I absolutely love the golf tags with Golf Pad, but hate how I look on the Tee box, sticking my club out perpindicular from my body, rubbing the butt of my club on my pocket, trying to find the NFC sweet spot.
I understand the difficulties with NFC as a technology in general, but I was wondering if anyone found a good way to get the tags to scan without looking so silly, or them being so fussy?
The worst is on the tee box when everyone is standing around watching. I've considered taking my driver golf tag off, and keeping it in the pocket opposite my phone so I can pull it out and tap it, instead of doing the club rub, golf tag dance.
1 Votes
36 Comments
Sorted by
s
sgbaniposted
about 9 years ago
First, I do not keep my phone in my pocket anyway when I swing, I have it out or in my bag when swinging. I do use it to see how far I am hitting and such, so I find it is easy enough to have the club vertical, grip up (clubhead on ground) and tap the phone on the top. Works easily, quick, and does not look weird.
0 Votes
Douglas Smithposted
about 9 years ago
I have been using Tags for awhile now and find that they can be a little touchy from time to time tagging my clubs. Granted I do have an Otter box case on my phone, I too simply take my phone out of my pocket and tap it a few times on the end of my club which is vertical club head down. I can usually get the software to recognize my club with very little effort even with my case on. I have tried tagging without the case and it is much easier, but I just prefer the added protection of the case on my phone so I elect to keep it on since I have been able to complete my round with 90% effectiveness of tagging. When I just can't get the sweet spot on my phone and need to quickly move along I just use my smart watch and tag my club and just go in and identify the club selection with the phone later. I will definitely get the Link when it is made available, just because tagging will be soooooo much easier and I will be able to keep my phone on the cart and just use my smart watch for distances, etc.
0 Votes
b
bobposted
about 9 years ago
I have attached my phone to the golf cart on the top strap works great , the only downfall is you can't go on the tee with your golf cart so I use my watch off the tee.
0 Votes
S
Spencer Braunposted
about 9 years ago
I've had the tags for some time. I was an early adopter and the original tags were 'taller' (the height of the tag from where it screws into the grip to the 'tagging surface' was thicker). These original tags allowed me to tag my cased, pocketed phone at much more of an angle than the newer, slimline tags (I've received some replacements for lost tags). While the new slim ones are nicer from an aesthetic standpoint, and likely less prone to wear from faulty grip, bag wear, etc, they do require that you hold the club handle much more 'perpendicular' to the body in order to get a flush tag.
Does anyone know if they have plans to be able to scan the tags from a smartwatch?
0 Votes
Douglas Smithposted
about 9 years ago
I like the look and feel of the new design of tag. Not sure if tagging from a smartwatch is a doable option, My plans are to get the Link
device when available and use that, making tagging much smoother. If
it is anything like Game Golf's unit tagging clubs should be easy as pie
and first touch always a good tag. Also using the Golfpad Link will save my phone battery and allow for the possibility of playing multiple rounds without a recharge.
0 Votes
B
Bill Ogdenposted
about 9 years ago
I don't care what I look like (to an extent) touching my club to my pocket, but after the first couple rounds playing with the Golf Tags and only having an occasional problem of finding the sweet spot, now, on my last round (on a new course) I had A LOT of problems getting the tag to register, even with the phone out of my pocket. I'd kept getting these high pitched beeps before finally getting the confirmation sound. Anyone know what's up with that? Are there settings or environmental factors in play? I'll definitely stop using the tracking feature if I have to try moving the club over the phone again and again to get it to register... THAT looks ridiculous.
0 Votes
Ralf Tausposted
almost 9 years ago
I played some rounds on charted courses now and I´m happy to have the tags. After I did the shot I put my phone out of my pocket, hold it over the tag (club vertical) and put the phone back. That need no time and I get a good feedback from the vibration, that my shot was tagged. This routine became so natural that I sometime had to watch at my phone to check if I did the tagging. Every time all right. I don´t have to think about it. The pitty is, that 2 of the tags seem to be broken. I can´t tag them, even with other NFC-apps the can´t be read. They are not damaged, as I can see. Let´s see hao long the other last.
0 Votes
A
Adam Fowlerposted
over 8 years ago
Anyone seen an update on the status of the Link recently?
0 Votes
T
Thomasposted
over 8 years ago
I have not Adam. My golf tags are falling apart now. I have already lost 3 of them. I pulled my clubs from the bag and the top of the tag has come off. They didn't work great to begin with and I have even less love for them now.
0 Votes
A
Adam Fowlerposted
over 8 years ago
Interesting. How old are they and about how many rounds have you played? I've recently gotten the tags and am still inside my return window. They are supposedly more durable now but if they aren't going to live long enough to really benefit from them there may not be a point.
0 Votes
T
Thomasposted
over 8 years ago
I have had them for over a year. They never worked well for me. As the person who started this thread stated, you look ridiculous trying to scan the club and the rest of your group gets irritated waiting on you. That means that after a few holes, I have to stop using them.
0 Votes
W
Walter Nerlingposted
over 8 years ago
Some people must be golfing with a tough crowd. I've even golfed as a single with a group, and others weren't even aware of what I was doing with the app and phone most of the time.
On the tee, I usually tag while everyone is still clamoring up to the tee box (and I or another player is not yet ready to tee off), and in the fairway, I'm tagging while others are making a practice swing, etc., so that's not an issue. For most first putts, I tag just as I reach my ball before I even mark it, so again it's no issue/no delay with playing partners. The only part I don't like is when I'm about to make my second putt that's less than a foot to the hole, and I have to tag before putting it away. Until that point, most people aren't aware of what I'm doing with my phone and clubs. I may try to get in the habit of marking from my watch (Mark Shot/As putt) instead, but still that's not perfect.
0 Votes
J
Jrtonydayposted
over 8 years ago
A simple solution is for GolfpadGPS, or perhaps one of their competitors in case anyone else is listening, to make tags that are slanted. Instead of making the TAGS slanted, GolfpadGPS makes the additional reader slanted to entice users to buy the reader. A benefit of GolfpadGPS is that it's able to use a phone's built in NFC. Making it awkward to the point of annoyance to scan a club with a phone removes that benefit.
With the recent redesign of the TAGS not including a slant option for those who don't want to buy or carry extra equipment on their person during a round is a disappointment. Given that the TAGS sell for a hundred dollars with manufacturing costs probably less than 10% of that, and the fact that the app itself is not free, there is no excuse to not make the TAGS user friendly for us Android users.
0 Votes
W
Walter Nerlingposted
over 8 years ago
The most important capability of the LINK reader is to bring TAG functionality to the iPhone. There missing that huge market segment without it. I think the secondary consideration is for ease of scanning for all users. I think if Apple allowed NFC reading in their phone, you wouldn't see the LINK being introduced at all.
I'm in the other camp. I going to enjoy leaving the phone in/on the cart and will get yardages from my cheapo smart watch. I'll grab the phone in the rare instance when I'm playing a new course and don't know yardages to hazards. I hate carrying my phone is the bottom line. I'd prefer the reader and a smart watch. I know you prefer your phone.
I think the goal of the design of the TAGS was to make them as low profile as possible. So less chance of breaking or dislodging them if struck against something. So I don't think they'd be as durable in a slanted format as you suggest.
As for the cost of the tags themselves, yes, it's way too much but you have to understand the app-for-phone market.
A normal marketplace should work like this.
- ALL users pay a fee for the software (say $35); it ain't free;
- some extra features and upgrades are a yearly fee (say $20); i.e. premium subscription
- other goodies like TAGS are $15-20
But the app-for-phone market works like this:
- YOU MUST GIVE THE APP AWAY FOR FREE; the cheap freeloaders out there won't download anything that hits you up for a fee right off the bat; you'll never get any traction with an app otherwise; the cheapskates out there won't even pay for premium features, and will kick and scream if they have to (and then they'll go download something else);
- because of point #1, you have to recoup ALL of your costs (and your profit margin because nobody works for free) from the extras (like the overpriced TAGS), and to pay for future enhancements, and development every time there's a new iOS or Android flavour. So you have to realize the $99 covers the app (which you should have paid for), the freeloaders, and part of future development.
Now the interesting part is that smart watches are being developed WITH NFC readers. That would eliminate the need for LINK (and for having your phone in your pocket). That would be the ultimate solution in my books.
1 Votes
L
Les Blancsposted
about 8 years ago
I found the noise the app makes when the club is put to the phone in my pocket was a bit of an embarrassment when with others... until I found the option to turn it off or down. I bought myself a cheap pebble watch and can now leave my phone in my pocket and use my watch to work out distances and see numbers of shots taken. I can also add shots if needed. I love this app and am now building up an accurate record of my improvement over time.
I absolutely love the golf tags with Golf Pad, but hate how I look on the Tee box, sticking my club out perpindicular from my body, rubbing the butt of my club on my pocket, trying to find the NFC sweet spot.
I understand the difficulties with NFC as a technology in general, but I was wondering if anyone found a good way to get the tags to scan without looking so silly, or them being so fussy?
The worst is on the tee box when everyone is standing around watching. I've considered taking my driver golf tag off, and keeping it in the pocket opposite my phone so I can pull it out and tap it, instead of doing the club rub, golf tag dance.
1 Votes
36 Comments
sgbani posted about 9 years ago
First, I do not keep my phone in my pocket anyway when I swing, I have it out or in my bag when swinging. I do use it to see how far I am hitting and such, so I find it is easy enough to have the club vertical, grip up (clubhead on ground) and tap the phone on the top. Works easily, quick, and does not look weird.
0 Votes
Douglas Smith posted about 9 years ago
0 Votes
bob posted about 9 years ago
I have attached my phone to the golf cart on the top strap works great , the only downfall is you can't go on the tee with your golf cart so I use my watch off the tee.
0 Votes
Spencer Braun posted about 9 years ago
I've had the tags for some time. I was an early adopter and the original tags were 'taller' (the height of the tag from where it screws into the grip to the 'tagging surface' was thicker). These original tags allowed me to tag my cased, pocketed phone at much more of an angle than the newer, slimline tags (I've received some replacements for lost tags). While the new slim ones are nicer from an aesthetic standpoint, and likely less prone to wear from faulty grip, bag wear, etc, they do require that you hold the club handle much more 'perpendicular' to the body in order to get a flush tag.
Does anyone know if they have plans to be able to scan the tags from a smartwatch?
0 Votes
Douglas Smith posted about 9 years ago
I like the look and feel of the new design of tag. Not sure if tagging from a smartwatch is a doable option, My plans are to get the Link device when available and use that, making tagging much smoother. If it is anything like Game Golf's unit tagging clubs should be easy as pie and first touch always a good tag. Also using the Golfpad Link will save my phone battery and allow for the possibility of playing multiple rounds without a recharge.
0 Votes
Bill Ogden posted about 9 years ago
I don't care what I look like (to an extent) touching my club to my pocket, but after the first couple rounds playing with the Golf Tags and only having an occasional problem of finding the sweet spot, now, on my last round (on a new course) I had A LOT of problems getting the tag to register, even with the phone out of my pocket. I'd kept getting these high pitched beeps before finally getting the confirmation sound. Anyone know what's up with that? Are there settings or environmental factors in play? I'll definitely stop using the tracking feature if I have to try moving the club over the phone again and again to get it to register... THAT looks ridiculous.
0 Votes
Ralf Taus posted almost 9 years ago
After I did the shot I put my phone out of my pocket, hold it over the tag (club vertical) and put the phone back. That need no time and I get a good feedback from the vibration, that my shot was tagged.
This routine became so natural that I sometime had to watch at my phone to check if I did the tagging. Every time all right. I don´t have to think about it.
The pitty is, that 2 of the tags seem to be broken. I can´t tag them, even with other NFC-apps the can´t be read. They are not damaged, as I can see. Let´s see hao long the other last.
0 Votes
Adam Fowler posted over 8 years ago
Anyone seen an update on the status of the Link recently?
0 Votes
Thomas posted over 8 years ago
I have not Adam. My golf tags are falling apart now. I have already lost 3 of them. I pulled my clubs from the bag and the top of the tag has come off. They didn't work great to begin with and I have even less love for them now.
0 Votes
Adam Fowler posted over 8 years ago
Interesting. How old are they and about how many rounds have you played? I've recently gotten the tags and am still inside my return window. They are supposedly more durable now but if they aren't going to live long enough to really benefit from them there may not be a point.
0 Votes
Thomas posted over 8 years ago
I have had them for over a year. They never worked well for me. As the person who started this thread stated, you look ridiculous trying to scan the club and the rest of your group gets irritated waiting on you. That means that after a few holes, I have to stop using them.
0 Votes
Walter Nerling posted over 8 years ago
Some people must be golfing with a tough crowd. I've even golfed as a single with a group, and others weren't even aware of what I was doing with the app and phone most of the time.
On the tee, I usually tag while everyone is still clamoring up to the tee box (and I or another player is not yet ready to tee off), and in the fairway, I'm tagging while others are making a practice swing, etc., so that's not an issue. For most first putts, I tag just as I reach my ball before I even mark it, so again it's no issue/no delay with playing partners. The only part I don't like is when I'm about to make my second putt that's less than a foot to the hole, and I have to tag before putting it away. Until that point, most people aren't aware of what I'm doing with my phone and clubs. I may try to get in the habit of marking from my watch (Mark Shot/As putt) instead, but still that's not perfect.
0 Votes
Jrtonyday posted over 8 years ago
A simple solution is for GolfpadGPS, or perhaps one of their competitors in case anyone else is listening, to make tags that are slanted. Instead of making the TAGS slanted, GolfpadGPS makes the additional reader slanted to entice users to buy the reader. A benefit of GolfpadGPS is that it's able to use a phone's built in NFC. Making it awkward to the point of annoyance to scan a club with a phone removes that benefit.
With the recent redesign of the TAGS not including a slant option for those who don't want to buy or carry extra equipment on their person during a round is a disappointment. Given that the TAGS sell for a hundred dollars with manufacturing costs probably less than 10% of that, and the fact that the app itself is not free, there is no excuse to not make the TAGS user friendly for us Android users.
0 Votes
Walter Nerling posted over 8 years ago
The most important capability of the LINK reader is to bring TAG functionality to the iPhone. There missing that huge market segment without it. I think the secondary consideration is for ease of scanning for all users. I think if Apple allowed NFC reading in their phone, you wouldn't see the LINK being introduced at all.
I'm in the other camp. I going to enjoy leaving the phone in/on the cart and will get yardages from my cheapo smart watch. I'll grab the phone in the rare instance when I'm playing a new course and don't know yardages to hazards. I hate carrying my phone is the bottom line. I'd prefer the reader and a smart watch. I know you prefer your phone.
I think the goal of the design of the TAGS was to make them as low profile as possible. So less chance of breaking or dislodging them if struck against something. So I don't think they'd be as durable in a slanted format as you suggest.
As for the cost of the tags themselves, yes, it's way too much but you have to understand the app-for-phone market.
A normal marketplace should work like this.
But the app-for-phone market works like this:
Now the interesting part is that smart watches are being developed WITH NFC readers. That would eliminate the need for LINK (and for having your phone in your pocket). That would be the ultimate solution in my books.
1 Votes
Les Blancs posted about 8 years ago
0 Votes
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