TecTecTec ULT-G GPS Watch
Well the product in this review may be one of the golf deals of the century. $120. That’s how much the TecTecTec ULT-G GPS watch costs. While the ULT-G is somewhat of a minimalist GPS watch, it has access to 38,000 courses worldwide and no subscriptions required. All updates to the courses TecTecTec covers are completely gratis as well. Most importantly it’s accurate and reliable with the right combination of features to get the job done.
Out of the Box
Initial setup with the TecTecTec ULT-G is pretty straightforward, especially if you just follow the instructions in the provided manual. The first step is to get the watch charging with the provided USB cable. I’ve had a few GPS watches in my time, and I have to say, the ULT-G’s charging mechanism is the least impressive I’ve seen. The clip is clunky and can be difficult to get properly seated into the watch. Additionally, the prongs that stick out to connect to the watch seem like they could easily snap off. The good news is, it still works and isn’t part of the on-course experience. So I can live with it.
While your ULT-G is charging, head to the app store pertinent to your smart phone and download the TecTecTec GPS app. We’ll discuss this app more later, but you need it to pair with your watch so course information can get updated.
Features
To quote TecTecTec, “the ULT-G has everything you need, and nothing that you don’t – at an affordable price.” This is pretty much dead on. The standard coverage of distances to front, back, and center of the green are covered as well as distances to hazards. While some higher-end GPS watches may have a sexier graphical interface for hazard measurements, the ULT-G still provides accurate numbers and that’s good enough for me. It’s worth noting that the hazards have “codes” that are fairly easy to interpret (eg. RGB = right greenside bunker) but the instruction book has a key to translate if necessary.
The ULT-G also has Auto Course Recognition when you enter golf mode so getting started is a breeze. On the course, the ULT-G utilizes Automatic Hole Progression so you don’t need to manually switch to the next hole. Don’t worry, should you spray one over to the next tee box, it’s easy enough to toggle back to the previous hole.
Let’s revisit the TecTecTec GPS app I mentioned earlier. This app is used solely for updating course GPS information on the watch. Sure, a lot of these apps are doing shot tracking and have course maps these days. That said, I’m good with this app not doing that. 1) It doesn’t suck the life out of my phone battery. 2) I find messing with these apps on the courses severely slows down play because you spend more time swiping around your phone. 3) This is a $120 watch with no subscription and I’d prefer that value over a fancy app any day. Get off your phone on the course and hit your shot.
On-Course Performance
If I’m perfectly honest, I’m not a big fan of complex GPS golf watches so I’m a perfect match for the TecTecTec ULT-G. I basically want to be able to quickly glance at the screen to get an accurate distance, know what par is on the hole, and what hole I’m on. That’s it. Yes, occasionally, I like being able to check for distances of features on the hole. The ULT-G successfully accomplishes all of these things. Distances display quickly, accurately, and are easy to read.
TecTecTec kept the navigation on this watch pretty simple. There are four buttons to perform all of the functions. Take a few minutes before you head to the course to read the manual and you’ll be properly familiarized. Of course, should you choose not to, it’s easy enough to figure out on the fly.
Battery life is pretty crucial when it comes to golf GPS watches. TecTecTec claims the ULT-G’s battery will last you for 2.5 rounds of golf. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to put in a 36-hole day yet to test that, but after one round of use, I still had about 75% of battery. Given that performance, I’m not doubting their battery life claims at all.
Final Thoughts – TecTecTec ULT-G GPS Watch
Consider me a big fan of the TecTecTec ULT-G GPS watch. I understand where people want more bells and whistles, but the $120 price tag with no subscription is just too tough to beat. I’m all in on that value. The ULT-G gives me accurate and reliable distances, as well as hazard/feature distances, and that’s all I need out of a GPS watch.
