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Golf GPS app vs GPS watch

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In short

A phone app is a cheap way to try GPS yardages and can show detailed hole maps, but it drains the phone battery, is slow to pull out on every shot and can be hard to read in sunshine. A golf GPS watch gives front, middle and back numbers with a glance at your wrist and lasts a round or several. Many golfers start with an app and move to a watch once they use yardages every hole.

Details as stated in the Amazon listing or by the manufacturer. See the current price on Amazon.

Our verdict

Start with a free app if you are unsure how often you will check yardages. If you find yourself looking every hole, a watch such as the Garmin Approach S12 for simplicity, the S44 for a brighter AMOLED screen or the Shot Scope G6 for full hole maps is quicker and saves your phone battery.

Golf GPS apps are everywhere, many with a free tier, and they work on a phone you already own. So why do so many golfers pay for a GPS watch? The answer comes down to convenience, battery and screen more than accuracy, because both use the same satellite systems. This comparison sets out what each does well, where each falls short, and lines up three popular watches using their listing facts so you can judge whether the upgrade is worth it.

How each one works

Both an app and a watch use satellite positioning to find where you are and compare that with a mapped course. The course map holds the front, middle and back of each green and points such as bunkers and layups. The distance shown is the straight line from your position to that mapped point. Our explainer on how golf GPS watches work covers the details.

An app runs on a phone, so it can use a large colour screen, show flyover views and connect to the internet for score sharing. A watch has a small screen and its own GPS chip, with courses preloaded so it works without a phone signal.

Speed and convenience on the course

This is where the watch wins. Turning your wrist takes a second. Pulling a phone out of a pocket or bag, unlocking it and finding the app takes several seconds on every shot, and many golfers stop checking after a few holes. A phone in a trolley mount helps, but you lose the number once you walk away to your ball.

Watches also work in rain without a wet screen to wipe, and most show a large front, middle and back display by default with no menus to tap.

Battery and screen

GPS and a bright screen use a lot of power. Running a golf app for a full round can take a large share of a phone battery, especially on an older handset, and leaves less for calls and the drive home. A dedicated watch is built for this: the Garmin Approach S12 listing quotes up to 30 hours of GPS use and the Approach S44 up to 15 hours in GPS mode.

Phone screens are sharp but can wash out in direct sun. Golf watches use sunlight readable or AMOLED displays designed for outdoor use.

WatchCoursesDisplayGPS battery
Garmin Approach S1242,000+ preloadedSunlight readableUp to 30 h
Garmin Approach S4443,000+ preloaded1.2 inch AMOLEDUp to 15 h
Shot Scope G636,000+ preloadedColour, full hole mapsNot stated in listing
Watch listing facts

Cost, subscriptions and data

Many apps are free for basic distances and charge a subscription for extra features such as hole maps, stats or plays like yardages. Some watches charge nothing after purchase for courses, which our golf GPS without subscription explainer covers. Over a few seasons, a watch with no fees can work out simpler than an app subscription, though that depends on the plan.

Apps often have better stats and social features because they have a full phone to work with. Many watches link to a companion app for this, so you get quick numbers on the wrist and detail on the phone after the round.

Rules and etiquette

Under Rule 4.3 of the Rules of Golf, published by The R&A, a device may be used for distance and direction information unless a Local Rule bans it. That applies to apps and watches alike. Features that measure elevation change, or that give advice such as club recommendations based on your shot data, must not be used in a competition round. Many apps have a tournament mode that turns these off.

Phones also bring calls and notifications to the course. If you use an app, put the phone on silent and keep it away from playing partners on the green.

Compare golf GPS watches →

Frequently asked questions

Are golf GPS apps as accurate as watches? Both use the same satellite systems and mapped courses, so accuracy is similar. Map quality and the phone's GPS chip make more difference than app or watch.

Can I use a golf GPS app in a competition? Yes for distance, unless a Local Rule bans devices. Turn off slope, plays like and club advice features first.

Will a golf app drain my phone? It can use a large share of the battery over 18 holes. Carry a power bank or use a watch if this is a problem.

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