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The Best Handheld Golf GPS Devices 2022
Last updated: May 2022
Golf GPS devices have been growing in popularity over recent years for one simple reason â they are very effective at improving your game.
These days there are a lot of golf accessories with GPS features, including watches, trolleys and even speakers. For many golfers though, a dedicated handheld GPS device that can easily fit in the pocket is the best way to go.
These handheld golf GPS devices are usually the size and weight of a typical smartphone and feature display screens that can help you plot your way around any golf course in the world.
If you are looking for a new golf GPS device, we explain everything you need to know before you buy below.
Best golf GPS devices
Use the quick links to see our analysis of the top handheld golf GPS devices:
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Benefits â why buy a golf GPS device?
A good golf GPS can give you accurate yardage distances to the front, middle and back of the green, as well as distances to hazards like bunkers, trees, ditches and water. A lot of them also feature a graphic overhead display of the hole you are playing so you can see exactly what youâre dealing with.
This can all help massively with course management â helping you pick the right club and providing you with confidence that you have picked the right shot type.
Some handheld golf GPSâ can also be used to track your round and store your shot data, enabling them to provide even more insight into your game like suggesting what club to take and detailing your improvement over time.
Top golf GPS brands
As with golf GPS watches, Garmin are currently one of the leaders in the handheld GPS market and their popular âApproachâ range has several handheld GPS models to suit different needs.
Other notable brands to look out for include Bushnell Golf, Sky Caddie and GolfBuddy â all of which offer different variations of handheld GPS devices for golfers.
Things to consider before buying a handheld GPS
If you are thinking about buying a golf GPS device, thereâs a lot you need to take into account to make sure you get the right one for your needs.
Features
Itâs important to consider what features you want in you golf GPS as some of the more feature-packed devices tend to be a bit bigger and more expensive. If all you need is a simple read-out of the distance to the green, then a smaller (and cheaper) golf GPS that clips onto your belt may be better than a larger phone-sized device.
All golf GPSâ will give you distance readings to the front, middle and back of the green. A lot of them now also provide distances to hazards, overhead maps of the hole, the ability to track your score and store your data and measure your shot distances.
Screen and display type
There are two different types of golf GPS device â those with a touchscreen and those with side buttons.
The touchscreen GPSâ are usually the more expensive as they tend to also have coloured overhead maps and green views.
Smaller devices that use side buttons for control tend to have more simple black-and-white displays with a minimal amount of graphics.
In terms of being easy to use, the smaller non-touchscreen devices are easier as they donât have more functionality so thereâs less of a learning curve. Saying that, most of the touchscreen GPSâ are not necessarily hard to use once you are familiar with the features and controls, so itâs very much a case of which one you personally prefer.
Size and weight of the device
As well as the screen type, you will also want to consider the size of the GPS device and how much it weighs. The smaller, non-touchscreen GPS devices tend to be very light and can clip onto your belt or bag without you knowing theyâre there.
The touchscreen golf GPS devices can be a bit more substantial, and are more like having a smartphone in your pocket while you play. You can keep them in your bag rather than your pocket, although we find itâs better to always have them to hand while making our way around the course.
Again, it comes down to personal preference. If you think a bigger handheld golf GPS may be too cumbersome and distracting, then opt for something smaller or a different device such as a golf GPS watch.
Accuracy
It doesnât matter how big or small it is or what features it has if your golf GPS doesnât give you accurate, reliable data.
When it comes to handheld golf GPS devices, itâs all about accuracy. Itâs worth noting that even the best devices will be off by a few yards sometimes, so what you are really looking for is a model that gives consistent readings.
To give yourself the best chance of getting accurate readings, make sure you keep your device updated by connecting to a companion app or by manually updating it over Wi-Fi.
Mounting options
Another important decision to make is where you want to keep your golf GPS when you are playing.
Some devices are designed to be kept in your pocket, but a lot of them have mounting options such as a clip to attach to your belt and some have magnets so you can attach them to your trolley.
Battery life
Almost all modern handhelds use rechargeable lithium-ion batteries which, depending on the device and the mode it is on, should last between 12-30 hours on a single charge.
That should be good enough for at least three rounds of golf, so you shouldnât have too many problems with keeping it charged â just avoid any golf GPS model that has a battery life lower than this range.
The best handheld golf GPS devices
We compiled the below list following extensive research of all handheld golf GPS devices available to buy in 2022. This research included hands-on reviews of golf GPS devices, detailed analysis of product specifications and customer reviews.
SKYCADDIE SX550 GPS
Best handheld GPS for detail and accuracy
SkyCaddieâs latest handheld GPS â the SX550 â boasts a 5.5â HD full colour touchscreen display and uses in-built WiFi to download the latest course maps that have ground-verified for improved accuracy.
This makes it by far the most detailed and accurate handheld GPS currently available, and it pairs all this data with an extremely detailed display to give golfers a clear view of what they are facing on each hole.
Shaped very much like a smartphone, the SX550 comes preloaded with over 35,000 golf courses worldwide.
Thanks to the detailed mapping of each course, you can use the SX550 to view distances to the green and hazards and can even move the cursor on the screen to get accurate distance readings for any point on the hole.
The stated battery life is 14 hours, which is impressive considering how powerful the device is and how many features there are.
The SkyCaddie SX550 is quite an expensive handheld golf GPS â currently retailing at ÂŁ329.00 â and its bulky size may put some off, but in terms of features and accuracy it is certainly worth considering.
GARMIN APPROACH G30 GPS
Best compact GPS device
Garminâs Approach range of golf GPS devices has something for everyone, and if youâre looking for a compact GPS that fits snugly in your pocket then the Approach G30 is for you.
It has a 2.3â colour touchscreen which boasts features such as Green View and Touch Targeting to offer more accurate yardage information.
If you just want a simple view of the distance, you can use Big Numbers Mode which displays the yardage to the front, middle and back of the green in big numbers.
The Approach G30 also has a host of mounting options so you can attach it to your belt, trolley or bag for quick access and it can also receive incoming call and text notifications when paired with your phone.
You can also use it to track your score and it offers statistics such as number of fairways and greens-in-regulation you hit.
As the touchscreen is quite small, it can sometimes be a bit tricky to use. But for the amount of features you get in such a small device, that is quickly overlooked.
BUSHNELL PHANTOM 2 GPS
Best value handheld golf GPS
Bushnell Golf make a lot of popular GPS devices, and the Phantom 2 is arguably their best yet.
This deviceâs biggest strength is its simplicity, with no wasted space anywhere on the screen or the casing. The screen is transflective, so it can be easily read in bright sunlight, and it gives you all the basic information you need quickly and accurately.
This includes the distance to the front, middle and back of the green and up to six hazards and lay-up options on each hole.
Thereâs also a Green View feature so you can see the shape of the green you are attacking and allows you to cycle through different pin positions to get a more accurate yardage.
Other useful features include automatic course location and hole advancement, shot distance measurement, a magnetic mount and up to 18-hour battery life.
GOLFBUDDY VOICE 2 GOLF GPS
Best voice golf GPS
The Voice 2 is the newly upgraded GPS device from GolfBuddy, boasting a sleeker design and longer batter life than the original Voice model.
GolfBuddy have carved out their own niche in the golf GPS market by focusing on voice output to read out the yardages, which is great if you find constantly digging in your pockets or into your bag for a GPS device distracting on the course.
With the Voice 2, you just clip it to you belt, bag or trolley and it will give you accurate read-outs of the distance to the front, middle and back of the green.
It comes preloaded with 38,000 courses, offers up to 20 hours of battery life, has automatic golf course and hole recognition and can even been worn as a watch if you buy the accompanying wrist strap.
GARMIN APPROACH G80 GPS
Best for launch monitor functionality
Garminâs flagship golf GPS device, the G80, can also double up as a launch monitor â making it a very useful bit of kit for the amateur golfer.
It is one of the more expensive golf GPS devices available, but when you factor in the number of features it comes with the current price of around ÂŁ350 seems quite reasonable.
The G80 will give you standard metrics like the distance to the front, middle and back of the green, but it also has Garminâs PlaysLike Distance feature which adjusts the yardage based on environmental factors such as whether you are uphill or downhill.
The Green View feature gives you the option to zoom in on the green to get more accurate yardages depending on where the pin is placed.
On top of that, the Approach G80 also has an integrated launch monitor, making it easy to learn more about your shot, including estimated carry, club head and ball speed, smash factor and tempo.
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FAQs
All golf GPS devices in this list are what we would class as âaccurateâ, in that when tested they were never more than 5 yards out.
This is normal, as GPS technology is not pinpoint accurate and there will always be a margin of error.
If we had to pick one to label the most accurate golf GPS, it would be the SkyCaddie SX550. SkyCaddieâs team manually map every golf course on foot â all 35,000+ of them â to make sure the map and distances represented on the screen are as accurate as possible.
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