The validity and reliability of two golf performance-tracking global positioning system (GPS) devices

<p dir="ltr">The validity and reliability of two golf performance-tracking 1-Hz global positioning system (GPS) devices for measuring shot distance, Arccos and Shot Scope CONNEX, was assessed. Ten golfers participated in an 18-hole validity condition (device vs. a laser rangefinder/tape measure control), and a 9-hole reliability condition assessing interunit differences in shot distance. Arccos and Shot Scope displayed high levels of validity with strong Spearman rank-order correlation coefficients (r ≥0.91, p <0.05), and a mean bias of ≤1 yard across all distance categories. Both systems appeared highly reliable with strong Spearman rank-order and intraclass correlation coefficients (r ≥0.84, p <0.05) and low typical error (Shot Scope: ≤2 yards; Arccos: ≤3 yards) across all distance categories. Arccos did not detect 67 shots, whilst Shot Scope did not detect 3. Arccos and Shot Scope appear highly valid and reliable methods of measuring golf shot distance and afford golf practitioners and researchers the opportunity to confidently measure on-course golf performance.</p>