Questions about Garmin GPS

[cadoipi]

I recently bought a Garmin S20 and think it is great so far (though I was only using free moblie apps before). Does anyone know the answers to these questions:

1) Are the layup distances to 100-150-200 measuring the distance to the fairway markers? This seems likely but I cannot find anything online confirming this.

2) In the layup to dogleg distance, what precise location is being measured to? Is there a way to extract these GPS locations from the Garmin data set?

3) Is there some trick to allow me to track putts manually with their software? Or do I need to buy a club sensor CT10 for my putter? ($75 for a 3-pack of CT10 is a bit steep for this feature in my opinion, especially given that reviews online are minimal and mixed.)

[howaboutme]

I have the S20 and have used it for a while. I can't answer the first 2 as knowing that information is not critical to me. For 3, there is no way w/o the CT10. That is why you input your putts at the end of the hole, after you input your total shots. I think it has to do w/ the accelerometer not registering subtle movements from putting. I do have the CT10 on my putter and it is very sensitive and does a good job. Not 100% perfect but good enough for me.

[cadoipi]

I understand with a CT10 on your putter, the software will detect the distance of your approach shot to the hole. Does it do this by calculating the distance from where you take your first putt and the location of the hole you can set on the watch? Does it track the distance of the putts you make?

[howaboutme]

The software/GPS will calculate the distance from your approach shot to the location of your first putt regardless of where the flag is on the green. Once you've taken your first putt, the CT10 will detect each additional putt but not the distance. At least there is no way of knowing because you can't see it in the Garmin Golf app. It only shows # of putts. For Garmin GPS watches, you can input the approximate location of the flag by moving the pin to a # of preset locations on each green that generally cover most of the green. You can do this at any time when you're on the hole, tee or fairway. The problem with this is that, unless you play the course often, how do you know where the flag is when you're 100s of yards away w/o binoculars or a rangefinder? My eyes are certainly not that good. It's all generalities at this point. If you want absolutes, you should look at using a rangefinder in combo w/ a GPS watch.

[cadoipi]

More interested in the automatic tracking of the accuracy of short approach shots (when one is almost always firing at the pin) as well short game shots. I also would like to track my make percentages of putts (as well as average number of putts) from various distances.

This is disappointing to hear, since all they would need to do is have you push a button on your watch when you are standing next to the pin.

[howaboutme]

If this helps, this is what you will see in the Garmin Golf app (both phone or web).

Trying to do snippets so some info will be cut off. Don't mind the stats..going into my 3rd year playing. :)

This is the "approach" category:

Just to reiterate, I don't know how they know where the hole is. It is certainly not inputted as I've mentioned before. Perhaps is an algorithm based on your shots and location.

This is "chip":

This is "putt":

If these are not the stats you want, this device is likely not for you.

 

[nsxguy]

FWIW I found the accuracy of the Garmin S20 unacceptable.

I decided that, in the case of a back pin, lasering couldn't really tell me how far it was from the pin to go off the back of the green (and worse) because I couldn't reliably shoot the back of the green. So I found myself too often taking less club to ensure not going over the back.

I figured, with the watch telling me how far the back of the green was and the laser telling me where the flag was, I could now know how far past the pin I had and still be on the green.

One time the watch, the S20, on a very regularly shaped (round-ish) green told me 65 yards to the back of the green. The rangefinder told me 67 yards to the flag. SOLD the watch on eBay shortly thereafter.

[cadoipi]

Thanks for all your answers, this is really helpful. Of course, how helpful this data is depends on what is being measured to (i.e. how it determines where the hole is). It must be doing it somewhat accurately somehow, since it thinks you are making 64% of short putts but have much lower percentage from mid/far range. Perhaps the CT10 sensors have their own accelerometers and they use that to estimate how far you hit the putt (and then use that as a proxy for distance to the hole). Its a shame they don't just add a feature to the watch software to allow you to mark via gps where the hole is (when you are picking your ball up from the cup for instance).In the courses I have played it has been within +/- 2 yards from the fairway markers.

[nsxguy]

But how can you actually tell ? Those distances markers are to the middle of the green. The PIN is seldom smack in the middle. Or are you lasering the pin as well ?

[cadoipi]

I am assuming the fairway markers are more or less accurate to the middle of the green. Given that my watch agrees with the markers readings, I am also fairly confident about the watch's front/back of the green reading (within a +/- 2 yard margin). The courses I play have a standard red/white/blue flag system to mark front/middle/back pin. Together this is all I really need since on a good day my distance dispersion for approach shots inside 150 is +/- 5 yards.

Using the feature to change the pin location on the watch, I seem to recall there being a standard pattern of pin locations (maybe a 3x5 grid). I am assuming that when you place the pin not in the center of the green, the software just linearly interpolates (eg for the front right pin setting, the watch assumes the pin is 20% of the way from the front right to the back right of the green).

I don't have a laser, but when I have played with someone who did we would be within +/- 5 yards of distance to the pin. Given my skill level, this is good enough for me.

[nsxguy]

So long as it satisfies your needs, that's all that really counts.

[Imp]

I have an X40 and yes, I have done this on almost every 1st or 2nd hole I play. I'll go to a marker and check my X40 vs what the course says to the middle. I highly doubt that the courses 200/150/100 markers are off. After that, I kind of know the error rate to expect... speaking of which, this weekend it was being wonky. It wasn't registering GPS and I rebooted it a couple times. After that I just had to rely on my laser and gave up on it (and I've had it for years).. Come to find out, I had missed some updates when looking into things, and there was a stale scorecard in the file system (which may had caused it to lock up). I'll know more next round, but it's seen a good, hard life over the past few years.

1) Are the layup distances to 100-150-200 measuring the distance to the fairway markers? This seems likely but I cannot find anything online confirming this.

Yes. (See link below)

2) In the layup to dogleg distance, what precise location is being measured to? Is there a way to extract these GPS locations from the Garmin data set?

"The middle of the turn" is the general term used. A well estimated half way point of the radius between where the fairway starts the turn and ends the turn. https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/approachs20/EN-US/GUID-844AE31A-71A8-4CB5-8D97-01533C06CB55.html

[Imp]

FYI, I have at times moved the pin when I'm on an adjacent fairway to a different hole and can see the flag. Like driving on the property and see the pin is back left of a hole, I'll update it when turning it on (if I remember) or walking adjacent fairways where you can see the hole, I'll move it then too. :) It's quick and still an estimation, but a better estimate than center sometimes. ;)

--kC