Garmin Approach S4 Owner's Manual

Getting Started

⚠️ WARNING: See the Important Safety and Product Information guide in the product box for product warnings and other important information.

When using the device the first time, complete these tasks:

1. Register your device (Registering Your Device, page 4).
2. Update your device software and courses (Updating Software and Courses, page 4).
3. Charge the device (Charging the Device, page 1).
4. Turn on the device (Turning on the Approach, page 1).
5. Start a round (Playing Golf, page 1).

Charging the Device

⚠️ WARNING: This device contains a lithium-ion battery. See the Important Safety and Product Information guide in the product box for product warnings and other important information.

NOTICE: To prevent corrosion, thoroughly dry the contacts and the surrounding area before charging or connecting to a computer.

1. Plug the USB cable into a USB port on your computer.
2. Align the charger posts with the contacts on the back of the device, and press the charger ? until it clicks.
3. Charge the device completely.

Turning on the Approach

NOTE: The time of day and date are set automatically when you are outdoors. You can also set it manually (Setting the Time Manually, page 3).

1. [Hold] ⏻.
2. Go play a game of golf (Playing Golf, page 1).

Touchscreen Tips

The device touchscreen is different than most mobile devices. The touchscreen is designed so you can operate it with your fingertip or while wearing gloves. The touchscreen is optimized to prevent accidental touches while you play.

NOTE: You must press firmly in order to select items and change pages. You should practice using the touchscreen before you play.

• [Tap] the touchscreen to scroll through the pages.
• [Select] > Lock Screen to lock the screen from the hole view, layup and dogleg, shot measurement, or odometer screen.
• [Tap] the touchscreen and swipe left to exit power save mode or to unlock the screen.
• [Tap] the touchscreen to confirm messages.
• [Tap] the top and bottom of the touchscreen to scroll through menus.
• Make each touchscreen selection a separate action.

Keys

The device features several buttons:

• [Power/Backlight]: [Select] to turn on the backlight. [Hold] to turn the device on and off.
• [Measure Shot]: [Select] to measure a shot.
• [Menu]: [Select] to open the menu for the current screen.
• [Score]: [Select] to enter your score for the hole.
• [View Green]: [Select] to view the green.
• [Back]: [Select] to return to the previous screen.

Icons

The following icons may appear on the device:

• ? Battery is low.
• ⏱️ Odometer is measuring distance and time.
• ? Alarm is on.
• ? Bluetooth is on.

Playing Golf

You cannot start playing golf until the device acquires satellite signals, which may take 30–60 seconds.

1. [Select] > Start Round.
2. [Select] a course from the list.

Hole View

The device shows the current hole you are playing and automatically transitions when you move to a new hole.

NOTE: By default, the device calculates the distance to the front, middle, and back of the green. If you know the location of the pin, you can set it more precisely using Green View (Viewing the Green, page 2).

The Hole View screen displays:

• 1 Current hole number.
• 2 Distance to the back of the green.
• 3 Distance to the middle of the green.
• 4 Distance to the front of the green.
• 5 Par for the hole.
• [Next Hole Icon] Next hole.
• [Previous Hole Icon] Previous hole.

Viewing the Green

While playing a game, you can take a closer look at the green and move the pin location.

1. Begin playing a game (Playing Golf, page 1).
2. [Select] .
3. [Drag] to move the pin location.

The distances on the hole view screen are updated to show the new pin location. The pin location is saved for only the current round.

Measuring a Shot

You can measure the distance of a shot at any time.

1. [Select] .
2. Walk to your ball.

The distance automatically resets when you move to the next hole. You can [Hold] to reset the distance at any time.

Viewing Layup and Dogleg Distances and Saved Locations

You can view a list of layup and dogleg distances for par 4 and 5 holes. Saved locations also appear on this list.

From the hole view screen (Hole View, page 1), [select] the middle of the screen.

NOTE: Distances and locations are removed from the list as you pass them.

Scoring and Statistics

Keeping Score

Before you begin keeping score, you must start a round (Playing Golf, page 1).

1. From the hole view screen (Hole View, page 1), [select] .
2. If necessary, [Select] > Change Par to change par for the hole.
3. [Select] or to set the score. Your total score is updated.

From this list, you can select any hole to change the score for that hole.

Setting the Scoring Method

You can change the method the device uses to keep score.

1. [Select] an option:
   • If you are currently playing a round, [Select] > > Setup Scoring.
   • If you are not currently playing a round, [Select] > Setup > Scoring.
2. [Select] a scoring method.

About Stableford Scoring

When you select the Stableford scoring method (Setting the Scoring Method, page 2), points are awarded based on the number of strokes taken relative to par. At the end of a round, the highest score wins. The device awards points as specified by the United States Golf Association.

NOTE: The scorecard for a Stableford scored game shows points instead of strokes.

Viewing Scorecards on a Computer

You can view all saved scorecards on your computer.

1. Connect the device to a USB port on your computer using the charging cradle.
2. The device appears as a removable drive in My Computer on Windows® computers, and as a mounted volume on Mac® computers.
3. Open ScorecardViewer.html to view your scorecards.

Tracking Statistics

You can enable features for tracking your own statistics.

1. [Select] an option:
   • If you are currently playing a round, [Select] > > Stat Tracking.
   • If you are not currently playing a round, [Select] > Setup > Stat Tracking.
2. [Select] On.

Recording Statistics

Before you can record statistics, you must enable statistics tracking.

1. From the hole view screen, [select] .
2. [Select] or to set the number of strokes taken. Your total score is updated.
3. [Select] .
4. [Select] or to set the number of putts taken.
5. [Select] .
6. [Select] an option:
   • If your ball hit the fairway, [Select] ↑.
   • If your ball missed the fairway, [Select] ← or →.
7. [Hold] to view a list of the scores for all holes.
8. If necessary, [Select] a hole to change the score for that hole. Your statistics are recorded on your scorecard (Viewing Scorecards on a Computer, page 2).

[Hold] to view a list of the scores for all holes.

Device Features and Customization

Saving a Location

While playing a round, you can save up to five locations on each hole.

1. Stand in the location you want to save.
2. NOTE: You cannot save a location that is far from the currently selected hole.
3. [Select] > Save Location.
4. [Select] a label for the location.

Using the Odometer

You can use the odometer to record the time and distance traveled. The odometer automatically starts and stops when you start or end a round, but you can also start and stop it manually.

1. [Select] > Odometer to view or start the odometer.
2. [Select] an option:
   • [Select] > Turn Off to stop the odometer.
   • [Select] > Reset to reset the time and distance to zero.

Phone Notifications

NOTE: Phone notifications require an Apple® iPhone® equipped with Bluetooth® 4.0 wireless technology and iOS® 7 or later.

When your phone receives messages, it sends notifications to your device.

Enabling Bluetooth Notifications

NOTE: Enabling Bluetooth notifications reduces battery life while in watch mode (Specifications, page 4).

1. [Select] > Setup > Bluetooth.
2. [Select] an option:
   • To enable notifications at all times, [Select] On.
   • To enable notifications only while playing, [Select] While Playing.
3. On your phone, enable Bluetooth wireless technology. When your device receives a notification, it displays a message. You can [Select] the message to open the notification.

Viewing Notifications

Before you can view notifications, you must enable Bluetooth notifications.

1. [Select] > Notifications.
2. [Select] a notification.
3. [Select] or to scroll through the contents of the notification.

TruSwing™

The TruSwing feature allows you to view swing metrics recorded from your TruSwing device. Go to https://www.garmin.com/golf to purchase a TruSwing device.

TruSwing Metrics

You can view swing metrics on your Approach device, on Garmin Connect™, or on the Garmin Connect Mobile app. See the owner's manual for your TruSwing device for more information.

Recording and Viewing TruSwing Metrics on Your Approach Device

Before you can view TruSwing settings on your Approach S4 device, you may need to update the software (Updating Software and Courses, page 4).

1. Verify your TruSwing device is securely mounted to your club. See the owner's manual for your TruSwing device for more information.
2. Turn on your TruSwing device.
3. On your Approach S4 device, [Select] > TruSwing. Your Approach S4 device pairs with the TruSwing device.
4. [Select] a club.
5. Hit a shot. Your Approach S4 device displays swing measurements after each swing. You can [Tap] the screen to scroll through the recorded swing metrics.

Changing Your Club

1. From the TruSwing screen, [Select] > Change Club.
2. [Select] a club.

Changing Handedness

1. From the TruSwing screen, [Select] > Handedness.
2. [Select] an option.

Disconnecting Your TruSwing Device

From the TruSwing screen, [Select] > End TruSwing.

Customizing Your Device

Settings

[Select] > Setup to customize device settings and features.

• Tones: Turns audible tones on or off.
• Display: Sets the background color to black or white (Changing the Display Color, page 3).
• Scoring: Sets the scoring method (Setting the Scoring Method, page 2).
• Stat Tracking: Turns statistics tracking on or off (Tracking Statistics, page 2).
• Time: Sets the time to automatic or manual (Setting the Time Manually, page 3).
• Format: Sets the time format to 12- or 24-hour.
• Language: Sets the language.
• Units: Sets to measure distance in yards or meters.

Setting the Time Manually

By default, the time is set automatically when the device acquires satellite signals.

1. [Select] > Setup > Time > Manual.
2. [Select] and to set the hour and minute.
3. [Select] AM or PM.

Setting the Alarm

1. [Select] > Alarm > Setup Alarm.
2. [Select] and to set the hour and minute.
3. [Select] AM or PM.
4. [Select] Once, Daily, or Weekdays.

Changing the Display Color

You can change the background color on the device.

1. [Select] > Setup > Display.
2. [Select] an option:
   • [Select] White to display black text on a white background.
   • [Select] Black to display white text on a black background.

Appendix

Device Care

NOTICE: Avoid extreme shock and harsh treatment, because it can degrade the life of the product.

• Avoid pressing the keys under water.
• Do not use a sharp object to clean the device.
• Avoid chemical cleaners, solvents, and insect repellents that can damage plastic components and finishes.
• Thoroughly rinse the device with fresh water after exposure to chlorine, salt water, sunscreen, cosmetics, alcohol, or other harsh chemicals. Prolonged exposure to these substances can damage the case.
• Do not store the device where prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures can occur, because it can cause permanent damage.

Cleaning the Device

1. Wipe the device using a cloth dampened with a mild detergent solution.
2. Wipe it dry.

Specifications

Power Save

After a period of inactivity, the device goes into power save mode. The device displays the time and date but does not use GPS. The device will not enter power save mode if the odometer is on. You can [Select] any button or [Tap] the screen, then swipe left across the screen to exit power save mode.

Clearing User Data

NOTE: This deletes all user-entered data.

1. [Hold] to turn off the device.
2. [Hold] , and [select] .
3. [Select] Yes.

Getting More Information

• Go to https://www.garmin.com/intosports.
• Go to https://www.garmin.com/learningcenter.
• Go to https://buy.garmin.com, or contact your Garmin dealer for information about optional accessories and replacement parts.

Registering Your Device

Help Garmin better support you by completing our online registration today.

• Go to https://my.garmin.com.
• Keep the original sales receipt, or a photocopy, in a safe place.

Updating Software and Courses

NOTE: Updating the software does not erase any of your data or settings.

1. Connect your device to a computer using the charging cable.
2. Go to https://www.garmin.com/express.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Software License Agreement

BY USING THE DEVICE, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE FOLLOWING SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT. PLEASE READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY.

Garmin Ltd. and its subsidiaries (“Garmin”) grant you a limited license to use the software embedded in this device (the “Software”) in binary executable form in the normal operation of the product. Title, ownership rights, and intellectual property rights in and to the Software remain in Garmin and/or its third-party providers.

You acknowledge that the Software is the property of Garmin and/or its third-party providers and is protected under the United States of America copyright laws and international copyright treaties. You further acknowledge that the structure, organization, and code of the Software, for which source code is not provided, are valuable trade secrets of Garmin and/or its third-party providers and that the Software in source code form remains a valuable trade secret of Garmin and/or its third-party providers. You agree not to decompile, disassemble, modify, reverse assemble, reverse engineer, or reduce to human readable form the Software or any part thereof or create any derivative works based on the Software. You agree not to export or re-export the Software to any country in violation of the export control laws of the United States of America or the export control laws of any other applicable country.

Index

A
accessories 4
alarm 3

B
backlight 1
battery, charging 1
Bluetooth technology 3

C
charging 1
cleaning the device 4
clock 3
course
playing 1
selecting 1
customizing the device 3

D
deleting, user data 4
device, registration 4
display settings 3
dogleg 2

G
green view, pin location 2

H
handedness 3

I
icons 1

K
keys 1,4

L
layup 2
locations 2
saving 3

M
measurements 3
measuring a shot 2

N
notifications 3

P
pin location, green view 2
power save 4
product registration 4

R
registering the device 4

S
saving, locations 3
scorecard 2
viewing 2
scoring 2
software license agreement 4
specifications 4
statistics 2
swing analysis 3
system settings 3

T
touchscreen 1
troubleshooting 4

U
updates
course maps 4
software 4

W
water resistance 4