Is there a trick to getting Health to count my steps when golfing?

[olindacat]

I'm trying to motivate myself to lose weight by tracking how far I walk each week, e.g., steps. I have been golfing as walking around the streets where I live sucks.

I can't carry the phone in my pocket, as it's bulky with the case, etc., so I stow it in my bag.

Over the past two months I've gone from 1-2 walking rounds a week 18-36 holes, or 4.5-7 miles/week, to 3-4 rounds a week, or 13-19 miles a week, roughly.

But, the Health app doesn't show my steps, or walking. ONly when I have the phone in my hands, or sometimes in my pocket.

Is this a known issue? Is there a setting or workaround to make it work?

I have used Strava, but TBH have 'senior moments', where I just plain forget to either turn on or off the Strava, so it's not very good.

Any ideas?

 

[azhava]

Your phone relies on the accelerometer to track your steps, so if it's stowed in your bag it's not going to pick them up.

 

[Bichon]

Easiest way would be to buy and wear an Apple Watch while golfing. It will count your steps and synchronize with your iPhone and Apple Health.

 

[olindacat]

Your phone relies on the accelerometer to track your steps, so if it's stowed in your bag it's not going to pick them up.

That explains it. I thought the phone 'knew' when you were moving 1-3 mph, but I guess it needs to be on your body eh?

 

[olindacat]

Easiest way would be to buy and wear an Apple Watch while golfing. It will count your steps and synchronize with your iPhone and Apple Health.

I'm contemplting the AW. I had a 3 it was meh.

 

[azhava]

I'm contemplting the AW. I had a 3 it was meh.

The AW makes tracking your steps/activity a lot easier. I use the (free) 18Birdies app while golfing and my phone is in the storage console on my push cart but the watch tracks my steps, logs it as a workout, and it goes toward my Stand, Move and Exercise rings. I can also track my score and stats for the round on my watch.

It will also auto-start a workout if it senses you've been moving for a while - the accelerometer in the watch analyzes your movements and takes a guess at what you're doing, and asks if you want to start a workout. It tracks it back to when you started moving - in other words, if you've been walking for 10 minutes and the watch senses it and asks if you want to start an outdoor walk workout, it will start the timer at 10:00 and give you credit for all the exercise since it first started sensing the movement.

That explains it. I thought the phone 'knew' when you were moving 1-3 mph, but I guess it needs to be on your body eh?

The accelerometer in the phone can sense that you've moving, but if it's stowed in a bag it can't tell how you're moving. You could be walking, riding a skateboard, riding a bicycle, driving really slowly in a car, sitting on somebody's shoulders while they carry you, riding in a wheelchair, etc. If it's on your body (preferably in a pocket near the waist), it can sense the repetitive leg movements which clues it in that you're walking.

 

[Bichon]

It will also auto-start a workout if it senses you've been moving for a while - the accelerometer in the watch analyzes your movements and takes a guess at what you're doing, and asks if you want to start a workout. It tracks it back to when you started moving - in other words, if you've been walking for 10 minutes and the watch senses it and asks if you want to start an outdoor walk workout, it will start the timer at 10:00 and give you credit for all the exercise since it first started sensing the movement.

I always try to start the workout manually. In my experience I get fewer calories towards my move goal during a workout that auto-starts, which I suspect is because the heart rate sensor is only taking sporadic readings during that first 10 minutes, and can't accurately gauge my effort.

 

[chown33]

Maybe get a belt-clip "holster" for the phone. It would likely be cheaper than Apple Watch, but may interfere with your swing.