In this post, I’m going to be comparing the Garmin Approach G80 golf watch to the Garmin Approach G8 and also the Garmin Approach G30. I’ll also share the best place to pick them up.
In short, here is my comparison of the G80, the G8, and the G30. I do think every golfer should have a device like this. Both the G8 and G80 are solid golf devices and I’d highly recommend them if you’ll use them a lot and have the spare cash lying around. We aren’t the biggest fans of the G30 and would recommend the Garmin Approach X40 watch if you’re tight on a budget.
If that’s all the info you were after then great. If you want a more detailed review or the cheapest place to pick them up, continue reading.
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The Garmin Approach G30
The Garmin G30 is a handheld GPS unit that’s currently priced around $200.
It’s a pretty compact device and comes with a 2.3-inch color display and has over 40,000 worldwide courses programmed into it.
It’ll tell you the distance to the front, middle, and back of the green as well as hazards and doglegs.
It has the Touch Targeting feature which is cool and you can move the pin around to get exact distances.
Who Is The G30 For?
Even though the G30 has some good features and seems well built, I do prefer other models.
The screen is a bit small and the resolution quality isn’t that good.
The Garmin X40 watch is cheaper and does pretty much the same thing.
The Garmin G8 is a bit more expensive, is a bit more accurate, and has a few more features.
The Garmin Approach G8
The Garmin G8 is another handheld GPS unit that’s around $100 more than the G30 and is slightly better in my opinion.
The G8 has all the same features as the G30 but it also has a bigger and higher quality screen.
The second addition is the Plays Like feature which will take into account elevation and give you a better yardage estimate.
Who Is The G8 For?
If you’re in the market for a handheld golf GPS, this is one of my favorites and I would recommend it.
If you’re tighter on a budget you can always go with one of the Garmin watches since they do a lot of the same things and are quite a bit less.
If you want something with a bigger screen that has a few more features, this is one of the better options in our opinion. See my full review here.
The Garmin Approach G80
The Garmin G80 is a handheld GPS device that also comes with a launch monitor.
It’s about $200 more than the G8 and has pretty much all the same GPS features.
The main difference between them is that the G80 has a built-in launch monitor that’ll track your club stats.
It’ll show you carry distance, club speed, ball speed, smash factor, and swing tempo.
Who Is The G80 For?
If you’re someone who golfs a lot and has the spare money lying around, this could be great for you.
It’s an expensive device that probably isn’t worth it for the average weekend golfer.
If you just want a golf GPS, I’d recommend the G8 or one of the Garmin watches.
If you also want to know your club stats, I’d say it’s a good device to pick up.
Pros Of These Golf GPS Units
- Having some sort of GPS will really help your distance control.
- Seeing exact yardage to hazards and doglegs can really help your game.
Cons Of These Golf GPS Units
- They’re pretty expensive GPS devices.
- You probably won’t get enough value from them if you only golf a few times per year (cheaper options for that).
The Garmin GPS Breakdown
- Performance Score: 9
- Price Score: 7
- Ease Of Use Score: 9
- My Personal Score: 8.5
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is there an annual fee or subscription?
A. No.
Q. How long does the battery last?
A. About 3 rounds before recharging.
Q. Are courses in my area on them?
A. About 80% of the courses in my area were on them (some par 68/70 weren’t).
Are These GPS Devices Worth It?
Overall, I do think every golfer should have some sort of device like this to get hole yardage.
If you’re tight on a budget, I’d recommend checking out the Garmin Approach X40 watch.
If you want a handheld GPS with a few more features, will use it quite often and have the spare money, I’d recommend the Garmin Approach G8 or the Garmin Approach G80.
Let me know your thoughts and any questions you have. Like this article? Feel free to give it a share!
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