Garmin Approach G82 GPS/Launch Monitor Review
Is This Range to Course Launch Monitor and GPS a Game Changer?
What does $599 get you in golf today?
A new driver, a push cart and bag, a wedge set, a new putter, 10 dozen golf balls, a laser rangefinder, or personal launch monitor.
What if I told you that you could get that personal launch monitor and a 5″ touchscreen golf GPS for $599? Both?
The Garmin Approach G82 GPS/Launch Monitor is a dual purpose range to course device that will help you on the practice range as well as on the course. It is the first of its kind and there is nothing else like it.
The big question is combining the two technologies worth it?
Is this truly a game changer for taking your practice information to the course?
Honestly, I’m kind of shocked that the internet hasn’t been buzzing about this 2-in-1 combo GPS and Launch Monitor. Let’s change that!
This is my definitive Garmin Approach G82 GPS/Launch Monitor Review.
G82 GPS
The Garmin Approach G82 GPS/Launch Monitor has a 5″ touchscreen which serves as a large handheld GPS.
It has a very strong magnet on the back that can stick it to the cart arm or can be used with the carabiner clip to a bag.
The mapping is dynamic and informative.
As you can see in the picture above it pretty much shows you every detail you could ever need on any given hole.
With Gamrins 43,000+ mapped courses, you’ll be hard pressed to find one that isn’t in their database.
It does far more than just give you accurate GPS distances, but you can get details of the green, move the pin around, account for wind, measure your shots, keep score, etc. As a stand alone GPS handheld, it is the best on the market.
It doesn’t require a subscription so once you own you can use it year after year.
Plus with a 25 hour battery life, you can play 5 or 6 rounds before you need to recharge it.
I know there are phone apps that use GPS and offer similar features, but a stand alone golf GPS is nice to save your phone battery, put the phone down, and even the newest iPhone app doesn’t do everything this handheld can do.
You can connect this one to the Garmin App to track it down if you leave it behind and you can connect it to your Garmin laser to get exact distances to the pin.
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G82 Launch Monitor
The Garmin Approach G82 GPS/Launch Monitor can also be used at the range for practice.
It can be set down 1′ in front of the ball to capture, clubhead seed, ball speed, smash, tempo, carry and total.
It is super easy to set up from the touchscreen menu.
Within seconds you can be tracking balls at the range.
How accurate is it? I tested it against a couple other launch monitor some of which are 10x as expensive.
The ball speed numbers were exactly the same every time.
The clubhead speed was very close.
What the Garmin G82 doesn’t account for is what happens down range.
It takes a small window snap shot of the club and the ball moving at impact, but doesn’t track spin or other factors that could contribute to shorter or longer distances.
It uses math to tell you what the ball should do, not necessarily what it did do.
You can’t use this launch monitor for club fitting,(which is wasn’t intended for) but what you should use it for is warming up before your round to understand how you are swinging.
For example if you often hit driver 250 yards off the tee with 150mph+ ball speed, but this morning you can’t get ball speed over 140mph because you are stiff; maybe don’t try to fly the bunker on hole 1.
It really can help you know how you are swinging in the moment before you go to play, or comparing between range sessions over time.
It also has a putting function that can help you work on tempo and stroke length which again will help you dial in consistency on the green.
It takes some practice and learning how to use this feature, but you can improve your putting with a smoother tempo and better stroke length.
The best feature might be the bag mapping function which allows you to create data on the range and build a real plan for gapping your clubs.
It will take that information of a repeated 140 yard 8-iron and help you be more honest about what club to hit and when, instead of basing your iron distances on that one time downwind you hit an 8-iron 160 yards.
Accuracy and Information
Is the Garmin Approach G82 GPS/Launch Monitor better than other handheld GPS or other personal launch monitors?
Being able to have a quick and easy launch monitor to practice prior to your round and then take it to the course for GPS is a legitimate game changer.
The launch monitor is accurate every time on ball speed; the rest of the data is what the ball should do, not always what it did.
However, the GPS is amazingly accurate and informational with the best touchscreen on the market.
$599 Value
The Garmin Approach G82 GPS/Launch Monitor is an incredible value, but you need to understand what you are getting and don’t have expectations of something it isn’t.
If you think that you are getting a $5000 launch monitor, it isn’t that robust or accurate, but as a tool to learn data, and use that data on the course.
This is the best handheld GPS you can get with the bonus launch monitor, making it a really great value.
If you dive deep into the additional features and sub-menus there is even more to use and learn to improve your game and navigate your rounds with data, not just guesses.
The magnetic back sticks to the a cart, the carabiner clip works on the outside of the bag, or the radar stand with ball dimple to use it as a launch monitor are all convenient and well thought out.
This really is a game changer for the price.
Summary
The Garmin Approach G82 GPS/Launch Monitor is a legit game changer.
You get a 2-in-1 device that goes from the range to the course with data and details useful for learning and playing.
It is a personal launch monitor that offers basic information like many others; with ball speed being spot on every time.
The 5″ touchscreen with 43,000+ preloaded courses mean you can play anywhere with accurate information and maps.
The 25 hour battery life means it will last multiple rounds between charges.
The magnet and attachment works for riding or walking.
This is a legit game changer and the internet should be buzzing about what you can get for $599.
It is a combo of useful launch monitor data paired with the best handheld GPS.
More information here: Garmin Golf Website
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