Opinion & Analysis
Robots to take over top golf academies?
There’s one goal for anyone hoping to be a top-tier golfer: develop a repeatable swing. It’s not easy and teaching professionals have tried just about everything to help their students.
If you’ve ever taken golf lessons, you’ve likely been subjected to a mix of one-on-one instruction involving a bucket of balls, video analysis and detailed swing plane and ball flight tracking. These methods may have helped, but for some golfers it doesn’t last.
Leave it to a team of mechanical engineers to design what many instructors are calling the perfect teaching tool: RoboGolfPro. The newest version of the German-made robotic swing trainer is now available at five locations across North America.
Jeff Shaw, a well-known golf instructor in Seattle, Wash., is just one of two instructors to own a RoboGolfPro and he unveiled it earlier this week.
“I tried an older version of the machine at La Costa in California and hit what felt like the perfect 7 iron,” said Shaw. “I knew I had to have one.”
The RoboGolfPro works by giving players the chance to feel a perfect swing. Instructors input specifics about the student and their current swing and the machine does the rest by putting them on a perfect swing plane.
Shaw said players can spend an hour on the machine and feel hundreds of perfect swings.
“It’s all about muscle memory, something you can’t out on the range or on video analysis,” he said. “The machine hits all nine points of the swing and allows me to make minute adjusts for each student.”
In addition to getting a feel for full shot swings, players can also use the machine to improve their iron play, short game and putting techniques.
The RoboGolfPro doesn’t look like a passing fad, either. It’s already gained attention from instructors like Hank Haney, celebrities including Donald Trump, and teachers at Pebble Beach’s new state-of-the-art training facility.
If you’re interested in trying the RoboGolfPro for yourself, you may have to wait because it’s not something you’ll see very often. The six-figure price tag makes the machines a big investment that gets passed on to students. In Seattle, players can expect to pay $500 for an initial two-hour lesson and then $250 per hour after that.
“It’s not cheap,” Shaw said, “but make one swing on the machine and you’ll be hooked.”
This past Monday, I played in the U.S. Amateur local qualifier at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon. A full tee sheet from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., the top 11 scores would make it to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying.
I teed off at 10:48 a.m.. With the 7:30 am tee time, you can get a feel for the leaders’ pace, and they were off and running on the challenging setup at Rock Creek.
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Getting to the highlight of the round on the par five 17th, a drive up the left side and 212 yards left to the front hole location. I took out a 5-iron with plans of middle of the green. The ball ended up 8 feet left of the hole, pin high. A slight downhill putt dropped in for an eagle 3 on the 17th. With the cut line looking to be anywhere from -2 to even par. This was the boost I had been waiting for all day.
With making par from the trees on 18, it was time to wait for a potential playoff with a posted score of one under par 71.
Three hours later, it was playoff time. 8 players for 6 spots. I made par on the playoff hole, which was good enough to advance to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying in July. USGA qualifiers sure deliver on all of the emotions in golf!
Club Junkie
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The annual What’s In The Bag build is underway, and on this episode of Club Junkie, Brian breaks down the clubs currently leading the race for a spot in his 2026 gamer setup. From drivers and fairway woods to irons, wedges, and shafts, he ranks the equipment that’s performing best and explains what’s separating the front runners from the rest of the field.
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Rich
Oct 10, 2015 at 7:04 pm
Haters gonna hate! Do you still use a wood driver? How about wood shafts? Still riding a horse to work? Technology changes and improves the way we do things, so why wouldn’t this work? The robot moves and shows you the swing along with the instructor. Then you swing and feel resistance when you are not in the proper position.
Todd H
Sep 24, 2015 at 12:57 am
This thing is terrible All the marketing in the world will not make this robot stick. I have talked to countless students who have taken “a lesson” on the robot and hated it! It was overwhelming how many students felt ripped off , and disappointed and actually in pain after their time on the robot. If it was that great every tour pro would have one in their basement or training facility! Save your money and go to a professional who doesn’t rely on a robot to teach you.
Guillaume
Jun 24, 2014 at 12:43 pm
I tried it with the “perfect” swing mode and it made me understand a couple of flaws in my posture and swing. It’s useful in my opinion.
James
May 15, 2014 at 10:03 pm
What’s interesting is that he talks about muscle memory which really doesn’t exist.
MHendon
Apr 19, 2014 at 12:26 pm
Golf instructions for the top 1% of earners. Hell of a business model!
marcel
Apr 2, 2014 at 6:22 pm
with all the respect – this teaches you nothing – as the golf swing is more just a club swinging. stance, balance, weight transfer etc. just another gimmick for yanks believers
plouc
Oct 3, 2014 at 1:33 pm
ça c est le commentaire typique et bete d un fromage qui pue !!!
Todd H
Sep 24, 2015 at 12:58 am
It is terrible
renoaz
Apr 2, 2014 at 3:41 pm
“In Seattle, players can expect to pay $500 for an initial two-hour lesson and then $250 per hour after that.”
Think I’d take my chances with Sean Foley. What’s the worst that could happen…microdiscectomy, for a pinched nerve.
James
Apr 2, 2014 at 10:50 am
I saw this thing on Golf Channel at the PGA Merchandise show. They had a guy do Jim Furyk’s swing and it looked like it could really hurt you. I think everyone has their own swing, their own signature in essence. Being strapped to a robot to teach you an unnatural motion seems a bit dangerous to me.
David
Apr 2, 2014 at 10:32 am
Righty club, righty swing…Lefty grip, lefty glove…C’mon
Bob
Apr 2, 2014 at 12:25 am
Hope it’s April Fools. If not, how depressing.
nikkyd
Apr 1, 2014 at 8:51 pm
I hope this is april fools or im going back to semi pro football lol
yo!
Apr 1, 2014 at 6:53 pm
Who has the perfect swing? Lee Trevino, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer? Maybe iron byron or robogolfpro?
John
Apr 1, 2014 at 5:45 pm
April fools right???
HD
Apr 1, 2014 at 7:38 pm
has to be April Fools
James
Apr 5, 2014 at 7:17 pm
I work at a driving range in Seattle that Jeff Shaw gives lessons at periodically, and this is no joke. He’s been pitching this machine for the last year. It’s not that I don’t believe it’s going to work, but I’m not dropping $250 an hour.