How do You WHOOP?
After almost a year of using the bracelet WHOOP (acitivity monitoring), we have decided to give you a feedback on its use. Passionate golfers, we were challenged by these bracelets worn by many professional golfers from different Tours. After a little investigation, we took the plunge, noting that this bracelet seemed to bring several advantages.
The product…
It should be remembered that it mainly allow:
- monitor their physical activities (almost all of them including naps and meditation), in particular by monitoring your heart rate and the effort generated;
- monitor their recovery capacity (following their activities) by measuring various parameters.
It is based on a very clever business plan, a monthly (or annual) subscription for processing your data to give you all the results. Thus, they “give” you the first bracelet (with the necessary to charge it) and the application to download. All this is accompanied by additional merchandising to sell you bracelets of different colors, spare batteries …
And otherwise it works
The beginnings of use (october 2019) were complicated, the bracelet did not synchronize with the application, it did not detect activities or sleep … In short, we returned two bracelets to after-sales service before have one that works.
You should also know that this bracelet must be permanently connected, via “Bluetooth”, to your phone. Otherwise, it will be completely lost and unable to your data properly. It is a risk that some will not wish to take.
Activities monitoting
The measurement of the effort (“Day Strain”) of Whoop is essentially based on the evaluation of the stress undergone by your cardiovascular system by measuring your heart rate. This is where unexplained phenomena (at our level) have been observed:
- the heart rate measurement on certain efforts was quite different (15 to 20 beats apart) compared to what was observed on a classic sports watch (eg: Polar M420). This rather surprising phenomenon has been observed several times and regularly over time. This difference was observed above all during major efforts. Once the peak passed, the measurements became more consistent again;
Then, the “Day Strain” is specific to everyone. You can do the same effort for the same duration; you will not have the same result. It clearly depends on your physiognomy.
Finally, the bracelet correctly detects physical activities. Then you just must select the corresponding activity and the application will almost automatically calculate your “Day Strain”.
Measure of Recovery
This is where the Whoop makes the difference with other bracelets. Indeed, it determines your ability to recover. Therefore, you know how much effort you can put in to stay in shape.
How does it measure recovery capacity?
It measures it using 3 parameters:
- RHR (Resting Heart Rate): this is the measurement of your heart rate when you are at rest;
- HRV (Heart Rate Variability): this is the measure of the time difference between successive heart beats during your last period of sleep;
- Hours of sleep: the Whoop measures the quality of your sleep according to its own algorithm.
These three parameters make the measurement of the said recovery (i.e. “Recovery”) a little technical and obscure. Indeed, Whoop does not explain in detail how it gives its result (in%) of your recovery. This parameter is calculated at the end of your night’s sleep. For example, we have observed:
- a correct correspondence between a state of fatigue and the low percentage of the “Recovery” measurement (ie between 10 and 30%), which is reassuring;
- but we also noted difficult awakenings while the “Recovery” was at an exceptionally good score (i.e. between 80 and 95%), which questioned us. We have no specific explanation;
- finally, after particularly agitated and therefore not restful nights, the calculated recovery capacity was very good …
It also seems, but we do not have enough elements to demonstrate it, that “Recovery” is very much linked to the measurement of “HRV”. If this parameter is not in your average values, then the “Recovery” is almost always bad. But again, impossible to have more precise information from Whoop.
In short, we are quite dubious about the veracity of this calculated parameter. In fact, we have regularly observed inconsistencies between our state of form (felt) when we wake up and the “Recovery” displayed by the application. After our assessment is almost empirical and is not based on any scientific measurement.
The COVID-19 effect
What has increased the popularity of Whoop is the PGA Tour!!! Why?
Because of Nick Watney, who like a lot of Tour players has a Whoop.
On June 19, during the RBC Heritage tournament, the player was tested for COVID-19 as provided for by the PGA Tour protocol. He will be positive and therefore obliged to forfeit and put himself in isolation as provided for by the same protocol.
In retrospect, when Nick Watney looked at the data collected by his Whoop, he observed a sharp increase in the “HRV” parameter. Indeed, his usual “HRV” is between 13 and 14, while a few days before being tested positive for COVID-19 this parameter rose to 16 then 18.
According to Whoop, this phenomenon had already been observed in different people (around 200) before they tested positive for COVID-19. Bingo for Whoop, who seizes the opportunity and indicates that they can detect the virus by analyzing your data …
Results, Whoop distributes 1000 bracelets to all the players, caddies and staff of the PGA Tour as well as to the players of the LGA Tour. The effect is immediate, the players take the right ball and relay the message on social networks …
The “buzz” is straightforward, but the analysis that demonstrates the phenomenon is not scientific. Certainly, many testimonies from different athletes and anonymous who contracted COVID-19 have used this phenomenon, but this is not enough.
Conclusion
The marketing of this bracelet has no equivalent on the market yet. It relies on the relays of several high-level athletes or public figures. It works. In addition, the company regularly raises funds from investors, the last more than 100M €.
Apart from the difficult beginnings with the WHOOP, we have no complaints with the bracelet which functions well and has a discreet design. Aesthetes can even choose bracelets in different colors associated with their outfit. However, it is a pity that the associated “SmartPhone” application is only in English, it is indeed the only criticism that we can make because it is particularly well made and operational.
Now the measurements have left us a little dubious at times. For example, the heart rate did not always seem accurate. Which seems to be the case with many other bracelets. Then, the determination of “Recovery” did not convince us. Of course, our analysis is based on the comparison of a feeling with a calculated value. But we know each other well enough to know how well we are. Finally, the price of the subscription is not neutral, 30 € per month without counting any promotions.
You have enough element to determine yourself. Hope you will be making the right choice.
THE GOLFIEST
