I've tested more golf gadgets than I care to admit. Rangefinders, GPS watches, swing analyzers, putting mirrors, you name it, I've probably dragged it around the course at some point. Some have genuinely improved my game, while others ended up collecting dust in my garage. So when Garmin announced a sensor specifically designed for SuperStroke putter grips, I was intrigued but cautious. Could a tiny tag really revolutionize how I grasp my putting game?
After several weeks with the Garmin Approach CT1 SuperStroke Edition, I'm ready to share whether this $29.99 accessory is worth adding to your golf tech arsenal.
Revolutionize your putting with the Garmin Approach CT1 SuperStroke Edition, the ultimate NFC club tracker for SuperStroke grips. Tap your compatible Garmin watch to capture shot distance, accuracy, location, and club data effortlessly, all battery-free and IPX7 waterproof.
When the CT1 SuperStroke Edition arrived, I honestly thought they'd sent me the wrong package. The box was compact, and the sensor itself? Barely larger than a nickel. At just 27mm wide and 12.1mm tall, this thing is genuinely tiny. The black finish looks premium and understated, nothing flashy that would distract you over a significant three-footer.
Weighing in at a mere 6 grams (that's 0.21 oz for those keeping score), I couldn't feel any difference in my putter's balance after installation. This was my initial concern heading in. I've worked hard to get my Scotty Cameron feeling just right, and the last thing I wanted was some sensor throwing off my stroke. Thankfully, Garmin nailed the weight distribution here. If you didn't know the sensor was there, you'd never guess it.
Let me be honest: I'm not the most patient person regarding tech setup. I've abandoned products before simply because the installation process felt like assembling IKEA furniture without the instructions. The CT1 SuperStroke Edition, though? This might be the easiest golf tech install I've ever experienced.
If you have a SuperStroke putter grip with a Tech Port (and many of their popular models do), installation takes about three seconds. I'm not exaggerating. You simply pop the sensor into the Tech Port at the end of your grip, and it clicks into place. Done. No tools required, no batteries to mess with, no Bluetooth pairing nightmares. The low-profile design ensures seamless integration into your grip, keeping the sensor completely out of sight and out of mind during your stroke.
The "no battery" aspect deserves special attention because it's genuinely impressive engineering. The CT1 uses NFC technology to communicate with your compatible Garmin smartwatch, drawing power from that interaction rather than requiring its own battery. This means no worrying about your sensor dying mid-round, no charging cables to pack, and no replacement batteries to buy down the road. For a guy who has definitely forgotten to charge his rangefinder before a tournament round (more than once, I'm embarrassed to say), this design choice is brilliant.
The catch, of course, is that you need a compatible Garmin watch for any of this to work. The sensor pairs with devices like the Approach S44, S50, S70, or works alongside other CT1 and CT10 sensors if you're tracking your full bag. If you're not already in the Garmin ecosystem, that's a considerable additional investment to evaluate. But if you're already rocking an Approach watch on your wrist, adding this sensor is practically seamless.
Here's where the rubber meets the road, or more accurately, where the putter meets the green. The CT1 SuperStroke Edition automatically records every single putting stroke without any input from you. No button pressing, no manual logging, no remembering to start a tracking session. You just put it, and the sensor captures everything.
I was skeptical about the accuracy at first. I've used other shot-tracking systems that required manual input or frequently missed shots entirely. During my first round with the CT1, I mentally kept track of my putts to compare against what the sensor recorded. By the 18th hole, the sensor had matched my count exactly. Even the short tap-ins that I barely thought about, captured. The frustrating three-putts I wished I could forget, definitely captured (unfortunately for my ego).
The real magic happens when you review your data. Through your connected Garmin watch or the Garmin Golf app, you can see detailed putting statistics that go far beyond simple putt counts. The system tracks shot length, helping you grasp your distance control on the greens. It logs location data, so you can see exactly where on each green you struggled or succeeded. Over time, you build a thorough representation of your putting tendencies that would be nearly impossible to track manually.
What surprised me most was seeing my putting trends visualized over multiple rounds. I realized I was consistently leaving lag putts short from distances beyond 25 feet, something I genuinely hadn't noticed in the moment. That single realization helped me adjust my approach to longer putts, and I've seen my three-putt frequency drop over the past few weeks. That's the kind of actionable knowledge that can genuinely lower your scores. Unlike rangefinders that provide 0.1-second precision for distance measurements, the CT1 focuses on capturing and analyzing every putting stroke to reveal patterns in your short game.
The Garmin Golf app is where the CT1 SuperStroke Edition really flexes its muscles. Sure, knowing how many putts you took in a round is helpful. But understanding the patterns behind those putts? That's what separates casual tracking from genuine game improvement.
After several rounds with the sensor, I found myself diving into putting statistics I'd never really analyzed before. Average putts per round, obviously, but also putting performance by hole difficulty, green accuracy percentages, and distance-to-hole trends after approach shots. The app presents this information in clean, digestible formats that don't require a statistics degree to interpret.
One feature I particularly appreciated was the ability to view round-by-round comparisons. I could see that my putting on my home course was considerably better than on courses I played less frequently, which makes sense, but having the data confirmed it. I also noticed that my putting performance dropped noticeably during afternoon rounds compared to morning tee times. Fatigue factor? Green speed changes? I'm not entirely sure, but having that data point gave me something concrete to investigate.
The long-term tracking capability might be the CT1's most underrated benefit. Golf improvement happens slowly, and it's easy to forget where you started. Having months of putting data stored in the Garmin Golf app means you can measure genuine progress over time, not just rely on vague feelings that you're "putting better." For golfers serious about improvement, this kind of longitudinal data is priceless.
The information displays directly on your Garmin smartwatch, too, which means quick mid-round check-ins are possible without pulling out your phone. I wouldn't recommend obsessing over stats while you're playing; that's a recipe for analysis paralysis, but having the option to glance at your putting performance between nines can be useful.
While the CT1 SuperStroke Edition is sold individually and designed specifically for your putter, it's worth understanding how it fits into Garmin's broader club tracking ecosystem. This sensor can work alongside CT1 or CT10 sensors on your other clubs, creating a complete representation of your game from driver to putter.
If you're already using Garmin's club tracking sensors on your irons and woods, adding the SuperStroke Edition for your putter fills the final gap. The data integrates seamlessly in the Garmin Golf app, allowing you to see everything from driving accuracy to approach shot precision to putting performance in one unified dashboard. It's a thorough approach to game analysis that few other systems can match.
For golfers who haven't ventured into full bag tracking yet, the CT1 SuperStroke Edition serves as an affordable entry point. At $29.99, you're testing the Garmin ecosystem without committing to sensors for all fourteen clubs. If you find the putting data significant (and I suspect you will), expanding to full bag tracking becomes a natural next step. For comparison, the original CT1 golf club tracking tags retail for $99.99 for a set of 16 sensors, making full bag coverage a more substantial investment.
The IPX7 water resistance rating means you don't need to worry about the sensor during wet rounds either. I've played through some serious Pacific Northwest drizzle with the CT1 installed, and it performed flawlessly. Given how often my rounds seem to involve unexpected weather, this durability matters more than you might initially think.
Revolutionize your putting with the Garmin Approach CT1 SuperStroke Edition, the ultimate NFC club tracker for SuperStroke grips. Tap your compatible Garmin watch to capture shot distance, accuracy, location, and club data effortlessly, all battery-free and IPX7 waterproof.
No, you can't use the Garmin Approach CT10 sensors with non-Garmin golf watches. These sensors require Garmin's proprietary software ecosystem and specific ANT+ sensor management that's only found in Garmin golf devices. Even if your non-Garmin watch has ANT+ capabilities, it won't have the necessary software integration to recognize and manage CT10 data. You'll need a compatible Garmin golf watch like the Approach S70 or Venu 3.
Each CT10 sensor uses a CR2032 battery that Garmin rates for up to 4 years under ideal conditions. However, you'll find real-world results vary greatly. Some users report batteries lasting only 2-4 months, while others get years of use. You can enhance your battery life by storing your clubs in dark, cool environments and ensuring proper sealing after any battery replacement to maintain water resistance.
You can't directly transfer your CT10 data to other golf apps like Arccos, Shot Scope, or Game Golf. Garmin keeps this data within its ecosystem, syncing only to Garmin Connect and the Garmin Golf app. Your best workaround is exporting your data as CSV or PDF files from Garmin Connect, then manually entering the information into your preferred third-party app. Unfortunately, there's no mechanized solution for this transfer.
Yes, you can get replacement sensors if one gets lost or damaged. Garmin sells Approach CT1 sensors individually through their official website and authorized golf retailers. Make sure you purchase the SuperStroke Edition variant specifically, as it's designed to fit SuperStroke grips' Tech-Port system. After installing your replacement sensor, you'll need to pair it through the Garmin Golf app and reassign it to the correct club for accurate tracking.
Yes, the CT10 works accurately in rainy or wet conditions. Its IPX7 water resistance rating protects against immersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes, handling rain without affecting performance. The motion-based shot tracking remains consistent since the sensor sits securely within your grip, shielded from direct exposure. You'll want to keep the NFC tapping surfaces reasonably dry for ideal smartwatch communication, but moderate rain won't interfere with your data accuracy.
The Garmin Approach CT1 SuperStroke Edition represents exactly what golf technology should be: unobtrusive, accurate, and genuinely useful. It doesn't promise to fix your putting stroke through magic or gimmicks. Instead, it quietly captures data about every putt you take, then presents that information in ways that help you make better decisions on the course.
I didn't expect to be as impressed as I am. A tiny sensor that tracks putts sounded like a nice-to-have rather than a must-have. But after seeing my actual putting patterns laid bare, the distance control issues, the performance variations by time of day, and the trends across different course types. I understand my game better than I did a month ago. That's worth something.
This product is ideal for golfers who already own a compatible Garmin watch, use SuperStroke grips, and genuinely want to understand their putting performance at a deeper level. If you're a casual player who just wants to enjoy a round with friends, the CT1 might be more analysis than you need. But for competitive amateurs, avid players looking to break through scoring plateaus, or anyone who gets excited about golf statistics (you know who you are), the CT1 SuperStroke Edition delivers meaningful value at a reasonable price point.
Sometimes the smallest additions to your bag make the biggest difference in how you play. At 6 grams and $29.99, the CT1 SuperStroke Edition might just prove that point.
