Garmin S50 or Shot Scope G6: which golf watch is the smarter buy?

Display

The Garmin Approach S50 wins here comfortably. Its AMOLED display is a major upgrade over the more utilitarian screen you get on the Shot Scope G6, giving you richer colours, sharper text and better visibility in bright sunlight and gloomy UK weather alike. That matters because a golf watch should be readable at a glance when you’re trying to choose a club quickly. The G6’s display is perfectly functional for yardages and hole information, but it is clearly the simpler, more basic experience.

Winner: Garmin Approach S50

Performance

For pure golf-watch performance, both do the core job well: fast front/middle/back distances, hazard information and hole navigation. The Garmin is the more polished device overall, with a smoother interface and a more premium smartwatch feel, plus wrist-based heart rate tracking for players who also want health metrics. Shot Scope’s strength is that it focuses on golf essentials without overcomplicating things, which many players will appreciate. If you want a watch that feels more advanced and more versatile off the course, Garmin wins; if you only care about golf yardages, the G6 is still very competent.

Winner: Garmin Approach S50

Build quality and design

Garmin wins again. The Approach S50 has the more premium materials and finish, with a slate aluminium bezel and ComfortFit nylon band that make it feel like a proper everyday smartwatch rather than just a golf accessory. It also benefits from Garmin’s stronger reputation for build quality and long-term refinement. The Shot Scope G6 is lighter on the wallet and designed to be practical, but it does not match Garmin for premium look and feel. If you want something you can wear on and off the course without it feeling like a compromise, Garmin is the better-designed product.

Winner: Garmin Approach S50

Battery life

This category is harder to call without overclaiming, because both products are built for a full round and then some, but Garmin’s broader smartwatch functionality usually comes with more battery trade-offs than a simpler golf watch. Shot Scope watches are typically designed to prioritise golf use and can be very efficient for round-based play, which is useful if you don’t want to think about charging constantly. However, Garmin’s battery management is still strong enough for most golfers, especially if you’re not using every smart feature all the time. For most users, this is close, but Shot Scope gets the edge for golf-first efficiency.

Winner: Shot Scope G6

Price and value for money

This is where the Shot Scope G6 wins decisively. At £179.99, it is £169.01 cheaper than the Garmin S50, which is a huge saving for a device that still gives you the essential on-course GPS functions most golfers actually need. Garmin’s £349 asking price is easier to justify if you want the AMOLED screen, premium design and extra smartwatch features, but from a pure golf-buying perspective the G6 offers far better value. If your goal is to lower scores rather than own the fanciest watch, the G6 is the smarter spend.

Winner: Shot Scope G6

Game library/features

Garmin has the more feature-rich package overall. Beyond golf GPS, the Approach S50 adds wrist-based heart rate tracking and the broader Garmin ecosystem, which is useful if you like health tracking, activity monitoring and a more complete smartwatch experience. Shot Scope’s G6 is more focused: it gives you golf essentials without paying for features you may never use. For golfers who want data-driven practice and a watch that doubles as a daily wearable, Garmin is the more capable platform. For golfers who want a straightforward course companion, Shot Scope keeps things simpler and more direct.

Winner: Garmin Approach S50

Overall user experience

Garmin delivers the more refined experience from unboxing to daily use. The screen is better, the design is more premium and the watch feels like a genuinely high-end product rather than a budget golf gadget. Shot Scope’s user experience is more no-nonsense: it is easy to understand, does the basics well and avoids the premium pricing trap. If you value convenience, presentation and a watch you’ll enjoy wearing every day, Garmin is ahead. If you value simplicity and cost-effectiveness, Shot Scope is the more practical choice.

Winner: Garmin Approach S50

Overall summary: The Garmin Approach S50 is the better watch in absolute terms because it has the superior display, premium design and broader feature set. But the Shot Scope G6 is the better value and the better choice for most golfers whose main aim is affordable, reliable GPS yardages. If you want the best overall experience and are happy to pay for it, buy Garmin. If you want the best performance per pound and a golf-first watch, buy Shot Scope.