A golf watch’s slope feature estimates an adjusted playing distance; a green-contour map describes the surface of the green. They are different functions and can have different subscription requirements. For a UK buyer, Garmin’s Approach S50 and S70 are documented watches to compare for PlaysLike distance. Check the exact model’s manual and the features included in the purchase before paying for a package labelled simply “slope”.
Research checked: 9 October 2026. This guide uses Garmin’s product documentation and The R&A’s equipment rules. We have not tested watch accuracy or measured performance on a course.
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Table of Contents
Choose the function you want
Want an AMOLED watch with documented elevation-adjusted distance? Compare the Approach S50. The checked Golf Gear Direct offer is the black version; establish strap fit, supplied accessories and the current delivered price.
Check S50 Black at Golf Gear Direct
Want to compare the more advanced S70? Read its manual, then choose the actual case size and package. Marketplace results can include accessories and different sizes.
Slope distance and green contours are separate
| Function | What it helps with | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| GPS distance | Distance to mapped green reference points or hazards | Course coverage, units and selected reference point |
| PlaysLike or slope-adjusted distance | An estimated playing distance accounting for factors supported by that model | Its exact inputs and how to disable it |
| Green contours / green reading | Information about the green’s slopes | Course coverage, membership and competition restrictions |
| Laser rangefinder slope | A separate laser device’s adjusted target measurement | Exact device, slope controls and permitted use |
A watch reading to the centre of a mapped green is not automatically a measurement to today’s flag. Decide whether front, middle and back information is enough for your decisions or whether you also need a way to measure a visible target. Our GPS versus rangefinder guide explains that purchase distinction.
Approach S50: read the feature level carefully
The S50 manual describes PlaysLike as an adjusted green distance accounting for elevation changes. Its UK product page also separates membership features from the essential watch functions. Check whether the particular map, touch-targeting or contour feature you want requires a Garmin Golf membership. A retailer’s blended list of all available features can make that distinction easy to miss.
Before ordering, write down what you want to use during an ordinary round. Then compare that list with the manual and the current membership description. Include any recurring cost only when it is necessary for your chosen feature, rather than assuming all golf functions require a subscription.
Approach S70: a different PlaysLike implementation
Garmin documents enhanced PlaysLike on the S70, including the effects of elevation and environmental conditions. Its golf instructions explain how to view the adjusted distance. This is an estimate used to inform club selection, not an independent accuracy measurement or a guarantee of a better shot.
Compare case size and readability before selecting a larger display. A useful screen is one you can read comfortably while wearing the watch in your address position, using the controls you expect to operate during play.
The newly announced S72 needs its own check
Garmin announced the S72 on 6 October 2026 in 43mm and 47mm versions. Its announcement describes additional swing and green-reading functions, with green reading requiring an active Garmin Golf membership. This is a new option to investigate through Garmin’s UK page; this guide has no hands-on results for it. Confirm regional supply and the exact feature package rather than transferring S70 specifications to it.
Turn off prohibited assistance for competitions
The R&A’s Rule 4.3 permits certain distance information but prohibits using equipment to measure elevation changes or interpret distance to recommend a line or club based on the player’s location. Detailed green information has additional restrictions. Read the rules and local rules for your event, disable the prohibited assistance before playing, and ask the committee if a function remains unclear.
Owning a watch with slope does not mean every enabled function is permitted during a competition. Practise the controls beforehand so you know which number is the ordinary distance and how to return to the permitted display.
Buy for your normal rounds
Choose a watch when its basic yardages, screen and charging routine already suit you. Add slope or membership features when you can explain how you will use them. Keep a record of your own usual carry distances in our free worksheet; an adjusted reading is useful only when you can relate it to a dependable club choice.
Compare the S50 Black buying offer