As an employee at a golf course we get so many magnetized range finders that people leave behind, a great tip, put your car keys in the range finder pouch and you will never forget it.
I started doing this a few weeks ago because somebody mentioned it online. Great idea. I've left mine a few times, but always got it back. I always return things I find on the course to the clubhouse as well.
I did this. Went to get my keys and realized I left the rangefinder on the cart. Went back to the cart barn, but the guys there said there wasn't a rangefinder anywhere. Told them I left it literally 5 minutes ago and it was nowhere to be found. Suspicious.
Got one for my birthday. I must say it is an impressive rangefinder. I love how it seamlessly integrates with both my Epix gen 2 and the Garmin app on the phone. It does a great job letting me know the distance I won't be hitting my club. Thanks for the hint.
Nice review Gabe! I keep leaving my old range finder on a golf cart when finishes playing. Now I’ve finally lost it! Only problem that I had with it was the shaking thing and trying to get a lock on the flag if I were walking due to hear rare and being a touch over 70. 😊🙏 By the way, I ordered a few of the Arnold Palmer hats from Bay Hill, thank you! Everyone loves them out here! BTW - looking very fit these days!
I have been a huge Garmin fan since my first auto GPS, through their multi-sport watches, bike computers and read radar devices, and most recently the Approach R10. The maturity and functionality, and seamless linking of all their devices to each other and the Connect app has always been on point. My Fenix 7X watch has the golf functions built in. I’m looking forward to upgrading my range finder to the Z30. Oh, and switching back to a blade putter? I don’t think you could promote a new putter better than draining two long putts and one lip out!
I purchased the Garmin approach Z30 laser rangefinder and I really like it. The laser feature is fast and spot. The distance to the back and front of the green is very informational. It locks on to the pin really quick and I got the vibration notification almost every time (4 out 0f 6). However, I’m going to returning it to Golf Galaxy because I currently have the Garmin approach Z82 and everything works great. While I like the magnet and the range relay feature, I have been conditioned to grab my range finder to range when needed. so this unit doesn’t work for me and there are no got to have benefits for me to make a $400 purchase for something that does what my current rangefinder does. with the exception of the magnet and range relay feature. Overall, it’s a great golf range Finder and it's even better if you have a Garmin gps watch. I hope Garmin adds the range relay feature to the Z82 since it would only require a software update.
i wish this was available before i bought my X3. I love my x3 but I wear an s70 and this would have been such a great integration. I don't think I could replace the x3 with the Z30 but its tempting
Keep em coming brother! The Channel is steadily rising! NOW, I know it would be a big challenge to pull off because of the nature of the product but I think people would love to see a review of the Tom Wishon EQ-1 NX or the Pinhawk SL single length irons!! It's the 500lb gorilla in the room! also, maybe a review of Bryson's oversized driver grips? Everyone loves to see capable guys like you take a run at the experimental stuff. What do you think?
@@LetsPlayThru From what I've read the PinHawk SL set might be a better value. They are totally customizable LH OR RH , length, loft, grips etc AND they got excellent reviews. I bought a set of the Pin Hawk heads and plan to fit them with some Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 115 .355" Iron Shafts. Of course they will all be 7 iron length. Gabe, I gotta try something to help save these golf courses from the thousands of dollars of damage I'm doing every time I go out! haha...
Tennessean here and love your channel. I am interested in what courses you played in Tennessee. Wondering if we have played some of the same ones. Anyway, keep the content and I have subscribed to your travel channel also.
Love the review, and that is one clean putter! How would you rate the accuracy of the pin location that is displayed on your watch after getting the distance with the Z30? Is it ever off?
I use my watch all the time, even at home course bc i like to keep the history of the round and shot tracking for stats. Is it worth upgrading to the S70 from the S62?
I would say if you could sell your S 62 and get a few bucks for it, it would be it’s a pretty giant leap in terms of features outside of golf. If you just use it as a golf watch, maybe not.
Great review but I just don’t think it can beat my Z82. With the Z82 I have both a GPS view of the hole on one side and the yardages on the other which just can’t be beat. And I bought a $10 silicone strap that has a magnet integrated so I can attach the Z82 to any metal surface.
The ONLY BAD thing about the magnets is I work at a 9 hole golf course and its unbelievable how many people forget them hanging on the post of the carts . Its amazing how much stuff is left in & on carts people forget ! Bluetooth Speakers are another item they leave stuck to the carts metal posts!
@@LetsPlayThru Good idea, but if the cart guys doens't notice it on the cart and it goes back out the next day , most people won't return it , they will just keep it , so sad about our society today! 🥲
Left a speaker on a cart post last month. Called just an hour after I left and cart boys didn't turn it in or the next on the cart. Was told to call back at closing and still nothing. Gotta love the honesty these days...
@@WhiskeyWelk Its why you should just keep it hooked to your bag, but even thats not safe, some 15 year old kid left his WHOLE bag on the cart the other day , How the hell do you leave your whole bag and clubs on the cart? His dad had to call the club house and ask if we still had them and we said yes , we put them in the back room for safe keeping ......... LOL
This is definitely on my short list. I have a birthday in September, so this may be what the wife gets me. True story about why this range finder is on my short list. There is a hole at my home course with an elevated green that you cannot see from the fairway. I always shoot the pin, and even with the GPS on my watch, I am guessing at where the pin is at, because honestly, I think the GPS numbers are off on this hole. I shot it the other day and it was 124 to the flag, and I looked at my watch, and the back of the green number was 128, so I pulled PW, which is my 125 club and hit it perfect, and it hit the top lip of the bunker and made it's way to a sandy death. I walk up to the green, and the pin is tucked right over the bunker. I thought the pin was back, but if I had known it was a front pin, I would have pulled 9 iron. With this rangefinder I am hoping these guesses at where the pin is actually located, end and I can no longer have to guess at club selection.
New Garmin looks great but I love the augmented screen on the z80. I don't always bring my s70 because I rarely need it. Going to skip this version and hopefully they bring it back.
Interesting. My birthday is coming up and I asked for a Cube for my present. But this might actually be better since I have an Epix 2 watch and the R10. I do like the cart to ball and cart to pin calculator but 90 percent of the time I'm walking so this might be a better 'toy' since it would correlate with my watch.
I have the Approach S42 watch and wouldn't play golf without it. I use a laser during normal rounds, but there are times when I walk with a practice round that I don't bother with a laser, but always have my Garmin watch on. Does that help you answer your question?
Can you sink it to 2 Garmin watches at the same time. For example myself and my partner both have Garmin watches, will it allow us both to sync flag distance to both watches from the same Z30?
Quick question for those of you that have this z30. If you are left of a green (say front to back 20 yards and left to right 10 yards). And you are directly left of the green (at 9’o clock position). You shoot the pin and it’s 15 yards away (say the pin is in the middle of green). Will the front back display +/-5 (from your position, which would be helpful) or +/-10 (left right dispersion from your vantage point) which I would argue to be less useful. I have the Epix Gen 2 watch and am considering getting the z30 and would love to know whether it would be able to understand your relative position to the green.
Great video Gabe.... I'm heavy in the Garmin universe. $400 is high but to get everything updated on the watch and it holding vs having to fight the continuous lag on the Z82 might just be the update i need...I found the Z82 to take away from the round sometimes and actually had aggravated a few friends with the time it took to get the screen to update, or to switch holes. I found the Z82 to also show the wrong hole if you get to close to a different fairway.... You know how tight some courses can be here in Florida! Did you find yourself, or would you find yourself going towards this set up vs the Z82?
I think so. I really like having an optical viewfinder and since I’m already looking at a watch or app, I don’t really use the Z82 to its maximum capability.
Ok! Now they have my attention. Shot the flag and it syncs with their watch and their phone app. That’s been my issue with Apple Watch and apps. My trusty Bushnell Range finder is accurate but when I have an app like 18 Birdies or Swing U, I’m looking at “middle front back” distances. My focus is usually middle of green but have had days my short game and fast greens need to know distance to stay “below the hole” but over a hazard. And it integrates with Garmin R10? 🤯
Just curious how the rangefinder works on courses that are not part of the garmin course network? I play a par 3 course sometimes and it isn't supported on my garmin watch.
I'm a little disappointed. After waiting, what seemed like forever, for a new Garmin rangefinder it's not an upgrade of the Z82. It seems like a downgrade. The price is MUCH cheaper than the previous models but you also aren't getting all of the features either. The biggest being that you now have to pair the watch with it to do the same thing the Z82 did by itself. The GPS ON SCREEN was the major feature that made the Garmin stand out from the rest. The fact that they try and save it by adding the front and back numbers on screen just isn't enough. In my opinion, all they needed to do was improve the optics, update some of the features and obviously add a magnet and call it a day. Seems like any the rangefinder out there as you said, and ESPECIALLY without having the watch, no one should spend the extra money on this version.
I have Z82 and it just has too many features for daily use. Something closer to normal rangefinder isn't bad addition to Garmin's lineup imo. Magnet and a lot longer battery life is a huge upgrade compared to Z82. It's nice to have all those features Z82 has but 99% of holes I play I don't need them and Z30 would be enough. Z82 case is also bad and it's sometimes frustrating to get it back inside the case. I think upgraded version of Z82 is also coming and I will save my money until that comes out. Without having Z82 and thinking about buying Z30 or Z82 my pick would be Z30. But like you said this doesn't look like having anything special compared to normal rangefinders.
So I gave this idea to Garmin in 2020, but they still didn’t get it quite right… let’s be honest, the software is useless if the device distance only reaches 400 yards.. example: if you drive the ball 250 (35 yards shorter than my average) on a average par 4 of roughly 450 yards, you’ll still need to shoot the pin on the second shot, leaving your watch or any additional device useless.. hopefully they’ll get it right in the future, but for now, it’s a waste of money.
I purchased the Garmin approach Z30 laser rangefinder and I really like it. The laser feature is fast and spot. The distance to the back and front of the green is very informational. It locks on to the pin really quick and I got the vibration notification almost every time (4 out 0f 6). However, I’m going to returning it to Golf Galaxy because I currently have the Garmin approach Z82 and everything works great. While I like the magnet and the range relay feature, I have been conditioned to grab my range finder to range when needed. so this unit doesn’t work for me and there are no got to have benefits for me to make a $400 purchase for something that does what my current rangefinder does. with the exception of the magnet and range relay feature. Overall, it’s a great golf range Finder and it's even better if you have a Garmin gps watch. I hope Garmin adds the range relay feature to the Z82 since it would only require a software update.
As an employee at a golf course we get so many magnetized range finders that people leave behind, a great tip, put your car keys in the range finder pouch and you will never forget it.
Good advice. I lost a brand new rangefinder, after two rounds
this is my routine. always go for the keys and put the range finder away at the same time.
I started doing this a few weeks ago because somebody mentioned it online. Great idea. I've left mine a few times, but always got it back. I always return things I find on the course to the clubhouse as well.
I did this. Went to get my keys and realized I left the rangefinder on the cart. Went back to the cart barn, but the guys there said there wasn't a rangefinder anywhere. Told them I left it literally 5 minutes ago and it was nowhere to be found. Suspicious.
Great tip I have lost many rangefinders I will definitely start doing this
Got one for my birthday. I must say it is an impressive rangefinder. I love how it seamlessly integrates with both my Epix gen 2 and the Garmin app on the phone. It does a great job letting me know the distance I won't be hitting my club. Thanks for the hint.
That’s a nice gift!
Great. I just broke down and bought a Z82 last month. I really like it outside of no magnet.
Nice review Gabe!
I keep leaving my old range finder on a golf cart when finishes playing. Now I’ve finally lost it!
Only problem that I had with it was the shaking thing and trying to get a lock on the flag if I were walking due to hear rare and being a touch over 70. 😊🙏
By the way, I ordered a few of the Arnold Palmer hats from Bay Hill, thank you!
Everyone loves them out here!
BTW - looking very fit these days!
Glad you could snag a few
I have been a huge Garmin fan since my first auto GPS, through their multi-sport watches, bike computers and read radar devices, and most recently the Approach R10. The maturity and functionality, and seamless linking of all their devices to each other and the Connect app has always been on point. My Fenix 7X watch has the golf functions built in. I’m looking forward to upgrading my range finder to the Z30.
Oh, and switching back to a blade putter? I don’t think you could promote a new putter better than draining two long putts and one lip out!
yeah, the putting demonstration was ridiculously good.
I purchased the Garmin approach Z30 laser rangefinder and I really like it. The laser feature is fast and spot. The distance to the back and front of the green is very informational. It locks on to the pin really quick and I got the vibration notification almost every time (4 out 0f 6). However, I’m going to returning it to Golf Galaxy because I currently have the Garmin approach Z82 and everything works great. While I like the magnet and the range relay feature, I have been conditioned to grab my range finder to range when needed. so this unit doesn’t work for me and there are no got to have benefits for me to make a $400 purchase for something that does what my current rangefinder does. with the exception of the magnet and range relay feature. Overall, it’s a great golf range Finder and it's even better if you have a Garmin gps watch. I hope Garmin adds the range relay feature to the Z82 since it would only require a software update.
i wish this was available before i bought my X3. I love my x3 but I wear an s70 and this would have been such a great integration. I don't think I could replace the x3 with the Z30 but its tempting
Excellent review, thank you!
Keep em coming brother! The Channel is steadily rising! NOW, I know it would be a big challenge to pull off because of the nature of the product but I think people would love to see a review of the Tom Wishon EQ-1 NX or the Pinhawk SL single length irons!! It's the 500lb gorilla in the room! also, maybe a review of Bryson's oversized driver grips? Everyone loves to see capable guys like you take a run at the experimental stuff. What do you think?
Great ideas for sure. Thank you.
@@LetsPlayThru From what I've read the PinHawk SL set might be a better value. They are totally customizable LH OR RH , length, loft, grips etc AND they got excellent reviews. I bought a set of the Pin Hawk heads and plan to fit them with some Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 115 .355" Iron Shafts. Of course they will all be 7 iron length. Gabe, I gotta try something to help save these golf courses from the thousands of dollars of damage I'm doing every time I go out! haha...
@@obxarms7685 🤣🤣🤣
Tennessean here and love your channel. I am interested in what courses you played in Tennessee. Wondering if we have played some of the same ones. Anyway, keep the content and I have subscribed to your travel channel also.
I reallly, really wish it paired with every Garmin device, like the G30
Love the review, and that is one clean putter! How would you rate the accuracy of the pin location that is displayed on your watch after getting the distance with the Z30? Is it ever off?
I use my watch all the time, even at home course bc i like to keep the history of the round and shot tracking for stats.
Is it worth upgrading to the S70 from the S62?
I would say if you could sell your S 62 and get a few bucks for it, it would be it’s a pretty giant leap in terms of features outside of golf. If you just use it as a golf watch, maybe not.
Great review but I just don’t think it can beat my Z82. With the Z82 I have both a GPS view of the hole on one side and the yardages on the other which just can’t be beat. And I bought a $10 silicone strap that has a magnet integrated so I can attach the Z82 to any metal surface.
The ONLY BAD thing about the magnets is I work at a 9 hole golf course and its unbelievable how many people forget them hanging on the post of the carts .
Its amazing how much stuff is left in & on carts people forget ! Bluetooth Speakers are another item they leave stuck to the carts metal posts!
I’ve done it myself so many times I put a sticker with my phone number on mine.
@@LetsPlayThru Good idea, but if the cart guys doens't notice it on the cart and it goes back out the next day , most people won't return it , they will just keep it , so sad about our society today! 🥲
Left a speaker on a cart post last month. Called just an hour after I left and cart boys didn't turn it in or the next on the cart. Was told to call back at closing and still nothing. Gotta love the honesty these days...
@@WhiskeyWelk Its why you should just keep it hooked to your bag, but even thats not safe, some 15 year old kid left his WHOLE bag on the cart the other day , How the hell do you leave your whole bag and clubs on the cart? His dad had to call the club house and ask if we still had them and we said yes , we put them in the back room for safe keeping ......... LOL
This is definitely on my short list. I have a birthday in September, so this may be what the wife gets me. True story about why this range finder is on my short list. There is a hole at my home course with an elevated green that you cannot see from the fairway. I always shoot the pin, and even with the GPS on my watch, I am guessing at where the pin is at, because honestly, I think the GPS numbers are off on this hole. I shot it the other day and it was 124 to the flag, and I looked at my watch, and the back of the green number was 128, so I pulled PW, which is my 125 club and hit it perfect, and it hit the top lip of the bunker and made it's way to a sandy death. I walk up to the green, and the pin is tucked right over the bunker. I thought the pin was back, but if I had known it was a front pin, I would have pulled 9 iron. With this rangefinder I am hoping these guesses at where the pin is actually located, end and I can no longer have to guess at club selection.
That’s actually a perfect used case for this device. Hope the wife comes thru 🤞
New Garmin looks great but I love the augmented screen on the z80. I don't always bring my s70 because I rarely need it. Going to skip this version and hopefully they bring it back.
Interesting. My birthday is coming up and I asked for a Cube for my present. But this might actually be better since I have an Epix 2 watch and the R10. I do like the cart to ball and cart to pin calculator but 90 percent of the time I'm walking so this might be a better 'toy' since it would correlate with my watch.
Without the integration to other Garmin Devices. Which Range finder would you recommend, the z30 or the Caddy Talk?
z30 all day, garmin all day.
I have a four cheap but great range finders. $40-$70
I apologize if this was previously mentioned, if you were prioritizing, which would you suggest that new range finder or that Garmin watch?
I have the Approach S42 watch and wouldn't play golf without it. I use a laser during normal rounds, but there are times when I walk with a practice round that I don't bother with a laser, but always have my Garmin watch on. Does that help you answer your question?
Fantastic review as always brother, extremely cool tech
Thanks mate!
@@LetsPlayThru looking fit too mate, well done 👍🏼 challenging Phil with those calves
@@davidmaxfieldgolf haha, sign me up for LIV 🤣
Can you sink it to 2 Garmin watches at the same time. For example myself and my partner both have Garmin watches, will it allow us both to sync flag distance to both watches from the same Z30?
Quick question for those of you that have this z30. If you are left of a green (say front to back 20 yards and left to right 10 yards). And you are directly left of the green (at 9’o clock position). You shoot the pin and it’s 15 yards away (say the pin is in the middle of green).
Will the front back display +/-5 (from your position, which would be helpful) or +/-10 (left right dispersion from your vantage point) which I would argue to be less useful.
I have the Epix Gen 2 watch and am considering getting the z30 and would love to know whether it would be able to understand your relative position to the green.
Great video Gabe.... I'm heavy in the Garmin universe. $400 is high but to get everything updated on the watch and it holding vs having to fight the continuous lag on the Z82 might just be the update i need...I found the Z82 to take away from the round sometimes and actually had aggravated a few friends with the time it took to get the screen to update, or to switch holes. I found the Z82 to also show the wrong hole if you get to close to a different fairway.... You know how tight some courses can be here in Florida! Did you find yourself, or would you find yourself going towards this set up vs the Z82?
I think so. I really like having an optical viewfinder and since I’m already looking at a watch or app, I don’t really use the Z82 to its maximum capability.
Ok! Now they have my attention. Shot the flag and it syncs with their watch and their phone app. That’s been my issue with Apple Watch and apps. My trusty Bushnell Range finder is accurate but when I have an app like 18 Birdies or Swing U, I’m looking at “middle front back” distances. My focus is usually middle of green but have had days my short game and fast greens need to know distance to stay “below the hole” but over a hazard. And it integrates with Garmin R10? 🤯
Good video Gabe.
Thanks John
Hi, I don't see any videos on the macgregor macspd. Remind me of tacoma. May be a good video for you.
Can you do a review on the Shot Scope shot trackers. They seem like an interesting piece of tech that some of us could use to get better.
Its a great system too. I have some reviews up on the channel with them.
@@LetsPlayThru I missed those reviews 🤦♂️, definitely check them out
Where in Scotland see you traveling to Gabe? Let me guess. Fife and Ayrshire 😎. I'm just up the road from Ayrshire in Renfrewshire.
Some courses on the itinerary: Carnoustie, Cabot Highlands, Nairn, & Spey Bay.
Carnoustie is nice. Decent spa hotel. Enjoy. Hopefully the weather stays dry for you 🙈🙈.
Yes top...
What driver is that Gabe. Sounds Tinny
Ping 10k
Are you wearing the True Linkswear barefoot shoes??
True yes, barefoot no
Is that a mini-usb connection? If so, cringe. Come on Garmin it's 2024.
The Z82 does not look that big compared to the Z30.
Just curious how the rangefinder works on courses that are not part of the garmin course network? I play a par 3 course sometimes and it isn't supported on my garmin watch.
It'll work like a generic range finder, tell you where the pin is or whatever you shoot with it.
$700 watch coupled with a $400 range finder...................gotta be honest, I'm a mere mortal and that's not fitting into my mere mortal budget ?
I just ordered the watch and rangefinder at the same time. Get your bread up
i don't see the point if you already have watch
Slope maybe?
@@josephwirtz8352the watch this also
Watches have slope. Reason is... Garmin says their GPS can be off by 3M and a range finder is more accurate. Overkill for the average person for sure.
I'm a little disappointed. After waiting, what seemed like forever, for a new Garmin rangefinder it's not an upgrade of the Z82. It seems like a downgrade. The price is MUCH cheaper than the previous models but you also aren't getting all of the features either. The biggest being that you now have to pair the watch with it to do the same thing the Z82 did by itself. The GPS ON SCREEN was the major feature that made the Garmin stand out from the rest. The fact that they try and save it by adding the front and back numbers on screen just isn't enough. In my opinion, all they needed to do was improve the optics, update some of the features and obviously add a magnet and call it a day. Seems like any the rangefinder out there as you said, and ESPECIALLY without having the watch, no one should spend the extra money on this version.
I have Z82 and it just has too many features for daily use. Something closer to normal rangefinder isn't bad addition to Garmin's lineup imo. Magnet and a lot longer battery life is a huge upgrade compared to Z82. It's nice to have all those features Z82 has but 99% of holes I play I don't need them and Z30 would be enough. Z82 case is also bad and it's sometimes frustrating to get it back inside the case. I think upgraded version of Z82 is also coming and I will save my money until that comes out. Without having Z82 and thinking about buying Z30 or Z82 my pick would be Z30. But like you said this doesn't look like having anything special compared to normal rangefinders.
So I gave this idea to Garmin in 2020, but they still didn’t get it quite right… let’s be honest, the software is useless if the device distance only reaches 400 yards.. example: if you drive the ball 250 (35 yards shorter than my average) on a average par 4 of roughly 450 yards, you’ll still need to shoot the pin on the second shot, leaving your watch or any additional device useless.. hopefully they’ll get it right in the future, but for now, it’s a waste of money.
I purchased the Garmin approach Z30 laser rangefinder and I really like it. The laser feature is fast and spot. The distance to the back and front of the green is very informational. It locks on to the pin really quick and I got the vibration notification almost every time (4 out 0f 6). However, I’m going to returning it to Golf Galaxy because I currently have the Garmin approach Z82 and everything works great. While I like the magnet and the range relay feature, I have been conditioned to grab my range finder to range when needed. so this unit doesn’t work for me and there are no got to have benefits for me to make a $400 purchase for something that does what my current rangefinder does. with the exception of the magnet and range relay feature. Overall, it’s a great golf range Finder and it's even better if you have a Garmin gps watch. I hope Garmin adds the range relay feature to the Z82 since it would only require a software update.