As soon as I got myself something to tell me the exact distance to different points on the course, that was the point when my game started improving. Today, I’m going to be going over the 3 best golf GPS devices so you can get one that’ll do everything you need out on the course, and I’ll also talk about the cheapest place to pick each of them up.
When we were trying out all the GPS units we ranked them all based on how they performed in terms of accuracy, how easy they were to use, and also how much they cost. We tried the best we could to find a cheaper option as well as a more expensive one (we’ll list our favorite handheld and watch GPS).
That being said, here are the best golf GPS devices:
- Garmin Approach S20 (watch).
- Garmin Approach G8 (handheld).
- Garmin Approach X40 (watch).
Continue reading for my full review of each and info on where to get them for the best price…
The 3 Best Golf GPS Devices For The Money
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#3: Garmin Approach X40
This is my second favorite GPS watch for golf and would highly recommend it if you’re looking for a super simple watch that does one thing, and one thing really well. It’s definitely not the most advanced unit out there but it’s not that expensive, it’s comfortable, and it’ll give you 80% of what you’d want out on the course.
It’s got all the basic features you’d want such as the distance to the front, middle, and back of the green as well as a fitness tracker to keep track of your steps and calories burned. Garmin GPS units seem to be the most accurate and the yardage was always within about 5 yards of the course markers.
Garmin also has one of the best apps so you can track your stats such as driving distance and iron performance (it’s pretty cool to do an after round analysis).
Let’s talk PROS:
- It’s preloaded with over 40,000 courses worldwide (always adding more).
- It’ll show the course and green layout.
- It’s one of the more consistent and accurate GPS units on the market.
Now the CONS:
- The screen is pretty small compared to others.
- The touchscreen can be a bit tricky to use if you have bigger fingers.
- I’m not the biggest fan of watches so I didn’t find it to be the most comfortable (that goes for any).
Overall, one of the better “basic” golf watches that won’t break the bank. Here’s a demo video:
Garmin Approach X40 – Read our full review here.
#2: Garmin Approach G8
The G8 is my favorite handheld GPS unit and would recommend it if you aren’t a fan of wearing watches (like myself). I just don’t find watches to be that comfortable and that’s the main reason I prefer one of these.
It’s got a bigger screen than a watch and that makes it easier to see the course layout and information on the device. Using a watch can be pretty tough sometimes (especially if it’s a touchscreen) and the bigger screen is going to be better for older folk and people with bigger fingers.
It’s quite a bit more expensive than the watches but out of all the handhelds I’ve tested, this was by far my favorite (it had more and better features). Some units had less than stellar graphics while others were a bit glitchy. I’ve found Garmin units to be the best by far.
Here are the PROS:
- It will show the distance to the front, pin, and back of the green.
- It will track the distance on each hole so you know how far you hit each club.
- The display is easy to read in sunlight (some of them aren’t).
Now the CONS:
- The battery wasn’t quite as good as the watches (dim after using and you’ll be fine).
- It can sometimes be a hassle taking it out of your bag for every shot.
Overall, my favorite handheld GPS and would recommend if you want the most data possible. Here’s a demo video:
Garmin Approach G8 – Read our full review here.
#1: Garmin Approach S20
The S20 is by far my favorite golf watch and I’ve been using mine for a while now and love it (I keep it in my pocket or bag because I don’t like wearing watches). It doesn’t have the most features on it but it’s inexpensive, is built well, and is just as accurate as any other GPS device.
It’s got all the same features as the X40 but I like it better because the screen is slightly bigger and it has a longer battery life (similar price too). It just doesn’t have as many fitness tracking features as the X40.
The battery life was around 12 hours in GPS mode (a little less for the X40) and it tracks your driver and iron performance as well (it really helps to know how far you hit each club because I didn’t before).
The PROS:
- It’s reasonably priced (in my opinion).
- It’ll track your round and keep your stats in the app (fairways/greens in regulation, etc).
- I found it to be a bit more comfortable than the X40.
The CONS:
- It’s a little bit trickier to use than the X40 (not a problem after a while).
- The course map isn’t quite as good as the G8 handheld.
Overall, my favorite watch by far and is at the top of my list because it’s quite a bit cheaper than the handhelds. Here’s a demo video:
Garmin Approach S20 – Read our full review here.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in the market for a new GPS, these will be your best bets. They all are super accurate, are well made, and the price is fairly reasonable. Which one you decide to go with will all depend on your budget and what style you find the most comfortable.
If you’d prefer a golf watch, go with the X40 or S20. If you want a handheld or the most data possible, go with the G8.
Let me know your thoughts and any questions you have. Like this article? Feel free to give it a share!
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