I’m a tech guy. They always have been.
I’ve often said if I wasn’t writing about golf shoes, I’d be writing about headphones, wristbands, and other dope technology.
So when I had the chance to try the new one Garmin Approach G82a two-in-one GPS and launch monitor, I immediately put on one of my 75 pairs of golf shoes and hit the course.
And after using Garmin Approach G82 over several rounds of golf and numerous practice sessions, I’ve been somewhat more disappointed than pleased.
Let me explain.
Sum it up for me, champ!
In case you don’t want to read the whole piece, here’s a breakdown of what I liked and didn’t like about Approach G82:
consents
- Nice show
- Excellent battery life
- Accurate GPS numbers
- Strong magnet to attach to golf cart
- Intuitive user interface
He doesn’t like it
- The launch monitor numbers were unclear
- It is a bit too heavy to carry in your pocket
Let’s dive in
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s talk a little more about why G82 left me wanting more.
First of all, the device itself is well made. Feels premium and looks premium. The five-inch touchscreen is the perfect amount of real estate for doing things like surveying hole maps, pinpointing hazards and more. It’s quite responsive, quite bright and has managed to work almost flawlessly from a GPS point of view.
If you’re only looking at this device as a GPS or range finder alternative, you’ll be very happy with it. I’ve been using a Garmin GPS watch for the better part of the past three years, and I’ve found myself choosing the bigger, brighter, and more usable screen of G82 during the last few weeks.
But if you’re also shelling out $599 to get a usable launch monitor, you’ll find yourself a little disappointed.
Not because it doesn’t work. But because it just doesn’t work well FAIRLY.
As is the case with many radar-based launch monitors, Approach G82 struggles to capture accurate distances. For the most part, it works well with ball speed and club speed.
Setting up and using it is as easy as sitting it next to the ball (about a foot away) and turning it on. From there, you have several ways to choose. I had a blast with the “target practice” mode, which prompts you to set a target distance.
I probably spent three hours in total range with the device and it failed to register a hit twice, which is great.
It’s just that the numbers I care about, like carry distance, aren’t very accurate. In fact, more often than not, it was about seven to 10 meters off when compared to the industry standard on the GC4.
Sometimes, it was more than that.
Surprisingly, the number G82 offered as the total distance was more in line with my actual haul distance.
Better than nothing?
Yes, maybe. Especially if you’ve never been to a launch monitor before and have no idea how far you’ve hit each club, at least G82 it can help you understand something in the space of what you’re working with.
And, frankly, for someone who tends to hit balls on the range without a practice plan, I found that using target practice mode in G82 it greatly improved how intentional my practice was. So that’s cool too.
But if you’re buying this device thinking you’re getting a great two-in-one GPS and launch monitor, you’ll feel the same way I did: disappointed, wanting more.
It’s more of a one-and-a-half device, with a great, feature-rich GPS and half-baked launch monitor that’s, of all things, still better than your friend trying to gauge how far you’re hitting it with a tuning fork.
