Garmin Approach G80

[swoosh21]

> @Zip-in-Z said:

> > @SteveL1 said:

> > How accurate is it for dialing in short wedge shots? I’ve been working on dialing in two or three stock yardages for each of my wedges, and something like this could be very helpful if it’s indeed accurate.

>

> **SteveL1** .... my wedge experimenting has mainly been on the range at the 100 YD flag, the G80 was close to my actual visual yardages. I didn't practice with the unit hitting to a 25 or 50 yd flag, that's more of a touch shot, perhaps that's something I'll try next time I'm out practicing. If this helps, cut & paste from the Spec's.

>

> D.

>

> **Radar Features**

> Integrated launch monitor tracks club head speed, ball speed, smash factor, swing tempo, estimated distance

> Carry distance accuracy: +/- 5 yards

> Club head speed accuracy: +/- 5 mph

> Ball speed accuracy: +/- 2 mph

> Swing tempo accuracy: +/- 0.3

> Practice and game modes include warm-up, virtual round, target practice, tempo training

> Can be used indoors and outdoors

>

>

 

Those numbers aren't too bad at all. I'm debating whether or not to sell my Skytrak to get this. I haven't used my Skytrak much at all.

[dbdors]

> @Zip-in-Z said:

> **Dbdors,** .... it appears the G80 doesn't have a Distance Calculator or Odometer, at least I couldn't see it when I ended the round ... that sucks.

>

> After the round I connected the G80 to my PC and it automatically downloads & sync's today's Score Card into the Garmin Express program on my system. This is the screens & info it gathers.

Wow, that is a complete fail by Garmin. Sounds like they had to sacrifice something to make it all work and distance traveled was it.

I use the Garmin Golf app as well to review my rounds.

BTW, did you record every hole score while playing. It feels like on the G8 if I miss a hole, the distance wont be captured. So before I close my round I make sure that I have every hole recored. In either case if it was there, that would at least be a screen with the DT on it. Might be an empty value, but would be there.

Again, major fail by Garmin if you ask me, such a simple piece of data to gather.

 

[ZipinZ]

May 24 ....... walked 18 today, played well but lost 1 ball in the pond, broke 80 once again a couple of Birdies helped. After the round I reviewed the different screens and no where could I find a Distance Traveled or Odometer the G80 doesn't appear to have this feature. I believe my game has improved by using the G80 on the range working on my distances and most important working on my tempo, I've slowed my back-swing & accelerated my downswing which improved my hitting the center of the club face, I believe I've gaining a bit more S/S & distance, too. You got to love positive results & gadgets!

 

**Dbdors** ..... I did record every hole score and adjusted for Birdies & Bogies, after you hit "End Round" .... the "Round Summary" comes up and all it had was the Time Played & Score, no other data. I share your frustration, it's a simple feature and it gives me some satisfaction that I walked 5.3 Miles today as per my S5 Watch. On the other hand it's not something that Garmin identified in their Product Features or Spec's so you can't fault the G80. Will try it again when I'm out on Monday .... going fishin this weekend.

 

Hope all our American friends have a good Memorial Day.

 

D.

 

[jabwind51]

I got one of these in the last few weeks and it’s a game changer. Launch monitor feels really accurate compared to what I see and measure on the course. I’ve always been dreaming of a launch monitor/simulator and this really quenches that for a “bargain”. Plus I use it on my shots on the course as a radar to check tempo and such.

 

Garmin nailed this one out of the park. I didn’t think I would even care about the GPS function bc I have an app on my phone but a half dead phone battery never is fun. So that’s helpful too. But the range practice games and the virtual rounds and the tempo trainer has helped me drop a few shots already.

 

 

[St Jimmy]

Does the launch monitor and sim round work indoors?

Just curious if I could use this during winter practice sessions.

[ZipinZ]

> @"St Jimmy" said:

> Does the launch monitor and sim round work indoors?

> Just curious if I could use this during winter practice sessions.

 

Yes & Yes .... that said, I would think it all depends on the golf ball, there would be no issues using your std golf ball & hitting into a decent net. Not sure if using one of those plastic practice balls would work or not, never tried it. This is one reason I decided to buy the unit, I can play any course I wish in Sim mode during the off season.

 

D.

[jabwind51]

So I had a question about the Garmin using yellow range balls vs premium balls:

 

Using premium balls i typically get about 115 club head speed with my driver and up to 169 ball speed so that can vary but typically 304-325 on this device.

 

Went to range the other day and noticed I couldn’t get the ballspeed beyond 155ish with a decent smash factor and still the same 115 CHS, and 285 distance pretty consistently.

 

 

So does it indeed decipher between a premium ball vs range ball??

[ZipinZ]

So does it indeed decipher between a premium ball vs range ball??

 

jabwind51 .... I can't answer that one, perhaps someone else here can reply.

 

 

[ZipinZ]

May 29th .... walked 18 today, bty warm day, very little to no wind & still no mosquitoes a bonus. Lost one ball on #13 that hit the cart path and went into the bush never to be found, otherwise I was happy with my ball striking, but my putter let me down, had opportunities but no birdies today. Broke 80 & my handicap is coming down & that makes the game more fun.

 

Took a couple of picks of the G80's Score Card ... this is the info it gathers after you finish a hole and adjust your strokes & then you can download it to your PC.

 

D.

 

 

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[sma]

So how is it during an actual round? Do you just keep it in the cupholder or does it live in your pocket? Any tips/suggestions that might not be obvious from the user manual?

 

I purchased one yesterday based on your positive reviews, using it for the first time on Sunday. I've only used my Apple Watch and various apps for yardages as well as my laser rangefinder...

[jabwind51]

> @sma said:

> So how is it during an actual round? Do you just keep it in the cupholder or does it live in your pocket? Any tips/suggestions that might not be obvious from the user manual?

>

> I purchased one yesterday based on your positive reviews, using it for the first time on Sunday. I've only used my Apple Watch and various apps for yardages as well as my laser rangefinder...

 

Love it on the course. Use it for GPS and put it down for all my tee shots as a LM. I had a free app I used before for GPS so it just saves the phone battery for me these days.

 

 

RE: my post above

I also did figure out that the range balls are in fact reduced flight as we all knew so they should definitely be producing much lower ball speeds on it. Pretty cool comparison.

[ZipinZ]

**SMA **.... I used snap ties and bought an adjustable GPS holder and attached it to my push cart.

 

It comes with a protective holder/cover & clip to attach to your bag or keep it in your back pocket.

 

D.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[St Jimmy]

Ok, I think you've talked me into getting one. Time to search for deals....

[Ryan5508]

Let me know if you find any. It's not like I really need one of these with already having a gc2. I just don't like taking it out of the house generally.

[Ryan5508]

Ended up buying one.

Launch monitor can be finicky about ball distance from the unit but seems quite accurate. I hit a few to see the numbers and then measured the shot as I walked to the ball. Actual shot was a hair shorter each time but the g80 likes to overestimate roll. Would most likely be more accurate for a hard fairway vs the soft one I was playing on.

 

Easy to use and read. Seems well made. Starts up and gets GPS lock quickly.

 

As a practice device + GPS I would say it's worth the cost. But for a GPS unit alone I would look elsewhere.

 

 

[Cruisin1966]

You should turn off the "roll"

[ZipinZ]

Was about to suggest the same .... under "Warm-Up " mode, hit the menu on the bottom left then hit "Set Roll Factor" and adjust until you match or come close to your number's, it worked for me.

Ryan5508 .. like your S/S, Smash & Tempo numbers, wish I had those skills ...... enjoy the gadget.

 

No golf here today, got 3/4" or 22 mm rain/snow mix +3C or 37F & it's still coming down.

 

D.

 

[Ryan5508]

I have found the g80 to be very hit and miss on shorter shots. It's shows the white dots that it is calculating but then just pops up zeros. I tried to play a virtual round on the range and couldn't get past a 60 yard approach shot. It would never show data. I'm not sure if it is a ball position issue or launch angle is to high to read.

 

I have only had a couple drives not read in comparison.

[St Jimmy]

> @Ryan5508 said:

> I have found the g80 to be very hit and miss on shorter shots. It's shows the white dots that it is calculating but then just pops up zeros. I tried to play a virtual round on the range and couldn't get past a 60 yard approach shot. It would never show data. I'm not sure if it is a ball position issue or launch angle is to high to read.

>

> I have only had a couple drives not read in comparison.

 

Do you think it's a swing speed issue?

Maybe it has to be a minimum speed for the radar to pick up?

 

Any regrets with the purchase?

 

 

I decided that I'm going to wait for the next Dick's "20% off your entire purchase" sale and get it through them.

 

[ZipinZ]

No regrets here, my game has improved with the G80 as a result on working on my swing & tempo and seeing positive results, wish I had this gadget years ago.

 

D.

[Ryan5508]

> @"St Jimmy" said:

> > @Ryan5508 said:

> > I have found the g80 to be very hit and miss on shorter shots. It's shows the white dots that it is calculating but then just pops up zeros. I tried to play a virtual round on the range and couldn't get past a 60 yard approach shot. It would never show data. I'm not sure if it is a ball position issue or launch angle is to high to read.

> >

> > I have only had a couple drives not read in comparison.

>

> Do you think it's a swing speed issue?

> Maybe it has to be a minimum speed for the radar to pick up?

>

> Any regrets with the purchase?

>

>

> I decided that I'm going to wait for the next Dick's "20% off your entire purchase" sale and get it through them.

>

 

I really like the GPS features for my round. My Fenix watch is more on the bare minimum for golf. So getting an easy to use map etc is nice.

The radar would be useful if it worked or I knew why it wasn't. It might very well be a speed issue but that would make the virtual round worthless if you get stuck like I did. maybe with some updates it will improve. right now I would say it still needs some work.

[sma]

> @"St Jimmy" said:

> > @Ryan5508 said:

 

> I decided that I'm going to wait for the next Dick's "20% off your entire purchase" sale and get it through them.

>

 

for what it's worth, garmin products are almost always excluded from those kind of coupons.

 

 

[pilot25]

Any updated reviews. Is it still accurate? Do you still use it during the round as a launch monitor?

[Ryan5508]

my review is about 3 days old now......

update - everything is still that same :smile:

[gibsonsg4]

stuck between this and the skycaddie sx500

[golfjam]

Just got one and went to the range to check it out. Not really sure if the numbers are right, they seemed a little too generous for what I thought it would be with range balls, but it brings a new dynamic when you practice. The numbers were spot on with the targets compared with my rangefinder. I will report back once I test it in the field.

[Barto78]

I really want to purchase one of these, but i'm curious how well the GPS features work. I haven't used a GPS device in about 12-15 years.

[sma]

> @Barto78 said:

> I really want to purchase one of these, but i'm curious how well the GPS features work. I haven't used a GPS device in about 12-15 years.

 

GPS works excellent. I like that it shows you yardages to various markers on the hole instead of just the green as well as allowing you to point to a particular spot on the hole and it will measure that as well. A four hour round goes from 100% battery down to 84% for me as well, so you don't have to recharge it after every round if you don't want to.

 

[Ryan5508]

The g80 does seem to read slower hits better off a mat. I could hit shorter 20 yard carries consistently vs outside.

 

I wonder if outside it would work better sitting on top of something. I feel like the grass between the g80 and the ball screws with slower hits.

 

 

[pilot25]

Do you leave the screen on the whole round or is it like a phone?