My 1 week review since purchasing S70 and CT10 sensors

The Garmin App and S70 Watch present numerous frustrations after just 1 week of usage due to its limitations in functionality and data management. Let's delve deeper into the issues outlined:

Garmin App:

  1. Shot Management: The app restricts users from deleting, adding, or reviewing shots until the scorecard is saved, making it challenging to accurately track crucial details such as yardage, club selection, and shot locations during gameplay. This restriction severely hampers the ability to maintain an accurate record of performance throughout the round.

  2. Midgame Scorecard Save: Saving the scorecard midgame to access shot details results in the premature end of the round, effectively treating it as a new game. This creates incomplete rounds that do not contribute to overall statistics, which is frustrating when seeking comprehensive performance tracking.

  3. Flag Location Adjustment: Users are unable to adjust the flag location on the app during editing or zoom in, which limits the accuracy of shot analysis and evaluation of performance on the course.

  4. Customization Limitations: The absence of an Approach wedge in the "My bag" feature and the inability to customize loft settings for specific clubs restrict users from accurately reflecting their equipment and preferences within the app.

S70 Watch:

  1. Real-Time Location Tracking: The watch lacks a GPS ping feature to show users their current location in relation to the course map layout, making it difficult to pinpoint shots, putts, and flag locations accurately. This absence undermines the utility of the device for users seeking detailed performance analysis during gameplay.

  2. Shot History Viewing: Users cannot review previous shots or putts on the map layout, depriving them of valuable insights into their performance and shot placement throughout the round.

  3. CT10 Sensor Functionality: While putting with a CT10 sensor, users do not need to manually enter data, but this can lead to inaccurate inputs if putts are not registered. The inability to review and edit shot information until after the round further exacerbates this issue, leaving users uncertain about the accuracy of their putting data.

  4. Yardage Input: The watch lacks the capability to input or view hole yardage on the scorecard, which is essential information when reviewing date post game.

  5. Pin Location Adjustment: Adjustments made to the pin location during gameplay do not seem to save on the map layout when reviewing performance in the app, leading to discrepancies in shot analysis and putt counts.

  6. Menu Customization: Users cannot reorganize the order of menu options for quicker accessibility, which may lead to frustration and inefficiency during use on the course.

  7. Club Stats Review: The inability to cycle through each club in "club stats" quickly limits users' ability to review average club hit distances efficiently, detracting from the overall user experience.

There is the potential for improvement with software updates or additional features that address these concerns. However, as it stands, the limitations of both the Garmin App and S70 Watch make it hard to digest the price tag they put on these products. I've spent over $1100 CDN and feel like all I got was a cheap, gimmicky phone app on a smart watch.

  • Thanx so much for the feedback. I just bought the S70. Will wait for things to get better before further investing into CT10. I hope they implement your suggestions. Really great job on your comprehensive review. 

  • Other use-cases which are missing (and frustrating) when all the data is available:

    Garmin App

    1. Historical club shot count information: How many shots has the club taken? Good to know for wedge use and aging
    2. GPS mapping function during the round: How far is that bunker, water hazard etc - the watch shows it however the screen size is vastly superior on the phone, why not take advantage of it?
    3. Ability to set your actual handicap rather than the Garmin WHS calculation: Despite reporting multiple times through the change form, the course I mostly play does not have the hybrid tee option, as a result I am often under (blue) / over (white) so the calculated handicap is way off - either respond and update or recognise you dont have it right and allow players to set their actual handicap

    Switched from Arccos to the Garmin CT-10 when they were first released, it made sense as it was all integrated through the watch and didn't need any additional sensor (belt buckle / phone) still a frustrating experience all these years later

  • Dont expect to get a response, nor any improvement.  There have been so many calls for a better app/data experience for these premium watches.  Garmin clearly has the best hardware on the market when it comes to golf watches, but they have zero motivation, it seems, to actually support the customer after purchase. 

    When comparing the data shown to the golfer post round, with the likes of shotscope and Arcoss, Garmin is so far behind its crazy.  The CT10 sensors do a great job for me with my s60 in tracking most shots, only need to tidy up the odd one post round, so a bit of time investment into making the data useable really would be the icing on the cake.

    As it is, im fed up with the Garmin app, so have just got myself some Arcoss sensors on their 45 day trial and will give these a run out to see if tracking is good.  If so, i will go to them permanently and use my range finder for distances.

    If Garmin could come up with a real rival to the data of shotscope and Arcoss id be upgrading my now tired S60 to the latest and greatest Garmin, S70?, without hesistation, but there seems to be no sign of this despite years of requests.