Around the Sticks Lite vs BowlsLink Scoring
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Around the Sticks Lite
This app provides yacht racers with essential course information, including mark bearings, distances, and turning instructions. It's designed for autonomous operation during races, requiring minimal user input so you can focus on sailing. Never lose your way on the course again.
- Mark bearing, distance, and turn shape
- Autonomous race operation
- Offline functionality
- Accidental activation lock
- Proximity mode for mark turns
- Race start timer with audio cues
- Custom mark and course creation
Read full descriptionHide full description
Around the Sticks is a richly featured yacht racing course app, providing clear and concise information on mark bearing, distance, shape of turn, side to pass and steering angle relative to mark. Optimized to perform autonomously in race conditions, the app requires very little user inputs, leaving you free to concentrate on the racing. Never get lost out on course again! Key features include: -Designed specifically for use in race conditions, and operated through a waterproof casing. Phone will not go idle whilst racing, rather the screen will dim and can be awakened by tapping anywhere on the screen (user settable) to save battery. -No internet connection is required whilst racing. -Buttons on main screen are automatically locked to prevent accidental activation. -One touch race: Once race is started (either with race timer or manually), no further inputs are needed from the user (if all mark positions are known to the app) mark rounding is automatic and the target moves automatically to the next mark. Laid marks, (without set/known coordinates) can be incorporated into courses to maintain the sequential structure. In these cases, once rounded an easily activated manual advance option advances to the next mark. -The main screen includes a link to course description, progress through the course, clear and easy to read bearing to and distance to, name and picture of the next mark, the side it must be left to, plus the name of the following mark of the course. Speed Across Ground and VMG to the mark are also included on the main screen. -Once near (distance user settable) to the next mark, proximity mode is activated. The shape of the turn and the bearing to the following mark are pre-emptively displayed, allowing the crew to prepare for the turn -Race start timer with sync signals for 5, 4 and 1 minutes to start, a user-settable timer button and clear audio cues. This can be used to trigger the start of a course within the app, or as a stand-alone feature -Clear help captions help explain features when you're getting started. Tap on a feature to display a caption explaining its function. Once you're familiar with the app, captions can be disabled in user settings -Create and store your own marks and courses, either by entering co-ordinates or "pinging" current location. User courses can be compiled with a combination of existing and custom marks, in a few moments. Ideal for race days where you're handed a new course at the last minute. It's also easy to enter into the app the entire course list for your club at the start of the season, so any course you may require is instantly accessible. Up to 200 courses may be compiled and stored in this way, however the full version of the app is required to navigate within user courses. Up to 3 user marks can be created and stored (200 in the full version of the app) -Around the Sticks free comes pre-loaded with marks and courses from Melbourne, Australia, this database will be extended regularly to include more territories/clubs. The first five courses of each club list are fully functional, the remaining courses can be used for reference purposes, however navigating within them requires the full version of the app. -Warning: As with all navigation apps, continued use of GPS may drain the battery life faster than normal. It is recommended that the app's easy to use timed screen dimming feature is activated to minimize this.
BowlsLink Scoring
This app digitizes lawn bowls scoring for matches in Australia. It allows users to record scores end-by-end or as a total match score, and submit results directly to BowlsLink. Forfeits and unplayed matches can also be logged.
- Digital lawn bowls scoring
- End-by-end score entry
- Total match score entry
- Direct submission to BowlsLink
- Log forfeits
- Record unplayed matches
Read full descriptionHide full description
Digital scoring is now available for lawn bowls in Australia. You can score your match end by end and have the results submitted directly to BowlsLink. Use your BowlsLink login to access, find your match via the competitions you have access to then get started. Your scores can be entered end by end or as a total match score. You can submit forfeits and un-played (wash outs or heat outs) as well.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Around the Sticks Lite at 100% against BowlsLink Scoring's 50%. Around the Sticks Lite also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Around the Sticks Lite ships an update monthly, BowlsLink Scoring every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Around the Sticks Lite | BowlsLink Scoring |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 25 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Tim Metherall | Memberpoint Pty Ltd |
Customer experience
Around the Sticks Lite
BowlsLink Scoring
In-app purchases
Around the Sticks Lite
No in-app purchases
BowlsLink Scoring
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Around the Sticks Lite free?
Is BowlsLink Scoring free?
Do Around the Sticks Lite or BowlsLink Scoring have ads?
Which is updated more often, Around the Sticks Lite or BowlsLink Scoring?
Other comparisons















