Features

Overview: The Garmin Approach S6 is a wrist-worn golf GPS unit combined with a lightweight sports watch. Its memory is loaded with distance information for more than 38,000 pre-loaded golf courses worldwide. The S6 uses a high-sensitivity GPS receiver to measure individual shot distances and track how far you walk on the course. It also helps you analyze your swing and trains you how to take a more consistent swing. No subscriptions or setup fees are required. The Approach S6 is compliant with USGA rules.

Display: The Approach S6 has a 1" diameter high-resolution color touchscreen LCD with a resolution of 180 x 180 pixels. The display's Course View gives you full-color hole-by-hole details, even before you play them. You can see where the hazards are, the direction of the doglegs, and the shapes of the greens from wherever you are. The PinPointer is a compass that provides directional assistance by pointing to the pin location, even when you can't see the green. The Hole Information pages indicate the number of the hole being played, the distance to the back, center, and front of the green, and the par for the hole. Another page gives you layup and dogleg distances on par 4 and par 5 holes. As you play, you can enter your score for each hole. On-screen icons display a low battery warning, GPS use, Bluetooth status, and alarm active indication.

Included Maps: The Approach S6 has CourseView map data loaded into its built-in flash memory. The data contains distance information to the front, back, and center of the greens for more than 38,000 golf courses worldwide. Lifetime free course updates are available from the Garmin website, and can be downloaded from your PC to the Approach S6 using the supplied USB/charging cradle. Installed CourseView maps include:

• CourseView Intermediate Americas 4.30
• CourseView Intermediate Europe, Middle East & Africa 3.90
• CourseView Intermediate Pacific 3.40

Functionality: The Approach S6 initially takes 30-60 seconds to acquire satellite signals and determine your location. As you play, the unit automatically updates your position, giving you the exact yardage to the front, center, and back of the green. Because pin placement varies, you can touch and drag the pin to the day's location. You can also measure the distance of a particular shot. For Par 4 and 5 holes, you can view a list of layup and dogleg distances. During the round, you can save and label up to five locations, such as water hazards or bunkers, on each hole. Distance units can be set to yards or meters.

Digital Scorecard: During your round, you can enter your score by entering + or - the number of strokes over or under par. Your total score (relative to par) is updated as each hole's score is entered. If necessary, you can select any previously played hole to change the score for that hole. You can also record statistics, such as number of putts taken, greens in regulation (GIR), and number of fairways hit, during the round. Before you start the round, you can select Stroke Play or Stableford scoring. (Stableford points are awarded as specified by the USGA.) At the end of your round, you can connect the Approach S6 to your computer to view and save your scorecard.

Touchscreen and Button Controls: The S6 lets you maneuver through the menus and settings by touching the screen. Different than most mobile devices, the touchscreen is designed so you can operate it with your fingertip or while wearing gloves. It is optimized to prevent accidental touches while you play, requiring a firm press to select items or change pages. The unit has four buttons on the sides and two touch-sensitive icons on the perimeter of the face:

• Power/Light Button: for turning on the backlight (single press), and for turning the device on or off (press and hold)
• Measure Button: for measuring the distance of a shot
• Score Button: to enter your score for the hole
• Green View: to view the green with distances to front and back and pin placement
• Menu Icon: to open the menu for the current screen
• Return Icon: return to the previous screen

Training/Swing Analysis: The Garmin Approach S6 has some new features designed to help you play better golf:

• SwingStrength: The SwingStrength feature estimates how hard you swing the club by measuring acceleration and angular rate and comparing that with a known, normal swing. The SwingStrength value represents a percentage of your "full power swing" which is determined through a calibration process. Wearing the Approach S6 on your "leading" wrist, you take a swing using a wood, long iron (6-iron or lower), and a short iron (7-iron or higher). You can use the SwingStrength value to practice your swing to reach a level of consistency. You can also practice taking "less-than-full" swings with particular clubs.
• Tempo Training: The Tempo Training feature helps you develop a more consistent swing by replicating a proper tempo from backswing to downswing. Garmin provides 6 different timings to choose from. The device emits three audible tones that continuously repeat the correct tempo: Tone 1 indicates when you should start your backswing. Tone 2 indicates when you should start your downswing. Tone 3 indicates when you should hit the ball. As you practice, the display shows a graph that indicates if your backswing or downswing times are too fast, too slow, or just right for the selected timing.

TruSwing: The optional Garmin TruSwing golf swing sensor mounts to your club, and pairs to the Approach S6 via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). TruSwing provides swing metrics to see how your mechanics affect ball flight and shot results. It measures your swing tempo and speed, face to target, dynamic loft, shaft angle, club path and coordinates, and shaft lean. After your shot, the swing measurements are displayed on the S6 so you can instantly analyze the shot.

Watch: In addition to its GPS functions, the Approach S6 is a digital watch. By default, the watch time is set automatically when the device acquires satellite signals. You can also set the time manually. The watch also has an alarm, and can display 12-hour or 24-hour time formats.

Odometer: The Approach S6 has a built-in odometer to measure your total time and walking distance as you play the round. The odometer automatically starts and stops when you start or end a round. It can also be started or stopped manually, as well. You can turn the odometer off, if you desire.

Smart Notifications: The S6 can connect wirelessly to your iPhone via Bluetooth 4.0, and will alert you when you receive a text, email, or RSS alert. The S6 utilizes Bluetooth Smart to wirelessly sync with smartphones running the Garmin Connect Mobile App. Smart Notifications let you read texts and emails directly on the Approach S6. Smart Notifications can be received on iPhone 4s, 5, 5c, 5s, 6, 6 Plus, iPad Air, iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad mini, and iPod touch (5th generation) running iOS 7.0 and above. Compatible Android phones (running OS 4.3 and above) include HTC One (M7), LG Flex, Sony Xperia Z2, and Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Note 3, S3, S4, S4 Active, and S5.

Power Requirements: The Approach S6 operates on a rechargeable Lithium-ion, coin cell battery. In the GPS mode, a fully charged battery should give you up to 10 hours of continuous use as you play golf. The Power Save mode turns off the GPS receiver after a period of inactivity, and displays only the time and date. If you are using the unit continuously as a watch, a fully charged battery should provide up to 20 weeks of battery life. Using the S6 as a watch with Bluetooth notifications, the battery should last approximately 15 hours.

Battery Charging: The unit comes with a snap-on charging cradle/USB cable. You can charge the battery by plugging the cable into your computer's USB port.

Waterproof: The Approach S6 has a 5 ATM water rating, meaning it can withstand a pressure equivalent to a depth of 50 meters. You can wear the watch in the rain with no worries.