Most golfers have seen ads for a swing trainer, an AI-powered golf app, or a piece of technology promising more distance, straighter shots, and lower scores.
The golf world is becoming increasingly tech-driven, and with so many tools available, it's natural to wonder: can technology actually help you become a better golfer?
In this episode of Techless with Lindsay, I sat down with expert Ryan McGinnis, PGA Teaching Professional at Turning Stone Resort Casino, to discuss golf technology, AI coaching tools, golf data, and whether technology can replace traditional instruction.
To watch this podcast episode check us out on Youtube.
Golf has always been a game of practice, repetition, and experience.
So why introduce technology?
Today, technology is putting insights into golfers' hands that were once only available through hours of instruction or expensive training tools. For busy professionals, that means the ability to pull out a phone, review their swing, access instruction, and work on improvement whenever they have time.
Golfers can now learn faster and gain insights that previously required hours with an instructor.
While most people think of AI as a tool for golfers, Ryan is using it as a coaching tool as well.
One platform he uses is Skillset, which helps automate lesson notes. Instead of manually documenting everything from a lesson, AI creates notes that can immediately be shared with students after they're done practicing.
That means less time spent on paperwork and more time helping golfers improve.
It's a great example of AI doing what it does best: handling repetitive tasks while allowing humans to focus on the things that matter most.
Every week there's a new gadget, training aid, or app claiming to fix your swing.
Ryan's advice is simple: Ask someone who understands the golf swing.
Many golfers fall into the trap of purchasing technology simply because it looks impressive online. The reality is that something that helps one golfer may do absolutely nothing for another.
The best way to determine if a product is worth your money is to get advice from a qualified instructor who understands your game. Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes it's not.
If golfers are looking for a technology tool that provides meaningful feedback, Ryan highlighted Sportsbox AI.
What makes it different is its ability to provide measurable data.
Instead of simply telling you whether a swing looks good or bad, it gives golfers information about movement patterns and specific areas they can work on.
When discussing AI, this question always comes up.
Will technology eventually replace coaches? Ryan doesn't think so.
In fact, he believes technology makes one-on-one instruction even more valuable.
Golf is played by humans, and every golfer moves differently. An AI tool can provide general recommendations, but it cannot account for your physical limitations, your flexibility, your tendencies, or how your body moves.
Technology can provide data. A coach provides context. And that's a distinction that isn't going away anytime soon.
One of the technologies Ryan is most excited about isn't an app at all.
It's TrackMan Range.
Golfers can practice, collect data on their shots, and leave with detailed information stored directly on their phones. That information can then be used to better understand strengths, weaknesses, and trends over time.
The challenge isn't collecting the data. The challenge is knowing what to do with it.
One of my favorite moments from the conversation was realizing how similar golf technology is to business AI.
You can have all the data in the world, but if you don't know how to communicate with AI, you're probably going to get generic answers.
Ryan explained that golfers often take data and ask broad questions, only to receive broad recommendations in return.
The more specific information you provide, the better the output becomes.
In the tech world, we call this prompt engineering.
In golf, it's often the difference between useful advice and wasted information.
Not every takeaway from the episode involved technology.
When asked for a quick tip for professionals heading into a corporate golf outing, Ryan offered one remarkably simple suggestion:
If you're reaching for a seven iron, consider grabbing a six iron instead.
Most golfers lose consistency when they try to swing too hard. More club and a smoother swing often produce better results than trying to force extra distance.
Simple advice. No AI required.
We also spent time discussing PGA HOPE, a program that uses golf to support veterans and active-duty military members.
While technology was the focus of our conversation, PGA HOPE serves as a reminder that some of golf's greatest benefits have nothing to do with technology at all.
The program creates opportunities for veterans to connect with one another, build community, and spend time together through the game of golf.
Sometimes the most valuable part of golf isn't the score. It's the people.
Golf technology is getting smarter. AI can analyze swings. Apps can track performance. Launch monitors can generate more data than ever before. But the lesson from this episode wasn't that technology is replacing golf.
It's that technology is becoming another tool in a golfer's bag.
The golfers who improve the most won't be the ones with the most gadgets. They'll be the ones who know how to combine technology, coaching, practice, and experience.
Because AI might be able to analyze your swing. It still can't swing the club for you.
Want to learn more about how technology, AI, and data are changing the way we work and play? Subscribe to Techless with Lindsay for conversations that make technology easier to understand and use.
Want to hear more from Golf expert Ryan McGinnis? Check out his website today!