Garmin Approach Z80, Golf Laser Range Finder with 2D Course Overlays

I have been using a laser range finder for several years. Great for distance to the pin - when you can see the pin. No good for situations where there is no direct line of site to the pin. I bought the Garmin Approach Z80 since it has laser and GPS. In addition to providing distance to the front and back of the green, the GPS provides distances to all areas of interest on each hole - hazards, creeks, lakes, traps etc. from the point you are standing - and it shows it graphically on a map of the hole that is in the view finder.. THIS IS INVALUABLE. I thought I had found the ultimate device until it started running out of battery on hole #6, #7 or #8. It would not make it thru one round of golf. I contacted Amazon to send it back, but I was advised to run the most recent software upgrade via Garmin Express. Most software upgrades just provide new course information, but this latest upgrade fixed the power standby mode. The original software prevented the device from going into standby when it wasn't being used between holes, so it was on all the time - a real battery drain. With the new software upgrade on board, I completed a 4.5 hour 18 hole round yesterday and the battery level was still at 67%. Garmin says you can get at least 2 rounds of golf without recharging the battery. I think that is now true. You might get 3 rounds, but why chance it. The battery fully recharges in a few hours. You just have to remember to pull it out of your golf bag and charge it.BATTERY UPDATE: I have now completed 5 rounds with the Z80. After each round the battery had a minimum of 60% remaining. The software update solved the battery problem. I'm updating my rating to 5 Stars.

I've been on the fence between getting a GPS or a Rangefinder for over a year, and when I found out this thing existed, I had to get it.At first look, the device feels solid, but not too heavy, and looks sharp. The options on the screen are clear and simple to use, and the update took about 20 minutes; I couldn't wait to use it. The next day after work I took it out to a Par 3 course, and after selecting Play Golf it took less than 10 seconds to load everything to the GPS, when the map displays... just WOW!Mind you, I've never owned either a GPS or a Rangefinder, so this whole experience was great. The hole view was spot on, the range-finder feature worked perfectly, and the Pin Pointer was incredibly accurate. My favorite experience is how both the laser and GPS made for the most accurate calculations. For instance, when pinning a flag that is ~15-20yds from a tree behind it, you knew if you were getting the yardage to the tree by looking at the yellow shot arc that was further than the green itself. This was great when my buddy would pin 176yds then I would correct him say that was to the tree/bunker behind the hole.Battery life seems to be a concern in other reviews, but after playing twice, I still had 72% life remaining. Another concern that was mentioned is the time it takes to load between shots, but that wasn't a problem either. When removing the unit from the bag, I would hit the button so by the time I was looking through it, the device was ready.The only reason I did not give this a full 5-star rating is the Up button had to be pressed hard in order for it to work, or you could press the down button to cycle through the options. I know it sounds petty, but after spending $600 I wanted perfection, so I'm exchanging it. Another qualm was about the case; it's extremely tight. When using it regularly on the course you want to keep it out of the case just a bit so you can grip it, it's very snug.Pros: combo laser + GPS for most the most accurate pin location; solid but not heavy; video-game feel looking through the finder; Pin Pointer was more accurate than expected.Cons: [my] Up button did not work as normal; case was a bit too snug (that's it)

Decided to suck it up and pay top dollar for a cool piece of golf technology. The look, feel, and overall "coolness" of the product got me excited to use it. The first day using it, it lost its full charge on the 14 hole. (I was playing at a private club, and the round was over in less than 3 hours) When I got home, I charged it right away. After a few hours, the battery still showed no charge... it was at this point i realized this was a huge waste of money, and that all of the features weren't worth the price - especially when the battery cant hold a charge. I am HUGE fan of Garmin products, I own multiple including a Garmin Fenix 5s watch that i wear everyday and love. They just got it wrong with the rangefinder. I would completely buy it again if the battery was significantly better - but until then... 1 star :-(

This range finder is awesome. It does everything you need and then some. It holds a line across the green at pin level to let you know what happens if you hit the right distance and miss left or right of the stick. Downside you cannot just pull it out of your bag and shot distances it needs to set the gps for the course and calibrate. Which at times takes longer then you like. Also, when you are shooting the flag it doesnt always lock on it quick it takes about 7- 10 sec to get it locked in. Like most gps it switches holes if you happen to be in another fairways or closer to another green. Its easy enough to change back with the button on top. But you will need to get use to the small buttons and which one your pressing. The battery life is a major down fall for me, because who takes their range in the house during golf season? To remember to charge it after 2-3 rounds is a pain. Hopefully they will come out with longer battery life or replaceable batteries. Charge one use one options. Over all this is a game change in the range finder market, I sure in the next couple of year all range finders will follow this model. So learn it now and get one in your bag.

This thing is amazing... I really love it because it gives you everything you need in one package… The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is that there is no way to attach a lanyard to it… And it desperately needs one because it is too easy to set down somewhere and lose it and no way to attach it to your person or to the golf cart

Quite often I'm playing courses for the first time and find myself with blind tee shots, laser on it's own gives me good distances to things I can see (back edge of traps, trees, pin etc) but to find the front edge of a hazard or anything that's over the crest of a hill etc and I have to improvise. This thing gives me an overhead view of the hole, an approximate line, elevation adjusted distances, GPS distances front, middle, back & to the pin.You get distances to hazards (front) - and on the overhead view of the hole it draws an ark from where you are to whatever you measured so you know if you accidentally lasered the wrong thing.yes, the battery runs down quickly but after the firmware update mine is good for 36 holes which is enough for me. (a bit different to my old bushnell where the battery lasted 5 years - but this device gives me so much more.

Worth spending the extra IMO. Really love this and has changed my game

Un producto que NO necesitas hasta que lo tienes. Es una maravilla, fácil de usar y te da la información mas detallada que puedes necesitar para mejorar tu GOLF, elegir el bastón correcto, identificar los peligros del green, trampas y posición real de la bandera.Altamente recomendable.

Ottimi, innovativo, con grafica eccezionale. Vale il suo prezzo

It was a Christmas present and he loved it