Impressive Golf Band

Garmin Approach X40 – Impressive Golf Band

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Garmin is taking a different direction with the recently released golf wearables. Similar to the Approach S20, the Garmin Approach X40 is also made to come in handy when you are off the golf course just as it is when you are on it. This is a golf GPS watch that is also a smartwatch, fitness tracker and fulltime golfing watch.

Design of the X40

This device breaks new ground for golfing smart-devices and even though there are other golf bands in the market, the X40 is pretty much on another level. The best brief description of the golf wearable is that it is a reimagined version of the Vivosmart HR+ meaning that all the smarts of the latter have been fitted into the design of a standard fitness tracker.

It features a smaller touch enabled screen measuring 128×128 like the Vivosmart. The small screen may get you thinking that the golf focused information would render the golf band unusable but that isn’t the case. All available information is readable and the only arising issue is the touchscreen that has a challenge with fiddly inputs that affect inputting of scores.

The watch has a nice and thin band that makes for a comfortable wear. It also has a svelte appearance that will most definitely make it a hit among golfing ladies while its under-side has a heart rate monitor that track your pulse all through, including during workouts.

Golf Band

Features of the X40

The watch comes with data on 30,000 courses built into it and displays distances to the back, middle and front of every green. Measurements of distances to hazards that are also conveniently mapped out on a screen are also available as well as details on doglegs and lay-ups.

Golf-centered features include a shot measure that is great for knowing how far down the fairway you slammed the drive. The X40 also works well with the TruSwing shot analyzer from Garmin. This allows you to conveniently keep tabs on the numbers from your golf swing from the screen on your wrist.

Away from the golf features, this golf band mimics the Vivosmart HR+ features that include tracking of sleep, steps and resting heart rate information that is displayed on the band over the last four hours. Notifications including those from your calendar, calls, and SMS as well as push notifications are displayed on the wrist making the X40 worthy competition for mainstream smartwatches including the Apple Watch and Android Wear.

X40 Golf Features

The device is primarily meant to avail information regarding distances to doglegs, hazards and the green. The distances to the front, middle and back are shown on the main screen whereas the option to check hazards is revealed by pressing the device’s main button.

The green view option on the golf band allows you to cycle around pin position before picking a specific one. This allows for focusing on the yardages shown on the screen to a specific number.

The device’s option menu also allows you to track the extent of a shot by hitting “Measure” on the option menu once you have a shot down the fairway. When you start walking to the ball after beginning tracking, the distance travelled will be displayed.

X40 Golf Features

Shot Tracking Functionality

The X40 prompts you on whether you would like to keep score before you begin on a round. This is achieved by a flashing scorecard whenever you start on a new hole allowing you to add on shots taken on the previous hole. However, the downside to this is that extra metrics the device asks for can be difficult to comprehend.

Compared to other golf bands though, the X40 makes shot tracking a subtle affair. It also suggests the golf club used based on information such as yardage, allowing you to scroll and pick the correct device.

The Approach X40 App

The Garmin Connect App collates rounds and once you are through with a round the information is readily synced with Connect App. Information available will only be on fitness from your round such as heart rate and calories burned. Golf stats are only available on the web and data available here includes average putts and fairways hit.

Conclusion

The X40 is a recommendable golf band. Its shot tracking and scoring elements may be fiddly but the available golf data on such a light device make it impressive. Also, its smartwatch features and activity tracking function render the X40 useful off the green making it a great pick.

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