With greater than 30 years of golf expertise beneath my belt, I’ve had loads of time to think about the professionals and cons of selecting a golf watch vs. a laser rangefinder — just like the Garmin Strategy Z30 — as my go-to gadget on the course.
Although many golfers use each today, my take has been that an amazing golf watch is the higher selection, contemplating ease of use, tempo of play and actionable data. The Garmin Strategy Z30 hasn’t completely modified my stance; it has confirmed to be the final word course companion, particularly when paired with among the finest Garmin watches.
I’m at present sporting the Garmin Strategy S70 on my wrist, and whereas it could possibly present detailed details about any given spherical, the Strategy Z30 takes issues to the following stage by bringing the inexperienced and hazards I’d see on my watch display to my visual field — full with a transparent OLED show and useful overlays.
In my full Garmin Strategy Z30 evaluate beneath, I’ll go extra in-depth on the the explanation why I contemplate it among the finest rangefinders whereas noting a number of the caveats to bear in mind earlier than making the funding.
Garmin Strategy Z30 rangefinder evaluate: The ups
It is transportable and easy-to-use
The Garmin Strategy Z30 impressed me proper out of the field. It comes with a sensible clip-on case that makes storage with my golf bag a breeze. The gadget is battery-powered, and a regular CR2 is included with the unit.
Some newer rangefinder fashions are switching to a plug-in charging fashion, however I recognize not having to cost it after each spherical and simply leaving it in my golf bag. I’ve performed a number of dozen rounds utilizing it and have but to vary the battery, and I don’t anticipate to for as much as a yr per Garmin’s claims.
In the meantime, the Garmin Strategy Z30 design is smooth and light-weight, weighing solely 7.4 ounces. The management buttons are very user-friendly, making it straightforward to make use of whereas nonetheless holding regular. Garmin additionally made the unit IPX7 waterproof, a pleasant contact for these wet golf days once I swap to my greatest golf gloves for moist climate.
Snug viewfinder with organized UI
Trying into the viewfinder may be very comfy, with the clear OLED show being straightforward to see while not having to squint to search out simply the precise viewing place. Not solely that, the purple backlit show is straightforward on the eyes. What’s extra, the Strategy Z30 makes use of 6x magnification with nice readability as much as 400 yards or 366 meters to the flag.
The format of the on-screen data is neatly organized. Along with the measurement to the flagstick, you’ll see a studying to the back and front of the inexperienced on the road out of your ball to and thru the inexperienced.
I discovered this extremely useful, versus only a generic studying of the entire inexperienced, understanding exactly how a lot carry distance is required on my line to clear a hazard. The show additionally reveals the slope to the pin and gives a “PlaysLike” distance to your goal, up or downhill.
The function will not be allowed in event play, so Garmin neatly positioned the mode button on prime of the unit that must be held for 3 seconds, stopping by chance activating it throughout a contest.
Works nicely with different Garmin units
Garmin has been listening to earlier generations of customers. It continues to make the organising course of extra seamless, particularly when you have already got different golf merchandise linked to your Garmin Golf account.
To be clear, there are non-Strategy fashions which have golf monitoring options: the Z30 is appropriate with Strategy, Enduro, Epix (Gen 2), fenix and MARQ traces of watches.
After syncing the Z30 with my app, I used to be amazed on the abundance of latest data I’ve on the course and the convenience with which it may be retrieved. I used to be even impressed with the restricted lag time that was wanted to populate the fields on each the watch and cellphone, by no means ready far more than a second.
I realized shortly that the Z30, a appropriate watch, and app collectively present insights which can be useful to learners and skilled golfers alike.
Correct, quick readings
Let me stroll you thru a median gap in any given spherical and the way the triple menace of rangefinder, smartphone and golf watch will make it simpler to navigate each shortly and precisely.
On the tee field of a par 4 or 5, I checked my app or watch to see the format of the opening and notice doglegs or hazards. I then used my rangefinder to see how far a bunker or tree could be, and the app created an arc telling me what different hazards could be at that distance.
After the drive, my watch instructed me how far I hit the ball and the gap to the inexperienced — entrance, center and again. Subsequent, I shot the pin with the Z30, with the show telling me the true distance to the flag and adjusting that quantity if wanted to account for slope. It offers me the quantity of yards or meters to each the back and front of the inexperienced in the identical line because the flag, too.
This data is handed to each the watch and app, giving me an summary of exactly the place the flag is on the inexperienced. It additionally included an arced line that may cross via each the left and proper sides of the inexperienced, so I might see if I had been to hit a wayward shot, if it might carry lengthy or wanting a hazard.
When you find the pin on the inexperienced, that time will keep on each your cellphone and watch till the opening is completed. This speeds issues up in the event you play one other shot or give a taking part in accomplice a distance studying.
I also can save time by taking pictures the flag from my cart on a par 3, then have that actual distance to the goal keep on my watch whereas strolling to the tee field with out re-shooting it.
The Discover My function is helpful
Together with time-saving, this rangefinder additionally addresses one among my largest knocks of laser rangefinders as much as the trendy day — how typically they’re misplaced. Ask any professional store attendant to indicate you what number of units are of their misplaced and located bin, and also you may assume shedding yours is a fait accompli. To forestall that being your rangefinder’s destiny as nicely, Garmin has launched two key options:
First, the Z30 has a built-in magnet that holds fairly strongly on a golf cart arm. Nonetheless, as a result of the rangefinder can also be Bluetooth-enabled, I can use the Discover My Garmin function within the app to trace it down if it will get misplaced. It would solely provide the final location it was used, however that could be a good start line to retrieving it.
Garmin Strategy Z30 rangefinder evaluate: The downs
Typically takes a number of tries to determine flag
Though the laser readings appeared very correct in comparison with different measuring units, getting it to find both the flagstick or hazard didn’t at all times occur on the primary attempt. I already said that the laser distance is rated 400 yards/366 meters — I confirmed this myself however with some issue.
Equally, whereas the vibration mode is a good function to substantiate if you get the laser locked on the pin, I struggled to get this to carry out usually at first. That mentioned, I hold getting higher at it as I proceed to make use of it. It helps when your golf course makes use of newer laser-friendly flagsticks, after all.
Costly as a standalone unit
As a standalone unit, that means utilizing the Garmin Strategy Z30 with out my golf watch or the Garmin Golf app, I wasn’t as impressed contemplating how a lot this rangefinder prices.
Through the years, I’ve examined with a number of fashions at totally different worth factors and located that there are ones that may do lots of the identical fundamental options for half the worth, if not much less. I’d similar to to reiterate that it’s when paired with the Garmin Golf ecosystem that the Strategy Z30 actually shines.
Must you purchase the Garmin Strategy Z30?
In recent times, I’d principally given up utilizing laser rangefinders, favoring the accuracy and ease of use of recent golf watches. However the Garmin Strategy Z30 proved to me that there’s nonetheless a spot for a laser rangefinder in my bag.
In reality, it’s one thing I now genuinely stay up for utilizing once I head out to a spherical. Once more, it’s greatest if you’ve already purchased into the Garmin Golf ecosystem, whether or not with a Garmin golf watch or membership sensors synced with the app.
For those who’re in search of a standalone rangefinder that doesn’t sync with every other golf devices, you could be higher off with one thing just like the Callaway Golf Golf 300 Professional for about half the worth.
However for motivated learners and seasoned gamers alike, the Strategy Z30 is a good funding in the event you plan to benefit from all of the options it has in retailer.
