2022 GOLF GPS BUYER’S GUIDE

A lot of golfers either use a golf GPS or a rangefinder. Hell, some golfers still pace off their yardage or “eyeball it.” Which golfer are you?

With technology advancing every year, we have seen the best golf GPS models provide accurate front, middle and back yardages, hole layout, green depth, slope, personal club data tracking … the list goes on. The technology doesn’t stop there. Some units include health-tracking measurements within the same device.

The best golf GPS has so many capabilities it might just make rangefinders obsolete for some golfers.

WINNER – Garmin Approach S62

Ever wanted a fitness watch everyday watch and golf watch rolled into one? Then the Garmin Approach S62 is the answer to your prayer. Its large touch screen is easy to navigate, ensuring getting to the golf GPS side and personal phone applications are a breeze. Within the golf GPS, it provides multiple data points including wind direction and “play like” distance to ensure you get the right yardage. The 41,000-plus pre-loaded golf courses will keep you entertained for a lifetime. With all these features, you have the undisputed winner of the 2022 Most Wanted Golf GPS Test.

• 1st in display
• 2nd in features
• 6th in functionality
• 1st in accuracy

FEATURES THAT MATTER

Display

Size and clarity are essential for providing the best possible overview of any hole. The best golf GPS devices of 2022 tend to have digital or LCD displays with touch-screen technology with the ability to provide clear readouts even in direct sunlight.

Golfers looking for the best display should consider the SkyCaddie SX550 or the Garmin S62 . Both provide clear and concise visuals that are easy to navigate. The SkyCaddie SX400 also performed well in this category.

Features

Today’s GPS devices not only have color screens and visuals of the hole but some have lifestyle/everyday plug-ins as part of the standard feature set. That means you can ditch your smartwatch because your golf watch offers things like step and fitness trackers, stopwatches and more. Having the functionality of multiple devices rolled into one unit makes life much simpler.

If you have to have everything, there’s no better golf GPS device than the Garmin S62. For a device that just focuses on golf, look no further than the Shot Scope V3 which provides Strokes Gained as well as GPS capabilities. The Voice Caddie T9 provides personal fitness tracking, touch screen, hole layout and green-reading capabilities.

Functionality

The majority of golf GPS units today have 10,000-plus course layouts pre-loaded. There are golf GPS devices that require you to download the courses which can take extra time and become frustrating.

Simplicity is key. The best devices that allow you to navigate with ease are the SkyCaddie SX550 and Shot Scope V3. The Shot Scope H4 also performed well in this category.

BEST GOLF GPS 2022 - FEATURES

	Product	Courses	Lifestyle Tracking	Hole Map	Battery
	Bushnell ION Edge Check Price	38,000+	N	APP	15 HOURS
	Bushnell Phantom 2 Check Price	38,000+	N	APP	18 HOURS
	Garmin Approach G80 Check Price	41,000+	Y	APP	10 HOURS
	Garmin Approach S12 Check Price	42,000+	N	APP	30 HOURS
	Garmin Approach S42 Check Price	42,000+	Y	APP	15 HOURS
	Garmin Approach S62/CT10 Check Price	41,000+	Y	Y	20 HOURS
	Garmin Marq Golfer Check Price	41,000+	Y	Y	60 HOURS
	Golf Buddy aim W10 Check Price	40,000+	Y	Y	13 HOURS
	Izzo Swami 6000 Check Price	30,000+	N	Y	12 HOURS
	Shot Scope G3 Check Price	35,000+	N	APP	10 HOURS
	Shot Scope H4 Check Price	36,000+	N	APP	15 HOURS
	Shot Scope V3 Check Price	35,000+	N	APP	10 HOURS
	Sky Caddie LX5 Check Price	35,000+	Y	Y	10 HOURS
	SkyCaddie SX400 Check Price	35,000+	Y	Y	14 HOURS
	SkyCaddie SX550 Check Price	35,000+	N	Y	14 HOURS
	Voice Caddie A2 Check Price	40,000+	N	Y	10 HOURS
	Voice Caddie T9 Check Price	40,000+	Y	Y	30 HOURS

The Best Golf GPS 2022 – More Tips

• With technology increasing every day, some golf GPS devices include club tracking which allows you to track your club yardages and utilize Strokes Gained.
• Some golf GPS devices give an inside scoop when you’re playing a new course. Look for hole-by-hole mapping and visual layouts of potential hazards.
• Most golf GPS watches are water-resistant.
• Some golf GPS watches can double as a smart watch. They’re more expensive but they offer bonus features like step and fitness trackers as well as calendar apps, etc.
• Depending on the manufacturer, some devices can have a monthly or yearly subscription to update courses. Ensure you take that into account before purchasing.

BEST GOLF GPS 2022 - RESULTS

	Product	Display	Features	Functionality	Accuracy	Total
	Garmin Approach S62/CT10 Check Price	1st	2nd	6th	1st	94.5
	Garmin Marq Golfer Check Price	3rd	1st	14th	1st	94
	SkyCaddie SX550 Check Price	1st	10th	1st	1st	93.5
	Voice Caddie T9 Check Price	3rd	2nd	8th	1st	93.5
	Shot Scope V3 Check Price	11th	4th	2nd	1st	93
	Shot Scope H4 Check Price	11th	6th	2nd	1st	92.5
	Garmin Approach S42 Check Price	3rd	10th	6th	1st	92
	SkyCaddie SX400 Check Price	3rd	13th	2nd	1st	92
	Voice Caddie A2 Check Price	7th	6th	8th	1st	92
	Bushnell ION Edge Check Price	16th	4th	8th	1st	91.5
	Garmin Approach G80 Check Price	7th	9th	13th	1st	91.5
	Golf Buddy aim W10 Check Price	7th	10th	8th	1st	91
	Sky Caddie LX5 Check Price	7th	6th	14th	1st	90.5
	Shot Scope G3 Check Price	11th	14th	2nd	1st	89
	Garmin Approach S12 Check Price	11th	14th	8th	1st	88
	Bushnell Phantom 2 Check Price	11th	16th	14th	1st	85
	Izzo Swami 6000 Check Price	16th	17th	14th	17th	82

Why should I use a golf GPS device?

Q: Can golf watches fit both men and women?

A: Most watches have adjustable straps. If you have very small wrists, you can purchase separate straps.

Q: Why should I purchase a GPS unit rather than a rangefinder?

A: The deciding factor is often visuals. If you are a golfer who plays several different courses a year, you will encounter unfamiliar layouts. That’s where having a golf GPS with course layout displays is a huge benefit and arguably an advantage over rangefinders. GPS models also give yardages to the front, middle and back of greens as well as bunkers.

Q: Do golf watches have health features built in for everyday use??

A: Certain GPS watches do have built-in features that keep track of your health on a day-to-day basis. Such features include pedometer, heart rate monitor, calorie counter, distance walked and much more. Some watches can even fetch your text messages, phone calls and check the weather.