GPS Watches - good, bad, waste of money?

[njrose51]

I'm thinking of getting one, as they seem cheaper then a range finder. Never had any experience of them though so would appreciate the Forum's help in whether they would make a good purchase/help my game?

Thanks!

 

[Rooter]

Budget? what do you want from it? basic front middle and back of green? or hazards, scoring.

I have a Garmin S1 which is the most basic and i am very happy with it. The Skycaddie range get a good following here also,

 

[Thexindi]

I'm thinking of getting one, as they seem cheaper then a range finder. Never had any experience of them though so would appreciate the Forum's help in whether they would make a good purchase/help my game?

Thanks!

Hey there I bought a GPS watch Ive had it now over a year I bought the Golf Buddy Voice +, The good is its very easy to use few buttons only, takes no more then 5 mins to find the satellites. auto hole recognition and the battery lasts around 2 golf rounds.

The bad well its not that bad If your on hole 3 and hit a bad shot and you are to close to hole 16s tee box it thinks your playing hole 16 but again a few buttons only so takes a second to switch it back, If hit a bad drive and your on the next fairway that's fine it will still give your yardages to the hole your playing. Just gotta remember if you get too near another holes tee area

Any Qs feel free to ask

 

[Curls]

I'm very happy with my Garmin S3, don't think I'd be bothered with a bigger unit and though I can see the appeal of lasers I see folk waste a lot of time with them. I might change sides some day, who knows. I was definately losing shots by making poor distance judgements before the unit. When I got the watch I chose better clubs.

But then, what I would say is that after the honeymoon period the watch made me prone to number-blindness. Its poor mind control by me but I would look at the watch, see whatever number related to the front-middle-back flag position and end up hitting the club that would go that distance in flat ideal conditions. The info is great, but it should be just a starting point, I get lazy about that and have to have a word with myself. Its really good for getting to know your distances though, a bit of practice at known distances, on course, proper balls, in ideal conditions - creates good data.

I have small wrists and dont wear a watch in real life but have no issue with golfing with one.

 

[njrose51]

Budget? what do you want from it? basic front middle and back of green? or hazards, scoring.

I have a Garmin S1 which is the most basic and i am very happy with it. The Skycaddie range get a good following here also,

Hi Rooter,

Not too fussed about hazards, its more to help me with distance control course mapping (?) as I play a lot of different courses over the year.

Scoring would be good, linking to an app for the phone would be good if that's possibility?

Cheers,

 

[Bazz]

I've got the Garmin Vivoactive and I love it.

Nice to know yardages but it's way more important that you know how far you hit each club. This is something I struggled with.

 

[SugarPenguin]

I'm very happy with my Garmin S3, don't think I'd be bothered with a bigger unit and though I can see the appeal of lasers I see folk waste a lot of time with them. I might change sides some day, who knows. I was definately losing shots by making poor distance judgements before the unit. When I got the watch I chose better clubs.

But then, what I would say is that after the honeymoon period the watch made me prone to number-blindness. Its poor mind control by me but I would look at the watch, see whatever number related to the front-middle-back flag position and end up hitting the club that would go that distance in flat ideal conditions. The info is great, but it should be just a starting point, I get lazy about that and have to have a word with myself. Its really good for getting to know your distances though, a bit of practice at known distances, on course, proper balls, in ideal conditions - creates good data.

I have small wrists and dont wear a watch in real life but have no issue with golfing with one.

Couldnt agree more. I have the same watch.
It is excellent though and the best money you could spend on golf equipment.

only negative is that everybody asks you for yardages all the time. Can come in handy though if you are down in a match

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I have had a Garmin S1 for just over a year now. Great bit of kit. Higher numbered models give you more things, the S1 is a basic yardage, measure shot distance job. They save me a lot of time and guess work, particularly on new courses and courses that have distance discs that you can not see rather than posts. A quick glance at the watch and you are away.

What you do with the information is up to each golfer but I find it speeds me up no end.

 

[chrisd]

I bought a Golfbuddy WT5 last week and used it for the first time yesterday. It was easy to use and showed everything I needed and I didn't use my Bushnell at all

 

[Ross61]

Hi Rooter,

Not too fussed about hazards, its more to help me with distance control course mapping (?) as I play a lot of different courses over the year.
[ /QUOTE]

If you play a lot of courses I would suggest that hazard info would be ideal. Knowing how far a ditch, bunker or pond is away is essential to know whether you can carry the hazard or lay-up.

I use a bushnell neo X which gives you info such as front and back of water and also end of fairway on a sharp dogleg. The neo X also gives you front middle and back of the green, personally that is good enough for me.

With the watch it is so easy to just glance at it. Same as the other watches mentioned on here you also get auto hole changing. The neo X also lasts more than 2 rounds without charge even 5 hour rounds!

 

[Jack_bfc]

I had the TOM TOM watch, and it was great..

Went to charge it up this year and its dead.. Wont hold the charge.

Bought a snooper range finder for less money as a replacement and its great as well... wont go back to a watch until I lose it or break it..

 

[Capella]

I have a Garmin S2. Wouldn't want to miss it. Actually, on the few occasions that I don't bring it or that it is useless (like when playing on winter greens), it drives me nuts and I keep staring at my lower left arm in search for enlightenment. I normally only use it to get the distance to front, middle and back of the green, which just takes a quick glance, but it can also measure shot length, record your walking distance (I even used it for jogging a few times), give you distance to layup-points and has a built in score card (which I find too clumsy and tiresome to use, though).

 

[Merv_swerve]

I have a Garmin s3 and it has been worth every penny over the last few years. Can plot your own hazards for lay ups and carries which is superb round your home course where your course management will be a major factor in maintaining your handicap.

Absolute best feature though is the sheer convenience of it. Walk up to ball, glance at wrist, done.

Can't recommend enough.

 

[dougajmcdonald]

Just replaced my S3 with the new S20 as I wanted activity / sleep tracking too. The S3 replaced my S1 I'd been using for the previous 12 months.

I full agree with Capella, once you wear a watch you will look at your wrist before every shot even when you've forgotten it! This is why I changed to a watch I can wear all the time, hopefully I won't forget it!

Money well spent, I do envy those with lasers but oddly more for things like measuring distance on the range or short game area. I've seen laser users struggle to find bunkers on fairways or patches of water, where the GPS approach can see them.

You should bear in mind that GPS is only accurate to a couple of metres so your get less from it at short range.

 

[Robster59]

I've got the Bushnell Neo XS. I've had it a couple of years now and very happy with it. Over 30,000 courses, front middle and back plus three other hazards and goes for 36 holes easy with battery to spare. And very light, you forget you're wearing it.

 

[RustyTom]

I bought a cheap one, can't remember the brand, i think the model was WR67 and the yardages at my home course were miles off. Some holes it was as good as my PP garmin, others I could be stood at the 150 marker and it say 230.

I took it to Portugal last year and it matched the garmin yard for yard but as it's no good at my course it's just been put to one side and forgotten about. Also I never wear watches but it never really got in the way, and on a hot day just clip it around your golf bag.

 

[drdel]

I have a Garmin S2. Wouldn't want to miss it. Actually, on the few occasions that I don't bring it or that it is useless (like when playing on winter greens), it drives me nuts and I keep staring at my lower left arm in search for enlightenment. I normally only use it to get the distance to front, middle and back of the green, which just takes a quick glance, but it can also measure shot length, record your walking distance (I even used it for jogging a few times), give you distance to layup-points and has a built in score card (which I find too clumsy and tiresome to use, though).

Me to, the S2 is good value and there's no faffing about: gives me all I need.

Especially handy when visiting a new venue.

 

[daveyc2k2]

I have the Garmin S1 which I have used for around 2 years. Excellent piece of kit, but have since bought a laser so no longer use it.

I really should get it in the For Sale section.

 

[Smiffy]

I've got the Bushnell Neo XS. I've had it a couple of years now and very happy with it. Over 30,000 courses, front middle and back plus three other hazards and goes for 36 holes easy with battery to spare. And very light, you forget you're wearing it.

I have the same watch. Superb. Wouldn't be without it now.
I had a Garmin S1 before it. Perfectly okay for basic info and if you were only going to play 18 holes.
It wouldn't last 36, conking out by about half way through the second round.
That's why I love my Bushnell. Lasts for 36, maybe even 54 holes.

 

[phil78]

I have the Garmin S1 which I have used for around 2 years. Excellent piece of kit, but have since bought a laser so no longer use it.
I really should get it in the For Sale section.

How much are you looking for it