coach to receive expert instruction on your golf game. Game Golf will funnel your data to your coach (or your student if you’re a golf coach) so see details about every shot they hit on the course.
It offers many other features such as benchmarks and challenges, performance analytics, and shot track data. This is a great investment for your golf game.
Arccos caddie smart sensors
Arccos Caddie Smart sensors are another shot tracking app. They use A.I. to produce some of the most precise data. They’ve been the winner of four Golf Digest Editor Choice Awards and allow you to track the performance of every club in the bag.
These sensors are attached to the end of your grip, and give you real-time data every time you hit the ball. They also account for factors like altitude, wind, humidity, elevation, and altitude to give you the best yardage possible. It will even give you access to tools like strokes gained analytics, highlight your strengths/weaknesses, and more data than you could imagine.
All these incredible features will make it so much easier to hit the links. See our complete article on Arccos smart sensor.
Golf Pad Tags
The Golf Pad Tags is another accurate shot tracking system available on the market. This automatic shot tracking device works on Android and iPhone, and it is much cheaper than others. If you’re on a budget, this is a no-brainer decision.
Simply insert the tags into each grip of your club to learn more about your game. They are available to help you analyze your game and offer recommendations on club selection.
They’re compatible with most devices including smartwatches too.
FAQ
Are you looking for more information on how to make great golf swing videos using a shot tracer program or app? We have the answers you need to help you choose the right program to capture your best golf shots.
Can you get shot tracer on your phone?
Yes, there are tons of apps that you can use to start tracing photos on your smartphone. You can add effects to your video with all of them. They are very similar in terms of their usability. You can also use the ball flight tracking feature to show the pin location and view your game from a different angle.
But one thing that separates the apps is being able to use on a computer vs. just the phone. Based on user reviews, I have had issues with some apps not working. The computer apps seem to work much better and are easy to download and share across multiple devices.
How do I make a tracer shot of my body?
By downloading one of the shot tracer apps mentioned above from your phone’s app store. An app may not be necessary if you don’t golf as often or monthly. But if you like to watch videos of your swing or show your game on social media, they’re well worth it.
What is the price of the shot tracer application?
There are many apps available for Android and iPhone users. Many of them are free for certain features or allow you to try the app for a limited time.
If you want to use the app again or unlock more features, you’ll need to subscribe or pay one-time. Luckily, the monthly subscription isn’t much money as some are only about $2/month and billed through the app store.
If you need to cancel your subscription, do it within your app store purchases and not the app itself. You will continue to be charged until you cancel.
Overall, it’s a great deal for the money!
How much does a shot Tracer pro cost?
Shot Tracer Pro, an upgrade to the free version, is available for Mac and PC. At the moment, there are three pricing options.
- Monthly – $24/month
- Annual – $89/year and included a free map tracer subscription for iOS with the purchase too.
- Half-year – $59/year but no map tracer is included with this option.
Visit their site Website to watch the tutorials and learn if you’re the type of golfer who can benefit from this awesome software.
Is shot tracer effective when hitting into a net with a shot?
No, shot tracing won’t work if you’re hitting into the net. To place a tracer on the video, the tracer technology must see the ball’s flight.
While a shot tracer app won’t work with a net, a lot of launch monitors will work perfectly. You can still learn valuable information about your golf swing if you have enough space behind an indoor setup.
Most Launch monitors provide detailed insight about each swing including swing speed, ball speed, distance, spin rates, smash factor, and more. These are a great way for you to practice at home, and get the most from your winter golf season.
How do they track the golf ball on TV?
They use similar technology to Shot Tracer Pro. A lot of golf coverage on TV you will hear them say, “Presented by TopGolf using TopTracer technology” which is their software to track ball flight and swing tracer. This makes it easier for viewers to watch golf on TV.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully you now have a better understanding of the differences between shot tracing and shot tracking.
Shot tracing is a fun and professional way to improve your golf swing videos. They allow you to see your golf ball flight after impact and make it seem like you’re at TopGolf or watching golf on TV. For fun watching videos, you can add cool effects like lines and other settings.
Shot tracking uses an app or sensors that capture every shot taken during a round. This makes it easier for you to analyze your performance on the course, and make adjustments as needed.
Both are great ways for you to gain additional insight into your game. You can also show off your skills by sharing your golf videos with friends online or sending them to your friends.
