Get the Shot Scope X5.
Par and Peg may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. More info.
| Garmin Approach S50 | Shot Scope X5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (MSRP) | $399.99 | $299.99Winner |
Get the Shot Scope X5.
These two sit at the same tier but pull in opposite directions. The S50 is Garmin's lightest golf watch, loaded with smartwatch features and a sharp AMOLED screen. The X5 ships with 16 club tracking tags and zero subscription fees, ever. If you want a watch that doubles as a fitness tracker and looks great at a dinner reservation, the S50 wins. If you want the most complete shot tracking setup without ongoing costs, the X5 makes a strong case — especially at $249.99 on sale.
Both are touchscreen, full-color watches with over-the-green hole maps, automatic shot detection, hazard distances, strokes gained, and tournament-legal modes. Neither requires a subscription for core GPS functionality, and both are clearly aimed at the mid-handicapper who wants more than just front/center/back yardages.
This is the most visible difference. The S50 runs a 390×390 AMOLED at 1.2 inches — bright, color-saturated, crisp. If you've used a modern smartwatch, you know what AMOLED looks like. The X5 runs a 240×240 MIP (memory-in-pixel) display with 64 colors and a backlight.
Here's the thing people get wrong about MIP: it's not inferior to AMOLED in sunlight — it's actually better. MIP reflects ambient light rather than fighting it, which means the X5 is often more readable on a sunny afternoon than the S50. The tradeoff is color depth and sharpness; the S50's hole maps and hazard overlays look significantly better at a glance. If you're playing in variable light conditions or tend to golf in overcast climates, the gap narrows.
Both watches claim automatic shot tracking, but the implementation is completely different.
The S50 uses Garmin's AutoShot — an accelerometer-based system that detects swing motions and marks shot locations on the GPS map. It's compatible with CT10/CT1 sensors if you want club-specific data, but those are sold separately (around $350 for a full set of CT10s, or $50+ per tag). Without sensors, AutoShot logs distances but not which club you used.
The X5 includes 16 second-generation club tags in the box. They screw into the butt of each grip and automatically log which club you hit and how far. Zero extra cost, zero additional purchases. The stats platform is also genuinely impressive — 100+ tour-level metrics including Strokes Gained and handicap benchmarking, all free, no subscription.
If you want club-specific shot data, the X5 is the straightforward path. The S50 can get there, but add $200-350 for CT sensors and you've well exceeded the X5's price.
The S50 is a full-featured smartwatch that happens to play golf. Heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, Body Battery, Pulse Ox, fitness profiles, smart notifications, contactless payments (Garmin Pay), 4GB music storage. You can leave your phone at the cart and still hear your playlist and take a quick peek at texts.
The X5 has a step tracker. That's it. No heart rate, no notifications, no music, no payments. Shot Scope built this as a golf watch, full stop.
If you wear a GPS watch 24/7 and want one device on your wrist, the S50 is the obvious choice. If the watch goes on for golf and comes off after, that gap matters less.
The S50 weighs 29 grams with the nylon ComfortFit band. That's genuinely light — you'll notice the X5 is heavier on your wrist during a swing. The X5 comes in at 50 grams with a silicone band. Neither is a boat anchor, but 21 extra grams across 18 holes is real if you're particular about feel.
Garmin's free tier gets you F/C/B distances, basic green view, and AutoShot. The $99.99/yr Garmin Golf membership unlocks green contours, enhanced course maps, and other premium features. The X5 has no membership tier whatsoever — what you see at checkout is your total cost, now and three years from now.
Over three years: S50 at $399.99 + $300 in Garmin Golf membership = ~$700 if you go premium. X5 at $249.99 (on sale). Add CT10-equivalent tags for comparable club data and the math gets closer, but Shot Scope's tag system is already included.
Buy the Garmin Approach S50 if:
Buy the Shot Scope X5 if:
Both watches do the core job well. But they make different tradeoffs. The S50 is the watch for golfers who want a complete wrist computer — sharp screen, full fitness tracking, Garmin Pay, music storage — and are okay paying for premium course features annually. The X5 is the watch for golfers who want the most complete shot tracking setup at the lowest total cost, with no ongoing fees and no extra sensor purchases.
At $249.99 on sale, the X5 is genuinely underpriced for what it includes. The missing smartwatch features are real, but if you're buying a golf watch to track your game — not your sleep — Shot Scope built something worth looking at.
Get the Shot Scope X5.