Get accurate strokes with the Garmin Approach S62

Put a caddie on your wrist for all the info you’ll ever need 

Golf is all about accuracy and power, but it helps a lot if you know where every bunker, tree or sand trap is. You could walk around the various holes with a map in your pocket, but that’s not always practical.

The best solution is to have all the information on your wrist, and the Garmin Approach S62 is a great choice. It's compatible with over 41,000 courses and possesses the ability to automatically detect the distances of your shots.

Testing the Garmin Approach S62 

The only practical way to test a golfing watch is to put it through its paces on a golf course. The BestReviews testing team took the Approach S62 to a nearby course to see if the functions lived up to Garmin's claims.

The BestReviews Testing Lab strives to investigate every claim the brand/manufacturer makes about the product. For this article, the tester compared the functions and limitations of the S62 to their experience with other similar gadgets.

What is the Garmin Approach S62?

The Garmin Approach S62 looks similar to a health tracker or fitness watch, but it's purpose-built for golf. It has a 1.3-inch digital display, showing you complete information about over 41,000 courses. 

A feature called Virtual Caddie suggests clubs based on the typical distance you hit with that club, and factors in wind speed and direction. Using all the available information, it can then suggest in which direction you should aim your stroke. If you're still unsure, you can always use it in conjunction with a golf rangefinder.

Inline Link: See how it compares to other products in its space — check out our reviews for the best golf watches.

Garmin Approach S62 price and where to buy

The Garmin Approach S62 golf tracker is available on Amazon for $499. You can choose a black or white band, but the watch face only comes in black.

How to use Garmin Approach S62

The Testing Lab found that the S62 is relatively easy to set up. It took about 30 minutes from unboxing and connecting it to a mobile phone to playing around with the menu. It acts similarly to a digital watch when not on the golf course.

Garmin Approach S62 benefits

Knowing exactly how far you are to the pin is crucial. On the S62’s face, you tap different areas on the course map, which will tell you the yardage to that spot. The testing team found that the distances are accurate and account for slope differences, and the shot tracking helps you dial in your distances. 

If you're playing on a new course, the PinPointer feature always points you in the right direction to get back on track if your ball ends up in the rough. The Virtual Caddie is another useful feature, which uses real-time data to make the smartest decision possible. It takes into account different factors that can affect distances.

In addition to those features, it also keeps track of your strokes, alerts you to any blind spots and shows you how to accurately avoid hazards. 

Garmin Approach S62 drawbacks

Of all the features, the Virtual Caddie has the steepest learning curve. It takes about five rounds for it to gather enough data for it to give you accurate information. Other than that, BestReviews found that it’s easy to accidentally press the button to end a round. Thankfully, the prompt is cleared by pressing the same button.

Should you get the Garmin Approach S62?

If you can do with some help on the golf course, the Approach S62 is the perfect gadget. The weight isn’t noticeable, and once you get the hang of the menu, it’s easy to find the necessary information. The battery lasts for around 10 days.

It pairs with your mobile phone through Bluetooth, so you don’t have to take out your device every time a notification comes through, or if you need to check distances. While there are mobile apps that can roughly give you the same data, the S62 is by far the best option for improving your score so that you’ll never lose golf balls again.