There is a lot of cool gear in the golf equipment world that doesn’t always fit neatly into Most Wanted Tests or Buyer’s Guides. You still want to know how it performs. In our We Tried It series, we put gear to the test and let you know if it works as advertised.
What are Salted Smart Insoles?
Salted Smart Insoles are force plates that fit inside your golf shoes. If you’re unfamiliar with force plate technology, imagine a mat or platform loaded with sensors that, for golf purposes, measures how your weight shifts during a swing.
Force plates aren’t exclusive to golf. In fact, they have a variety of uses in health care and orthopedics. Force plates measure and map the ground-reaction forces during movement. Understanding your weight distribution and swing pattern can be an invaluable tool to help you gain yardage and improve your game.
In simple terms, during your swing, your body weight can shift from one foot to the other. These changes in weight can be measured in percentages and, when used in the right way, can teach you how to use the ground and transfer weight correctly.
Salted has taken force-plate technology and made it accessible to golfers as they play in game-time scenarios.
Product Expert
Hi, I’m Harry and I am a professional golf shoe tester. (Yes, they exist.) I actually test a lot of things at MyGolfSpy and play professionally when I’m not checking and comparing specs on gloves, rangefinders, bags, ball retrievers, etc. You can call me the Senior Director of Product Testing here at MGS. You can also just call me Harry. That’s fine, too.
Force Plate Insoles
We know that the way your weight shifts during a swing can be the difference between a good and a bad shot. Salted measures your weight distribution during your swing and provides instant feedback. The insoles fit inside your shoe and feel like any other typical insole. Except they’re not. Though the effort to collect data is passive, the results are massively beneficial. The insoles come packed with data. You’ll be able to look at body-balance feedback, live video recording and playback, and even compare your analysis with a professional. Oh, and instead of paying $18,000 for a top-of-the-range force plate, the Salted Smart Insoles will only set you back $199.99.
Take my money now…or should I wait?
Using the Insoles
First things first. You must charge these up and sync them with the free phone app. Once they’re full of juice and connected to your phone, slide them into your shoes and the power is at your fingertips.. Umm, I mean toes. They might feel a bit firmer than some of your most plush insole options but you’ll likely forget they’re in there during a round or range session.
The app has a simple layout which makes it easy to navigate. The biggest feature is the video capabilities that show your weight shift in real time. Once a shot is complete, you can play it back to see the vertical and lateral force at every part of the swing. You can even compare your performance to previous swings or even to that of a pro using their provided library of swings.
Does it Work?
Yes, it does. Is it perfect? Close.
The concept as a whole is top notch but the execution of the app has room for improvement. Our initial trials ran into connection issues, crashes and replays failing to play back properly. However, when the app was cooperative, the results were impressive.
Another great feature is the ability to set personal goals and get progress reports to help you reach them. You can also use the same insoles for other aspects of your life outside of golf. For example, you can use the same insoles for lifting weights, running and correcting balance. You just have to download the specific app and you’re off and running (or lifting or golfing or …).
Final Thoughts
After testing the Salted Smart Insoles and seeing how they perform, I would buy them in a heart beat . The app has a few bugs and could be more user friendly, but that’s certainly not enough to deter me. For $200, you get incredible feedback on how to use the ground effectively to help you hit bombs. The Smart Insoles provided me with the same vertical and lateral force feedback as a high-end force plate.
If you’re still on the fence about purchasing these … Why? The insoles are multi purpose and can be used for other activities. There aren’t many products that come through our HQ that catch my eye as much as these. So start using the ground like Rory Mcllory and join the “treefiddy” club.
If you need a driver to help you hit those fairway dingers, the PING G400 is on sale for $249. Get it while you can!
Ben
3 years ago
Do you know if there are anywhere to see data sets for good/professional players?
There are only a few obscure players on the app.