Pay attention to the question you ask on a hole
Some golfers mainly want a quick distance to the front, middle or back of a green. Others regularly inspect a full hole map, tap potential targets and use a history of club distances when planning a shot. Those are different information routines, even when both golfers play often.
This comparison covers the selected Approach S50 and the 47mm Approach S70, with exact US part numbers listed above. It does not cover the smaller S70, compare live subscription prices or establish that either watch improves a score. The useful distinction is which documented tools you will use and what access or setup those tools require.
For familiar courses and quick yardage checks
Lean toward S50 when its core golf functions cover the information you repeatedly consult. Garmin documents front, middle and back green distances, hazard and layup information, a movable pin in Green View, scorekeeping and basic elevation-related PlaysLike adjustment. If that is your normal routine, buying a higher tier only helps if you can name an additional tool you will actually use. S50 manual · Garmin's S50 introduction
Think through a recent round. How often did you want more information than those functions provide? A feature that looks impressive in a demonstration may have little value if it adds steps you would rather avoid while playing. Conversely, repeated frustration with map detail is a specific reason to inspect the next tier.
The research found conflicting descriptions of the S50's wind and air-density treatment. We do not resolve that conflict by copying the most generous feature claim. If that capability is decisive, confirm the current model-specific guidance with Garmin before purchasing.
For unfamiliar courses and frequent map exploration
Lean toward S70 when included Full CourseView mapping and Touch Targeting fit the way you investigate a hole. Garmin's current comparison table lists these as included on S70, while S50 access to its more detailed map and targeting tools carries membership conditions. Read the current feature matrix for the exact model, rather than assuming the same feature name has the same access rule across the range. Garmin's golf-watch comparison
The selected S70 also has a larger stated display than S50: 1.4 inches in a 47mm case versus 1.2 inches in a 43mm case. Try the exact size on your wrist and inspect the map at a distance you would use during a round. A larger screen may be helpful to you, but it does not establish a universal readability or comfort advantage. S50 model · S70 47mm model
The distinction is most useful for someone who expects to consult these tools repeatedly. If you want them only occasionally, compare the actual access arrangement and the work involved before deciding the premium hardware is necessary.
For someone interested in Virtual Caddie
Treat Virtual Caddie as a setup-dependent workflow. Garmin documents a history-building process: five rounds recorded with compatible Approach sensors or Club Prompt, uploaded scorecards and the required paired-phone connection to Garmin Golf. The feature is not equivalent to a useful recommendation appearing without relevant history on the first outing. S70 Virtual Caddie instructions
If you are willing to keep those records and maintain the connection, it is a concrete reason to examine S70. If you do not plan to record clubs, upload scorecards or use the phone workflow, the feature is a weaker reason to replace a watch that already provides the distances you need.
This guide does not evaluate the accuracy of the recommendations or promise an improvement in play. It identifies the prerequisites that belong in the purchase decision before the feature can be judged in practice.
When new hardware will not remove the membership question
Keep your current arrangement if the only requested upgrade is Green Contour data without a recurring membership. Garmin's current materials put Green Contours behind membership access on both S50 and S70, and availability also depends on the course. Switching to S70 alone does not remove that condition. Current feature matrix · Contour access guidance
Check the exact courses you play and the current terms separately from the watch listing. No membership fee or local inventory promise is quoted here. When the access conditions, setup and repeated use all fit, the higher tier may make sense. When the basic information already covers the round, choosing S50—or keeping a working watch—remains a considered decision rather than a compromise inferred from the product names.