| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Garmin |
| Type | Golf GPS handheld with integrated launch monitor |
| Series | Approach |
| Released | January 2026 |
| Price at launch | GBP 519.99 / USD 599.99 |
| Predecessor | Approach G80 |
| Successor | Not yet announced. See Release Radar. |
| Part number | 010-02943-00 |
Specifications and features as at launch.
Jump to: Expert opinion | What’s new | Specifications | Battery life | Golf features | Launch monitor | Quick answers | Further reading
Expert opinion
The G82 is the one Approach product that joins practice to play. Its radar measures club speed, ball speed, smash factor and carry at the range, bag mapping turns those numbers into a real distance for every club in the bag, and the Virtual Caddie then recommends a club on the course from that data rather than from a generic model. A golfer who practises gets a caddie that knows their actual yardages, which is a different proposition from a watch that infers them from tracked rounds.
The putting metrics are the new ground here. Stroke length, tempo, club speed and ball speed on the putting green give a measurable target for the part of the game that decides most scores. The five inch 480 by 800 touchscreen is the largest display Garmin puts on a golf device, and the magnet mounts it to a cart, which suits the golfer who rides. It is a 308g unit at 21.8mm thick, so it travels in the bag rather than on the wrist, and radar work costs battery: 25 hours of GPS against 8 hours of radar. Aerial imagery and green contours need a Garmin Golf membership.
Garmin Approach G82
Measures your swing at the range, then recommends the club on the course from your own distances.
What’s new versus the Approach G80
Hardware
- Five inch 480 x 800 transflective colour touchscreen, replacing the G80’s 3.5 inch display
- USB-C charging
- Included radar stand that attaches magnetically and rests on a golf ball to set the angle
- Built-in cart magnet and a bag clip
Software
- Putting metrics: stroke length, tempo, club speed and ball speed
- Bag mapping, which records typical distance per club at the range
- Virtual Caddie club recommendations that can use bag mapping data
- Aerial imagery of the hole with a Garmin Golf membership
- Range Relay, taking laser distances from a paired Garmin rangefinder
- Scoring for Stroke Play, Stableford, Skins and Match Play with adjustable handicaps
Specifications
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Size | 127mm (5 inch) diagonal |
| Type | Transflective colour touchscreen |
| Resolution | 480 x 800 pixels |
| Physical | |
| Dimensions | 84.3 x 160.5 x 21.8mm |
| Weight | 308g |
| Mounting | Built-in cart magnet, included bag clip and radar stand |
| Water rating | IPX7 |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
| Sensors and positioning | |
| GPS | GPS with a high-sensitivity receiver |
| Launch monitor | Radar |
| Connectivity and power | |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Interface | USB-C |
| Battery type | Internal rechargeable lithium-ion |
| Maps | 43,000 preloaded golf courses with full vector CourseView maps |
Battery life
| Mode | Battery life |
|---|---|
| GPS | Up to 25 hours |
| Radar | Up to 8 hours |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
Golf features
Feature explanations are covered in the relevant the5krunner Garmin features hub.
On the course
- 43,000 preloaded courses with full vector CourseView maps and automatic updates
- Yardages to the front, middle and back of the green, and to layups and doglegs
- Hazards and course targets, custom targets and touch targeting
- Green View with manual pin position, and PinPointer for blind shots
- PlaysLike distance, adjusted for elevation and conditions
- Virtual Caddie club recommendations, from wind, elevation and swing data or from bag mapping
- Wind speed and direction with the Garmin Golf app
- Digital scorecard for Stroke Play, Stableford, Skins and Match Play, with adjustable handicaps
- Stat tracking for strokes, putts, greens and fairways
- Approach CT10 automatic club tracking through accessories
- Range Relay with a paired Garmin laser rangefinder
- Green contours and aerial imagery with a Garmin Golf membership
- Swing tempo, tempo training and a round timer
- Tournament legal with the setting enabled
- Find My Garmin through the Garmin Golf app
Launch monitor
The G82 measures ball flight with radar at the range and on the putting green.
| Group | Metrics and modes |
|---|---|
| Full swing | Club head speed, ball speed, smash factor, estimated distance |
| Putting | Putting ball speed, putting club speed, putting tempo, putting stroke length |
| Modes | Driving range, driving range target practice, putting training, bag mapping |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
Garmin Approach G82
Measures your swing at the range, then recommends the club on the course from your own distances.
Quick answers
When was the Garmin Approach G82 released?
Garmin released the Approach G82 in January 2026. The launch price was GBP 519.99 or USD 599.99.
What does the Approach G82 launch monitor measure?
Approach G82 uses radar to measure club head speed, ball speed, smash factor and estimated distance on full swings. On the putting green it measures ball speed, club speed, tempo and stroke length.
How big is the Approach G82 screen?
Approach G82 has a 5 inch transflective colour touchscreen with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels.
How long does the Approach G82 battery last?
Garmin rates Approach G82 for up to 25 hours in GPS mode and up to 8 hours in radar mode. It charges over USB-C.
How does the Approach G82 mount?
Approach G82 has a built-in cart magnet and comes with a bag clip and a radar stand. It weighs 308g and measures 84.3 x 160.5 x 21.8mm.
Is the Approach G82 waterproof?
Approach G82 has an IPX7 water rating.
Further reading
- Garmin Approach G20 Solar specifications
- Garmin Approach S72 specifications
- Garmin watch specifications
- Release Radar: upcoming Garmin products
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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