Garmin S20 GPS Watch

[Surgie]

Two weeks now and I am enjoying it. Synching to phone and computer works well. I use it for scoring and to track distances for clubs i used. It seems to remember what club i used from a similar distance. I mid iron shot, it more often or not prompts me to confirm the club i just used and it usually is correct.

 

It predicts your club based what you configured your "driver distance" to be.

I had to lie and add 15 yards onto my driver distance setting as it was always given me a club more than i needed.

 

I'm still confused as to why the stats online were duplicating for me.

And it's the same two holes that it doesn't recognise a swing on for me.

 

Apart from that - still happy.

[wwang56]

I saw on the specification page, saying S20 has no vibration. How does notification work? Does it just pop up on the screen and stay there?

[RLL33]

Yes, it pops on screen and stays there for several seconds. In addition, you can turn on Tones in Settings, and it makes the tiniest non-distracting sound if you want. If you don't see the Notification when it comes in, you can click on Notifications and scroll through them.

 

The more I use the watch, the more I like it. I would make a couple of modifications (like making the odometer work), but in general, my overall experience has been terrific with it.

[IamEric]

Thanks for all the reviews. One question and I'm not sure if this has been answered, but what happens on AutoShot when you take a practice swing? Does it record it as two shots from the same spot?

[pitchinwedge]

Thanks for all the reviews. One question and I'm not sure if this has been answered, but what happens on AutoShot when you take a practice swing? Does it record it as two shots from the same spot?

 

The S20 often thinks my practice swing was my actual shot. When this happens I've tried providing the S20 with an input for a club selection, say Driver, and then hit my real tee shot.

 

Not too bad if you're on the tee box but it's rude anywhere else on the course because the S20 seems to ignore any other swings from approximately the same location. It's particularly lame, for example, when I'm in deep rough and simply need to hack the ball out with a wedge. S20 then refuses to recognize the next shot from a few yards away with a 7-iron that lands on the green. Doesn't matter how you record it, you lost a shot. This is why Garmin really really needs to revise the Connect website to allow users to edit shots post-round.

[wwang56]

Yes, it pops on screen and stays there for several seconds. In addition, you can turn on Tones in Settings, and it makes the tiniest non-distracting sound if you want. If you don't see the Notification when it comes in, you can click on Notifications and scroll through them.

 

The more I use the watch, the more I like it. I would make a couple of modifications (like making the odometer work), but in general, my overall experience has been terrific with it.

 

Thanks for the confirmation. I almost bought one as it seems to be an excellent golf GPS watch. But now I’m not so sure if the S20 can replace my Pebble watch for daily use. I like the watch vibrate notification for phone calls and text because I always set my phone to silent mode.

[Dan42nepa]

I wish it had a back light so its visible in the dark. I want to wear it to record my sleep but cant see the time in the dark.

[Rubber_Dinghies]

I wish it had a back light so its visible in the dark. I want to wear it to record my sleep but cant see the time in the dark.

 

It does. Press and hold the ok button for a second or so and the light comes on...

[Dan42nepa]

I wish it had a back light so its visible in the dark. I want to wear it to record my sleep but cant see the time in the dark.

 

It does. Press and hold the ok button for a second or so and the light comes on...

 

Thanks.. Thats great. I pressed it but immediately released it when the backlight didnt come on.

[pitchinwedge]

There's a new model coming out... the Approach X40. First impression is a repackaged S20 + heart rate monitor.

 

Wish they wouldn't market it until it really works properly, but of course, Garmin is again touting Autoshot and Connect's post-round hole-by-hole view.

 

[wwang56]

There's a new model coming out... the Approach X40. First impression is a repackaged S20 + heart rate monitor.

 

Wish they wouldn't market it until it really works properly, but of course, Garmin is again touting Autoshot and Connect's post-round hole-by-hole view.

 

Nice. It is perfect - the spec says it has vibration alert, like the vivoactive hr. Available by end of June.

[Jmay1268]

Wow. X40 looks pretty cool. I have been on the fence about purchasing the S20 with the autoshot issues. I like the fitness tracking features of the x40, but I still don't have a whole lot of confidence with the accuracy of wearable fitness tech. That along with a lower cost has me still leaning toward the S20.

[manuparis]

There is a new update available today for the S20.

[The_Timmy]

Every time I plug in my S20 to charge it, it tells me there's an update (maps). So, I update it. After the install, the watch asks to install it, I click yes. After it goes through it's process, it comes back with "failed update"...every time. Any ideas?

[Abertil]

There is a new update available today for the S20.

 

Release notes says the update is only for battery life when using watch mode. Not a bad thing, but nothing really exciting.

[kaze]

Every time I plug in my S20 to charge it, it tells me there's an update (maps). So, I update it. After the install, the watch asks to install it, I click yes. After it goes through it's process, it comes back with "failed update"...every time. Any ideas?

 

Yea I'm getting this too. I'm on 2.60. This first happened when the battery was low and I attempted to update, so I though it was because of that. But I keep seeing the failed updates.

[thechief16]

Missed a shot on 15/36 holes one day I played last week. Tee shots seem to be particularly problematic.

[SoCallefty725]

Every time I plug in my S20 to charge it, it tells me there's an update (maps). So, I update it. After the install, the watch asks to install it, I click yes. After it goes through it's process, it comes back with "failed update"...every time. Any ideas?

 

Yea I'm getting this too. I'm on 2.60. This first happened when the battery was low and I attempted to update, so I though it was because of that. But I keep seeing the failed updates.

 

I got the same "failed update" message after both the 2.50 and 2.60 updates. So far I haven't seen any evidence that the updates actually failed.

[all4isu]

Question - if Autoshot is on and it misses a shot, can you simply update the score when scorecard pops up at the green (e.g. enter 4 when the shot only recorded 3)?

[pitchinwedge]

Nope. No way to let the unit know it missed a shot.

[all4isu]

Nope. No way to let the unit know it missed a shot.

 

thats disappointing. guess ill be turning auto shot off since distances and scorecard are most important.

[thechief16]

Beg to differ, PW.

 

From my experience, scorecard is independent of Autoshot (though scorecard has to be on for autoshot to try to work). You still fill out the scorecard manually at the end of every hole, so even if autoshot doesnt work (which it frequently doesnt) your scorecard will still be correct.

[all4isu]

Beg to differ, PW.

 

From my experience, scorecard is independent of Autoshot (though scorecard has to be on for autoshot to try to work). You still fill out the scorecard manually at the end of every hole, so even if autoshot doesnt work (which it frequently doesnt) your scorecard will still be correct.

 

That's great news. So with that in mind, what's the biggest benefit of autoshot (when its working)?

[Surgie]

Nope. No way to let the unit know it missed a shot.

 

While that is true;

I believe, (could be wrong) you can do his original suggestion.

 

When your around the green you get to pick score and putts, no matter how many strokes were automatically recorded.

The inaccuracies will only show up on the hole overview map (Garmin connect)

[Surgie]

Beg to differ, PW.

 

From my experience, scorecard is independent of Autoshot (though scorecard has to be on for autoshot to try to work). You still fill out the scorecard manually at the end of every hole, so even if autoshot doesnt work (which it frequently doesnt) your scorecard will still be correct.

 

That's great news. So with that in mind, what's the biggest benefit of autoshot (when its working)?

 

Auto shot is only really useful for the course overview map.

It records the location of the shot.

You can overlay your last 5/10/15 rounds to see if you have a regular miss.

[pitchinwedge]

Beg to differ, PW.

 

From my experience, scorecard is independent of Autoshot (though scorecard has to be on for autoshot to try to work). You still fill out the scorecard manually at the end of every hole, so even if autoshot doesnt work (which it frequently doesnt) your scorecard will still be correct.

 

I stand corrected. Just like Autoshot, it seems i missed the swing of things. Perhaps my dis-satisfaction with Autoshot contributed my mis-reading the original question. :taunt:

[thechief16]

Beg to differ, PW.

 

From my experience, scorecard is independent of Autoshot (though scorecard has to be on for autoshot to try to work). You still fill out the scorecard manually at the end of every hole, so even if autoshot doesnt work (which it frequently doesnt) your scorecard will still be correct.

 

That's great news. So with that in mind, what's the biggest benefit of autoshot (when its working)?

 

Great way to review a round, and also see how far you really hit each club

[Dan42nepa]

Its been a month and i like it... I have had no issues. My auto shot works fine.. Every once in a while I will have a temporary synch issue. I also like that it charges so fast.

[JBent9610]

Not that his is any huge savings, but Amazon has the black band and white band watches for $189.99. Teal and slate are both $199.99.

 

The white, black, and teal are back at $189.99 (slate is regular $199.99) on Amazon. The seller is National Golf, but it's fulfilled by Amazon. I hesitated last time and the price went back up before I added it to the cart. I think this is the first time in 3 weeks it's been back to this price.

[Surgie]

Anyone know what the volatility stat shows? I don't understand the percentage.

 

The stat appears when you click on the course name (while using Garmin connect online). Where it gives you your all time course overview.