FAQ
What is BellSense?
BellSense is a kettlebell coach. It gives you a program, tells you what to do each session, and progresses you when you've earned it. Add the bell sensor and the coach also watches how you move through the bell, so its feedback is measured instead of guessed.
Does it work without the sensor?
Yes. The app runs on its own, free. You get structured multi-week programs, progression that reads how each session actually went, and set logging that builds your volume over time. Connect Apple Health and a heart rate monitor and it factors your recovery into what you train that day. The sensor adds automatic rep counting and the measured coaching signal on top.
What do I get free, and what does the sensor add?
Free, on your phone alone: structured programs, progression, manual set logging, full history, and a daily readiness score from Apple Health. Add the bell sensor and the coach stops taking your word for it — verified rep counting, how your speed holds or fades across a set, how close you are to failure, the type of fatigue you're hitting, and live cues while you lift.
Do I need a subscription?
No. The app is free and the sensor is a one-time purchase with no recurring fee. A future BellSense+ subscription will add the adaptive AI coach and premium program blocks. It's in development and optional.
I'm new to kettlebells. Is this for me?
Yes. BellSense gives you a program and tells you what to do each session, so you're not piecing workouts together from the internet. Start light and it progresses you as you earn it.
What exercises does BellSense track?
Eight exercises: hardstyle swing, snatch, clean, goblet squat, 1-arm row, overhead press, Turkish get-up, and windmill.
What workout modes are available?
BellSense supports Individual workouts (a single exercise per session), Complex workouts (a sequence of exercises performed in linked cycles), and Alternating workouts (two or three ballistic and strength movements rotated each round). All modes include real-time rep counting and post-session scoring.
How accurate is the rep counting?
The sensor reads motion straight off the bell and counts the reps you drove with intent, rejecting half-reps and jostles. Counting is tuned and validated per exercise. We lead with what the sensor reports confidently — your verified rep count and how your performance changes across a set — rather than headline lab numbers.
What we measure — and what we don’t →Can I track heart rate and recovery?
Two ways. Pair any Bluetooth heart rate strap to see your heart rate live during a session and feed it into fatigue tracking. Separately, connect Apple Health and BellSense reads your HRV, resting heart rate, and sleep into a daily readiness score, so your training accounts for how recovered you are. The bell sensor has no heart rate hardware of its own; it measures the bell, not your body.
What kettlebells are compatible?
BellSense mounts on top of the bell, beneath the handle, with no modification and clear of your grip. The magnetic mount holds best on metal bells 16 kg and up, and there's an adhesive option for lighter or coated bells the magnet won't grip.
What iPhone is required?
Any iPhone running iOS 16 or later with Bluetooth support.
How do I turn the sensor on?
Shake it firmly for about three seconds. There's no power switch — motion wakes it. It starts pulsing blue and advertising, so open the BellSense app and it connects automatically. The LED turns solid green when paired.
How do I wake the sensor from sleep?
The same way you turn it on: give it a firm shake for a few seconds. The blue pulse returns and it's ready to pair.
What do the LED colors mean?
Blue pulsing: ready to pair. Solid green: connected. Fast green blink: workout active. Yellow blink: calibrating — hold the bell still. Slow red blink: battery low. Fast red blink: error — shake to wake it and reconnect. No light: off or asleep.
How do I charge it?
Plug in via USB-C. The sensor works normally while charging and won't auto-sleep while plugged in.
The app can't find my sensor — what do I do?
Give it a firm shake to make sure it's awake — you should see the blue pulse. If it still won't connect, toggle Bluetooth off and on in your iPhone settings and try again.
How do I contact support?
Email support@bellsense.app. We typically respond within 24 hours.