Garmin S70 Health and Tracking - 2024 Forum Review

[GolfSpy_APH]

 

Last year, we had a Forum Testing Opportunity for the Garmin S70 watch, which received great results for its high-end feel, look, and of course, performance. For this member testing opportunity, we are taking a different angle and combining the Garmin S70 watch with the Garmin Approach CT10 sensors for a full on and off-course tracking experience.

A Different Kind Of Member Test

The Garmin S70 Life Series member test is going to take performance and tracking to a new level. While we still want to know how the products perform for our selected testers, this opportunity is just as much about how these products set you up to perform at your best. The selected testers will go through this long-term testing opportunity (8 weeks) tracking their Body Battery, Sleep Score, and HRV (heart rate variability) throughout the testing period. They will take these measurements before rounds, after rounds, and even on off days to see how they can help prepare their bodies for success, but also see the effects of their preparation (or lack thereof) on the scorecard. Combined with the Approach CT10 tracking sensors, the selected testers will have access to a full suite of data, stats, and more.

Please welcome and congratulate our testers! 

@revkev 

@cburins 

@Corentin Vadillo 

@NubianRugby

[revkev]

The Review 5/25/2024

Garmin S70 Health and Tracking

(With Garmin Approach CT 10 sensors)

Official MGS Forum Review by Kevin Loughran

Intro

 

 

Good afternoon, evening, morning, or middle of the night whenever it is that you are reading this review.  My name is Kevin Loughran, better known as revkev to many here on the MGS forum as well as at several Tampa Bay area golf clubs.  Thanks to our forum moderators and the folks at Garmin for selecting me as a part of the testing team for the Garmin S70 health and tracking project along with the Garmin approach CT 10 sensors.  Garmin has a reputation as the leader amongst distance tracking and directional devices.  In this review we will put the above to the test.

 

As my screen name suggests I am the Senior Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church and School in St. Petersburg, FL – Go Wildcats!

 

I’ve been serving at Grace and living in the greater St. Pete area since 2006.  When I arrived in Florida, I was a fairly fit 49-year-old who sought out and found ways to compete through a league and occasional money game at the local Muni, Mangrove Bay.  As you can imagine Tampa Bay is a highly competitive area for golf.  Accordingly, it was not until I turned 55 and became a “senior” player that I was able to truly compete in anything of significance. By that time, we had joined a local country club.

 

Since then, I’ve struggled with my weight and heart health, I have a condition called SVT, super ventricular tachycardia, a very fancy word for a heart rate that at time surpasses 200 beats per minute.  Thankfully, it is under control.  I am currently working on weight loss and fitness with my doctor’s guidance.  I use my phone to track my fitness activity, food consumption and weight. 

 

Now at the age of 67 and playing to a 9 handicap I’m looking to work hard on my game and increase my fitness level with the goal of shooting my age.  Below is a picture of my family.  Our youngest child, Penelope, is disabled. She is a great fitness incentive.  She needs a healthy Dad to care for her.  Our other children, Justine, Matt and John are married and have a total of nine children between them.

 

We’ve recently changed country clubs.  My new home course, Seminole Lake, has lots of dog legs and greens that sit at odd angles to the fairway. I use a shot scope v. 3 watch which struggles to give me accurate yardages there. It is consistently off by as many as 7 yards in measuring the “middle” of the green.  I’m interested in seeing how the Garmin does on those holes, as well as how I perform on days when my fitness is off, how my fitness levels compare in rounds when I walk verses rounds when I ride, morning rounds as opposed to afternoon or evening ones.  Please feel free to ask any questions at any point during this test.

First Impressions

 

As I teased in the thread my watch arrived Thursday afternoon.  I’m going to handle the first impressions with separate comments on the watch and sensors.

 

As you saw and read in the introduction, I am a guy in my mid 60’s.  Typical of people my age who do not work in the field I am not techy.  At work I am blessed with a Parish administrator who knows her stuff (and owns a Garmin smart watch.) At home I have access to our art teacher who is a neighbor as well as a son who is a former Navy Nuke either of whom are available to help when needed.  The long and the short of this is, they weren’t.  This watch is intuitive and simple to set up.  I had the golf app downloaded and the watch on my wrist in no time flat. 

 

The reason why I had yet to purchase a smart watch is that I know that they can receive messages and emails.  I get those things 24/7 and have no desire to have yet another device that receives them, particularly one that I intend to use on the golf course.  Golf is my stress release.  From last year’s reviews I knew that if I didn’t opt in for those messages in the setup, I’d be free from worry.  I’m happy to report that this works.  As of yet I’ve received no messages other than the phone itself telling me that I reached my step goal and also with a high heart rate alert.

 

Ah the sensors.  What can I say but my first impression is disappointment.  Their price point of $299 seems excessive to me.  I just purchased a new set of Ping irons which would qualify me for free ARCCOS.  Many other OEMs have similar deals.  I’m struggling with this one.

 

I currently use a shot scope watch for GPS and tracking.  The shot scope sensors, the smaller ones in the picture above were a simple installation.  They are club specific with a couple of x factors added in.  When you pair them with the watch you get them by name – ie. Ping G430 7 iron, Ping s159 54 degree wedge.  I do not know why Garmin doesn’t offer that feature.  Instead, I needed to figure out how to fit my clubs into the names they offered.  With 5-7 wood, 26 degree hybrid and 5 so called wedges it was a complete misfit.  Currently, the 50 degree wedge is in the 5 iron slot.  Not good.

As an addition to this part of the review I

sat down after church tonight and did find I had the option to name my clubs in the app. I unpaired all of the sensors and repaired them in a bit more logical manner - still my 7 and 9 woods are in hybrid spots, hybrid in the 5 iron spot, 7 is in the 6 iron spot, SW is not actually my sand iron, LW is. 
 
Also, I went to the practice green before church. Over 100 heat index loosened the putter up and I was able to get the sensor all the way in.

Originally I felt like I should have deducted more than 2 but given this newer development I am confident that the current score of 8/10 is accurate for my first impressions. 

 

 

While the pairing process was laborious installing the sensors themselves was easy enough.  A few were a bit more difficult to screw in than others but that’s always been true of any sensor group that I’ve installed.  What is also true and extremely frustrating is putter.  Shame on grip makers and putter OEMs for not addressing this. Shame on tracking system OEMs for not addressing it either. Someone in their R and D departments must know that people use sensors like this to track putts.  Why can’t they develop a grip that is receptive to these sensors without taking a drill to the end of them or vis a versa? The putter sensor seems secure enough for now, if it is really needed to track putting, I will address the gapping that you see in the picture above, later.

First impression score:   8/10

I took two points off for the issues surrounding the sensors. Perhaps they will redeem themselves later. 

Aesthetics (8 out of 10)

I was concerned about the size of the watch face when we first began this test.  My wife is the one who encouraged me to order the larger model because my close vision is not good and I can’t be taking readers on and off during a round of golf. As it turns the size has never been an issue for me.  It’s a prefect fit and I can read all of the numbers very well. 

 

The watch itself is impressive.  Off the course people notice it, recognize that it is a Garmin and comment on it right away.  I have little doubt that it will be durable.  It handles all sorts of weather well, rain, not fogging up when going from AC to the hot humid Florida heat. 

 

The one issue that has surfaced for several of us is the band.  Currently I’ve had to switch wrists as my left wrist heals from a heat rash that popped up last Sunday. The plastic is a bit abrasive and coupled with 4 hours out in a high heat index it produces skin abrasions and rashes.  I will look to replace it with something more suitable in the coming week.

The Numbers (18 out of 20)

One of the things that I was testing was the accuracy of distances.  Looking back at my intro I mentioned that my new club has a lot of doglegs and that my old tracking system was not accurate into greens on some of those holes causing me to pull out my range finder – it was sometimes off by 8 or 9 yards.  The Garmin S 70 approach was spot on with its yardages on these holes.  I do still spot check it occasionally with the range finder but that is simply because of this test.

I’m not a big one for plays like yardages.  For whatever reason I have always found that I need more club than those things indicate.  I’ve tired it, I’m sure it’s accurate enough but it’s not a particularly useful metric for me.  What I do like is being able to tell where the wind is coming from and its speed.  What I really like is the ease with which I can get distances to and over hazards, lay-up areas and the like.  The watch has helped me learn my course and develop different strategies on several holes.

All of the auxiliaries for the watch were great.  (Not counting the censors which I will handle briefly elsewhere.)  Battery life is tremendous.  I can play two rounds of golf, use the watch non-stop and not have to worry about charging it for over a week.  The one time I had an issue with the battery draining quickly I was able to consult the Garmin website, try a suggested fix found in the Q and A section and I was good to go. 

 

On-Course (19 out of 20)

Like any new product there was a bit of a learning curve for me at first.  I hope that MGS does not deduct points from me as a tester for that.  Basically the golf feature of the watch is extremely intuitive.  I’ve discovered that my new course has a nice little 5 hole loop that can be played after hitting balls on the range.  Once I figured out how to advance the watch, I had no issues using it for that loop.  I love the feature that gives the distance from the last shot.  I glance at it frequently to get a sense of how far I’m hitting each club – I know my carry distances well because of my personal launch monitor and some time spent on track man.  Still it’s nice to know what the run outs add up to as well. 

I would love to be able to write that the Garmin S 70 approach watch has shaved strokes off of my handicap.  In truth my handicap index has increased by a point since I’ve been using it.  However, I can say beyond a doubt that this is due to user error and that the health portion of the watch, specifically my sleep issues that it has revealed has helped and that my game and wellbeing are already rebounding because of it.  More about this in the Good/Bad/Inbetween section below.

 

I will briefly deal with the censors here though.  They are an absolute failure for me.  They were constantly flying out of my grips.  I have two types of grips on my clubs – woods are Winns, irons and wedges Golf Prides, major brands, common grips, constant headaches, I’m not adjusting a pre-shot routine to tighten these things nor am I going to be spending any more time on the course or on the range or in my back yard looking for one.  I will add that the few times that I did try them on course they picked up practice swings and clubs being put on the ground as strokes.  I was unable to figure out how to mark a l ay up shot or punch out, they don’t really legislate for chip shots.  All of that significantly skews data.  These would be a dramatic down grade to my former tracking device. I will need to decide what to use going forward in that regard, it won’t be these.  I’m going to pass them on to one of last year’s testers.  Maybe they are just too much for me.  I can’t recommend them at this time and will leave it at that.  I did deduct two points for them earlier and won't deduct anymore so as not to skew data myself.  

 

The Good, the bad, the inbetween (18 out of 20)

The good: It is important to note here that we are also testing the health and wellness features of the watch.  In fact, that is the primary reason for this test as its Golf features were tested on MGS last year.  These are invaluable in my opinion.  I really wanted a watch that I could wear 24/7, golf and life.  This one checks all of the boxes for what I need in that regard.  The morning report is a very sweet added bonus that I really enjoy.

Most importantly though the watch uncovered an issue that I’m having with sleep and my overall body battery.  At first, I attributed this to having a high stress job and life in general.  What I have since discovered is that drinking or not drinking impacts sleep, sometimes only one drink.  In the end poor sleep, poor body battery does impact golf particularly when I walk.  Something to consider especially as we age.  Also, when I went to a substitute doctor and mentioned my sleep issue to her, she suggested that some of it was being caused by a weight loss medicine that I was on.  After discussing it with her we decided to stop the med – my BMI is already in the normal range so that a bit more activity and attention to diet should get me down to my target weight.  Since then my sleep scores have jumped from poor to fair and my recovery and body battery scores have leaped up significantly.  I shot 39-41 80 on Sunday afternoon, even after a full day of church.  I had energy throughout the round and was very close to where I want to be ball striking wise.

 

The bad is the band.  As mentioned earlier I believe all of us have had an issue with it at some time or another.  It would seem that a $700 watch should have a band that doesn’t cause rashes.  In checking out comments online it would seem that this is a fairly common issue.  My beloved Parish Administrator has a different iteration of Garmin and has had a similar experience.  

The inbetween:  I’m not sure that this is inbetween or great – but personally I loved some of the sports extras that this watch comes with, particularly the tempo training.  
 

Play it or Trade it? (20 out of 20)

I’m all in on this watch.  For a number of years, I’ve wanted a watch that could do it all, track fitness, be a golf GPS oh yeah and give me the time.  If you consider that a decent watch would cost $70-$100, a good fitness watch $150-$200, GPS golf tracking device $300 the $649-$700 price tag for the Garmin S70 approach that does all of the above, plus, is very reasonable.  So many of the settings are customizable. It’s great for an older non-tech guy like me or for someone who wants to employ all the bells and whistles.  For a golfer it gives you any bit of course data that you might want at the touch of a screen or button.  It’s the ideal aid for eliminating a lot of variables in golf and in life.  It’s staying on my wrist (with a new band.)

 

Conclusion

 

It’s interesting but given the length of this review we have had the chance to see if the Garmon S 70 approach watch will become a necesity not only for golf but for our lives.  I couldn’t wear my watch last night or today because I had a medical procedure.  I truly did miss it. 

 

Since MGS is a golf website we will start there.  It’s a great GPS, gives very accurate numbers, front, middle, back, hazards, carries, lay ups, has tons of courses; I was traveling recently and although I didn’t bring my clubs, I hit the play golf start button in several different locations and all sorts of courses popped up.  There’s plenty to like on the watch for other sports as well; cycling, swimming, hiking, walks.  It provides all sorts of great health data; pulse ox, heart rate, overall fitness, sleep quality all with reasonable accuracy.  Its battery life is long even when used as a GPS several times, well over a week.  It takes just over the amount of time needed to shower, dry off and enjoy a cup of coffee, about half an hour to completely charge from nearly zero percent.  If you want it, you can get your phone and text messages on it.  Oh, and it tells time, too. 

Final Score (91 out of 100) 

 

 

Edited August 3 by revkev
Added first impressions and pictures

[cburins]

Hello MGS!

I want to first express my gratitude to MyGolfSpy and Garmin for this amazing opportunity to be a tester! I look forward to sharing my data and thoughts throughout this testing.

Little bit about me! I am 25 years old and currently live in Toronto, Canada. I work in the post production industry doing music and sound design for commercials and other media content. When Im not working I spend my time playing guitar, putting for hours and hanging out with my partner and puppy.

As far as golf goes, I started playing at 9 years old with my Grandpa. I love spending time with him and golf was the best way for us to bond. My grandpa is currently 93 and can’t golf anymore, but I plan on taking him to the course this summer and letting him drive the golf cart! Once I was in high school I fell out with golf and other hobbies picked up. It wasn’t until covid where I fell back in love with this game. The goal for me is to get to a single digit handicap and eventually scratch. I currently sit at an 11 handicap, and this year I decided to challenge myself and compete on a golf tour! I play on the GTAAM Tour, which is a handicap based tour in Ontario, Canada. My next tournament is June 24th and I look forward to updating you on the Garmin Products in Tournament conditions.

My playing style is very simple, I like to play smart golf. Im the guy to layup and play to my misses. Very rarely am I going for the green in two unless there's no hazards and It's gettable, taking my medicine and chipping into the fairway instead of hitting the tour pro stinger through 4 trees with a 4ft window through them. My best part of my golf game would be putting and ball striking. Very rarely am I 3 putting and for the most part I am finding the centre of the club face. When I'm 125yds and In, 8/10 times I'm getting on the green, which is great for scoring and scrambling. I struggle off the tee, my chipping can be hit or miss at times and I can't hit a 3 wood to save my life! Im sure a lot of you can relate to my playing style and I hope you can benefit from my testing. 

Overall, I am extremely excited to test these products out. I’ve watched many reviews prior to being selected as I was in the market for a new rangefinder or smart watch. The thing that stuck out the most to me about this watch is that it’s not just a golf watch, it has so many other amazing tracking features and benefits that can improve my golf game. My approach to this testing will definitely be golf driven, (Yes, I know that is the point of this testing) but I also want to showcase the other day to day features that I use! 

Right now I use the free version of SwingU to keep my score and as a gps/range finder. I will be comparing the two throughout my testing to see if the Garmin will overtake this as my new gps/tracking tool. For the Garmin to replace SwingU I’m looking for seamlessness on the golf course. I find SwingU can be slow at times and I have to wait for it to recalibrate and give me the proper yardages. Also, I find the yardages can be off and the pin placements are never accurate. If the Garmin provides precise accuracy and yardages I can definitely see this being in the bag. Also, having the extra data of physical well-being will definitely add an extra edge to my golf game and provide useful day to day data.

I have extremely high expectations for this product, just from watching reviews I can tell this is a high end efficient golf product. I hope the Garmin exceeds my expectations and stays in the bag to benefit my golf career! 

First Impression/Unboxing(8/10)

First Impression

First off this package couldn't have arrived on a better day - My Birthday!  When opening the packages it's very straight to the point, no extra plastic or garbage. Both boxes come with everything you need to get started. Charger, Manual and the CT10 sensors came with a handy tool for seamless removal/installation, which is a helpful feature. Overall, I am very pleased with presentation and practicality. 

Unboxing

Garmin S70

At first glance this watch is very modern and flawless. Ive never been a watch guy, but this has set the bar high. The box comes with the basic necessities to get started being the charger and user manual. When opening the box there is a sticker on the watch face prompting you to download the Garmin Golf App. The setup was a bit redundant as you need 3 phone apps to get the watch up and running: Garmin Golf App, Connect IQ and Garmin Connect. (-1 point) Once you have these downloaded the setup was fairly easy and straight forward. You scan a QR code on the watch face from your phone to link with the Garmin Apps, then after a short system software update the watch is ready to be explored! 

CT10 Sensors

Similar to the Garmin S70 the CT10 sensors arrive with everything you need: User Manual and installation tool I mentioned prior. Setup was user-friendly, but tedious. For pairing/setup I used the Garmin Golf app to create my golf bag. The app comes with a default golf bag that you can add or subtracts clubs. Once my bag was adjusted, I followed the prompts on the watch face for pairing. This took all of 10 minutes and the clubs were paired and ready to go!

The one downside to these sensors is the lack of putter grip versatility. (-1 point) I use the Super Stroke Pistol 1.0 and there is no designated putter sensor or attachment to equip my putter. I know Arcoss has a designated Super Stroke attachment. I might have to modify a sensor to fit my putter, but that will be for a later post. 

Aesthetics (9/10)

Garmin S70

I received the grey and green accented version of the Garmin S70. The watch immediately reminded me of a modern Ben 10 watch in a good way! 

I'm glad I selected the 42mm over the 47mm as I have smaller wrists. I really enjoy the feel of this watch, I can barely tell I'm wearing it which was a concern prior to receiving it in hopes it wouldn't interact with my swing. The watch band is made out of a durable plastic that is very light and comfortable. From first wear it does seem very sturdy/tough, but I will update the state of the watch throughout the testing. The screen is very reactive and crisp, no delay while using the screen and over all consistent. The watch itself feels very modern and high end, which led me to ordering screen protectors for the watch face. I'd rather be safe than sorry considering this is a lifestyle/golf watch.

Customization on the watch is done through the Garmin IQ App. It's very user-friendly and fun to do as there's lots of watch faces and widgets to choose from. In the picture above I created a custom MyGolfSpy watch face! 

CT10 Sensors

Prior concern to receiving the CT10 Sensors I was worried about the fluidity and interaction with the grips as I use a combination of midsize/standard grips. Once the sensors were installed I was actually very pleased with the results. They don't add any sort of weight or visual interruption during setup of the golf swing. I think they look very flush and coherent with the grips. From a far you can't tell its not apart of the grips, but up close you can tell they're separate. I don't mind this as long as it doesn't affect my golf setup or visualization. 

The overall durability of these don't seem that strong. (-1 point) They are made from thin plastic, and the part that goes into the grip is a flimsy/rubbery plastic. My concern for this is that these will be rattling around my golf bag all day on the course and I'm not sure the thin plastic is enough to keep the sensors safe. Again, only time will tell and I will update throughout the testing process. 

Conclusion(9/10)

Well, the Garmin S70 and CT10 Sensors have definitely exceeded my expectations. As a first time smart/golf watch user this is quite a nice toy to start with. Besides the initial watch setup/Garmin App situation and the non-versatile putter grip sensor, I am very pleased with what these products have provided so far. With the seamlessness of both products, I have high hopes for the improvement of my golf game and overall well-being! I look forward to putting these to the test and can't wait to share my testings.

 

Final Review

Garmin S70:

Aesthetics (9 out of 10) 

I have had such an amazing time being a tester, thank you to MGS and all the amazing members! Now, let’s get into the final review.

General Shape / Size / Fit

Overall, the watch looks great, feels great and works great. I have the 42mm face and throughout the testing it felt quite minimal and never in the way. I have smaller wrists and the 42mm was the perfect fit. I was never a watch person but this definitely turned me into one.

Customization wise on the Garmin there isn't much. On their website they only offer 3 styles of watch bands with many different colours, but they are quite pricey. If comparing to the Apple Watch, there's way more options and price ranges. I ended up buying screen protectors and another watch band from 3rd party companies. It would be nice to see some more options, styles and accessories.

The durability of this watch is amazing. Testing this watch for the past few months it has shown no signs of wear and tear. I wear the watch daily and even to sleep to get my sleep data. I haven’t babied this watch either and it’s definitely holding up. My prediction is this watch will maintain for the long run and last me for many years to come. The quality of materials are extremely sturdy and comfortable. The buttons and touch screen work the exact same as when I first got the watch.

 

The Numbers (20 out of 20)

As I said in my introduction I was looking for accuracy and precision, the Garmin was shockingly accurate and precise. From previously using the SwingU App as my main GPS/tracker, the S70 was a huge step up. I was able to compare it with on-course GPS’s provided by the clubs golf carts and it was within a yard. I don’t think I’m going to get upset over 1 yard of distance and this could also be changed due to the Garmin’s Pin Placement feature which allows you to change the location of the pin on the green. Also, when being in the fairway the 200, 150 and 100 yard markers lined up accordingly with the distances on the Garmin. The accuracy of the yardages have definitely given me more confidence in my shots as I can trust my shots and not have to question distance.

Garmin’s Plays Like feature is great, but I didn’t really have a way to compare this to other slope calculating devices. I also don’t know how the Garmin calculates slope, but during the testing I didn’t run into any problems where I was blowing it past the green or coming up very short, so from that I would say the Plays Like feature is quite accurate.

I very much enjoyed the stock yardages and hazards the Garmin provided. On the watch it will give you the distances to all hazards, 200, 150 and 100 layups. This definitely made me play smarter and shoot to these yardages instead of just trying to find the fairway and shoot blindly like I did before the testing. I think this is a huge aid to your game as you can be more confident in where you’re hitting with knowing hazards and how much you have to the hole. I’m very comfortable with my wedges and love hitting approach shots from 125-100yds in. I found I was laying up and hitting to the 100 marker instead of trying to get closer to the green. On the SwingU App it didn’t provide this. Has this been a huge benefit to my game? ABSOLUTELY!

Setup:

Setup for the Garmin was a bit redundant with all the Apps you have to download, but once everything was ready to go the Garmin was extremely easy to setup and I had no issues at all. I would say the initial setup took no longer than 10 minutes and that included me messing around with the different customizable watch faces.

The battery life on the S70 is insane. I maybe have to charge it once a week and it charges incredibly fast. Even when the watch is low battery it still performs like it does fully charged. I think my watch got down to 10% battery once and that was after a week of no charging.

The only downside to the Garmin charger is it’s specific to the Garmin. It only comes with 1 charger, but replacements on Amazon are cheap. I don’t mind that it’s specific to the Garmin if that means it charges extremely fast. The charger fits the port extremely nice and I contemplated getting a charging station, but there’s no need for that because of how quick it charges.

All the Garmin’s metrics are extremely useful and I can’t think of something I would want or take away from it. It seems their team at Garmin is very strategic and selective when it comes to these metrics - Body Battery, HRV, Sleep Score and Stress Levels to name a few. Because of that I don’t really have much to say about it!

 

On-Course (20 out of 20)

I was very shocked with how seamless the Garmin was. During my first round I didn’t run into any issues and became very comfortable with the watch fast. It was very fun exploring and figuring out new feature and when I did they were easy and beneficial to use.

The watch definitely improved my golfing routine. Before I had to use my phone and that definitely caused some issues - If I left my phone in the golf cart, reaching into my pocket and having to unlock my phone then go to the app and then having to manually select the yardages. The Garmin on the other hand was easy to just turn my wrist and everything is available to me within seconds. This is definitely nit picky but this can definitely improve your game as the watch is so consistent and always available.

The Garmin is very intuitive to use, I probably sound like a broken record and keep using this word, but the watch is extremely seamless. Near the end of the testing this watch almost felt like it was apart of me and It felt weird when I didn’t wear the watch - I’d be curious to see how I would play without it? I would definitely lose confidence.

It was tough to compare this to the SwingU App because the Garmin is in a completely different category. This was a huge update to my golf game and I had really high expectations for the watch that were definitely exceeded. SwingU is still a great app that provides basic info, but the Garmin made me understand course management which is something I’ve been struggling with.

I definitely think the S70 has improved my golf game and I even have data to prove this. My handicap went from 11.5 to 9.9 within the time of this testing. I do believe the Garmin had a lot to do with this, but I was also training and working on many parameters within the testing too. An accumulation of training and the Garmin definitely lead me to playing better!

Official Golf Canada Handicap:

 

The Good, the band, the inbetween (19 out of 20)

The good about this watch I could on and on about. It’s more than just a golf watch. The health parameters the watch tracks are extremely beneficial and most of the things I didn’t even know existed. The health parameters can definitely help improve golf, but also overall health. I think it’s extremely important to know how your body is performing/doing and the Garmin was able to provide me with that.

There’s so many tiny feature the Garmin offers that are incredible. Red Shift, Custom workouts, Steps counter, Flashlight and Find My Phone to name a few. It’s basically like having a smart phone on your wrist. The watch also communicates very well with my phone and many features overlap adding another layer to smart device communication.

During the testing I realized my HRV was unbalanced. Doing research I was able to get this back to balanced. I didn’t even know what HRV was and didn’t even know mine was unbalanced… Thank you Garmin!

The band…

The only bone I have to pick with the Garmin was the watch band started to give my wrist some irritation. Other testers and members had the same issues. My speculation is that the heat and sweat made the watch band rub and cause this issue. I don’t want to blame Garmin for this as I just think I have sensitive skin, but as I mentioned earlier it would be nice to see other materials of watch bands accessible and affordable.

Im trying to think really hard on other faults within this watch, but I can’t. This watch is amazing and I have had such a great time testing and using this watch. I can’t express how this watch is sooo much more than a golf watch.

 

Play it or Trade it? (20 out of 20)

I think from everything said so far you know the answer to this… PLAY IT!

This watch has 100% improved my golf game and overall health - what more can you ask for in life?! From casual play to tournament play this watch has become a crucial piece to my golf game.

I think this golf watch would be beneficial to a golfer at any level. The S70 teaches you course management and provides you with so many tracked parameters including GIR, Fairways hit, PPH, Club distances/averages and SOOOO many more. The Garmin golf app is basically your own personal golf centre, giving you almost every trackable on course statistic. Just from having this information I have definitely shifted my golf game for the better and gained way more confidence in myself. I think knowing yourself and your golf game is extremely important and Garmin is there to provide it.

Price wise it’s a bit on the higher end, but I think it’s worth it. If you add up the price of a heart rate monitor, general watch, range finder, GPS, Caddy, Sleep tracker and MANY more - I think you would be getting quite the deal..

If you have the budget, want to improve your golf game and overall health I couldn’t recommend this golf watch more.

Conclusion

In Conclusion, the Garmin S70 is awesome. From seamless setup to amazing tracking features - this golf watch will change the way you golf and go about health. I shaved off 2 strokes from my handicap, got some health issues figured out and learned so much about my golf game thanks to the S70. If you’re looking to learn course management, improve health and better yourself I highly recommend the Garmin S70.

97/100

 

CT10 Sensors

Im going to keep this one a bit shorter as there’s not as many moving parts like the S70.

Aesthetics (6 out of 10) 

The sensors were extremely easy to setup and took all of 5-10 minutes. I really like the way they fit into the grips and are unnoticeable while taking my stance. They also don’t add any weight or visual impairment.

Durability wise I don’t think the sensors will hold up very well. The plastic they are made out of doesn’t seem too durable and I have had sensors fall out due to low impact and many other testers have run into this same issue.  From being in my bag within the span of this testing they are very scuffed and dented. I take extreme care of my golf clubs and there was no helping the sensors.

It would be nice for these sensors to be a bit slimmer and built with a better material.

 

The Numbers/On-Course (20 out of 40)

Im going to put these 2 paragraphs together as It’s basically the same answer.

I was really excited to try out club sensors and even more excited to have the S70 to pair with them, but I was let down. I had very high expectations for these sensors and they were not met.

This biggest flaw within the sensors is how they track shots. On many occasions I would take practice swing, bring 2 clubs to a tee block and the sensors would register these as shots.

If the Garmin S70 could track your swing tempo, I don’t understand why it couldn’t use a combination of that along with the sensors to give you a more accurate swing. For the size of the sensors you would think a lot of technology would be going on in there, but there isn’t. In my opinion they just register when you bring a club out of the bag and until you put it away and get the next club it stops tracking.

It was nice to have my shot distances and averages tracked, but the sensors definitely interfered and skewed data. As I said the watch would register practice swing and other instances as shots, this meant I was hitting my clubs 5-10yds and that would account for the averages. After each round I would have to go into the Garmin Golf App and edit all of this false shots the sensors tracked. This was definitely redundant and I would love if they were more seamless and accurate.

These sensors have definitely not improved my game and I hate to say that. As the S70 absolutely exceeded my expectation I was hoping the CT10 Sensors followed that. Having to constantly check after each shot to make sure I didn’t lose a sensor and post-round editing I don’t think these were of benefit to me.

Once I edited each shot and got the round looking like how it was played my data was correct and useable.

Another issue I ran into with the sensors was the lack of putter compatibility. I use a Superstroke Grip which has its own top insert (you are able to add weights to these grips.) and the CT10 Sensor did not fit. From doing a quick google search, Garmin stated that they are not compatible with these grips and they are not looking to make them compatible, which is really unfortunate. If you look at Arccos they offer a Superstroke compatible putter attachment. For the extra cost I would 100% consider buying it as I think your putter is one off the if not most important clubs in the bag. Again, another reason why I was upset to not be able to track my putting stats.

The Good, the bad, the inbetween (5 out of 20)

It’s really tough to find something good to say about the sensors as I found they hindered me from having consistent data tracking. I know these sensors are capable of being amazing and coherent with the S70, but as of now I don’t think the technology is there. I want to continue to use them and maybe do some research to see if anyone has found any work around with these issues - I will also do more troubleshooting myself.

When they do track shots properly it’s nice but I would say shot are getting track improperly more often than not.

I don’t see why they would just have a pop up on the S70 that prompts you to select clubs? It’s seems a bit redundant to pay for these sensors to not track properly and cause more work.

 

Play it or Trade it? (10 out of 20)

I’m definitely on the fence about this one… I want to continue to use them and see if I can find work arounds for these issues but its hard to be optimistic as they just haven’t performed properly or met my expectations.

Ive never used club sensors so this is coming from a non comparison. I would definitely be interested in trying out Arccos to see how they match up but then the data wouldn’t transfer to the Garmin Golf App or the watch.

I think I’ll keep them for now, but I hope to see Garmin improve these and come out with a better version. I know it's doable and just seeing the technology from the watch, I know they are capable of doing so.

Price wise I think these are insanely overpriced. For $300 they should be doing much more than just tracking shots and should be super precise and accurate.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the sensors didn’t meet my expectations and was definitely a left down considering how amazing the S70 is. From false shot tracking to sensors falling off, I don’t think these are beneficial to my game. As I said in my introduction I wanted seamlessness and accuracy - 2 things the CT10 Sensors did not provide. Also, for the price point I think you’re better off saving your money and getting lessons or something else to benefit your golf game.

49/100

Edited August 3 by cburins
Final Review

[CorentinV]

Hi MGS Community!

First off, I thrilled to have the opportunity to participate as a tester, thanks to MyGolfSpy and Garmin! I can't wait to dive in and share my experiences and data with all of you during this process.

Introduction :

Personal Background
My name is Corentin, I’m 29. I currently play out of Québec City, having moved here from France in September 2022. Working from home as a Sales Manager in the Tech Industry and hitting the gym on non-golfing days, I strive for a balanced lifestyle that includes significant dedication to golf. I'm married, no children, and I cherish the flexibility to explore various golf courses as a nomad golfer. My wife joined me on this golf journey early May this year.

Golfing Profile
I'm a casual golfer with a competitive mindset. I started golfing seriously over a year ago and I'm dedicated to continuously improving my skills and understanding of the game. I'm currently an 18 handicap golfer and have been diligently working with a coach for the past few months to achieve my end-of-season goal of reaching a 10/12 handicap. I’m always seeking to get better and find a way to improve myself which make this testing opportunity a perfect match for me.

My golf strengths are my short game and shots off the tee. My weakness is my accuracy with approach shots, I’m quite struggling with a push hook on some shots. My Swing tempo is pretty agressive with an average driver swing speed around 105 mph. My average ball flight is a draw with a high flight trajectory.

Product Testing Strategy
In the past, I’ve used Garmin products for running and, despite switching to an Apple Watch due to some issues with the Garmin's health metrics and Bluetooth stability making the phone connection quite laborious, I’ve always regarded Garmin as a top-tier tech brand in the sports industry.

For this test, I’ve chosen the 42mm watch due to my stature (5.6 ft) and thinner wrists. I plan to rigorously test the S70 and CT10 sensors against my current setup with Arccos and Golfshot, looking for seamless integration and at least equivalent if not superior functionality. I intend to provide detailed data collected by the Garmin S70. I will evaluate everything from user interface and data accuracy to the practical benefits of the health tracking features.

With a golf tour coming up with a friend around Montreal and Québec, where we’ll play about 10 rounds in 13 days, it’s the perfect scenario to test the Garmin S70 watch and Approach CT10 sensors.
The review will include data from regular rounds, practice sessions, and from the mentioned golf tour.

Expectations and Excitement
I am particularly excited to see how the Garmin products can track not just my shots but also my health metrics like Body Battery, HRV, and Sleep Score. These features could provide profound insights into how physical and mental readiness impact my game.

I’m intrigued to see how improvements in my Body Battery might correlate with performance on the course, potentially leading to better scores and more efficient practice sessions. I’ll also add a focus on how a golf session, on course or at the practice range, is affecting my Body Battery.

Criteria for Retention
For the Garmin S70 watch and CT10 sensors to earn a permanent spot in my bag, they must not only match but exceed the functionalities of my current devices. They need to offer comprehensive, actionable insights that genuinely enhance my strategic approach to golf, backed by reliable and user-friendly technology. The daily usage will be also an important criteria to replace my Apple Watch. The connection with my phone and the notifications should work perfectly to avoid any annoyance.

First Impressions (7 out of 10)

Packaging and Presentation
The Garmin S70 and CT10 sensors arrived in a well-protected bubble wrap envelope, ensuring the boxes were in perfect condition with no apparent damage. The packaging is simple but effective, presenting the contents in a neat and organized manner. Each box includes the equipment and user guides, which are straightforward and easy to understand.

Unboxing
Opening the box, the first thing that stands out is the sleek, modern design of the Garmin S70 watch. The CT10 sensors are well-packaged, and Garmin provides a small black tool to help attach the sensors to the clubs easily.

Setup
Setting up the watch is relatively straightforward but requires downloading several apps (-1 pt) for a complete experience: Garmin Connect, Garmin IQ, and Garmin Golf. The initial setup process is user-friendly, with clear instructions provided in the user guides. 

Sensor Installation and Pairing
Attaching the sensors to the clubs is easy with the provided tool. Each sensor should be securely screwed into the grip. The pairing instructions, however, are somewhat cumbersome (-1 pt). The process is tedious, especially if you have a large number of clubs to pair. For instance, I have five wedges (43º, 48º, 52º, 56º, and 60º), which the app does not account for. This required renaming and re-categorizing each club accurately, which took several attempts (-1 pt).

Initial Impressions
Despite some initial setup hurdles and no specific putter sensor, the Garmin S70 and CT10 sensors offer a promising start with promising features. 

Technological Advances
Garmin claims several technological advances with the S70 and CT10, including enhanced health metrics like Body Battery, sleep tracking, and heart rate variability (HRV). The CT10 sensors provide comprehensive tracking of your golf game, offering detailed statistics and performance insights. These features aim to help golfers improve not only their game but also their overall health and fitness.

Aesthetics (8 out of 10)

General Shape / Size / Fit
The Garmin S70 watch has a sleek, modern design. The 42mm model fits perfectly on my wrist, feeling light and comfortable (+1 extra pt). The display is crisp and clear, with excellent contrast that makes it easy to read in various lighting conditions. The rear sensor is slim and non-intrusive, adding to the overall comfort.

Customization
Customization options are somewhat limited but effective (-1 pt). The watch face can be customized via the Garmin IQ app, allowing you to choose from various designs and layouts. The CT10 sensors do not offer much in the way of customization (as expected) however their height and not wide enough design are quite an issue as they de interfere with your clubs' aesthetics (see comparison vs Arccos putter sensor above) (-1 pt).

Durability or Build Quality
The build quality of the watch is excellent, with a robust design that feels premium. The plastic band, however, feels a bit low-quality compared to other premium watches (-0.5 pt), such as the Apple Watch. The CT10 sensors are made from a durable plastic, but their quality does not feel as premium as the Arccos sensors. The sensors fit reasonably well but do not match the grips perfectly (-0.5 pt)

Storage Cases
The packaging does not include dedicated storage cases for the watch or sensors, but the provided boxes are sturdy enough for safe storage when not in use.

Long-term Durability Prediction
Given Garmin's reputation for high-quality, durable products, I expect the S70 watch and CT10 sensors to hold up well over time. The watch's design and materials suggest it will withstand regular use, while the sensors, despite their slightly less premium feel, should also prove durable with proper care. 
I still have concerns about the band aging but Garmin offers the possibility of changing it (around 50-75 USD)

Conclusion (15 out of 20)
Overall, the Garmin S70 and CT10 sensors make a strong first impression. The setup process, while somewhat cumbersome, is manageable, and the initial performance of the watch and sensors is promising. With robust features and a sleek design, the S70 and CT10 have the potential to significantly enhance my golf game and overall health tracking.

Find more details and pictures about my unboxing experience in a detailed post here.

It's time for The Final Review!

As a reminder, after the First Impressions & Aesthetic review, I gave a 15 out 20 score to the Garmin S70 and CT10 sensors.

You'll find below the Numbers, the On-cours experience, the Good / Bad / In-Between, the Play it or Trade it and finally the Conclusion section with the total score out of 100...

08/14/2024 - Final Review
Garmin S70 Watch and CT10 Sensors
Official MGS Forum Review by Corentin Vadillo

The Numbers
Numbers Off the Course (8 out of 10)
The Garmin S70 excels in various health monitoring metrics, enhancing overall wellness management which is crucial for golfers who want to maintain peak performance.

• HRV status and stress tracking: The watch effectively displays variations in heart rate variability and associated stress levels. This feature helps me to find out when I was under high stress situations and the watch gave me some advices to get back to the normal.
  (Translation: Repos = Rest / Bas = Low / Moyen = Mid / Haut = High)

• Body Battery energy monitoring: This feature is insightful as it assesses overall energy availability from sleep, rest, and activity data. However, it tends to not drop below a score of 5/100, which raises questions about what is really happening when you are still doing activities under 5/100 score and about this score sensitivity and accuracy after exhaustive days.
• Sleep score and tracking: One of the more accurate features, it provides a comprehensive look at sleep patterns, including sleep stages and overall sleep quality, which directly impacts recovery and performance. So far, it didn't fail, I never had a false positive. After a short or agitated night, the score is low, after a good resourceful night, the sleep score is high. In addition, the watch and the Garmin Connect app give you tons of insights, comparison and advices to improve your sleep:
  (Translation: Durée = Length / Mauvais = Bad / Profond = Deep / Léger = Light / Éveillé = Awake / Sommeil = Sleep)

 

• Calories and Steps tracking: Comparable to other leading fitness devices, offering consistent readings that help maintain awareness of activity levels throughout the day. Nothing special to add, it works perfectly whether you are resting, playing golf, doing sports, etc. Again, the watch and the Garmin Connect app give you insights about your performance and comparison based on your profile:
  (Translation: Pas = Steps / Moyenne = Average)

• Recovery time recommended: Useful for planning days between intense physical activities, ensuring optimal performance by suggesting adequate recovery times. I had some weeks when I was struggling to feel relax, in shape, ... the watch helps me to determine my planning and to take time to rest.
• (Translation: "Recovery, 21 hours. Delayed due to bad sleeping quality")

• Fitness age: Here is my "preferred" health feature. The fitness age is my motivational tool that assesses my physical condition relative to an age norm, encouraging improvements in fitness and health routines. The advices and insight given really helped my improving my life and sports habits.

Numbers On the Course (8 out of 10)
When it comes to on-course performance, the Garmin S70 provides really detailed and accurate data to enhance the golfing experience. It was impressive and it really helps me to manage more "professionally" my game.

• Yardage accuracy: The device offers precise measurements that rival those from dedicated rangefinders and other golf GPS apps. For instance, during a test on a 150-yard approach shot, the Garmin S70's measurements were within a yard of a professional rangefinder and the cart's GPS confirming its reliability.
• "Plays Like" distances: This feature shines by adjusting shot distances considering elevation and climatic conditions, giving me an extra layer of data that refines club selection. This feature was particularly helpful for me who struggled to feel the wind's and slope's impacts. Here is an example from last week:

• Intermediate and Hazards targets: Usually, I had the bad habit of not taking into consideration the distances to greenside bunkers, water and out of bounds. I managed to not let it impact my game but with the watch it changed my way of thinking and my game improved. Today even on an average shot, my chances of finding water, OOB or a bunker are low thanks to the watch. However, there have been occasional discrepancies on less mapped courses, which could lead to strategic missteps.

• Body Battery impact on performance: Here was my biggest expectation, I was really interesting in knowing if a better Body Battery score will lead in better golf performances over the time. Interestingly, I can say, for me, that a higher Body Battery score is correlated with a lower average number of putts per round, suggesting better concentration and energy management. Conversely, an higher Body Battery score also coincided with higher overall golf scores and decreased accuracy in fairways hit and greens in regulation, indicating potential overexertion or mismanagement of pacing during the round.
  To sort out these conclusions, I recorded my last 38 games and I consolidated all the data into an excel file to determine the tendencies. Here are the results:

As you can also see, tee times, sleeping scores, walking or using a cart and practicing are not sufficient variables to determine or explain why the Body Battery score is not a guarantee of good golf scores at the end of the rounds.

Setup (4 out of 5)
The setup process for the Garmin S70 and CT10 sensors is streamlined and user-friendly, though not without minor hitches.

• Instructions clarity: The documentation provided is clear, making the initial setup straightforward. The visual aids and step-by-step instructions facilitate a hassle-free configuration.
• Charging and battery life: The watch charges rapidly, achieving a full charge in under two hours, and lasts for multiple rounds, which is impressive. However, the need for a proprietary charging cable can be a minor inconvenience if misplaced.
• Smart notification system: Keeps me well-connected by discreetly delivering notifications. This feature allows me to stay updated without being distracted during play. I was really happy to use the watch on and off the course.

On-Course Experience (17 out of 20)
Using the Garmin S70 on the golf course has been a mostly positive experience, marked by ease of use and intuitive interactions.

• Ease of use and intuitiveness: The watch integrates seamlessly into the golfing routine, with most features being accessible in a few taps. The layout of the course data on the watch face is easy to read at a glance, which is essential during play.
• AutoShot tracking: Accurately captures and analyzes shots, though it occasionally misses some strokes or misattributes shots, which requires manual correction post-round.

• Improved Virtual Caddie: While helpful, this feature tends to be overly conservative, suggesting more lay-ups than necessary, which could frustrate more aggressive players. Some times it asked me to play my SW to tee-off on a Par-4 or Par-5.
• PinPointer feature: The PinPointer seemed to me quite useless at the beginning but it appeared to be a valuable insight to get closer to the pin on approachs. It helps me lowering my putting average and finally my score.

Finally, thanks to all the insights given on course by the watch and after a 2/3 months use, I'm happy to announce that I lowered my HCP from 16 to 12.5. It's may be not all due to the watch, but it really helped.

The Good, the Bad, the In-Between (16 out of 20)
The Good

• Comprehensive health tracking: Integrates extensive health metrics which are essential for maintaining top physical condition and improving recovery times.
• On-Course reliability: Offers robust features that enhance golf gameplay, such as accurate yardages and advanced course data.

The Bad

• CT10 Sensor Performance: The CT10 sensors are capable of tracking the location and distance of each shot, which in theory, helps golfers analyze their game in-depth. When they work (most  of the time TBH), the sensors effectively record shot distances and types, allowing for a comprehensive review of performance during the post-round analysis. Unfortunately, the sensors occasionally miss shots or misrecord the type of club used, which can skew data accuracy and requires manual correction, making the experience less seamless than expected.
  In addition, the sensors have been known to unexpectedly detach from club grips during play, and the sensor on the putter can be particularly obtrusive, sometimes affecting the grip and overall feel of the putt. After losing my 7-iron sensors, I reallocated my putter sensor to my 7-iron to complete the test. To finish, I had to screw them back in every shot routine making the experience really uncomfortable and annoying.
  Today, the sensors are back in their box. I can't support them anymore...

The In-Between

• Course layout graphics and app Interface: The graphics are not as modern or visually appealing as competitors, which use real satellite imagery. The mobile app experience is also less intuitive, making navigation and data management somewhat cumbersome. The post editing experience is also not really easy, I recommend using the Garmin Connect webpage on the computer.

Play It or Trade It? (12 out of 15)
When deciding whether to "play it or trade it," the Garmin S70 presents a compelling case for inclusion in any serious golfer's arsenal, especially when considering its standalone features excluding the CT10 sensors. Personally, I will keep using the Garmin S70 watch in the future.

Performance enhancements
The Garmin S70 significantly enhances on-course performance with its detailed and accurate metrics. It provides me the kind of reliable data that was essential for making informed decisions during a round. My gameplay has become more strategic and informed, allowing for better shot planning and execution.

Price and value
Given the extensive features it offers, both for golf and general fitness tracking, the price of the Garmin S70 is justified. It is on par with other high-end golf watches but offers additional health and fitness tracking that can benefit daily life outside of golf.

Best fit for golfers
This device is ideally suited for golfers who value a holistic approach to their sporting and health activities. Its detailed metrics cater well to those who are data-driven and seek to optimize every aspect of their performance. For golfers who simply want basic yardage information without additional features, there may be simpler, more cost-effective options available.

Future use
I plan to continue using the Garmin S70 for its superior golf features and overall health tracking capabilities. However, due to the inconsistencies and lesser reliability of the CT10 sensors, I will replace them with Arccos sensors. This hybrid setup should allow me to leverage the best of Garmin's watch features while utilizing more reliable shot tracking from Arccos.

Conclusion (80 out of 100)
Overall, the Garmin S70 watch stands out as a multifaceted tool that extends beyond mere golf assistance into comprehensive health and activity tracking. Its accurate yardages, sophisticated "Plays Like" feature, and detailed health insights make it a powerhouse on and off the course. While the associated app could benefit from a design overhaul and the CT10 sensors do not meet the same high standards as the watch itself, the core functionalities of the Garmin S70 make it a worthy investment for any serious golfer. Its ability to blend extensive golf features with everyday fitness tracking makes it an excellent choice for golfers who take both their game and their health seriously.

To finish, thank you MGS for this 1st incredible experience, can't wait to test more golf stuffs!

 

 

 

Edited August 14 by CorentinV
Final review !

[NubianRugby]

Greetings and salutations! Many thanks to MGS for allowing me to take part in this test.

I've been playing golf off and on since I was 9 years old. My first time on a golf course, my father made me caddy for him. That was my introduction to the game; humping a bag and wiping down clubs. It was the 70's and that's how things were done back then. Over the next 15 years I played as much as circumstances allowed; for two years we lived on a golf course and I played a lot and got some instruction during Sumer golf camps; otherwise I played pretty sparingly. Once I started working a regular, full time job I started playing golf again all over the DC, MD, and Virginia area. I had jobs where I traveled for a few years and was fortunate enough to be able to play in Puerto Rico and Okinawa, Japan as well as a bunch of random military bases and the surrounding areas. Over the course of next 20 years of marriage, children, and rugby I only played a handful of times a year but always enjoyed the game.  

Last year I got fit for new clubs and since then I've played 9 holes a couple times a week after work and about once a month me and the boys get it together to go somewhere nice to play a proper round. I've played Bulle Rock and University of Maryland already this year and have plans to play Musket Ridge and/or Whiskey Creek in the next few weeks.  

I don't have a proper handicap, but a couple of dozen rounds playing the "Top 12" on the range has me at about 18.6, which feels right so we'll go with that. I'd put my average driving distance at 240-250 and lately I've been working more on chipping and putting practice as opposed to only bashing balls at the range. I'm working to improve my game but I'm by no means a serious golfer. 

Testing, Review, and Comparisons

Since this is going to be taking biometric information about rest and what's going with your body on top of being a golf aid, I'm going to be interested to see how resistance training affects my golf game when I have hard data to use for comparisons. In addition to using this watch on the course I'll be using the sports apps, (duh) to time rest breaks when I lift, and maybe for sleep tracking too. 

I've been using the Bushnell golf app along with their Bluetooth speaker for on course distances since last October and I've liked it, so that's going to be my baseline for comparison. Not having to dig in my pocket to enter scores or check for more detailed information already gives the S70 a leg up over using an app on my phone. When I'm playing more high end places that have GPS built into their carts I'll be comparing distances given between all three sources at my disposal. I’m not deep enough into golf to have a sim or a launch monitor, so I can't wait to see what these sensors have to say about my swing.  

How Not to Get Voted Off My Golf Island

I want performance upgrades on the course, in the gym, and in life. What gets measured is what gets done, so if the additional measurements provided by the S70 help me improve in any of those areas I'll continue to use it after the testing period. The big thing for me with the sensors is I don't want to know they are there, if they change the weight/feel of my clubs that's a big no for me.

I'm very interested in user centered design and will be looking for evidence of that in the UI, if it's too difficult to use or gives a bunch of intrusive alerts that are hard to turn off those are things that will get the watch left in my dresser drawer. 

Anticipation

What's not to be excited about? A kick a$$ GPS watch that will help me play better and does fitness tracking too is some seriously futuristic Dick Tracy/Tom Swift $hit for someone who is old enough to remember when TV went off at night. 

Smart watches always seemed like a bit of an extravagance to me, so I haven't paid any attention to what they're supposed to do or how. I know that it has 43k golf courses pre-loaded into and there are additional fitness apps too, but what kind of stats it's tracking or how you even interact with the watch are a mystery to me until it arrives. 

I'm expecting a purpose built device that does the golf/GPS part extraordinarily well and the other things kind of so-so. For example, phone free music listening on my watch who asked for that? I'm concerned that there will be an explosion of companion apps necessary to get full functionality out of the device and I have some privacy concerns too.  

First Impressions/Unboxing

Dateline: Bozeman, MT

My package arrived about 20 minutes before I left for the airport to go to my nephew/godson's high school graduation on Wednesday. It was just enough time to throw the S70 on the charger to wake it up, do the bare minimum setup, and put the thing on my wrist. Because I'm on "vacation" with my family at a family event I haven't spent much time getting into the higher brain functions of the watch, nor have I been able to slip away for any golf despite my in-laws house being on the fifth hole of Bridger Creek golf course. So my first impression is strictly how the S70 functions as a smart watch/lifestyle accessory.

This is my first "smart" watch and consequently, it's a little mind blowing how much they're able to fit into such a small package now. User interface is pretty intuitive, a few pokes at the buttons and I was able to figure out how to navigate around, get rid of things I didn't like, and add things I did. Right off the bat I decided I didn't want this thing syncing with my calendar, because does Garmin really need to know when my kids have doctor's appointments and what my old lady's schedule is? I'm also not loving the notifications; so far I haven't been able to get the notifications pared down to text messages only. It insists on giving me notifications for Instagram (I rarely use it) and missed calls/voice mails which only serves to give an excessive amount of notifications that I don't care about.

[Editor's note: looks like I'm going to be able to play golf RIGHT NOW, so I'll continue with this later]

OK, I'm back. I played 9 holes on Monday for my inaugural round with the S70 but I was playing with someone else's clubs and didn't have the sensors installed but that may be a good thing because it gives another data point. First beef is that they claim there's 43k golf courses pre-loaded but you still have to wait for the GPS to locate you and show the courses near your location. It only took a minute, but when something is advertised as "pre-loaded" I don't expect to have to connect to anything before I get started.

I've been using the Bushnell Wingman Mini and the associated app for distances and scoring and I fired it up to compare distances and features with the S70. Distances were all with ~5 yards but it's a little easier to see the entire hole on your phone than on your watch, but that's just a screen size issue. What's great about the watch is that I'm not constantly digging in my pocket between holes, I can quickly/easily enter my score without looking like a jabroni on the course fooling around with my phone. Score one for the Garmin.

Another plus for the Garmin is that I don't have to do anything to measure my shot distances; it knows when I've hit a ball and automatically measures the distance when you hit your next shot. The Bushnell app makes you specifically tell it to measure a shot and then you have to tell it to stop measuring and also doesn't seem to keep that information anywhere. 

I played a very mediocre 51 for 9 holes at Bridger Creek on Monday and a horrible 52 on the front 9 of my home course on Tuesday when I got home and installed the sensors on my clubs. Installation was a snap, no tools necessary and I was able to get them on my clubs and synced with the watch in 15 minutes. Obviously I'll have to play more rounds before the Garmin will be able to tell me what club I should be using based on historical averages but my big takeaway from Tuesday's round was that I'm hitting my 3-wood as far as my driver. Best drive of the day was a 3-wood I absolutely smoked 280 yards. Look at the evidence! 

Sorry about the lack of unboxing pictures, I was in a hurry when the package arrived.

 

First Impressions  (8 out of 10)

 

This was all new for me, my first real product testing opportunity and my first experience with a SmartWatch. When the box arrived I was excited. My excitement had nothing to do with packaging; a plain brown shipping box and Apple style (sparse and white with minimal instructions) packaging of the products themselves; and more to do with the fact that I was on my way out the door for a brief family trip and it arrived just in time for me to take it with me.

The watch I’m wearing is the 47mm version of the S70 but it is available in 42mm. One of my initial concerns was that I would feel the watch on arm and it would affect my swing but you needn’t worry about that. It comes with a sturdy black silicone band that keeps the watch securely in place while you’re playing golf or participating in any kind of physical activity. I wear it while working out at the gym and it’s unobtrusive.

I threw it on the provided charger; USB 2 with a proprietary connector to the watch; and it was at 100% charge in less than 20 minutes. Awesome, I was stoked because there’s nothing worse than getting a new device and waiting to get it charged to use. First thing I figured out was that you must install the Garmin Golf app to access live updated data like weather and notifications from your phone. Like I said, documentation was very sparse in the Apple style but the watch prompts you through getting connected to your phone.  After you’re connected, you drill down through levels of menus on the watch to customize your display style and what’s shown on the screen.

There are three buttons on the right side of the watch. One big one on top to activate golf related functions and two smaller ones that take you into the settings and back you out from wherever you are on the watch. It didn’t take long to figure out, but it wasn’t intuitive either which kind of sums up my experience with the S70. The interface isn’t bad and takes some getting used to.

For someone new to the world of SmartWatches this was a revelation, so much information is available to you at the flick of a wrist; weather, sunrise/sunset, steps, heart rate, and the mysterious metric of body battery.

The body battery thing is a little strange because it often doesn’t correlate to how I feel. There are days when the watch says that I didn’t get good sleep and consequently my body battery was low, but I felt like a million buck when I woke up and throughout the day. OTOH what my fellow testers and I did find that was that it very accurately measures the effect of consuming alcohol on the quality of your sleep and lowers your body battery score accordingly. My body battery score has never been higher than 80 over the last two months even on days when I went to bed early, didn’t drink, and got good sleep accordingly to Lady G.

One thing I do like is the Morning Report the S70 gives you that summarizes your sleep metrics (time/quality) and things like [insert stuff here], it gives you an affirmation and suggestions about resting and taking care of yourself. At the end of the day Lady G gives you a wrap up telling you if you had a restful or stressful or active day and coaching you on getting better sleep.

The CT10 sensors were easy to install on my GolfPride grips, no tools were required and installation (including paring with app) took less than 15 minutes. This was the most intuitive part of the setup. After installation you won’t notice the sensors on the club, it’s like they’re not there. My only problem with the sensors has been that you do need to constantly check to make sure they’re firmly attached, it seems like the clubs in the front of my bag get loose more than the other clubs. I’ve worked checking the sensors into my pre-shot routine, tightening it as soon as I pull a club, and it’s not a big deal but something you do have to think about.
 

Aesthetics (8 out of 10)

The watch looks sharp, all black with an orange accent under the bezel and on the big button that activates the golf functions. The 47mm display provides enough screen real estate to convey critical information when you’re on the course. After two months on my wrist every day and through many rounds of golf (and even more sessions at the gym) there are no obvious signs of wear; no scratches on the screen or nicks in the wristband. The wristband is very utilitarian but replacement wristbands in different materials and styles are available.

The Numbers (18 out of 20)

Prior to being selected as a tester for the S70 I had been using the Bushnell Wingman and companion app for distances and I have compared the distances I get from Lady G to the GPS golf carts at the University of Maryland and Bulle Rock. My experience was that the distances from the S70 were much more accurate than the golf carts, in part because of not being able to take a cart when I hit in the woods . Distances are always within ~3 yards when compared to the Bushnell Wingman, what makes the S70 a bit better is that it measures distances from your watch not your phone. You can leave your phone in the cart and not have to mess with it to get an accurate distance with the S70 which isn’t possible with the Wingman.

Lady G does a nice job of giving layup distances when you’re trying to figure out where to hit, showing where you want to be relative to a 200/250/300 yard shot.

The yardages for my clubs are generally accurate, but the virtual caddie does give bad recommendations at times. This happens when you have a club that you don’t hit very often and had a day where you hit it exceptionally long. For me, that is my 9 iron; for whatever reason I had a day where I was carrying it 160-170 and now Lady G recommends it for 160 yard shots but still recommends an 8 iron for 130-140 yard shots. Other times I’ve substituted my own judgement, hit long/short, and found that it gave me the correct answer. As I play more and more rounds the virtual caddie has become more accurate, but I tend to ignore it when it recommend I hit 4/5 iron off the tee.

Instructions were minimal but were easy to understand and I was able to get the watch setup and synced to my phone in the middle of leaving for a trip. I did refer to the Garmin website a few times during setup to find answers.

The watch charges quickly, you can get a full charge on it in less than an hour and that charge will last 5-7 days. If the charge on my phone lasted this long I’d be a happy man.

The VO2 stat is totally useless, I have no idea what it is and I haven’t bothered to find out.

On-Course (18 out of 20)

On course is where Lady G really shines, it’s much easier to use than constantly pulling your phone out of your pocket. For me, a novice user, it was very “set it and forget it” after choosing the course and tees. It’s easy to change holes if you start playing off the back or are in a tournament. All the information is there at the click of a button and a quick scroll; you can see what distances you’re hitting your clubs, there’s a pin finder feature for blind shots, and you can get wind information too.

This leads me to one of my very few complaints, the connection between the S70 and your phone often breaks and has to be re-established by opening up the Garmin Golf app on your phone. When you’re trying to reconnect, there’s no way to tell the phone to re-establish the connection. You open the app and kind of hope it happens, if the app hangs up or you have a weak signal sometimes you have to kill the app and re-open it to connect again. One other complaint about the app is that you constantly have to re-authenticate into the app. Super disruptive to have to mess with your phone and remember your password in the middle of a round when you’re trying to check the wind. Once I figured out how to save my password for the app to my phone it got better, but still a noticeable deduction for me.

The Good, the bad, the in between (15 out of 20)

There are higher brain functions on the S70 that I haven’t tapped into because they’re kind of buried in menus and I haven’t taken the time to figure them out. Once I found the timer function it was a great upgrade while I was working out. Again, instead of pulling my phone out of my pocket during set breaks I can set a :50 second timer and I’m good to go. Hit the big button to start/stop/dismiss the alarm and hit it again to restart the timer. Works very well for cooking too and unexpected bonus.

Worst part of using the S70 is the fragility of the connection to the app, it breaks at the drop of a hat and things like weather updates and notifications are dependent on that connection. I can’t figure out what makes the connection break, I’ve had the phone and watch in range and had the connection break repeatedly during a round no discernable reason. It really takes away from the experience of using the watch.

Otherwise, I like it a lot. Distances on your wrist allows you to stay a little more focused during your pre-shot routine as opposed to pulling out a range finder or your phone.  

Play it or Trade it? (18 out of 20)

Play it. If you’re in the market for a SmartWatch and you play golf, this is the one to buy. It’s purpose built, looks good, and holds a charge for almost a week. It is a little on the spendy side at $699, but you’re getting more than a standard SmartWatch for your money and if you’re already in for $699 you might as well go all the way and get the CT10 sensors too.

Since I started using the Approach S70 my handicap has gone down almost 4 strokes and I’m having more good rounds and expecting good things to happen on the course. I hit the ball with more confidence when I using the Garmin, not overswinging trying to get it there knowing that I’m hitting the right club for the distance.

Conclusion

The Garmin Approach S70 is a slightly expensive SmartWatch that, when combined with the CT10 sensors provides a good value for a golfer that’s trying to improve their game. The watch provides accurate distances at a glance when you’re on the course but it does struggle to stay connected to the phone app that provides up to the minute data like temperature and wind. Once you get the watch/sensors setup using them on the course is easy; it measures shot distances with no intervention necessary and you can use the app to review how you played a hole after a round is over.

Final Score (86 out of 100)

Edited August 6 by NubianRugby
Posted review

[MGS-Forum-Mod]

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[Knight017]

Looking forward to this as I use this watch every day and love it

Sent from my SM-G780F using Tapatalk

[sirchunksalot]

Congratulations testers!

[Northern Monkey]

Congrats testers

 

[Coulter]

Congratulations! This will be a fun one for sure!

[Cmra1]

Congrats to the testers

[Pep]

Congratulations, will be waiting for your inputtd 

 

[ChaosReigns]

Congratulations testers! Can’t wait to read the reviews and I’m hoping one of yall have an ion elite to test against. 

[TJ Hall]

Congratulations testers!

[Willie T]

13 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

 

Last year, we had a Forum Testing Opportunity for the Garmin S70 watch, which received great results for its high-end feel, look, and of course, performance. For this member testing opportunity, we are taking a different angle and combining the Garmin S70 watch with the Garmin Approach CT10 sensors for a full on and off-course tracking experience.

A Different Kind Of Member Test

The Garmin S70 Life Series member test is going to take performance and tracking to a new level. While we still want to know how the products perform for our selected testers, this opportunity is just as much about how these products set you up to perform at your best. The selected testers will go through this long-term testing opportunity (8 weeks) tracking their Body Battery, Sleep Score, and HRV (heart rate variability) throughout the testing period. They will take these measurements before rounds, after rounds, and even on off days to see how they can help prepare their bodies for success, but also see the effects of their preparation (or lack thereof) on the scorecard. Combined with the Approach CT10 tracking sensors, the selected testers will have access to a full suite of data, stats, and more.

Please welcome and congratulate our testers! 

@revkev 

@cburins 

@Corentin Vadillo 

@NubianRugby

This one will be a great one to follow as I use the S20…this is definitely next level.  Congrats to the testers!  

[Bad Golfer]

Congratulations Guys! I'm looking forward to this test to see how much improvement there is from a S62 to a S70.

[Jean D]

Congratulations to all the testers on this one!!!

[TJ24]

Congrats 

[ZJeb67]

looks like a good one 

[rkj427]

Congratulations to this great group of testers.

As a Garmin Epix user myself, looking forward to the comments and reviews of the S70 and accessories.

[Sanjeev Thakur]

Congratulations to all the testers. Enjoy the product. I personally like it

[ScramblinMan]

Congratulations testers. Looking forward to your analysis/feedback of the new Garmin S70…

[Colbygrant]

Congrats testers; jelly much! ATB

[TK_]

Good luck testers! 

[3Putt4Double]

Congrats testers!!

[MattWillGolf]

Congrats Testers. The electronics are always cool.

[Parshooter36]

Congrats to the testers. I look forward to following along with this one.

[Rob Person]

Congratulations testers!  Maybe your reviews will push me to start getting on the golf tech bandwagon 

[TSauer]

Congratulations, gang! Have fun with the process!

[JFish350]

Congrats Fells, Looking forward to your reviews. I'll be following along as this is a purchase I made just this week. I should have mine by Thursday.