StrokeInk - User Manual

Smart golf scorecard with e-ink display

Built in Austin, TX 🤠

User Manual

Setup, mounting & everyday use · Rev A

01 Start here

Welcome to StrokeInk

A dedicated scorecard for the course — not another reason to pull out your phone.

StrokeInk is two things working together. On the course, a small e-ink device with five tactile buttons keeps your score with a glance and a click — no glare, no phone, weeks of battery. Off the course, the StrokeInk app turns those scores into stats, trends, an estimated handicap, and feedback from your AI Coach.

This guide covers both halves: setting up and using the device, getting started in the app, and — most importantly — how the two talk to each other through StrokeInk Sync. Take a few minutes here before your first round.

The short version You load a course from the app onto the device. You score on the device during play. You sync back to the app afterward to review and share. Two halves of one product.

02 The big picture

How it all works

Before the step-by-step, here's the full loop so the rest of the manual makes sense. StrokeInk is designed so your phone stays in your bag while you play.

1 · Load

In the app, search for a course and send it to the device over StrokeInk Sync.The device knows the course — pars and hole handicaps — before you tee off.

2 · Create

On the device, start a New Round. You pick the course, 9 or 18 holes, your starting hole, and your tee.Rounds are created on the device, not in the app.

3 · Score

Walk the course and tap your strokes and putts hole by hole. No phone needed.

4 · Sync

After the round, open StrokeInk Sync on both the device and the app. Your round transfers to your phone.

5 · Review

In the app, see your stats, trends, estimated handicap, and an AI Coach debrief — then share with your buddies.

Remember Courses flow app → device. Rounds are created and played on the device, then flow device → app. The app is where everything is stored and analyzed.

03 Unboxing

What's in the box

Lift the tray to find your mounting hardware underneath. Everything you need for either mounting style is included — you choose which one to use.

×1

StrokeInk device

E-ink display unit with 5 buttons and USB-C charging

×1

Scorecard Mount

Clips onto a golf cart scorecard holder

×1

Magnetic Mount

Strong magnet for metal cart surfaces

×4

Mount screws

Secure the device to either mount

×2

Feet (optional)

5 mm and 8 mm — one for each mount

×2

Feet screws

Same screw works with either foot

×1

Phillips screwdriver

For the feet screws and mount screws

×1

Carrying pouch

Protects the device between rounds

×1 set

Stickers

StrokeInk decals

×1

QR code card

Scan to open this manual

Photo

Flat-lay of device, both mounts, screws, feet, screwdriver, pouch, and stickers — to be added.

Why two feet? The feet keep the device sitting flat and level once a mount is attached. Each mount adds a different amount of height, so each uses a different foot — see Installing the feet.

04 Get oriented

Device tour

Take a moment to find each part before setup.

Photo

Labeled diagram — e-ink display, 5 buttons, USB-C port, base with mounting holes — to be added.

Front

3.52" e-ink display showing your scorecard360 × 240 px · readable in direct sunlight

Buttons

Five tactile buttons along the faceSee section 06 for the full map

Edge

USB-C port for chargingThe only way to wake the device from a fully depleted battery

Base

Threaded holes for the feet and mount screws

05 Power

Charging

Charge fully before your first round.

Connect USB-C Plug a USB-C cable into the port on the edge of the device and into any USB power source.
Let it charge A full charge takes a couple of hours from empty. The e-ink display doesn't show a live charging meter — it's a paper-like screen that only updates when something changes — so just leave it connected.
Unplug, then press NEXT Once charged, disconnect and press NEXT to wake the device. A single charge lasts weeks of normal use thanks to the low-power e-ink screen.

If the battery runs flat When the battery is depleted, the display shows a low-battery message and the device sleeps. Only connecting USB-C will revive it. Once it has charge, press NEXT to wake it.

06 Controls

The five buttons

Everything on the course is done with these five buttons — no touchscreen, no menus to get lost in. From left to right they are PREV, MINUS, MODE, PLUS, and NEXT.

Photo

Top-down shot of the five buttons in position — to be added.

Buttons are contextual Each button does something different depending on the screen you're on. You never have to memorize it — the bottom of every screen shows you what each button does right now. The guide below is just the general idea.

Move back — previous hole, or up through a menu

MINUS

Subtract — lower a score or putt count

MODE

Switch context — skip a step, or (pressed twice on the scorecard) jump to the main menu

PLUS

Add — raise a score or putt count, or select a menu item

Move forward — next hole, confirm, or wake the device from sleep

Waking up To save power, StrokeInk sleeps when idle. Press NEXT to wake it and pick up where you left off.

07 The screen

Display & battery

Why e-ink

E-ink looks like paper, not a backlit screen. It stays crisp in bright sun where phones wash out, and it sips almost no power — the display only draws energy when the image changes, so a charge lasts weeks.

Sleep & wake

After a period of inactivity the device enters deep sleep to preserve battery. Your current round and score are kept safe. Press NEXT to wake. While sleeping, the screen still shows a clean StrokeInk message — that image costs no battery at all.

Low battery

At 15%, StrokeInk shows a low-battery warning so you can finish your round and recharge soon.

When fully depleted, the screen displays a charge-needed message and sleeps until you connect USB-C.

No status lights StrokeInk has no LEDs by design — all status is shown clearly on the e-ink display itself.

08 Before mounting

Installing the feet

Optional — fit a foot to keep the device flat once a mount is attached.

Completely optional The feet are not required. The device and mounts work fine without them. They simply level the device and improve the experience — install one only if you want that flush, flat sit.

Two feet are included, in two heights. Each mount raises the device by a different amount, so the matching foot levels it out. If you decide to use one, pick the foot for the mount you plan to use:

5 mm

Use with the Scorecard MountThe shorter foot pairs with the scorecard clip

8 mm

Use with the Magnetic MountThe taller foot pairs with the magnet base

Choose your mount Decide whether you'll use the Scorecard Mount (5 mm foot) or the Magnetic Mount (8 mm foot).
Position the foot on the base Line the foot up with the threaded holes on the bottom of the device.
Secure with the feet screws Use the included feet screws and the Phillips screwdriver from the box. Both foot heights use the same screw. Hand-tighten — snug, not forced.

Photo

Comparison of 5 mm vs 8 mm feet and the screw points on the base — to be added.

One mount at a time You only need one foot installed for the mount you're using. Keep the other foot with the spare mount in case you switch later.

09 Mounting

Mounting options

Two ways to mount — choose whichever suits your cart and your preference.

Scorecard Mount

Clips into the scorecard holder found on most golf carts. A secure, low-profile fit.

Uses the 5 mm foot + mount screws

Magnetic Mount

A strong magnet grips any flat metal surface on the cart. Fast on, fast off.

Uses the 8 mm foot + mount screws

Your choice You don't have to commit — both mounts and all the hardware are in the box. Use one today, switch to the other whenever you like (remember to swap the foot to match).

Attaching the device to a mount

Confirm the foot (if using one) The feet are optional. If you're using one: 5 mm for the Scorecard Mount, 8 mm for the Magnetic Mount. See section 08.
Align the device with the mount Match the base holes to the mounting points on your chosen mount.
Fasten with the mount screws Use the four included mount screws and the Phillips screwdriver to fix the device firmly to the mount.
Mount it to the cart Clip the Scorecard Mount into the holder, or place the Magnetic Mount onto a clean, flat metal surface.

Scorecard Mount — on the cart

Photo

Device with 5 mm foot, clipped into a cart scorecard holder — to be added.

Magnetic Mount — on the cart

Photo

Device with 8 mm foot, attached to a metal cart surface — to be added.

Magnet safety The Magnetic Mount uses a strong magnet. Keep it clear of cards with magnetic strips, pacemakers, and other sensitive electronics.

10 The app

Getting started with the app

Score on the device. Review, track, and improve in the app.

The StrokeInk app is where your rounds come to life — stats, your handicap, weather, a course catalog, the social feed to share with your buddies, and your AI Coach. It's also where you find courses to send to your device. Here's how to download it and set it up.

Download the app

Open your app store On your phone, open the App Store or Google Play.
Search for "StrokeInk" Search for the StrokeInk app and install it.
Open StrokeInk Launch the app once it finishes installing.

Create your account

Sign up or sign in Create a free account or sign in if you already have one. Your rounds and handicap are saved to your account, so they're safe even if you change phones.
Set up your profile Add your details during sign-up so the app is ready to track your game. Your tee is chosen on the device when you start a round, not here.

Use the same account everywhere Your rounds are tied to your account, not your phone. Sign in with the same email you used at checkout so any Pro features unlock automatically.

11 Around the app

The app, screen by screen

A bar along the bottom gets you to the main screens, with the Coach button in the center. Tap the menu icon in the top corner to open settings.

Home

Your dashboard — recent activity, the weather card for your course, a shortcut to search courses, and quick access to everything.

Courses

Search 20,000+ courses worldwide. Find a course, view its scorecard, and send it to your device. Can't find one? Request it.

Rounds

Every round you've played and synced, with totals and your score relative to par. Tap a round for the full hole-by-hole breakdown.

Coach

The center button — your AI Coach. A post-round debrief, a chat about your game, plus Pro tools for practice plans, deeper analysis, pre-round prep, and goals.

Social

Share your rounds, tag your foursome, comment and chat with your buddies, and see your public profile.

Stats

Trends over time and your WHS estimated handicap (Pro), based on your synced rounds.

Weather

Golf-relevant conditions for your course — UV, wind gusts, an hourly view, and the outlook, using your location. Open to everyone.

AI Coach

Tap the orange Coach button in the center of the bottom bar. The Coach works only from your real stats — it never makes numbers up, and it gets sharper the more rounds you feed it.

Debrief

A short post-round summary of what went well and what to work on.

Chat

Ask questions about your game and get answers grounded in your data.

Practice

A focused practice plan aimed at your weak spots · Pro

Analysis

A deeper look at your trends across rounds · Pro

Pre-round

A game plan before you tee off · Pro

Goals

Set a target and track progress toward it · Pro

The menu

The side menu holds your settings, grouped into Account, Support, and Legal. Sign out and account deletion live at the bottom.

12 Device + app

StrokeInk Sync

StrokeInk Sync is the link between your device and the app.

Sync does two jobs: it sends courses to the device before you play, and it brings rounds back to the app afterward.

Wake your device Press NEXT so the device is awake and ready.
Open StrokeInk Sync on the device From the device's main menu, choose StrokeInk Sync. The screen shows "Searching for phone…".
Open StrokeInk Sync in the app In the app, start StrokeInk Sync. It searches for nearby StrokeInk devices and connects.
Connected The device shows Connected and the app takes over from there. Syncing is handled by the app — courses go out, rounds come in.

Photo

App and device side by side, connected over StrokeInk Sync — to be added.

Keep them close Sync works over a short-range connection, so keep the phone and device near each other while it runs. It only takes a few seconds.

13 Before the round

Loading courses onto the device

The device needs the course before you can score it. You load courses from the app.

This is the step that lets you leave your phone in the bag. You pick a course in the app and send it to the device — pars and hole handicaps come along — so the device knows the course before you tee off.

Find the course in the app Open Courses and search by name. You can browse the scorecard to confirm it's the right one.
Send it to the device With StrokeInk Sync connected (section 12), choose to send the course to your device.
It's ready on the device The course is now stored on the device and available when you start a New Round. It stays there until you remove it — next time you play it, there's no need to sync again.

No courses on the device yet? If you start a New Round and the device says "No courses — sync from the app first," it just means nothing has been loaded yet. Open the app, connect StrokeInk Sync, and send a course over.

Courses stay on the device Once loaded, a course stays on the device until you remove it. If you're playing a course the device already has, there's nothing to sync — just start your round. The free plan keeps one course on the device at a time; Pro stores up to five.

14 On the course

Playing a round

Rounds are created on the device. Once you're charged, mounted, and on the first tee, you're a few clicks from scoring.

Start a new round

From the device's main menu, choose New Round. The device walks you through four quick choices — at each step, PREV and NEXT change the option, PLUS confirms it, and MINUS steps back:

1 · Course

Pick from the courses you've loaded from the app.

2 · Holes

Choose 9 or 18 holes.

3 · Start hole

Set which hole you're teeing off from — handy for shotgun starts.

4 · Tee

Choose your tee so pars and yardages match your round.

Score each hole

Your scorecard appears on the e-ink display. The bottom of the screen always shows what each button does — here's the flow:

Move around the scorecard PREV and NEXT move between holes. PLUS opens score entry for the current hole.
Enter your score On the score screen, PLUS adds a stroke and MINUS removes one. NEXT confirms; PREV cancels.
Enter your putts Next, set putts the same way — PLUS and MINUS to adjust, NEXT to confirm. Not tracking putts on this hole? Press MODE to skip.
On to the next hole Press NEXT to advance. PREV goes back any time to fix something.

Jump to the menu From the scorecard, press MODE twice to open the menu — there you can review or edit the round, sync, or change settings, then return to scoring.

Review or edit a hole

Open Review / Edit Round from the menu to step through every hole. PREV and NEXT move between holes, PLUS edits the selected hole, and MINUS returns to the menu.

Photo

E-ink scorecard showing strokes and putts in play — to be added.

15 After the round

Syncing your round to the app

Bring your finished round back to the app to see your stats.

Finish your holes Complete the round on the device. Your scores stay safely on the device until you sync. Only full 18-hole rounds with a score and putts on every hole count toward your stats, handicap, and trends — so finish each hole to get the full picture.
Open StrokeInk Sync on both Choose StrokeInk Sync from the device menu, then start Sync in the app. They connect (section 12).
Round transfers to the app Your strokes, putts, and the course you played move to your phone. The device confirms when it's done. If you sync a few days after playing, the sync date may differ from when you actually played — you can fix the date on the Rounds screen in the app.
Review in the app Open Rounds to see the full breakdown, then check Stats and the AI Coach debrief.
Share it (optional) Head to Social to post the round, tag your foursome, and chat with your buddies about how it went.

Complete rounds make accurate stats If a hole is missing a score or putts, the device lets you know so you can edit it before exporting. Remember: only full 18-hole rounds with score and putts on every hole are counted toward your stats and handicap.

16 Go further

StrokeInk Pro

Pro adds your WHS estimated handicap, a larger AI Coach quota, up to five courses stored on the device (one on the free plan), notes, photos, round export, and much more.

Monthly

$9.99 / month

Annual

$99.99 / yearThat's $8.33/mo — save $19.89 vs monthly

Trial

7-day free trial

About the handicap The handicap shown in the app is an unofficial WHS estimate based on your synced rounds. It is not an official handicap and isn't issued by any governing body.

17 Looking after it

Care & storage

Wipe the display and case with a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth. Avoid harsh solvents.

Store at room temperature; avoid leaving it in a hot car for long periods.

If storing for a while, charge it first — e-ink keeps the last image with no power, but the battery still self-discharges slowly.

Use the carrying pouch to protect the device between rounds and in your bag.

Keep the USB-C port clear of grass clippings, sand, and water.

18 Help

Troubleshooting

The screen won't turn on

The battery is likely depleted. Connect USB-C and let it charge — buttons can't wake a fully drained device. Give it a few minutes before trying again.

Buttons aren't responding

Press NEXT first to wake from sleep. If still unresponsive, charge the device, then try again.

The device says "No courses"

No course has been loaded yet. Open the app, connect StrokeInk Sync, and send a course to the device (section 13). Then start your New Round.

Sync won't connect

Make sure the device is awake (press NEXT) and StrokeInk Sync is open on the device, then start Sync in the app. Keep the phone and device close together. If it still won't connect, close and reopen Sync on both.

The device won't sit flat on the mount

Check you've installed the correct foot — 5 mm for the Scorecard Mount, 8 mm for the Magnetic Mount — and that the feet screws are snug.

The Magnetic Mount feels loose

Magnets grip best on clean, flat, bare metal. Wipe the surface and avoid painted or curved areas.

The display looks faint or ghosted

E-ink occasionally retains a faint previous image. It clears on the next full refresh — change holes or wake the device again.

19 The details

Specifications

Display

3.52" e-ink, 360 × 240 px, sunlight-readable

Controls

5 tactile buttons (PREV, MINUS, MODE, PLUS, NEXT)

Charging

USB-C

Battery life

Weeks per charge under normal use

Status lights

None — all status shown on screen

Connectivity

StrokeInk Sync — links to the app

Courses

Loaded from the app · stay on the device until removed · 1 on free, up to 5 on Pro

In the box

Device, Scorecard Mount, Magnetic Mount, 4 mount screws, 2 feet (5 mm + 8 mm), 2 feet screws, Phillips screwdriver, carrying pouch, sticker set, QR code card

20 Reach us

Support

Questions, feedback, or something not working as expected? We'd love to hear from you.

[email protected]

Instagram

@playstrokeink