Nice review...Would be nice if they had a diopter adjustment for the screen to help us folk that need readers. I had lasik for distance but my close up vision fell off immediately.
Just finished my first round with the S70. Absolutely loved it. Coming from the Shot Scope X5 which I returned I like this much better. Great info on the course, I could always see the screen, the touch screen was very responsive even with a golf glove on. You don’t get the same level of stats SS gives but I don’t need that. I did compare the distances it was tracking on my clubs and it was comparable to what SS was seeing. The averages made sense so I don’t see a need for CT10’s personally. I’m a 12 hcp. Just my thoughts. Hope it helps.
@@KTK_Rockstar to be honest I didn’t really pay attention to that. I play again Thursday I’ll try to remember to look. I would be surprised if they did though. That would be some amazing detail.
I'm a big fan of Garmin and own S62 and other Garmin watches. I hoped S70 woud have 5 side buttons like other garmin watches for more ease of daily usage, and change the charging cable to magnetic one. It's a disppointment that those haven't changed. Other than that, it looks amazing.
$700 is a bit steep but it looks like a great watch. Gonna stick with the s60 for now and maybe get this one used and cheaper a few golf seasons from now
I just bought my first golf watch in the Shot Scope X5, as I was a BIG advocate of the GameGolf device ( the all-red one ) until it decided to quit working this golf season. I like tracking my game as it does help me i finding the areas i need more practice. I have not received my SSX5 yet as $300 bucks is my limit on all these golf GPS enhancement products as $700 bucks for the Garmin is a bit steep for this old retired guy. Nice review by the way !!!
I have the S42, Gabe. Got to admit l love it. This watch looks fantastic, but a tad pricey. In saying that, I'm amazed at the amount of golfers who don't have a watch or range finder.
I have been a big apple watch guy but it's more tedious than not for me with golf and my battery life barely lasts a day without even golfing and it usually dies after a round because of the GPS drain. I had been saving for an Apple watch Ultra but this looks nice. I may have to give this watch a bigger look since apple watch has been meh for me.
In the same boat as you my friend. I’m going with the S70 which is kind of a big deal since I’ve used Apple Watch since they first came out. I’ll use the S70 as my daily driver.
@@jawjuh1005 I leaning that way. I have tried prior to a golf round turning off notifications in my Apple Watch and missed important messages later on that day. Had my Apple Watch (AW) ping during downswings and putting. Tried using everything from Arccos to GHIN app on AW, all are too distracting to me. Gonna “try for 60 days”. Proably go back to just my scorecard, pencil and rangefinder.
Great review - Thankyou! Been using my old Fenix 5 or Garmin g80 for golf and can’t wait to upgrade with all these new features. Any feedback on how easy it is to use the watch (and touchscreen features) with the smaller 42mm size? Just concerned the smaller screen size might make this a challenge / or is it not that noticeable? Assuming the 42mm watch may have sacrifices with battery life vs the bigger size too ? The challenges of small wrists!
One feature I didn’t see mentioned which is a step up from the S62 is that the S70 connects to wifi which means no more connecting to a computer to update, it can be done wirelessly via your home wifi. That was a welcome surprise when I got it home!!
Huge improvement in battery would make me consider upgrading. My S60 is at 35% after 1 round so love hearing this. Great review and congrats on the 50K subscribers!!!
This is an outstanding video and thank you for the in-depth analysis of the Approach s70. I'll be curious to see how it stacks up against the Epix (Gen 2) as it pits AMOLED against AMOLED at a similar MSRP price point. Not gonna lie, the "shadows" on the trees of each hole may be my favorite improvement over the rest of the Garmin watches (golf or otherwise). I'm curious how you, and others who have worn the s70, feel about the size of the 47mm. From the the video, the 47mm model looks large on the wrist for an EDC, but the 42mm might be far too small. Anyone have experience with it yet? Opinions on the different sizes?
I've been using the Garmin watches for over a decade. I'm glad they modified the crappy and sometimes un-chargeable proprietary 3-prong charging system.
I have never been a watch guy and like wearing fitness bands as of late. It will be interesting if I can wear it at night. The sleep tracking with the Mi Fit 6 and 7 has been helpful for me Ox Steps Pulse Stress etc all for $45 they are awesome. I tried the galaxy watches always underwhelmed. Not a Apple guy either. As far as Golf goes. Cart GPS and/or a laser has always been my choice. I am going to get the CT10 full set and take 1 more swing at breaking 80 on a somewhat consistent basis as I am turning 60 in August. I am hopeful the watch checks all the boxes as a daily and golf aide and companion. I am glad Garmin finally did what I have been waiting for...a big beautiful bright screen with all the tech! Keep up the great work with the channel! Cheers
Good review, it should be noted that the s62 has many of the health features that the s70 has including sleep analysis, body battery, pulse ox, stress measurement etc. The are a plethora of apps on the connect iq store that can really turn the s62 into a powerful smart watch. That being said the s70 does look pretty nice with the amoled screen and the plays like distances that take in a number of factors is a cool feature. Wether that worth it is obviously up to you.
Back to golf after about 5 years of not playing. Never good shooting 100-105 normally 112ish probably around my best. With 1 eagle, but many many good holes and ahots. 60-70rounds total ever. I'm going to golf all the time so i just got the s42 on a whim and saw your 1st video s42 vs 62. Then had to type in the channel name to see the S70 video. I ordered one because of rhe intro. 8 mins in the decision was made. Thank you, youe 1st review was probably exactly how I think or would have said if I had the information. Juat a great review that answered every question i would have asked. So when I heard the intro I decided to order the 70 amd give the 62 to the family to use.
Re improvements: For the money I would expect it to be able to keep more than just one score, it should be able to show your stableford points as well as your stroke play score, sensors need to be improved so that all shots are recorded, the ability to let the watch know if you've played a shot from the rough, semi rough, just off the green etc would give more accurate data for each club. Information on the stroke index for each hole and as I have said already the app could be hugely improved as well.
The good news here is that I was told by the engineering team that the virtual caddie now can detect the lie - sand, fairway, etc. and that goes into the calculation.
@@LetsPlayThru thanks but given that it can't even detect a normal shot 100% of the time I can't say I am too confident that it would recognise a shot from the sand. For the money they expect you pay you are getting a nice but second rate product. What they should be doing is giving the sensors for free with the watch at the very least! Also as for the virtual caddie, how does it differentiate a full nine iron from a nine iron being punched from 60 yards?
For what it's worth, this watch can keep stableford score as well. Just need to go into Golf Settings to do so. It also gives you stroke index with just a couple swipes down on the main screen.
@@breakingeighty Hi, and thanks, I know it can record stableford scores but it won't show you both at the same time as far as I can tell. Also, is it the S70 that provides the stroke index as I can't seem to find it on the S62 as swiping down on the main screen does nothing, nor does swiping up. I am assuming you are referring to the main screen for each hole?
I received the watch this afternoon. I am coming from an apple watch 7, and iPhone 14. the screen is amazing. very sharp. the watch seems really large to me but my wife says it looks good and not too big. One thing to note for those of you thinking of making this a daily driver, I can receive text messages and phone calls on the watch but I can't do anything with them from the watch. I can answer the phone but no one can hear me speak. I have to use the phone. I can't tap on a text message and reply. Have to do that from the phone. If anyone has figured out how to do this from the watch I would really like to know. I can only imagine golf will be fantastic on this thing. When I play, hopefully tomorrow I'll leave my thoughts. I also do a lot of biking and walking.
Why someone who owns Apple watch buys separated watch for golf when you can use TAG hauer golf application with it which provides same functionalities as S70 and has been doing it already multiple years?
@@tommihuhtinen8975 yeah. It’s a valid question. I can’t speak for anyone else but for me I was thinking of upgrading to the more expensive adventure Apple Watch in the fall. I do a lot of cycling, hiking, fishing and golf. The battery in my Apple Watch barely makes it through a day much less to keep on during a longer sports activity. Also I tried Arccos and other golf apps on the Apple Watch and just was dissatisfied with them. They work yes but I wasn’t super happy with them. The other point is this watch will replace my Apple Watch. I get all the same notifications I got on the Apple Watch. I have a little disappointment that I can’t actually respond to apple notifications on the garmin but so far that hasn’t been an issue for me. Also the battery is incredible. I received and started using the was last Wednesday. I have played 1 full round of golf with it and have worn it constantly since I received it. Besides the initial charging I have not charged it. Right now I still have 69% battery. This thing will go a week between charges. I just got back from a trip and didn’t take my charger. That’s nice! So I still have some time to decide how this will fit in my life but so far I’m very happy with it. Your mileage may vary.
Great review Gabe! Honestly I would prefer that they quit messing around with auto shot detection. I would rather just input it and risk that I forget one and have to backtrack after the round. Ok, so there might be some motivation behind it because most of the time i'm just out playing for fun and still would like to track the score, but if I am out just messing around I might hit a second shot sometimes and don't want it to add it in. Yes, breaking the official rules, but i'm not playing competitively and just enjoying the day outside... Anywho, that's my biggest gripe
@Lets Play Thru just have a toggle to turn off the input. Maybe it's there and I just don't see it. One big reason why I haven't flipped to the Garmins. Thanks again for the review
I have the same gripe. I always said I wish they had an ignore or pause option that would allow me to hit a second (or more shots). When I am playing by myself, I do this a lot and it get annoying.
Wow! I just bought the S62 last weekend. Guess what?! I’m returning it. Just ordered the S70 from PlayBetter. Thanks for getting the news out. I love the smaller form factor - 42mm! It’s a much better fit for my smaller wrist. Can’t wait to get it for my golf outing this weekend!! Thanks for the news. Super helpful!!
Hmm. I like my S42 but this looks fantastic. The price isn't substantially higher than the S62 either. I might have to remind my wife that my birthday is coming up.
@@LetsPlayThru It is but getting 'she who must be obeyed' to sign off on it is the real challenge. One gripe, a minor one I guess is that you can't tell what time it is when it is in golf gps mode. I would like to at least have it somewhere (like the bottom) so I have some kind of idea what the actual time is during a round. It is my biggest gripe with the S42. I've taken to wearing my I-watch on my other arm just so I don't have to click out of the round to see what time it is. It's a minor gripe but one I do have.
@@tcofield1967 I can't remember how it works on the S42, but on the S70 one button will bounce you back and forth from the watch face to the golf screen
There is one aspect that you did not mention. I own the Garmin S60 and the Epix Gen 2. I don’t play golf with the Epix because it feels too heavy on my wrist and the S60 is noticeably lighter. I’m considering the S70 because it has the great oled screen AND is light. May not matter to some people, but for some it will.😊
@@jasoncblackwood I really like my Epix Gen 2. I got the non Sapphire edition which I like because it looks more like a regular watch. I wear it all the time and LOVE the battery life. Most other smart watches (at least the ones I have owned like the Samsung watches) can barely get 2 days before needing recharging. That said, I do not wear my Epix for golf as I intended to do when I bought it. One reason is the weight and I own the Garmin S60 which is much lighter. The other advantage of the S60 is that it is only a golf watch and I find dedicated devices such as the S60 easier to use because they only do one thing. I plan to get the S70 for a number of reasons: 1) I love the screen on my Epix which the S70 also has; 2) the S60 takes too long to get a satellite lock (the Epix is much faster); 3) in sunlight, the S60 is hard to read due to glare; and 4) the watch just feels really old in 2023. If the weight does not bother you, I agree with the reviewer that if you own the Epix Gen 2, the S70 probably isn’t enough of an upgrade. However, I will probably buy it anyway because I can afford to do it.
Great review. I really want this now. I have a S20 which seems really bare bones having watched your review. Ugh. Maybe I'll check out a used S62 for the time being.
Just my 2¢... but better to keep what you've got and save/hold out for what you really want then to buy something just to hold you over. I've always regretted those decisions. Either way, good luck!
So no software update for s62 or any other Garmin watches? I used to love S62 and still use it, but the golf app needs major update before convincing other users to upgrade.
Great review! I'm not a watch guy but this might tip me over on buying one. I have really skinny wrists so might consider the smaller one but i don't want it to look girly lol.
Hey Gabe! Do you know if club data transfers from the R10 to make the smart caddie’s suggestions more accurate? What order would you purchase the equipment in, R10, CT10 (or Arccos), S70?
Yeah, also S62 user, watch is great, app is so so. The way it calculates distances is terrible, not good at outliers. And if the data is bad, virtual caddy will also be affected.
Looks like similar specs to the Quatix 7 but with better course details. One thing I wanted to see was swing path. I know they show tempo so the tech is there. But I guess you can't have it all
The amoled screen should have been offered years ago. That said, this watch looks gorgeous. Gabe, how is the ability to pinch and zoom and scroll on a given fairway? Did they fix that feature at all?
The virtual caddie is more accurate, and the “plays like” distance is more accurate since it takes more factors into consideration. The straight GPS is the same.
I would like to know how the smart notifications are on this watch? When i had the s62 it was the worst and had no real way of tying with my phone so answering texts or seeing emails and such just was not good for how much the watch costs. Any input on that side of the watch vs the golf side? I know the golf side was amazing on the s62 and i loved all the yardages and so forth for my game. But the life aspect of it for how much it costs was a real let down. Thoughts?
Have Garmin improved the soft rubberised rectangular strap holders that break after a while? I have a paperclip bent to form so it holds my excess strap after the buckle on my Fenix 5x.
Thank you for review. I'm not sure what this does that Fenix 7 does not? Particularly in terms of tournament legal features. Do you know, is the heart rate monitor the new upgraded 1 being shipped on their other high end 2023 releases? With EKG?
What are the Golf feature is it the same from s62 or Garmin add some new feature. I was wondering if they incorporate Punch shot, lateral drop or re-tee and OB, instead of you just add penalty. Also how about green slop indicator.
The dispersion is new and nice, but with how I play right now, I can't imagine how big the box would be. -S62 owner who has just bought it less than a year ago 😢.
Just got mine, it’s fantastic and I’ve come from S62. Only neg at the min is that on the s62 it was easy to scroll through hazards to show distance, on the S70 it takes you to a full and doesn’t seem to do it as well. Anyone else notice this?
Are the green contours any better versus the S62? I can barely use it with mine. Takes forever to give me the "downloaded contours" message (unavailable for several holes and no way to download ahead of time) and when it does it randomly rotates on the green and makes it difficult to trust the starting point.
Really enjoyed the video, my Apple Watch bit the dust and really want to try something new. Question I have is, are garmin golf watches an everyday app friends affair with things like music, texts, etc - or are they really so focused on golf that they really just for the course ??
It will play music and the S70 can even store mp3 tracks on the device. It will receive notifications and alerts, but it is not a device to reply back to texts with, send emails, etc.
Hey Gabe great review and congrats on the 50k subscribers!!! 🥳One question I have, is the s70 compatible with Garmin Connect to record your steps and walking or running activities over time or do you still need a separate Garmin for that type of activity monitoring?
Hi Gabe....would you choose the s70 or the Epix Gen 2 or Epix Gen 2 Pro or the Apple 8 series with a golf app ? ....i want an ultimate golf watch that i can use everyday for health stats and as a watch.....does this fit the bill you think ?....thx...cheers from Canada
Are the trees actually real life trees or just there to add detail? I have the S62 right now and the shot dispersion and new slope features are intriguing
My question with ‘tournament mode’ is how do others really know if you’ve got it turned off. I can just feel the accusations coming if I played well at a tournament
Thanks for the review Are the golf features the same on the epix 2 (non pro version as its not released yet) and the S70 the same? What are the key differences now, in the absence of a software update for the Epix?
A question I have is can you take practice shots while using this watch? For example I am in fairaway hit a shot, miss the green and want to drop a ball and hit a second one from same spot but just as a practice shot?
@@LetsPlayThru I have used it every day for the last 9 months, the upgrades must have been very subtle as it is a clunky app to say the least. Also when I finish and save a round on my S62, I can't go back into that round to see the scores for each hole and have to sync the watch to my phone to do that.
Will the shot data from the S62 transfer over for the virtual caddie or do you have to start from scratch again? Does the screen come up right away when you look at the watch or does it take a second to come on or do you have to flick your wrist around to get it to wake up sometimes? The "e-reader" always on style screen on the S62 is something I enjoy for that reason vs. my Samsung smart watch which always seems to take a lot of effort to get the screen to turn on.
Yes, you can pick right up where you left off from any Garmin device you've been keeping track with. As for responsiveness, it's really quick with a wrist flick or a tap on the screen. Nearly instantaneous.
Well, at this point, the Epix does not have any features the S70 doesn’t that I can see. But the s70 has the new maps, virtual Caddie, and plays like distances. That will eventually get rolled out to the Epix but right now only s70 has it. The other reason would be the actual case dimensions. Much more sleek on the S70. Both are great, so can’t go wrong with either.
@@LetsPlayThru I was coming to ask this as well because I just bought the Epix on sale (arriving today) but also now have the S70 on the way so I can do a side by side comparison. As long Gabe says the Epix will eventually get the same golf features then I'll just plan on keeping whichever one I like the look of / form factor. It seems like the hardware is virtually the same.
Sorry, perhaps a stupid question...But how do the watch know what clubs you are hitting? Do you need to do that manually for each and every shot? Or do you need to buy the 300 Euro tags for the virtual caddie to work? TIA!
Why couldn’t they come out with that last year when I was needing a new watch??? I’m going to have to come up with something good to convince my wife I need it!
Hi. Great review, again 😊 You might have to be catagorized as a golf toy drug dealer 😅 Bought my S62 last year and loved it. But now I just ordered the S70 through your PlayBetter link. It said it was a pre-order with ship date < week. Let's hope they are right. Maybe you can clarify a question for me. Can you confirm the S62 bands are compatible with the S70. I think you mentioned that they were, but I want to make sure. I have the Garmin titanium band for the S62, love it and REALLY don't want to have to buy another one for the S70. Thanks
Great review ! One issue I have with these watches (i use my Apple Watch Ultra) is that the buttons are on the right and when i swing the back of my hand ends up at touching them (yes i like to wear the watch close to the wrist) Any way to disable / lock the buttons while swinging?
When I had an Apple Watch, you used to could rotate the screen allowing you to swap the band positions and the buttons to be away from your wrist. I had to do that because I was doing like you, my wrist would push the buttons
@@LetsPlayThru Assuming it's same as S62, then yes, you can lock the screen very easily and quickly! However, note of course that to enter club selection and/or change screens for further information, you'd then need to unlock each time, which could be quite laborious after a while! That said, that was my big concern before I purchased the existing S62! I am pleased to advise that my concerns were totally unfounded! I have used my S62 extensively, and can count on 1 hand the number of times it has changed screens due to my wrist, or jumper, etc! This is all on the premise of course that the S70 will be the same, but no reason to think it won't IMHO!! Andrew
@@LetsPlayThru Ah thanks sorry I didn't hear that part :) Yes lets hope they push those updates to the Epix2, I am not sure the current software accounts for the wind, or if it does it's not as clear as the way it was shown in your video for the S70. Thanks for the video!
I love Garmin in general and I use the golf features on my fitness Venu 2S. However, I have found the mapping isn’t always complete. It misses several hazards on many of my home courses. Have you found this to be true?
In the past, I have seen that occasionally as well. However, the maps have been completely redone with this release and I found it to be even more accurate.
@@LetsPlayThru Thanks for the quick reply. I think I have just found my new smartwatch. Now if only Garmin could add solar charging to their AMOLED displays, they would make the perfect watch!
What a great watch. Do you pay some sort of subscription for the caddy app as well, or does that come as part of the product? I know you mentioned the slope of the green functionality, but just wondering about the subscription fees and so on.
Congratulations on 50k subscribers Gabe 🍻. Like the look of the s70 seems like a large price hike ,love my s62 wear it 24/7 not sure if will upgrade to the new model. Agree with Body battery not recharging after lots of beer/alcohol no recharging at all sometimes after a heavy session ! However I like the look of that display may just sway a purchase when arrives in UK.
Hope you enjoy the review! If subscribed already, thank you! 🙏 If not, you can do it here: th-cam.com/channels/gb-p291xQ_hUx7hQtOb72A.html
Where is the link you want used to order from Play Better?
Nice review...Would be nice if they had a diopter adjustment for the screen to help us folk that need readers. I had lasik for distance but my close up vision fell off immediately.
I watched all your original videos around the earlier Garmin golf watches. I’m glad to see the channel still going strong. Congrats.
Just finished my first round with the S70. Absolutely loved it.
Coming from the Shot Scope X5 which I returned I like this much better. Great info on the course, I could always see the screen, the touch screen was very responsive even with a golf glove on. You don’t get the same level of stats SS gives but I don’t need that. I did compare the distances it was tracking on my clubs and it was comparable to what SS was seeing. The averages made sense so I don’t see a need for CT10’s personally. I’m a 12 hcp. Just my thoughts. Hope it helps.
sweet!
Did you find the course maps a bit sluggish on the screen? I am, but am wondering if it is just my watch.
@@pan0568 it’s not something I noticed. Looking back on it I don’t remember it that way but it could just be a matter of perception I guess.
Do the trees actually resemble real trees on course or are they just to add depth and detail?
@@KTK_Rockstar to be honest I didn’t really pay attention to that. I play again Thursday I’ll try to remember to look. I would be surprised if they did though. That would be some amazing detail.
Garmin Fenix is on Sale. We need a “Fenix on Sale vs S70” video. ❤
I'm a big fan of Garmin and own S62 and other Garmin watches. I hoped S70 woud have 5 side buttons like other garmin watches for more ease of daily usage, and change the charging cable to magnetic one. It's a disppointment that those haven't changed. Other than that, it looks amazing.
$700 is a bit steep but it looks like a great watch. Gonna stick with the s60 for now and maybe get this one used and cheaper a few golf seasons from now
I just bought my first golf watch in the Shot Scope X5, as I was a BIG advocate of the GameGolf device ( the all-red one ) until it decided to quit working this golf season. I like tracking my game as it does help me i finding the areas i need more practice.
I have not received my SSX5 yet as $300 bucks is my limit on all these golf GPS enhancement products as $700 bucks for the Garmin is a bit steep for this old retired guy. Nice review by the way !!!
I hope you enjoy it, it's a great watch too - especially the post round analysis.
I have the S42, Gabe. Got to admit l love it. This watch looks fantastic, but a tad pricey. In saying that, I'm amazed at the amount of golfers who don't have a watch or range finder.
It’s true. I know for many years I would just eyeball things. Shaved a bunch of strokes once I knew the actual distances to things.
So many great features on this watch!! And congrats on the 50K followers!!!
Thank you John 🙏
I have been a big apple watch guy but it's more tedious than not for me with golf and my battery life barely lasts a day without even golfing and it usually dies after a round because of the GPS drain. I had been saving for an Apple watch Ultra but this looks nice. I may have to give this watch a bigger look since apple watch has been meh for me.
In the same boat as you my friend. I’m going with the S70 which is kind of a big deal since I’ve used Apple Watch since they first came out. I’ll use the S70 as my daily driver.
@@jawjuh1005 I leaning that way. I have tried prior to a golf round turning off notifications in my Apple Watch and missed important messages later on that day. Had my Apple Watch (AW) ping during downswings and putting. Tried using everything from Arccos to GHIN app on AW, all are too distracting to me. Gonna “try for 60 days”. Proably go back to just my scorecard, pencil and rangefinder.
Great review - Thankyou!
Been using my old Fenix 5 or Garmin g80 for golf and can’t wait to upgrade with all these new features.
Any feedback on how easy it is to use the watch (and touchscreen features) with the smaller 42mm size? Just concerned the smaller screen size might make this a challenge / or is it not that noticeable?
Assuming the 42mm watch may have sacrifices with battery life vs the bigger size too ? The challenges of small wrists!
I bought epix gen 2. so far Im happy with it..
Is auto shot tracking works perfectly, without ct10?
One feature I didn’t see mentioned which is a step up from the S62 is that the S70 connects to wifi which means no more connecting to a computer to update, it can be done wirelessly via your home wifi. That was a welcome surprise when I got it home!!
Huge improvement in battery would make me consider upgrading. My S60 is at 35% after 1 round so love hearing this. Great review and congrats on the 50K subscribers!!!
I keep my brightness on like 20 and it's plenty bright and will last 36 holes
This is an outstanding video and thank you for the in-depth analysis of the Approach s70. I'll be curious to see how it stacks up against the Epix (Gen 2) as it pits AMOLED against AMOLED at a similar MSRP price point. Not gonna lie, the "shadows" on the trees of each hole may be my favorite improvement over the rest of the Garmin watches (golf or otherwise).
I'm curious how you, and others who have worn the s70, feel about the size of the 47mm. From the the video, the 47mm model looks large on the wrist for an EDC, but the 42mm might be far too small. Anyone have experience with it yet? Opinions on the different sizes?
THIS
I agree. Really curious to see it compared to the Epix.
I've been using the Garmin watches for over a decade. I'm glad they modified the crappy and sometimes un-chargeable proprietary 3-prong charging system.
Does it have tournament mode? Slopes is not allowed in such.
just purchased thanks to your review
Ordered mine immediately this morning! So excited! Thanks Gabe!
I think you are going to love it, congrats🍾
I have never been a watch guy and like wearing fitness bands as of late. It will be interesting if I can wear it at night. The sleep tracking with the Mi Fit 6 and 7 has been helpful for me Ox Steps Pulse Stress etc all for $45 they are awesome. I tried the galaxy watches always underwhelmed. Not a Apple guy either. As far as Golf goes. Cart GPS and/or a laser has always been my choice. I am going to get the CT10 full set and take 1 more swing at breaking 80 on a somewhat consistent basis as I am turning 60 in August. I am hopeful the watch checks all the boxes as a daily and golf aide and companion. I am glad Garmin finally did what I have been waiting for...a big beautiful bright screen with all the tech! Keep up the great work with the channel! Cheers
Good review, it should be noted that the s62 has many of the health features that the s70 has including sleep analysis, body battery, pulse ox, stress measurement etc. The are a plethora of apps on the connect iq store that can really turn the s62 into a powerful smart watch.
That being said the s70 does look pretty nice with the amoled screen and the plays like distances that take in a number of factors is a cool feature. Wether that worth it is obviously up to you.
Back to golf after about 5 years of not playing. Never good shooting 100-105 normally 112ish probably around my best. With 1 eagle, but many many good holes and ahots. 60-70rounds total ever. I'm going to golf all the time so i just got the s42 on a whim and saw your 1st video s42 vs 62. Then had to type in the channel name to see the S70 video. I ordered one because of rhe intro. 8 mins in the decision was made. Thank you, youe 1st review was probably exactly how I think or would have said if I had the information. Juat a great review that answered every question i would have asked. So when I heard the intro I decided to order the 70 amd give the 62 to the family to use.
Congrats on the 50k
Re improvements: For the money I would expect it to be able to keep more than just one score, it should be able to show your stableford points as well as your stroke play score, sensors need to be improved so that all shots are recorded, the ability to let the watch know if you've played a shot from the rough, semi rough, just off the green etc would give more accurate data for each club. Information on the stroke index for each hole and as I have said already the app could be hugely improved as well.
The good news here is that I was told by the engineering team that the virtual caddie now can detect the lie - sand, fairway, etc. and that goes into the calculation.
@@LetsPlayThru thanks but given that it can't even detect a normal shot 100% of the time I can't say I am too confident that it would recognise a shot from the sand. For the money they expect you pay you are getting a nice but second rate product. What they should be doing is giving the sensors for free with the watch at the very least! Also as for the virtual caddie, how does it differentiate a full nine iron from a nine iron being punched from 60 yards?
For what it's worth, this watch can keep stableford score as well. Just need to go into Golf Settings to do so. It also gives you stroke index with just a couple swipes down on the main screen.
@@breakingeighty Hi, and thanks, I know it can record stableford scores but it won't show you both at the same time as far as I can tell. Also, is it the S70 that provides the stroke index as I can't seem to find it on the S62 as swiping down on the main screen does nothing, nor does swiping up. I am assuming you are referring to the main screen for each hole?
@@GolfAddict Yes, sorry it's on the S70 that shows stroke index.
I received the watch this afternoon. I am coming from an apple watch 7, and iPhone 14. the screen is amazing. very sharp. the watch seems really large to me but my wife says it looks good and not too big. One thing to note for those of you thinking of making this a daily driver, I can receive text messages and phone calls on the watch but I can't do anything with them from the watch. I can answer the phone but no one can hear me speak. I have to use the phone. I can't tap on a text message and reply. Have to do that from the phone. If anyone has figured out how to do this from the watch I would really like to know. I can only imagine golf will be fantastic on this thing. When I play, hopefully tomorrow I'll leave my thoughts. I also do a lot of biking and walking.
Why someone who owns Apple watch buys separated watch for golf when you can use TAG hauer golf application with it which provides same functionalities as S70 and has been doing it already multiple years?
@@tommihuhtinen8975 yeah. It’s a valid question. I can’t speak for anyone else but for me I was thinking of upgrading to the more expensive adventure Apple Watch in the fall. I do a lot of cycling, hiking, fishing and golf. The battery in my Apple Watch barely makes it through a day much less to keep on during a longer sports activity. Also I tried Arccos and other golf apps on the Apple Watch and just was dissatisfied with them. They work yes but I wasn’t super happy with them. The other point is this watch will replace my Apple Watch. I get all the same notifications I got on the Apple Watch. I have a little disappointment that I can’t actually respond to apple notifications on the garmin but so far that hasn’t been an issue for me. Also the battery is incredible. I received and started using the was last Wednesday. I have played 1 full round of golf with it and have worn it constantly since I received it. Besides the initial charging I have not charged it. Right now I still have 69% battery. This thing will go a week between charges. I just got back from a trip and didn’t take my charger. That’s nice! So I still have some time to decide how this will fit in my life but so far I’m very happy with it. Your mileage may vary.
Great review Gabe! Honestly I would prefer that they quit messing around with auto shot detection. I would rather just input it and risk that I forget one and have to backtrack after the round. Ok, so there might be some motivation behind it because most of the time i'm just out playing for fun and still would like to track the score, but if I am out just messing around I might hit a second shot sometimes and don't want it to add it in. Yes, breaking the official rules, but i'm not playing competitively and just enjoying the day outside... Anywho, that's my biggest gripe
It would be great if they would add a manual option. Couldn’t be that hard I imagine. 🤔
@Lets Play Thru just have a toggle to turn off the input. Maybe it's there and I just don't see it. One big reason why I haven't flipped to the Garmins. Thanks again for the review
I have the same gripe. I always said I wish they had an ignore or pause option that would allow me to hit a second (or more shots). When I am playing by myself, I do this a lot and it get annoying.
I was all in before the price, I couldn’t fathom considering this at that price point, especially with an integrated band. I’ll stick with my Fenix.
Wow! I just bought the S62 last weekend. Guess what?! I’m returning it. Just ordered the S70 from PlayBetter. Thanks for getting the news out. I love the smaller form factor - 42mm! It’s a much better fit for my smaller wrist. Can’t wait to get it for my golf outing this weekend!! Thanks for the news. Super helpful!!
Nice! You’re REALLY going to love this one I think.
Hmm. I like my S42 but this looks fantastic. The price isn't substantially higher than the S62 either. I might have to remind my wife that my birthday is coming up.
That’s sounds like a great reason to me 😃
@@LetsPlayThru It is but getting 'she who must be obeyed' to sign off on it is the real challenge. One gripe, a minor one I guess is that you can't tell what time it is when it is in golf gps mode. I would like to at least have it somewhere (like the bottom) so I have some kind of idea what the actual time is during a round. It is my biggest gripe with the S42. I've taken to wearing my I-watch on my other arm just so I don't have to click out of the round to see what time it is. It's a minor gripe but one I do have.
@@tcofield1967 I can't remember how it works on the S42, but on the S70 one button will bounce you back and forth from the watch face to the golf screen
Moi aussi😅
There is one aspect that you did not mention. I own the Garmin S60 and the Epix Gen 2. I don’t play golf with the Epix because it feels too heavy on my wrist and the S60 is noticeably lighter. I’m considering the S70 because it has the great oled screen AND is light. May not matter to some people, but for some it will.😊
I mean i literally weighed them on a scale in the segment talking about weight 🤣
Oops
I came here looking for comparisons to the Epix Gen 2, so I appreciate this. The S70 is sold out everywhere right now.
@@jasoncblackwood I really like my Epix Gen 2. I got the non Sapphire edition which I like because it looks more like a regular watch. I wear it all the time and LOVE the battery life. Most other smart watches (at least the ones I have owned like the Samsung watches) can barely get 2 days before needing recharging.
That said, I do not wear my Epix for golf as I intended to do when I bought it. One reason is the weight and I own the Garmin S60 which is much lighter. The other advantage of the S60 is that it is only a golf watch and I find dedicated devices such as the S60 easier to use because they only do one thing. I plan to get the S70 for a number of reasons: 1) I love the screen on my Epix which the S70 also has; 2) the S60 takes too long to get a satellite lock (the Epix is much faster); 3) in sunlight, the S60 is hard to read due to glare; and 4) the watch just feels really old in 2023.
If the weight does not bother you, I agree with the reviewer that if you own the Epix Gen 2, the S70 probably isn’t enough of an upgrade. However, I will probably buy it anyway because I can afford to do it.
@@ccdccd8615 bro really?? what were you doing? lmao
Great review. I really want this now. I have a S20 which seems really bare bones having watched your review. Ugh. Maybe I'll check out a used S62 for the time being.
Just my 2¢... but better to keep what you've got and save/hold out for what you really want then to buy something just to hold you over. I've always regretted those decisions. Either way, good luck!
just ordered it...thanks for the review...
My pleasure, congratulations 🍾
Do you think the epic 2 would get this update?
So no software update for s62 or any other Garmin watches? I used to love S62 and still use it, but the golf app needs major update before convincing other users to upgrade.
Any insights on battery life? Seems like a great watch, thank you for the awesome video!
Great review! I'm not a watch guy but this might tip me over on buying one. I have really skinny wrists so might consider the smaller one but i don't want it to look girly lol.
I’ve seen quite a few guys wearing it definitely does not look girly
Fantastic review as always, Gabe! You should just consider yourself lucky we didn't get to face off on the 19th hole. I was coming for ya.
Next time we play for an Old Fashioned 🍹
@@LetsPlayThru YOU'RE ON.
I assume you can turn off slope to be tournament compliant? Do you know if the s62 bands will fit on the s70?
Yes and yes 😃
Hey Gabe! Do you know if club data transfers from the R10 to make the smart caddie’s suggestions more accurate? What order would you purchase the equipment in, R10, CT10 (or Arccos), S70?
I’ve got the s62 which is great, but this looks fantastic. If only Garmin could sort out their golf stats like Shot Scope or Arccos 😢
arccos integration would be amazing
Yeah, also S62 user, watch is great, app is so so. The way it calculates distances is terrible, not good at outliers. And if the data is bad, virtual caddy will also be affected.
my only gripe with the watch is the app. it is lagging behind the competition, the watch itself is fantastic
It looks really nice but $649! Pricey. I will stick with my Approach S20 for now.
I agree, their pricing is way off-putting, from a $299 S42 to a $500+ S62 to a $650 + S70...too much of an increase between models
Would love to see epix2 vs s70 video. Both watches are amoled screen and both have golf functions integrated.
Looks like similar specs to the Quatix 7 but with better course details. One thing I wanted to see was swing path. I know they show tempo so the tech is there. But I guess you can't have it all
Hi, nice vid, question you might know.. do I need to have the gamin app open during my round in order to see the 3 elements?
Hello! Does it have Open water swimming function? Thank you
In the market! Why get this over an Epix 2/Pro? Thanks!!!
The amoled screen should have been offered years ago. That said, this watch looks gorgeous. Gabe, how is the ability to pinch and zoom and scroll on a given fairway? Did they fix that feature at all?
You can tap into it to get a closer perspective and then scroll around in there. I think it's pretty handy.
Hi. Is the band interchangeable?
any information if and how the S70 integrats with the garmin r10?
So how’s this vs the Epix and the Marq?? Looking for a new one ASAP. Thanks!!
Thanks for the review.
Will these features also come to the Fenix 7?
I don’t believe so, as I was told Epix 2 and Marq 2. But I’m not 💯 certain
Sorry if this question has been asked. Is the new garmin more accurate than its predecessors?
The virtual caddie is more accurate, and the “plays like” distance is more accurate since it takes more factors into consideration. The straight GPS is the same.
👍🏻
I would like to know how the smart notifications are on this watch? When i had the s62 it was the worst and had no real way of tying with my phone so answering texts or seeing emails and such just was not good for how much the watch costs. Any input on that side of the watch vs the golf side? I know the golf side was amazing on the s62 and i loved all the yardages and so forth for my game. But the life aspect of it for how much it costs was a real let down. Thoughts?
Have Garmin improved the soft rubberised rectangular strap holders that break after a while? I have a paperclip bent to form so it holds my excess strap after the buckle on my Fenix 5x.
Looks good
Thank you for review.
I'm not sure what this does that Fenix 7 does not? Particularly in terms of tournament legal features.
Do you know, is the heart rate monitor the new upgraded 1 being shipped on their other high end 2023 releases? With EKG?
What are the Golf feature is it the same from s62 or Garmin add some new feature. I was wondering if they incorporate Punch shot, lateral drop or re-tee and OB, instead of you just add penalty. Also how about green slop indicator.
The dispersion is new and nice, but with how I play right now, I can't imagine how big the box would be. -S62 owner who has just bought it less than a year ago 😢.
Yeah it can be scary 🫣
Just got mine, it’s fantastic and I’ve come from S62. Only neg at the min is that on the s62 it was easy to scroll through hazards to show distance, on the S70 it takes you to a full and doesn’t seem to do it as well. Anyone else notice this?
Are the green contours any better versus the S62? I can barely use it with mine. Takes forever to give me the "downloaded contours" message (unavailable for several holes and no way to download ahead of time) and when it does it randomly rotates on the green and makes it difficult to trust the starting point.
Really enjoyed the video, my Apple Watch bit the dust and really want to try something new. Question I have is, are garmin golf watches an everyday app friends affair with things like music, texts, etc - or are they really so focused on golf that they really just for the course ??
It will play music and the S70 can even store mp3 tracks on the device.
It will receive notifications and alerts, but it is not a device to reply back to texts with, send emails, etc.
I was about to buy the Epix 2 today then I saw this about the s70! I can get either at identical prices here in the UK. Now I don’t know what to do!
If you were mainly going to use it for Golf, I would definitely say s70. If it’s just something you do occasionally then Epix.
How does it compare to arccos with link?
Great review -- have just upgraded from my S62 based on that! (Anyone want to buy a second-hand S62 ...)?
Great, I bought a S62 literally last week and now there's a new model out...
Great review, i’m sold 😂 has the profile slimmed down to a similar size of the 42? The 62 was just too clunky for me.
There is a 42 mm option now. It’s a little cheaper, that is the one I would recommend if you like the S42 size.
@@LetsPlayThru cheers Gabe… appreciate the reply!
Hey Gabe great review and congrats on the 50k subscribers!!! 🥳One question I have, is the s70 compatible with Garmin Connect to record your steps and walking or running activities over time or do you still need a separate Garmin for that type of activity monitoring?
Yes you can hook it into Garmin Connect and as well as the IQ app.
@@LetsPlayThru TY!
Can you put your known club distances into the app for the virtual caddy?
No otherwise we’d all cheat 🤣🤣
Hi Gabe....would you choose the s70 or the Epix Gen 2 or Epix Gen 2 Pro or the Apple 8 series with a golf app ? ....i want an ultimate golf watch that i can use everyday for health stats and as a watch.....does this fit the bill you think ?....thx...cheers from Canada
S70 for me
This is an odd question but what lapel mic do you use. it sounds great
Rode Wireless Go
Do you know if they will be updating the golf app on the Epix?
We should see it on the Epix 2, yes
Are the trees actually real life trees or just there to add detail? I have the S62 right now and the shot dispersion and new slope features are intriguing
do any of the aviation watches have all of these features ?
figures just got the s62 last month!! atleast i got a good deal..
That’s utterly daft $677 without any options !!!!!! WHATTTTT !!
Is there something that connects to your bag? I can't wear watches
My question with ‘tournament mode’ is how do others really know if you’ve got it turned off. I can just feel the accusations coming if I played well at a tournament
Thanks for the review
Are the golf features the same on the epix 2 (non pro version as its not released yet) and the S70 the same?
What are the key differences now, in the absence of a software update for the Epix?
More or less, yes. Virtual caddie has improved and there’s a bit more data, but this will roll out to the Epix 2 eventually I hear.
Geez that was a super fast response. Thanks!
Will.the epix 2 which you reviewed get these uodates with graphics enhanced plays like (it has barometer as well )
Yes, I've heard this will happen later in the year.
A question I have is can you take practice shots while using this watch? For example I am in fairaway hit a shot, miss the green and want to drop a ball and hit a second one from same spot but just as a practice shot?
Yeah it only assumes you've taken one shot from any given location, so no worries there.
Unrelated question, but did you ever hit any of the c721/722 irons enough to give an update on how the finish on them holds up? Thanks
They are not my daily set, but I’ve hit them enough, and they hold up well
Looks like a nice upgrade, has the Garmin app been upgraded as well as it is very poor.
It’s been getting subtle upgrades over the last couple years, so guess it just depends on when you last tried it.
@@LetsPlayThru I have used it every day for the last 9 months, the upgrades must have been very subtle as it is a clunky app to say the least. Also when I finish and save a round on my S62, I can't go back into that round to see the scores for each hole and have to sync the watch to my phone to do that.
Will the shot data from the S62 transfer over for the virtual caddie or do you have to start from scratch again? Does the screen come up right away when you look at the watch or does it take a second to come on or do you have to flick your wrist around to get it to wake up sometimes? The "e-reader" always on style screen on the S62 is something I enjoy for that reason vs. my Samsung smart watch which always seems to take a lot of effort to get the screen to turn on.
Yes, you can pick right up where you left off from any Garmin device you've been keeping track with. As for responsiveness, it's really quick with a wrist flick or a tap on the screen. Nearly instantaneous.
Awsome review. Why would you choose this over the epix 2 as the price gap is near to nothing and the epix seems to have alot of extra fearures?
Well, at this point, the Epix does not have any features the S70 doesn’t that I can see. But the s70 has the new maps, virtual Caddie, and plays like distances. That will eventually get rolled out to the Epix but right now only s70 has it. The other reason would be the actual case dimensions. Much more sleek on the S70. Both are great, so can’t go wrong with either.
@@LetsPlayThru I was coming to ask this as well because I just bought the Epix on sale (arriving today) but also now have the S70 on the way so I can do a side by side comparison. As long Gabe says the Epix will eventually get the same golf features then I'll just plan on keeping whichever one I like the look of / form factor. It seems like the hardware is virtually the same.
is there alot of watch faces available ? with alot of info displayed ?....thx
About 10 options and then you can download more that people create. You can choose any data you’d like to display.
Sorry, perhaps a stupid question...But how do the watch know what clubs you are hitting? Do you need to do that manually for each and every shot? Or do you need to buy the 300 Euro tags for the virtual caddie to work? TIA!
You can do it either way. You manually choose the club after you hit it when prompted. Or if you have the sensors, it will do it automatically.
Why couldn’t they come out with that last year when I was needing a new watch??? I’m going to have to come up with something good to convince my wife I need it!
Any idea of improvements in the golf watch app will come to the marq and epix?
As I mentioned in the vid, I think the new features will roll out to the Epix 2 and Marq2 later in the year.
@@LetsPlayThru sweet thanks, somehow missed that!
So no new range finder for this year? thanks for this video
My pleasure. Doesn’t look like it, but I was surprised to see this watch released in May too. So I guess anything can happen.
Hi. Great review, again 😊
You might have to be catagorized as a golf toy drug dealer 😅
Bought my S62 last year and loved it. But now I just ordered the S70 through your PlayBetter link.
It said it was a pre-order with ship date < week. Let's hope they are right.
Maybe you can clarify a question for me. Can you confirm the S62 bands are compatible with the S70. I think you mentioned that they were, but I want to make sure. I have the Garmin titanium band for the S62, love it and REALLY don't want to have to buy another one for the S70.
Thanks
Haha, luckily there is no Golf DEA 🤣….yet.
And yes, you can swap. I tried it, and it worked.
Great review ! One issue I have with these watches (i use my Apple Watch Ultra) is that the buttons are on the right and when i swing the back of my hand ends up at touching them (yes i like to wear the watch close to the wrist) Any way to disable / lock the buttons while swinging?
Hmm, good question. I don't know the answer to that one, but I'll try to find out.
When I had an Apple Watch, you used to could rotate the screen allowing you to swap the band positions and the buttons to be away from your wrist. I had to do that because I was doing like you, my wrist would push the buttons
@@LetsPlayThru
Assuming it's same as S62, then yes, you can lock the screen very easily and quickly! However, note of course that to enter club selection and/or change screens for further information, you'd then need to unlock each time, which could be quite laborious after a while!
That said, that was my big concern before I purchased the existing S62! I am pleased to advise that my concerns were totally unfounded! I have used my S62 extensively, and can count on 1 hand the number of times it has changed screens due to my wrist, or jumper, etc!
This is all on the premise of course that the S70 will be the same, but no reason to think it won't IMHO!!
Andrew
Do you think the Epix2 will get any of the golf activity updates? I don't get why they would unlock these things for only certain watches...
I addressed this question toward the end of the video
@@LetsPlayThru Ah thanks sorry I didn't hear that part :) Yes lets hope they push those updates to the Epix2, I am not sure the current software accounts for the wind, or if it does it's not as clear as the way it was shown in your video for the S70. Thanks for the video!
Won a thousand bucks on Brooks Koepka’s victory this past weekend, guess what I bought with the winnings?! I can’t wait to use this!
Very smart decision!
Just got the S70, but am finding the course maps pretty sluggish to scroll. Is this a common issue or just me?
700.00 and 650.00 wow !!. I will keep my S62..
Can these Approach watched also be used for other activities like running or are they solely for Golf?
It will track any activity or sport you engage in from skiing to pickleball.
Does it do triathlon?
I love Garmin in general and I use the golf features on my fitness Venu 2S. However, I have found the mapping isn’t always complete. It misses several hazards on many of my home courses. Have you found this to be true?
In the past, I have seen that occasionally as well. However, the maps have been completely redone with this release and I found it to be even more accurate.
@@LetsPlayThru Thanks for the quick reply. I think I have just found my new smartwatch. Now if only Garmin could add solar charging to their AMOLED displays, they would make the perfect watch!
Oh yeah, 💯 - that would be sweet
would have loved to see the sizing side by side with a s42 and does it still allow NFC payments? (assuming it does)
Yes, Garmin Pay is still in there. The smaller version is going to be very close to the S42 in size. The larger version will be about 4mm bigger.
What a great watch. Do you pay some sort of subscription for the caddy app as well, or does that come as part of the product? I know you mentioned the slope of the green functionality, but just wondering about the subscription fees and so on.
The virtual caddie is standard. The only add-on is the green heat maps.
Congratulations on 50k subscribers Gabe 🍻. Like the look of the s70 seems like a large price hike ,love my s62 wear it 24/7 not sure if will upgrade to the new model. Agree with Body battery not recharging after lots of beer/alcohol no recharging at all sometimes after a heavy session ! However I like the look of that display may just sway a purchase when arrives in UK.
It's crazy to see how alcohol affects sleep isn't it? Wild stuff.