Garmin Approach S62 Watch & Garmin Approach Z30 Rangefinder Review

When it comes to rangefinders and GPS devices, Garmin is rightly considered to be one of the finest brands in the game, and Golfshake Ambassador Mel Davies has discovered why after testing and reviewing two of their latest and best products, the Approach S62 Watch and Approach Z30 Rangefinder.

Garmin Approach S62 Watch - Tech Specs

• Internal, rechargeable battery provides up to 14 days in smartwatch mode and 20 hours in GPS mode.
• Large 1.3-inch easy-to-read colour touchscreen display is 17% larger than the Approach S60 golf watch to make your experience that much better.
• Download custom watch faces, apps and widgets from the Connect IQ Store, and customise your watch face with any photo from your mobile device.
• Choose from interchangeable QuickFit bands for variety.
• BUY ONLINE FOR £309.99

Garmin Approach Z30 Rangefinder - Tech Specs

• See distance from the pin to the front and back of the green.
• PlaysLike Distance Feature adjusts yardage based on elevation changes.
• Range of up to 400 yards with 6x magnification.
• Built-in magnetic cart mount.
• BUY ONLINE FOR £389.99

How it Works - Garmin Approach S62 Watch

All you have to do once switched on at the course is press the top right button and "play golf" appears. Just click that and the watch then searches for courses. Make sure you choose the correct course. Then you have the option to keep score or not and then use in tournament mode or not.

You then choose the tees to be used and then the display of the first hole comes up. This looks very detailed and clear, which is really impressive.

The top right buttons then allow you to view green/change hole/start scoring/pin pointer points at the green/wind/round info/last shot/save location/sunset and sunrise/end round.

The middle button is more for the normal watch, which gives you do not disturb/lock device/wallet and settings.

The bottom right takes you back to the clock then back to the golf GPS.

When on the golf screen if you tap on the screen you get the options to scroll through via the bottom of the screen at all the hazards and lay-up yardages. Also on the bottom of the screen the caddie helps choose the club for the given shot. This option takes a few rounds to unlock as it needs your shot info. Once done it’s very helpful.

If you subscribe you can also get the green data of slopes which I did get to try out once and once more it does look quite useful.

There are many different watch face options for normal use which makes it a great watch for everyday use.

All very easy to set up. The fact you can pair to the Garmin golf app and also the rangefinder is such a great idea.

I’ve managed to use it at one different course which was helpful as it really improved my shot selections.

How it Works - Garmin Approach Z30 Rangefinder

Very easy to use and link to the watch and /or Garmin golf app. Syncs the yardage zapped in an instant to the linked watch and/or app.

It has a very strong magnet that is really good for use on a buggy.

It shows the distance from the pin to the front and back which once more is a very useful addition.

The PlaysLike distance is great when not in competitions and really helps to see what difference slopes can make whether uphill or downhill, again this is something that has helped me massively when in tournament mode to be able to roughly know what difference the yardage may be and thus the club selection.

The magnification of 6x is so good and very helpful with my walking eyesight.

Looks

Starting with the rangefinder, it looks very clean and sleek. I like the colour and it’s not in your face.

The watch looks great. Very nice screen that’s easy to navigate and is a good size. You wouldn’t know it’s a golf watch most of the time. Different displays are available which adds to the experience.

Feel

The rangefinder feels very nice and comfortable in your hand. Easy to scan and zap. Also comes with a nice carry case that clips onto your bag.

The watch feels very nice and comfortable when on. The QuickFit band feels very soft and light with lots of adjustability on it.

Performance

The rangefinder is an excellent piece of kit to have. Easy to use and I love the way it transfers the yardages to your watch and/or phone depending on what it’s linked to. Easy to move from tournament mode to casual. Very simple to click onto your target. 

The screen and info on the watch is second to none. Lovely big screen, easy to navigate through and pick out any hazards and targets. 

You can keep your score and also get green reading info and caddie info (if subscribed). 

It really is as good as you’d want for a golf watch. 

How to Pair Both Devices & Use Them Together

To pair the devices I found the online manuals and followed the instructions which were really easy and simple to do both for the watch and the Garmin app on my phone. Both literally took less than a minute to do. Very easy to navigate through both the phone app and watch to set up - and that’s coming from me. Once paired you literally just zap the distance with the rangefinder and pretty much straight away that distance transfers to the watch and/or your phone on the Garmin golf app. Pretty amazing to be honest how simple and well it all works. I really am very impressed at how easy and quick it works.

Every time I’ve played since having the watch and rangefinder I’ve used the sync. I don’t tend to use the app much when playing as I also have Arccos. I really do think it’s very impressive and helpful that once you zap the distance it translates into the watch or phone as it gives you a visual experience of the shot ahead and you can gauge it with relation to any hazards around the shot.

I personally think it’s so impressive that it does it almost immediately, a great addition by Garmin.

Pros

Both work great together and on their own. Very simple to set up and use. 

Cons

The only thing I would have liked was if the rangefinder was chargeable instead of battery operated but that’s probably me just being a tad picky as the battery life is a year or more anyway.

The Bottom Line

Whether you want one or both these really are great products. The fact they can link up together just adds to the quality they both already have. 

By far the best rangefinder I’ve had the chance to use and the watch is quite simply top quality.

For more information, please visit https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/c/sports-fitness/golf-gps-devices-smartwatches/.