SwingU Golf App Review: Best GPS App for iPhone & Android?

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SwingU is one of the most popular golf apps out there. It has millions of downloads, is highly rated on Android and iOS, and has a broad range of features.

But is this golf app worth the hype? Does it really help you improve your golf game?

Below, we take a deep dive into the SwingU app for iOS and Android and help you decide whether it’s worth downloading to help improve your golf game.

What is the SwingU Golf App?

SwingU is one of the most popular game improvement apps in the game of golf, with more than six million users. The app comes with a broad range of impressive features, including GPS, a digital scorecard, a handicap system, shot tracking, and various other statistics that you can access.

Essentially, you can manage all aspects of your game from your SwingU app and look for ways to improve and cut some strokes from your score. To help you understand if SwingU is a good option for you, we take a look at many of its key features below.

Is SwingU a Good App?

SwingU is an excellent app and is extremely highly rated, boasting an average rating of 4.7 from more than 145,000 reviews. Given that the smartphone app market is saturated, it’s often hard to separate the good from the bad, and SwingU is undoubtedly one of the very best golf apps out there.

Its range of impressive features include:

  • GPS distancing and access to a huge range of courses that are all accurately mapped
  • Digital scorecard and score tracking software
  • Official handicap tracking
  • Shot tracing and club recommendations that are personalized to you (Plus subscription)
  • Tutorials from pros and golf coaches to help you improve your game
  • Advice based on wind speed, slope, and elevation while you’re out on the course (Plus subscription)
  • Side games and leaderboard features

As you can see, SwingU incorporates all of the features you could possibly want from a golf app. And one of the most impressive things is that the app is extremely accurate, which is something that can’t be said for many of the other golf apps out there.

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Is SwingU a Free App? (Features on Free)

Yes, SwingU is free to download, but you will need to upgrade to a premium plan to enjoy many of its premium features. That being said, you can access some of its features for free, meaning you can get a good feel for the app before committing to a subscription.

All of the above features are included in the free version of the SwingU app, and you can also connect the app to your smartwatch while you’re out on the course.

You can also connect HealthKit features to the free version of the app, so you can track your calories while playing golf.

It’s hard not to be impressed by the incredible features offered for free by SwingU.

Many of its competitors include these features as part of their paid and premium plans, so the fact that you can access them for free following your download is remarkable and will help your game no end!

However, given the affordable price point of the premium plans (as explained below), it’s certainly worth upgrading your subscription to access so many more awesome features that will help you fine-tune your golf game.

Doing so will also remove the ads from the app, which makes it much more user-friendly.

How Much is SwingU Premium, and What Do I Get?

SwingU offers two subscription plans – SwingU Plus and SwingU Premium. Plus is available for $2.49 per month, while Premium costs $4.99 per month, representing excellent value for money in the golf app space. The below table provides you with an overview of what you can expect from your paid subscription to SwingU:

SwingU Plus

  • “Plays like” distances for a true caddy experience
  • Wind speed and elevation advice
  • Club recommendations
  • Enhanced scorecard and stats
  • Hole insights and notes

SwingU Premium

  • Access to 600+ lessons from the best teachers in golf
  • Stats & performance comparison vs. Your target handicap
  • Relative handicap for each part of your game
  • Post round game improvement priority
  • Post round personalized prescriptive drill

The best way to describe the SwingU Plus subscription is that it’s like having a virtual caddy. You can access a broad range of tips and suggestions that will help you play to the current conditions of the course, which you might not be able to work out yourself.

The Premium subscription is best for players who are looking to really fine-tune their games and improve their handicaps. The level of personalized detail in the SwingU premium app is outstanding and gives you incredible insight into your performance.

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While the free version of the app is great, it’s definitely worth upgrading if you would like access to the plus or premium features as introduced above.

How Do I Use the SwingU App?

SwingU is easy to use on your smartphone or smartwatch. The first thing you need to do is to download the app on your Android or Apple device and register for an account. Once you’ve entered your personal details and synced the app to your relevant devices, you can get to work on personalizing it.

You should spend some time looking through the free features before deciding if they’re enough to help your game.

We would suggest trying the scorecard feature out on your next round as a minimum before looking at some of the game improvement aspects to see how they help you.

If you’re impressed, it’s worth upgrading to the plus or premium subscription so you can enjoy the full range of benefits that the app is renowned for. The app is extremely user-friendly and is designed with ease of use in mind.

As you make your way slowly through the app, you will find instructions on how to make the most out of the various features.

But if you’re struggling with a particular aspect of the app, you can check out the help section of SwingU’s website, which has lots of information about how to use the app properly.

Is the SwingU App Handicap Accurate?

Yes, SwingU’s handicap system is accurate and is based on the USGA GHIN system. You need to play three rounds and submit your scorecards to the app, and SwingU will calculate your handicap based on the median scores from each round.

This is precisely how club secretaries around the country calculate your initial handicap, so the SwingU app is a great option for people who aren’t yet members of clubs. This allows you to play in society golf days and other competitions where a handicap is required.

It’s also good to keep track of your handicap from a game improvement perspective. Men and women start no higher than 28 and 36, respectively, so submitting cards and tracking your handicap is an excellent way to review how well you’re progressing.

If you don’t track your handicap, it can be easy to get stuck in a rut without developing. So, as a recreational golfer, even if you’re not planning to play in competitions, it’s definitely worth using SwingU’s accurate handicap feature.

Does the SwingU App work on Apple Watch?

Yes, the SwingU app is compatible with the Apple Watch. Setting up SwingU on your watch is straightforward and takes just a couple of minutes to have it working as it should on your device. You must in the first instance have the app installed on your iPhone or iPad.

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How to Install SwingU on Apple Watch in 6 Easy Steps

  1. Install the app on your iPhone and connect it to your Apple Watch
  2. Tap watch orientation and select the wrist you wear the watch on
  3. Head to general settings and click “enable handoff” to turn it on
  4. Turn on the wake screen on Wrist Raise
  5. Select “wake for 70 seconds”
  6. Check “always” on the on-screen wake show last app, and you’re all set

The app connects to your Apple Watch via Bluetooth, so you will have to make sure it’s within range of your phone when you’re setting it up. SwingU has a full set of instructions on how to connect the app to your Apple Watch here.

Does the SwingU App Use Data?

To get the most out of the SwingU app, it’s best to keep it connected to your data while you’re playing your round. This will enable you to access all of the real-time features and provide you with the best possible chance of improving your game.

However, if you’re not on an unlimited data plan, this will get expensive quickly. So, you can start your round while you’re connected to the WiFi in the clubhouse, as this will download all of the relevant information to your SwingU app.

You can then switch your mobile data off and use the app as a GPS guide. You can upload your scores when you return to the clubhouse and are once again connected to the WiFi.

While you can use SwingU without data, we wouldn’t recommend doing so too often. The whole point of the app is that you get real-time insight and tips into game improvement, and if you’re offline, you can’t access the same range of features.

One of the Best GPS Apps for iPhone and More!

SwingU is undoubtedly one of the best iPhone apps for golfers. It’s packed full of features, easy to use, and available for a great price.

By using SwingU, you have access to a range of tips and advice that would ordinarily be provided by a caddy and can track and monitor your scores throughout the season.

Overall, if you’re looking for a golf app that will improve your game, then SwingU is one of your best options.