From a standalone tool to a family of connected devices
Platforms:
Android, iOS
End-user:
Golfers using GPS speakers and companion mobile and smartwatch apps to track distances, shots, and rounds
Technologies/Languages/Frameworks:
Android (Kotlin, Jetpack Compose): Native Android and Wear OS companion apps, with MVVM and Dagger, BLE/GATT connectivity to Precision Pro rangefinders and speakers, and a native C/JNI ballistics engine for weather- and elevation-adjusted distances.
iOS (Swift, SwiftUI): Native iOS and Apple Watch companion apps, with Core Bluetooth for hardware connectivity, Core Motion barometer integration, and ball-flight modelling for "plays like" distances.
Cloud & APIs (Firebase, AWS S3): Backend on Firebase for accounts and application data, AWS S3 and Precision Pro's own APIs for course data and configuration, Google Maps and Elevation APIs for terrain, and OpenWeatherMap for weather intelligence.
Wearables (Wear OS, Apple Watch): Phone-to-watch sync across both platforms, including ClockKit complications on Apple Watch and the Wearable Data Layer on Wear OS.
Industry:
Golf Tech / Connected Hardware / Sports Tech
Empowering Golfers Through Innovative Rangefinders
Precision Pro Golf's sole mission is to be the reason golfers are confident by advancing how golfers use information on and off the course. Their goal has always been to set their product apart by consistently innovating their rangefinders with cutting-edge technology.
How it all started
Golf's Popularity Surges, Boosting Rangefinder Demand
The popularity of golf has surged demand for Rangefinders, vital tools for players to accurately measure distances and refine their shots. The market for Rangefinders was worth $124.8 million in 2020 and shot up to $365 million in 2023.
Pioneering Precision: The Evolution of Precision Pro Golf
In 2013, Clay Hood and Jonah Mytro founded Precision Pro Golf (PPG), starting with golf training products like specialized mats for chipping and pitching. Their journey led to inventions like the Putter Cube for putting alignment. They noticed the high cost of rangefinders and decided to make them more accessible.
In 2016, they launched the V400 Rangefinder, offering precision at a lower price. This marked their entry into the rangefinder market. Over time, PPG expanded its range, introducing smart technology, GPS speakers, and customizable skins.
They aim to boost golfers' confidence both on and off the course, making Precision Pro Golf a leader in affordable, quality golf accessories.
When Roro joined PPG!
Digital Rangefinder
We began our partnership with Precision Pro Golf in 2019, and in 2020 we brought to life the Digital Rangefinder integrated into the PPG app, built natively in Kotlin on Android and Swift on iOS, and utilising Google Maps and Google's Elevation API. This feature enables users to accurately measure distances, including slopes, while also allowing them to record their rounds, establish personalised layups, access statistics, and generate customised reports. With course data stored on AWS S3 and Precision Pro's own APIs, spanning over 39,000 golf courses worldwide and continually expanding, the Digital Rangefinder offers comprehensive support to golfers across the globe.
R1 Smart Rangefinder
In the second quarter of 2021, Precision Pro Golf launched the R1 Smart Rangefinder, and we built the app and connectivity layer behind it, the BLE pairing, Adaptive Slope calculations, Target Acquisition, and the rest of its app-connected smart functionality. The R1 set a new standard in precision and convenience on the course. Smart rangefinders represent a significant evolution in golfing technology compared to standard rangefinders -
Utilisation of Environmental Data for “My Slope” Distance
The R1 Smart Rangefinder, with the help of connected app experience, uses environmental data from OpenWeatherMap, like wind speed, direction, humidity, and temperature, to calculate “My Slope” distance, adjusting for elevation changes. Behind this sits a native ballistics engine, built in C and JNI on Android and using Core Motion's barometer on iOS, running the weather- and elevation-adjusted calculations that make this possible. This provides golfers with more accurate yardage readings, aiding in club selection and strategic decision-making.
App Integration for Enhanced Functionality
The R1 Smart Rangefinders can be paired with the Precision Pro Golf app that offers a range of features to assist golfers:
Course Mapping and GPS Integration
Detailed course maps, hazards, and green contours help plan shots accurately with real-time distance measurements.
Caddie-Like Club Recommendations
The app analyses distance, elevation, wind, and past performance data to suggest the best club for each shot, aiding strategic decisions.
Performance Tracking
Track stats like fairways hit, greens in regulation, and putting accuracy to identify strengths and areas for improvement over time.
Scorekeeping and Round History
Digitally record scores and review shot-by-shot data to track progress and identify areas for improvement.
Customization
Personalise settings, store preferred club distances, and create custom layup points for a tailored experience.
ACE Speakers
Building on this success, Precision Pro Golf launched the ACE Speakers in the fourth quarter of 2021, and we built the app-side experience behind them. This unique device blends premium sound quality with GPS capabilities. We built the BLE pairing between the app, the speaker, and a remote designed for the speaker, so pressing a button on the remote from any point on the course pulls accurate distance-to-hole information from the app. This device is like having your own caddie.
Watch Apps
As we ventured into wearable technology, our collaboration with Precision Pro Golf resulted in the introduction of the Apple Watch Application in the first quarter of 2022, providing golfers with even greater flexibility and accessibility on the course. Built with WatchConnectivity and ClockKit complications, the Watch Application works as a companion app to the mobile app and enables the following:
Users can track the hole data (front, centre, and back distances), laser distance, environmental data and club suggestions
Users can record their round scores.
We've also built a Wear OS companion app using Google's Wearable Data Layer, bringing the same on-course companion experience to Android smartwatches.
Duo Speaker
The third quarter of 2022 saw the debut of the Duo Speaker. Its compact design, water-resistant features, and customizable options met diverse needs of golfers everywhere. This speaker is one of the smallest speakers to have built-in GPS. We built the BLE pairing that connects it to the Precision Pro app, providing distances to the front, centre, and back of the green. Premium audio quality, audible GPS distances and slope adjustments, personal layups, and customisable features make this the go-to companion on the course.
PPG App Revamp
In the second quarter of 2023, we transformed the PPG app with an App revamp, ensuring that PPG's digital platform remains at the forefront of innovation, delivering an unparalleled user experience. The revamped app got a new look with a new theme which changed the colour and fonts used in the App, in alignment with Precision Pro Golf's brand guidelines.
Titan Rangefinder
In early 2024, Precision Pro Golf introduced the Titan Rangefinder, a culmination of years of collaboration and dedication, and we built the app and BLE connectivity behind it. The Titan is the finest model of Precision Pro Golf's rangefinders. It is made with strong aluminium, has features like pulse vibration and visual flag lock, and it is dustproof and waterproof. Plus, it has clear lenses and a magnetic grip.
In this iteration, we focused on making improvements to the existing “Find my device” workflow.
Accounts, Data & Analytics
Underneath every rangefinder and every companion app sits the infrastructure that keeps accounts, rounds, and course data in sync. We built this on Firebase, using Authentication for accounts, Firestore and the Realtime Database for round and profile data, and Firebase Storage for course and user content. Crashlytics keeps an eye on stability across both platforms, while Mixpanel tracks product usage, and on iOS, Klaviyo and Apple Push Notification service handle the notifications that bring golfers back to the course.
Precision Pro Golf has been a valued client for a significant duration, underscoring our dedication to consistently advancing and adjusting to meet the evolving needs of golfers through state-of-the-art technology. Since the beginning of our partnership, we have consistently strived to make enhancements and introduce fresh ideas aimed at deepening golfers' passion for the game.
Here's what Clay Hood has to say about our partnership -
Roro has a great knowledge of mobile app development, IoT product development, and back end management and optimization. Roro has been very good to us.
Precision Pro Golf