Last season, THP was able to spend quite a bit of time using a Blast Motion sensor as a way to help practice with a purpose. What I found was that it was an efficient way of identifying some flaws within my putting stroke. After working on correcting those issues, there was a noticeable improvement on the greens, which produced a much more successful putting season than had been achieved in previous years. There has always been the thought that the fastest way to improve one’s scores is to make improvements within the short game. While the last generation of Blast Motion focused mostly on putting and full-swing analytics, the newest update to both the sensor and software unlocks golfers to take that same deep dive into dialing in their short game.
When it comes to app setup, this one is relatively straight forward. Whether you are a new or current user, all that needs to be done is to download the app (unless you already have it), sign in, and connect the sensor on the ‘My Sensors’ screen. Once the pairing is complete, there is an audible chime that signifies a successful connection. Users will get accustomed to that tone because it also signals that a shot has been captured. As far as the app availability goes, it can be found in both the Google Play Store and the App Store for iOS devices. Here is where things get a little tricky.
On the surface, these apps look as if they perform identically. They both connect easily enough, and while the iOS app looks more appealing, they both offer a friendly dashboard that allows users to view their data. However, one of the significant improvements that this generation of Blast offers is to analyze a golfer’s angle of attack. Which if a golfer is looking to dial in their technique with a driver, iron, or wedge, angle of attack can be quite valuable. If you look at the screenshots below, you will notice that this reading, as well as peak hand speed, is missing from the Android version. This absence is a disappointing omission that hopefully will get rectified when the Android app receives an update. Due to that compatibility issue, testing was mostly done on an iPhone.
Blast not only made this upgraded sensor 40% smaller than the previous iteration, but they also gave it the ability to catch more data in conjunction with their latest software experience. When in full swing and short game mode, Blast can obtain seven different data points to help golfers practice with a purpose. After hitting a shot, users will get readouts in Swing Tempo, Backswing Time, Downswing Time, Total Swing Time, Swing Speed, Peak Hand Speed, and Attack Angle. Peak hand speed and attack angle are metrics that were not measurable on the previous release, or the aforementioned Android version. We did witness some outliers when it came to peak hand speeds, but for the most part, the measurements appeared to be reasonably consistent.
All of those new full swing metrics also work now for shots under 75 yards, which includes pitches, chips, and bunker play. None of that was achievable with the older system. For my game, this is going to be valuable both on pitch shots and in the sand. Unfortunately, thanks to the current state of the word, I was unable to test in a bunker. However, I can see from the readouts achieved on the other short game shots that it will come in handy. Are you someone who rushes your swing when you are in the bunker? Blast will not only point that out to you but get you to focus more on finding a better tempo that works for your game. Just like what was experienced with the putter, find a consistent rhythm and good things will happen. Deeper inside the short game section of the app, users can also find some helpful tips from Brad Faxon, which can help set a specific focus for each session.
Total short game control also includes the ability to improve your putting. Without completely rehashing last year’s review(which can be read here), the experience of using Blast for putting analytics will provide the most immediate improvement. While the experience might vary from person to person, having the ability to use this device in the house gives it an edge over its full and partial shot capacity. One thing that did get tweaked in the putting department is that players can now choose what aspect of putting they are working on before they hit their first putt. Therefore, if you are working on your Speed Control, getting those instant readouts of tempo, backstroke time, and forward stroke time become more important than hearing about your face angle at impact. Face angle at impact and rotational information takes precedent when in the directional training category.
For anyone who has previously tinkered with Blast Motion, one thing that is for sure is that the data that is captured can be invaluable. It doesn’t matter if you are practicing your putting stroke, driver swing, or now shots inside 75 yards, Blast can help you gain more consistency in your stoke/swing. At the time of this review, golfers who have the older sensor and are looking to upgrade to take advantage of the Enhanced Full Swing or Short Game modes can do so for only $75, which is a discount of 50%. Also, at this time, Blast is offering a Training at Home program, which will allow new users to get the latest Gen 3 sensor for the same 50% discount. If you are someone who has an iOS device, at that current price, it is easy to recommend. For Android users, all I can say is keep an eye out to see when/if these additional features head your way.
Details:
Availability: Now
Price: Regularly $150
Training at Home Promotional price $75
Upgrade Price $75
I like how there is a lot you can do it with it. JB asked the other day about if people actually practice their putting. Something like this made practicing a bit more productive and enjoyable because I knew exactly what I was looking for out of that session.
The angle of attack stuff is cool and can help in a few areas. I still got some wonky speeds at times, but like I mentioned, for the most part it was consistent.
Android app needs to be updated. The latest update to it came in mid April and still does not include the new metrics. That is just a bummer.
My only issue is having to pay 75 to upgrade my sensor to get the new readings. But, I guess that’s better then having a yearly subscription.
You know, I’m glad you say that because I was juggling that thought in my mind. If I bought one last summer for 150 but was enjoying it enough, would I dole out another 75 for new features? I really don’t know. I guess it would depend on my usage of it. I did try to trick the system with the old sensor, but it shot me down.
Others will give their thoughts, but the rubber attachment can get a bit testing to some trying to change from one club to another. I would recommend staying with one club your practicing a session. However, I also use Arccos and purchased the rubber attachments for each club to help keep those sensors in place. If you happen to have multiple attachments the change over from club to club is extremely easy.
you know it’s interesting. My work phone is an Android device, mostly because I already have an iPhone so I want to make sure I have access to both. Plus the android choice was better than the iPhone option that was given. Anyway, I find most apps now have been quite good and given updates that offer a strong majority of the iphone functionality. Like I said to Morgan when she was editing, it’s 2020, can we stop it with this crap and just make everything work as it’s intended.
I wouldn’t do it after every 5 swings. But what I did do is if I was hitting a driver for say 20 swings, take a quick drink break, throw it on the 5 iron, rinse and repeat. Theres a little bit of a hassle because you need to make sure it’s lined up, but in reality we are talking about a process that should take most less than a minute.
I’m an arccos user as well. While in the garage I would just unscrew the sensor, but on the range I can see where that would be a pain.
Do you think I’d enjoy the putting metrics?
I do. The rotational data and helping give instant feedback on if you are even the slightest open or closed is cool. The previous model always gets the credit from me in terms of how I fixed my putting last season. For the price its at right now, I think there is more than enough data, esp on the putting side, to make it a worth while purchase.
Dang you.
they have some more in depth stuff for coaches too that could interest you as the golf coach. I wasn’t able to really take a dive in to that pool though.
I was thinking about that, a lot.
Thanks for giving it a read man.
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interesting on the chase numbers part. I’ve been one who says people don’t need personal launch monitors because that is what it can easily turn in to. This I view slightly differently because in my mind it’s not so much about chasing numbers, but trying to obtain certain goals. Not saying your thoughts are invalid on it, because they definitely aren’t. On my end, I just view it differently. For example, it shows me that my tempo with long irons drastically changes at times from what I get with the irons I hit better. So something to work on that gives me instant feedback.
I think there is enough here to make practice more pointed and enjoyable.
I imagine you are going to have some fun with this. Even more so when you are able to start coaching your team up.
Totally agree. Although I havnt been able to get it out on an actual practice green yet there is a lot to look at. BUT, you dont have to look at everything. You can pick out a stat that you are working on and specifically single it out over the others and concentrate on that. Its actually a really nice tool. But like anything, you have to have the patience to use it and use the data to integrate into your practice. Not saying its hard to use (its stupid easy) but some get bored or some dont like to practice period. Which is also fine.
I’m surprised my backstroke tempo is slower than I realized. And irked.
Provided the numbers are accurate this little sensor combined with your phone video can replace many of the cheaper options available for viewing your swing.
I take the sensor out to the range while using, but you could also easily use a home net or simulator.
The main idea behind this sensor is to work on tempo, but for me, I am using this as a complete self video analysis and improvement tool. This would be fantastic with a coach or instructor as you can go to the range, turn on a custom session for each club or change via woods/irons/wedges and you simply swing as many shots as you like. The sensor and video will only record each swing in a separate video for analysis. You can look thru each swing one by one and save, send to coach, place your lines and circles if you like and watch your progress.
Here are a couple videos I did. You can see the differences from a good shot and flight to a bad shot.
Good Shot
My swing speed is up and I stay down more on the ball. I have an issue of over rotation on backswing and too little rotation on the forward swing. I use way too much arms and not my legs and hips. This I believe breaks my wrists in contact losing speed and consistency I believe
You see as I lift up my body here:
Bad Shot
Here is a picture from the front view of what the analysis can look like. Drawing some lines. I am working on not swaying and keeping my head stationary throughout the swing.
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Here is a picture of the comparison
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This is one fantastic tool for any trying to improve their golf swing. The price is amazing at 75.00 plus subscription of 59.95 if you want to draw lines and do some extra analysis.
the light on the charger pad will change when its fully charged.
Sensor shows 100% charged, but flips to 0% when I try to do something on the app. Several disconnect/reconnect cycles. Says there are swings on it to upload, but I can’t upload or delete them, and can’t reset the sensor.
Hmm, will try again tomorrow.
dang. this is a shame. i have an iphone. so can’t off any advice there.
No luck, just doesn’t work. Acts like there’s corrupted data on sensor. Will get some customer service review in right off the bat.
Although I did forget I can use this on full swings. Just been using it on putting. Will have to give that a go
The App: Overall it seems really solid, in fact it’s got so much, it’s a little overwhelming at first. The first thing that happens is you are taken to a Dashboard which has it defaulted to a putting section. I immediately switched the drop down on the top to Full Swing. I definitely want to use this for putting, but I wanted to see what full swing is all about first. It takes you to a dashboard that has a getting started section with 3 short videos to explain the basics, hand speed, attack angle and how swing tempo effect your distance control. From there you can explore more videos, go to the "Training Center" or "Just Swing".
Full Swing – First off, it measures the following: Swing Speed, Peak Hand Speed, Swing Tempo (ratio of downswing vs. backswing), Backswing Time, Downswing Time, Attack Angle, Total Swing Time.
There are essentially 3 modes or ways to evaluate your Full Swing performance. You switch the modes by adjusting the "Metric Layouts" section within your practice session, or what they like to call "Just Swing"
Initial Thoughts: Lots more to come on this, because I haven’t even looked at putting or short game yet where I think this will really get good in regards to tempo. Overall I’m really impressed with the amount of data and ease of use this little gadget has brought on though. I have found the sensor to be accurate. Does it miss some swings? Yes, it misses probably one out of ten, but nothing ridiculously annoying. I’ve had no sync issues whatsoever and connection seems to be great. LOADS of data here, but overall I’m still trying to process it all. I question it’s want and desire for tempo for example. I always thought tempo was more particular to a player and I’m not really sure why it has to fall in those ratios? For example I can’t imagine the pros don’t have wildly different tempos?
I haven’t even tapped into the drills and such yet, so I just have so much more to do in this app.
Nitpicking. I don’t love having to take the sensor in and out of the mount to charge it. It’s minor, but it’s not super easy to get in and out of that plastic mount and so there is a little bit of a setup time there. The mount isn’t ultra-snug so it does rotate and has to be adjusted from time to time. I find the videos that explain the various stats to be a little lackluster. They are very short videos and I just didn’t get enough out of them to understand some of the states. For example I don’t understand peak hand speed still. It sounds like my peak hand speed is late, which I would think means it’s after contact? But that’s where I need more understanding for example.
Good write up here. I’m hoping mine comes in today so that I can set it up and try it out this weekend. I’m not very fond of practicing putting or the short game all that much so I’m hoping something like this will make it more enjoyable to be able to see the data and what I need to work on. For full shots I think the attack angle should help out quite a bit as I tend to be very steep. Hoping this will help a lot with the driver where I tend to hover from a negative attack angle to 0 instead of hitting up on the ball.
Very nice initial thoughts. I’ve owned one for a year now. Originally wasn’t impressed. There is a lot more info available from it now than then. I’m just now getting back to using it. Hoping that you alls review will give me the incentive to dig in a use it properly.
That’s as far as I’ve gotten so far. Hoping to get out of work in time to go hit the putting range to try it out some tonight and will do more tomorrow after our MGA Breakfast Scramble in the morning.
I spent about 15 minutes putting back and forth on my bedroom carpet this afternoon. I wasn’t concerned with distance but focused on trying to take it back the same amount each strike as well as working on tempo. I think I’m going to go about it this way all winter. Work on tempo and changing backstroke distance each session. Once I can get on a real green, I’ll work on dialing in backstroke distance to putt distance, but tempo should be solid by then.
Did all this when the box arrived. Later in the day I stuck the sensor in the holder and attached it to my 6 iron. I selected 6 iron from my clubs menu on the app, scanned the sensor, and went outside with several balls in hand.
Upon realizing which screen showed the tempo bar I was ready to go. I hit 4 balls and then checked the tempo. I was close on the 2 I hit well and too fast on the other 2.
When I chased down those 4 and tried to hit them again I actively tried to speed up my through swing and this made things worse. What I realized after about 12 balls was that try to think nice easy swing and I get close to the tempo. Try to think my back swing needs to be 2.7 times my through swing and that is too much for my brain.
One interesting note is I hit a few balls with the ball above my feet and this had a pretty drastic effect on my tempo. It lowered the ratio of back to through way too low. I realized I was chopping down super quick on these shots probably due to balance and kind of swinging from my heels. On the last ball from that stance I really focused on getting my weight above the balls of my feet and staying there. Voila, tempo back in order.
Maybe my one big takeaway from the first 20 swings is that tempo problems could be a sign something else is off. More to come. I still need to watch the video explaining the metrics as I was not sure what all of them meant.
I don’t see how this feedback is use full to me. I will rate this 1star out of 5 crediting them for a clean and simple design that works well with apple only. Good luck.