You may have heard about the more expensive Garmin S60 Premium and S60 Standard golf GPS watches or seen them in use, but many do not understand how do golf GPS watches work and how they can improve your game. If you need more information about golf GPS watches and how they work, then continue reading.
The distances from a Golf GPS watch are not as accurate as the distances that you would get from the best cheap golf laser rangefinder under $100. This is because golf gps watches use GPS satellites to estimate the distances to pin locations or hazards while rangefinders bounce a laser beam to a target to gauge the distance which is more accurate.
The Garmin Approach S62 is the newest Garmin golf watch, which was released to the market in January 2020. Both the Garmin S62 and S60 golf gps watches have slope technology but only the S62 has a heart rate monitor, wind gauge, and club recommendation feature. If you want to read a comparison between the Garmin S62 and S60, then read this article: compare garmin s60 and s62.
The older Garmin watches such as the Garmin S6, S5 and S4 golf watches do not have the slope technology or heart rate monitor found in these watches so the Garmin S62 and S60 are worth buying.
If you want even more accurate distances to the pin, then you should purchase a Bushnell Pro XE, Bushnell Tour V5 Shift, Bushnell Pro X2, Bushnell Tour V4 Shift or Garmin Approach Z80 golf laser rangefinder instead. If you are interested in cheap golf watches that cost under $200, then please read this article: Cheapest golf GPS watches.
Golf GPS watches like a GPS system in your car will automatically detect where you are. If you let the system know where you want to go, it will show you how to get there the fastest way. It is the same with golf. The GPS system will detect where you are along with your golf ball and you simply need to let the device know where you want the ball to go. It will show you the distance and any obstacles in the way. This gives you the chance to choose your club accordingly.
A golf GPS watch works by acquiring a satellite signal to locate your position on the golf course and then it will display the real-time front, center and back distances to the flag as you move along the course. It will even display distances to water hazards, sand bunkers, and doglegs, and some even compensate for slope.
A golf GPS watch can give incredibly accurate results. While the distances are not 100%, they are very close and will greatly increase your chances of reducing the number of strokes needed to get to the hole.
Satellites and golf GPS systems
GPS systems were first developed for military use and have since been opened to the public. This technology uses 32 satellites that orbit around the earth constantly. If you have any type of GPS unit it will be able to mark your exact location and time anywhere on the earth.
A golf GPS watch has been designed to mark your location on the golf course and various courses from around the world either with a download from the Internet or with pre-programmed data in the golf watch itself. Once the GPS has located your exact position, most devices will automatically pull up the course you’re on so that you can start your play immediately.
Like a caddie
A GPS golf unit is much like a caddie in that it can tell you an approximate distance to your target so that you can choose the right club. It will also let you know if there are any water obstacles, bunkers or trees in your path. You’ll be able to see the layout of the course and make better judgments as you play a round of golf. In many cases, these judgment decisions will result in a better golf score.
Judging distances
This is quite often the hardest part of playing a game of golf. GPS devices simplify the golf game by providing the information you need to know in a matter of seconds. You can also measure the distance of the fairway and how far you would have to shoot to avoid an obstacle.
Get your game on
If you have been hesitating about getting a golf GPS unit because you weren’t sure how they worked, the time is now to invest in one. The technology is constantly improving and as these improvements take place the prices are also going down. If you want to raise your golfing level, the price is really a small investment when you consider how important the game of golf really is to you.
