Not all 198 meters/yards play like 198 meters/yards. Elevation, slope, and lie can make a shot play longer or shorter than the straight-line distance.
Plays Like adjusts the distance to reflect real course conditions, helping you choose the right club with more confidence.
Audience
Premium golfers on iOS and Android
Available on Apple Watch and Wear OS
What is Plays Like?
The distance to the pin might say 198 meters (216 yards), but if the shot is uphill, it may actually play like 201 meters (219 yards).
That adjusted number is your Plays Like distance. It helps you account for elevation changes so you can make smarter club decisions.
Plays Like also automatically adjusts Club Recommendations, giving you advice based on real playing conditions.
How to Use Plays Like
Preview a Course
You can use Plays Like when previewing a golf course before starting your round.
Open the course preview.
Tap the Plays Like button in the top left corner.
Drag the target icon around the map.
View both the straight-line distance and the Plays Like distance.
This helps you plan your strategy before teeing off.
During a Round
Start your round and select the correct tee.
Tap the blue Start Round button.
On the hole map, tap the Plays Like button in the top left corner.
Turn it ON (blue) or OFF (grey).
You can also:
Tap the Settings icon on the right side of the screen.
Toggle Plays Like ON or OFF at any time during your round.
Once enabled, distances will automatically adjust.
Apple Watch
Start a round on your phone.
On your watch, view the hole distances.
Swipe right.
Turn Plays Like ON (blue) or OFF (grey).
When Plays Like is turned ON, the Apple Watch shows the Back, Center, and Front distances already adjusted to Plays Like, instead of the raw distance.
Wear OS
Start a round.
On your watch, while viewing distances, swipe left to Settings.
Scroll to Plays Like.
Tap to turn it ON (blue) or OFF (grey).
Wear OS shows the Back, Center, and Front distances already adjusted to Plays Like, instead of the raw distance.
Tips & Important Notes
Plays Like is a Premium feature.
Available on both iOS and Android.
When activated on your phone, it automatically syncs with your watch, and vice versa.
Elevation adjustments are calculated automatically based on course data.
If Club Recommendations are enabled, they will update automatically when Plays Like is ON.
Troubleshooting
Stuck on "Loading Plays Like Data"?
Close the app completely.
Reopen Hole19.
Make sure you have a stable internet connection.
Comments