Ping has history in the golf app business being the first manufacturer to embrace the potential of software on mobile devices with the excellent Ping iPing putting app.
Following the release of Apple's wearable watch technology the company is embracing the latest developments, especially the trend for Apple watch wearers to embrace the fitness data the device records, with an update to the iPing app to incorporate watch specific elements.
The data that the Apple watch records around movement has led Ping's in-house app development team to focus on bringing increased visibility to the exercise and health benefits of golf with a Golf Workout function that records heart rate, step count and calories burned in either the Swing Practice or Play Golf Modes.
David Solheim, Ping Vice President:
One of the benefits of Apple Watch is the ability to monitor your fitness activity. This has led to the popularity of Apple Watch owners challenging themselves to ‘close their Activity Rings’ on a daily basis. With the Golf Workout feature, you receive Workout credit during your round or while you’re practising. It’s a great way to bring the fitness element of golf into the general conversation of the many benefits golf has to offer current and future players.
In addition to the Workouts, Ping has incorporated functionality to help you improve your game. In Swing Practice mode players can time their backswing and downswing to help measure tempo, whilst the Play Golf function allows the golfer to track important statistical data, including fairways hit, greens in regulation, and putts per round. You can also keep score using the Ping app on the Apple Watch.
For non watch owners the standard iPing features have been updated with an improved graphic interface to support the two popular options that players can use to improve their putting. The putting practice mode helps golfers to improve key aspects of their putting stroke and the Putting Handicap function takes a series of five putts to work out your consistency score. Each five-putt session is stored for comparison allowing golfers to challenge themselves and lower their handicap.
Ping has also included a new trivia game that highlights the brand's history within the game and its focus on innovations that have helped golfers to maximise their potential on the course.
The updated Ping iPing app is downloadable for free from the App Store with the full Golf Workout experience for owners of the Apple watch being available as an in-app purchase for £3.99.