Garmin launches its most advanced golf smartwatch yet, with features that could transform your game
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Garmin's latest golf smartwatch promises to take the guesswork out of improving your game, with clever new technology to analyse your swing, putting and performance on the course.
Garmin has unveiled its most advanced golf smartwatch yet, and it's packed with technology designed to help golfers better understand what's happening to their game.
The new Garmin Approach S72 starts at £699.99 and introduces a host of features, including detailed swing analysis, heart rate tracking during rounds and technology that helps golfers read the greens.
It's also Garmin's first golf smartwatch to feature a built-in speaker and microphone, meaning you can make phone calls and use voice commands without reaching for your phone.
Available in two sizes, 43mm and 47mm, the S72 replaces the popular Approach S70 at the top of Garmin's golf watch range.
A golf watch that analyses your swing
One of the most interesting additions is the ability to measure what happens during your swing, rather than simply recording where your ball ends up.
The S72 tracks metrics including hand speed, backswing length and wrist rotation, giving golfers information they can use to identify weaknesses and make improvements.
For anyone who spends hours on the driving range wondering why their swing feels different from one day to the next, this could be particularly useful.
There's also a dedicated driving range activity that records practice sessions in the Garmin Connect app, meaning time spent hitting balls can contribute towards your daily fitness goals.
Another new feature examines how your heart rate changes throughout a round.
Golfers can review their biometric data afterwards to identify whether increases in heart rate might have affected their performance.
It's an interesting addition for anyone who has ever watched their scorecard unravel over the closing holes.
Can Garmin's new technology improve your putting?
Garmin has also introduced new green-reading technology designed to take some of the guesswork out of putting.
Using detailed green contour data, the S72 can show which way a putt is likely to break, along with the average slope percentage.
After a round, golfers can analyse their putting performance through the Garmin Golf app, with statistics covering accuracy, speed and the percentage of putts holed.
There's even aerial imagery of holes to help players decide where to aim, where to lay up and which hazards to avoid.
These advanced green-reading, putting analytics and aerial imagery features require a paid Garmin Golf membership.
More than just a golf watch
The S72 has been designed to compete with premium everyday smartwatches, too.
Alongside its bright AMOLED display, it features a titanium bezel, scratch-resistant sapphire lens and a new lightweight ComfortFit fabric strap.
A built-in flashlight offers adjustable white light and a red-light option, while health features include sleep monitoring, stress tracking, heart rate measurements and Garmin's Body Battery energy monitoring.
Battery life is another selling point, with the larger model offering up to 20 hours in GPS golf mode or 16 days in smartwatch mode.
How much does the Garmin Approach S72 cost?
The Garmin Approach S72 is available now, with prices starting at £699.99.
With detailed golf analytics and everyday smartwatch features combined in one device, Garmin is clearly hoping to appeal to golfers who want considerably more than a simple yardage watch.