With PGA Tour Road to the Masters Season 3 Patch Notes 4.0 EA released for the US Open, came the Notchless Swing Meter update. This was one of the biggest modifications made to the gameplay to achieve crisper aesthetics and a more realistic feel.
As it is with any update made to a game, the new Swing Meter takes some getting used to. In this guide, I’ll be taking you through the new Notchless Swing Meter, how to use it to the best of your ability, and if you’re not enjoying the mod at all, show you how to change the settings back to one of the previous options.
Table of Contents
- How to Use the New Notchless Swing Meter
- How to Enable & Disable the Notchless Swing Meter
- Does the Notchless Swing Meter Improve EA Sports PGA Tour?
How to Use the New Notchless Swing Meter in EA Sports Road to the Masters
It’s pretty much the same as the previous Swing Meter, where you just pull back on the analog stick, load until you reach the apex of your swing, and then push forward on the analog to complete the swing. The only difference now is that you’ll need to stop your swing when the trail indicator reaches the end of the Swing Meter before pushing forward on the analog stick.
There will be no notch to show the exact strength with which you should hit your ball or when you should push forward on the analog stick. If you pull back for too long, the trail indicator turns red, which means you’ll be overswinging on your next hit.
How to Enable & Disable the Notchless Swing Meter in EA Sports PGA Tour
You can enable and disable the Notchless Swing Meter in Road to the Masters both in-game and via the main menu Settings, with the latter being a permanent change and the former being temporary. With the in-game changes, once you’ve finished golfing, the settings will revert to the previous settings, and you’ll have to change them again in the main menu.
The procedure to change the settings in-game or on the main menu is carried out in the same way. First, you need to open Settings by pressing R1 or L1 until your selector lands on Settings. The next list of options will open. Press R2 or L2 and select the Visual option. Scroll down to the fifth option: Swing Meter Style. Once selected, you’ll notice a list of options appear on the bottom right side of the screen. There are four options to choose from.
Swing Meter Options To Choose From in Road to the Masters:
- Modern
- Modern – Trail Disabled
- Classic
- Classic – Trail Disabled
The Modern option refers to the latest Notchless Swing Meter, while the Classic is the old style that came with the game’s initial release. The option to disable the trail will remove the indicator gauge that generates while you’re swinging. Removing the trail gives players even more control over their swing. This Swing Meter Style relies a lot on your experience playing the EA Sports PGA Tour.
Related: How to Switch to 3-Click Swing in EA Sports PGA Tour
There is no visual indication showing if you are overswinging or underhitting the ball. The only way you’ll know if you’ve gone over the limit is if the controller vibrates. Other than that, you need to really watch how your golfer swings and pay close attention to their swing style. It will help players gauge whether they’re taking a full swing or a half swing. Players will also have to wait for the control to vibrate to know if they’re swinging off line.
Does the Notchless Swing Meter Improve EA Sports PGA Tour?
For me, the Notchless Swing Meter improves the gameplay experience in PGA Tour. The change has effectively made it harder to judge if you are overswinging or underswinging on your long drives and approach shots, bringing even more realism to the game.
What it does favor more is the short game, between long drives and putting. Chips and pitches are easier to finesse, allowing for a drop closer to the cup. Because it has made it harder to judge the strength of your swing in PGA Tour, players will again have to practice to get it perfect or to hit the sweet spot consistently.
The other aspect that has improved is the realism of the swing itself. It just gives a smoother, crisper, more fluent feel when swinging. However, it’s not for everyone and some virtual golfers will want to revert back to the basics.
This, in return, proves you can’t rest on your heels, and you need to keep golfing in Road to the Masters to make it as a pro virtual golfer. For more on EA’s 2023 golf title, you can read: EA Sports PGA Tour: Does Buying Clubs Improve Your Stats?
