50 Words or Less
The BioMech Putt putting sensor captures important data about your putting stroke in an easy to use app. Very accurate. Much less expensive that professional grade units but not cheap.
Introduction
When I started writing about golf equipment, on-club sensors were the hottest thing going. You couldn’t turn around at the PGA Show without bumping into a new company offering a sensor that would diagnose all the flaws in your swing. Like most trends, it eventually waned, but the potential for measuring the golf swing with a small, consumer-friendly piece of tech remains.
Enter the BioMech Putt, a putting sensor that can measure many of the most important things about your putting stroke for a fraction of the cost of the big professional systems. I tested it to see if it could deliver where so many earlier systems fell short.
Set Up & Ease of Use
When you unbox the BioMech Putt, you’ll find the sensor, cradle, carrying case, and charging cable. While you’re charging the sensor, download the BioMech Putt app and create your account. Please don’t repeat my mistakes: read the instruction manual so you create your account the right way. It’s not complicated, but you can head down the wrong path if you don’t follow the directions.
Once you’re charged and have the app installed, slide the sensor into the cradle and connect the cradle to your putter shaft. Push the power button, open the app, and you’re ready to start measuring your putting.
The app is very simple to use. The only input it needs is the distance of the putt you’re hitting. Once that’s set, you can just putt and let the app collect your data. You can set margins of error for the alerts, which is quite easy, but it’s not required.
Effectiveness
The BioMech Putt measures several important elements of your putting stroke: tempo, stroke length, stroke path, face rotation, acceleration, and loft. One important thing to recognize is that it measures face angles and loft relative to address, so you need to be aimed correctly and consistently to get the best data. For this reason, I recommend using the BioMech Putt with some kind of alignment aid – a mat with good markings, a putting mirror, etc.
In addition to the granular data, BioMech Putt gives you a total score for each putt. I prefer the individual measurements, but the total score has a lot of value, especially for those not as steeped in the numbers.
In my testing, the BioMech Putt produced accurate, consistent data. I found particular value in the Face Impact and Timing Ratio metrics. BioMech Putt showed me that when I rush my backstroke, I tend to pull putts. This is actionable data that I was able to use to make real improvements. That said, I wish there was more educational material to help players put this data to use. I can envision a newer or less educated golfer seeing this data and thinking, “Great…now what?”
The sensor and cradle together weigh roughly 50 grams and attach just below the grip of your putter. I found this to have a negligible impact on the feel of my putter, which is important.
Finally, I want to explain the value of the alerts I mentioned earlier. For each metric, you can set a target and an allowable deviation. If you make a stroke that falls outside the acceptable range, the app can make a noise and/or vibrate to alert you. This allows you to practice without looking at your phone after each putt. Additionally, you can turn on alerts only for the metrics you’re working on which helps you to maintain focus during your practice.
Longevity
The BioMech Putt sensor is very small and light, so it can easily live in your golf bag. I enjoyed the feedback that the app provided, and I found myself wanting to use it more. While this is not something I see a casual golfer using, the competitive player will find a lot of value in routinely checking their numbers.
Value
The BioMech Putt putting sensor retails for $350. To use the BioMech Putt app, which is required, there is a fee of $10/month or $100/year. At the time of publication, the app is only available on iOS (Apple products).
With a substantial buy-in plus an annual fee, the BioMech Putt is definitely not for the recreational golfer. However, for the fitter, instructor, or intensely committed competitive player, this is a powerful tool that can produce a lot of ROI.
Conclusion
The BioMech Putt putting sensor is a powerful, accurate piece of technology that can help you improve your putting. While the device and app are easy to use, putting the data to work for you does require some background knowledge of putting. For the serious player seeking to get dialed in on the greens, the Putt is definitely worthy of consideration.
Visit BioMech Golf HERE
Matt Saternus
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Have you guys seen the new putting and practice game called Puttr?
Roger,
Not until you mentioned it. I just checked out their site and reached out to them about a review. Thanks for letting us know.
Best,
Matt
I have one and have been using it for a month now and I love the feedback. It’s now available for android which makes it great because I have an android phone and my girlfriend has the iPhone so I couldn’t use it whenever i wanted till now. I learned that I was decelerating on my downswing which made my putts inconsistent. I’ve seen a noticeable improvement and so have my golf buddies. I enjoy the flexibility of the parameters that you can isolate and give you audible alerts. Great product.
Hi Matt – This is a great review. Specifically, I am interested in the swing weight impact. I noticed you said the 50 grams just below the grip made negligible impact to feel, which was great to hear. Usually a heavier grip can impact swing weight by more than a couple points (i.e. the swing weight feel on a 27 gram difference found when comparing classic PP58 ping cord mid size at 85grams versus standard size at 58grams). Along those lines, do you have any idea on swing weight change? Thanks! Jon
Jon,
I did not measure the swing weight with and without, so I’d only be guessing at the actual numbers.
Best,
Matt
Hi, you note that the only input required is the distance of the putt. This would seem to work fine for practice where you can quickly determine the length and input. I am looking for a tracking device like this that can be used on the course without much manipulation. Firstly, is this device legal to use on the course? Secondly, is it practical to use on the course, i.e., can you just estimate the putt distance quickly and still get accurate results?
Joshua,
I’m not sure about the “legality” but I would say it’s not practical. If you want putting data, I would recommend Shot Scope.
Best,
Matt
Thank you, Matt. Appreciate the reply. The data is exactly what I’m looking for so I’ll check it out.