Product · Garmin
Garmin Approach G80: GPS with built-in launch monitor
Note: This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
The Approach G80 is aimed at golfers who want course GPS and swing feedback in one device that clips to a trolley. Its unique trick is an integrated radar launch monitor in a handheld GPS unit, so the same gadget that gives you yardages on the course can measure club speed and smash factor at the range.
- Screen
- 3.5 inch touchscreen
- Courses
- 41,000+
- Battery
- Up to 15 h with GPS
- Mounting
- Handheld
- Membership
- Not stated
In its favour
- Integrated launch monitor tracks club head speed, ball speed, smash factor and tempo.
- 3.5 inch sunlight-readable touchscreen with colour course maps, as listed.
- Rechargeable battery lasts up to 15 hours with GPS.
Good to know
- The listing does not mention a magnet or cart mount.
- Course count of 41,000+ is a little lower than newer units here.
Our take
GPS on the course
Garmin preloads more than 41,000 detailed colour course maps on a 3.5 inch sunlight-readable touchscreen. The resolution is 282 x 470 on a transflective colour TFT, a type of screen that stays readable in bright sun. Battery life is up to 15 hours with GPS running.
A trolley or cart mount and a lanyard carabiner are included, so it can live on a push trolley handle or clip to a bag.
The built-in launch monitor
Quick button access starts the radar. It tracks club head speed, ball speed, smash factor, swing tempo and estimated distance. Garmin quotes club head speed accuracy of plus or minus 5 mph.
Practice and game modes let you test yourself, for example trying to hit a target speed or carry distance. Spin and launch angle are not listed.
Size and practicalities
The G80 measures 5.8 x 11.4 x 1.5 cm and weighs 118 g. Bluetooth is supported. It is a handheld, not a watch, so it sits in a pocket or on a mount rather than on your wrist.
Being a handheld also means the screen is larger than any watch, which makes the colour hole maps easier to read at a glance, particularly for golfers who need reading glasses.
How it fits the Garmin range
The Approach S44 and S12 watches are wrist-based and rely on CT10 sensors for shot tracking, with no radar built in. The Approach CT10 itself is a set of 14 club sensors. The G80 stands alone as the device that measures swing speed directly.
Among launch monitors, the Rapsodo MLM2PRO and Voice Caddie SC300i measure more, including spin, but neither is a course GPS.
Who should look elsewhere
If you want a watch rather than a handheld, the S44 or S12 suit better. Golfers who want spin data for fitting or simulation will need a dedicated launch monitor.
Verdict
The G80 is ideal for golfers who want one gadget for course yardages and swing speed practice, mounted on a trolley. If you prefer a wrist device, choose the Garmin Approach S44, and for spin and launch data, a dedicated monitor such as the Voice Caddie SC300i is better.
Compared with alternatives in: Best handheld golf GPS units, Best golf launch monitors, Garmin Approach range compared
Amazon listing title: Garmin Approach G80, All-in-One Premium GPS Golf Handheld with Integrated Launch Monitor, 3.5" Touchscreen, Black/White