Laser rangefinders are no longer “laser ranges”.
Have you noticed that they are transforming right before our eyes? What started out as precision “how far” devices (as in, how far from that pin beyond?), they are now integral pillars in what manufacturers are calling ecosystems.
And everyone these days has an ecosystem.
last fall, Arccos launched smart laser rangefinders. At the time, it was billed as the smartest smart laser ever, as it would make real-time adjustments to wind speed and direction (including gusts), temperature, humidity and altitude. Arccos said all of these factors, plus the laser distance and tilt adjustment, would give you the truest “gaming-like” distance possible.
That’s all fine and dandy if that’s what you’re looking for. But Arccos, being Arccos, doesn’t stay still for long. Here we are, six months later, with Arccos adding two new features to the Smart laser package: AI Strategy and Green Maps.
Can the Arccos Smart Laser get any smarter?
Well, that’s the plan.
Both AI Strategy and Green Maps are being added Smart laser subscription package (more on that in a minute) to help, Arccos says, golfers make better decisions on the course. When connected to the Arccos GPS app, AI Strategy analyzes the distance information it receives from the Smart Laser and combines it with your trends, course plan, wind, elevation and its database of more than 1.5 BILLION shots. It then designs the smartest way to do it you to play every hole.
The AI ​​strategy calculates the optimal target and landing zones based on your current performance data. Then I put it in the GPS app. All you have to do is tap it where the app tells you to.
If you can.
The Green Map feature is exactly what it sounds like. It will give you exact pin location along with detailed tournament level contour maps. Arccos currently offers maps for approximately 9,000 courses worldwide, with plans to add more.
The system itself is software based. So, just like your phone or laptop, functionality and features improve with each new software update.
As of now, both new features are only available for iOS.
What is capture?
Well, it’s that subscription thing we were talking about.
of Arccos Smart Laser itself is very reasonably priced at $299.99. For that, you get tilt, 6.1x optical zoom, a range of 999 yards, a strong carriage magnet and vibrating pin lock.
This price also includes a one-year Smart Laser subscription which unlocks all the “game-like” environmental goodies. However, once the year is up, the annual subscription rate is $199.99. That comes out to $16.67 per month.
If you already use the Arccos game tracking system, Smart laser it will be automatically integrated into your account. However, subscriptions are separate.
What this means is that if you want long-term access to all Arccos ecosystemit will cost you $199.99 per year for Smart laser package plus $155.88 per year for game tracking.
That, friends, comes to a tidy sum of $355.87 per year, just under $30 per month.
Is the Arccos Smart Laser package right for you?
It depends on what you are looking for. On the one hand, we’ve survived playing golf for generations without this level of electronic support. On the other hand, is $30 a month out of line for what you’re getting?
If you think about all the streaming services you subscribe to but rarely watch, it’s a question worth asking. If you play golf for fun or just for a little competition, the answer is probably no. However, if you’re a stats and data cruncher, an aspiring competitive hobbyist, or if you just like to beat your cousin in a match, there are worse ways to spend what amounts to a dollar a day.
The good news, even for the tired subscription, is that the new AI Strategy and Green Maps features are included in the free one-year subscription you get if you buy Smart Laser. For the subscription curious, you have a year to play with it to see if it’s something you want to stick with. If you don’t, you still have a nice spacer.
If the $199.99 annual fee is just a bridge too far, may we suggest this Blue Tees Captain Pro? It’s also $299 with a free one-year subscription to the Blue Tees GAME app. After that, the annual subscription is only $49.
The GAME app isn’t as powerful as anything Arccos offers, but it gets you most of the way.
If you’re subscription-phobic, the growing Shot Scope ecosystem features zero subscription fees.
For more information on the enhancements to the Arccos Smart Laser Ranging System, visit Arcco website.
