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How To Get The Most Out Of The Garmin Approach® R50
We explain some of the best features you may not know about the ground-breaking Garmin Approach R50 in order to get the most out of it
Golf launch monitors changed forever in 2025 with the launch of the Garmin Approach R50 as it combines a launch monitor and golf simulator all in one device. But what are the other features golfers may not know about that take the experience to the next level?
There’s no question that the 10-inch full colour touchscreen steals the show on the Approach R50. It’s from here users input their desired initial settings, which takes barely a few minutes, and access the three modes of Practice, Play or Connect.
The Practice Mode invites you to choose one of four driving ranges - some have more visual elements and targets than others. For many, the basic grass range is going to where you want to go to work on your swing. The Approach R50 use three cameras to provide 15 club and ball data points. To access the club data you need to remember to apply a sticker to the top of the clubface - it’s simple to do and there are 250 stickers included in the case so you’ll almost certainly never run out!
The Approach R50 provides a wealth of information presented in different ways depending on your preference
"The immersive experience the Garmin Approach R50 provides encourages you to practice. It’s almost addictive."
You have so many options with how you view your shot data. You can have all the numbers on the display at once, you can opt for seeing some of the key metrics alongside your ball flight or even a graphical representation of how the club and ball interact at impact. Connect the Approach R50 directly to a projector (no gaming laptop needed) and you can have a combination of two across the display and the hitting screen. But a fourth option is to see a high speed impact playback video of the moment of truth when the club strikes the ball. This is a really useful option to have if you’re making a swing change and want to see if your ball striking is improving, or if you want to see where you’re striking your wedges on the face.
The 10-inch colour screen allows you to access and view everything you need in one place
As well as being completely customisable, you can also add notes to particular shots. So if a certain swing thought triggered improved numbers or quality of strike, you can add that in to refer to next time should you experience a slump in form. Working on your game has never been more fun than with the Approach R50. Yes the data is accurate and the ball flights realistic, appearing on the screen with almost no delay, but the immersive experience it provides really encourages you to hit balls, learn about your technique and make subtle adjustments based on the numbers you’re seeing. It’s almost addictive.
The Approach R50 can be used just as easily outdoors in a net or on the range
Taking it to the course
But once you’ve honed your swing, you’re going to want to see how it holds up on the course, and the Home Tee Hero golf simulator mode is the perfect testing ground. A small subscription fee unlocks over 43,000 golf courses with enhanced graphics for 2025 that really make you feel like you’re teeing it up on some of the world’s best courses.
"You can play the first hole of an important round on the range before you tee off - that's ideal preparation"
But there is a practical benefit of having the simulator functionality built into the Approach R50, having such an extensive course list and the device being easily portable. Before an important round at your home course, you’re able to take your R50 to the driving range or even the practice net (the Approach R50 is camera based, so it doesn’t need to track your ball through the air) and play the first few holes. This makes your pre-round preparation so much more effective - you can hit shots with the clubs you’re about to use, see how the shots fly and make any necessary adjustments. The mulligan feature means you can have another go at certain shots on the course that have you worried if you don’t execute them correctly the first time. Once you’ve nailed them, this will only serve to boost your confidence when you come to this shot in real life.
The carry case with shoulder strap makes it easy to transport the Approach R50 to where you need it
Play Golf Anywhere, anytime
The final thing golfers will really love about the Approach R50 is how versatile it is. Wherever you like to hit balls or work on your swing, the Approach R50 can get there. It only weighs 4kg and comes with a robust carry case so you can take it to the driving range knowing it will get there in one piece. The fact that the ball placement area is almost directly in front of the unit means that even the worst of shanks shouldn’t make contact!
The four hour battery life means that every session won’t end prematurely and the weekly tournaments provide a platform for competitive golfers to test their skills. For the avid golfer that wants feedback on their swing and the ability to get a tee time anywhere, any time, the Garmin Approach R50 is the perfect choice. Visit garmin.com to find out more.
