Electrochemical mass transfer probes are used to measure the velocity gradient at a wall. Recent advances in their application are reviewed. These include corrections for the time response of the probe, the simultaneous measurement at a number of locations of the two components of the fluctuating velocity gradient and a study of the influence of drag reducing polymers on turbulence. It is found that drag-reducing polymers cause an increase in the scale of flow oriented eddies in the viscous sublayer
