
Frame 01The story
Built by a golfer, for golfers, over 14 years.
SwingShot didn't start as an app. It started as a question on a golf course in 2012: can we capture a swing on video without slowing down the group behind us?
SwingShot was formed over 14 years ago in Madison, NJ, using on-course video to improve a golfer's game without slowing down the pace of play.

Frame 02In his own words
The story, from Pat.
Frame 03Timeline
14 years from camera to app.
On-course video, no slow-down
Pat O'Donnell builds the first version of SwingShot, a hardware camera that could capture a swing without slowing the group behind you.
Hardware era
SwingShot cameras capture swings on the course without slowing play. The product works, but installing hardware at every course never scaled.
The pivot decision
Smartphone cameras hit the resolution threshold. PGA Instructors start taking digital clients. The friction shifted from capture to feedback speed.
App launch
SwingShot relaunches as a mobile app. 14 years of on-course video know-how, but now scaled by the phone in every golfer's pocket.
PGA feedback within hours, not weeks
A network of PGA Instructors, every swing reviewed within hours. The original mission: fast, useful feedback, finally at scale.
Note 01The bet we made
Why we didn't build an AI tool.
When we planned the app relaunch, the easy path was AI. Train a model on tour swings. Compare your swing to the closest match. Tell you what's different. Ship it.
But the gap between "the model says your spine angle dropped 8 degrees" and a PGA Instructor saying "your shoulder turn is short because you're gripping too tight at address, so try the towel drill" is the entire product.
AI can measure. PGA Instructors can read. We built around that.

A PGA Instructor reads context an algorithm can't, and names the one fix.
Frame 04What we won't bend on
Three things that aren't up for debate.
- 01
Transparency over polish
We tell golfers what we don't have yet. We name the bug. No marketing double-talk. - 02
Real PGA Instructors, not AI
AI can measure spine angle. It can't tell you which fix is right for your swing. We use PGA Instructors because that's what actually helps you improve. - 03
No retention tricks
Cancel in-app. No phone call, no retention script, no win-back offer. We'd rather earn your money every month than trap it.
Note 02The team
Who's building this.
Pat O'Donnell
Current President of SwingShot with over 40 years of startup/corporate sales and marketing management experience. Founded SwingShot as a tech hardware company (HD sports camera) in 2008 and went to market in 2013. Involved in all aspects of SwingShot including, manufacturing, marketing, sales, and development. Pivoted to software and remote video feedback system in 2021. Responsible for developing and growing the team to include technology, product/business development, and SAAS marketing expertise.
Founded and successfully grew Airless Technology Group, a microcellular polyurethane non-pneumatic bicycle, wheelchair, and wheelbarrow company. Grew sales from 0 - $7m+ in 3 years. Sold to Greentyre in 4 years. 14+ yrs. as Regional Sales Director for Graphics Systems with Canon Business Solutions. $30M+ revenue. 12 years as President's Club recipient. 13+ yrs. as Senior VP of sales with Merrill Lynch and Prudential Securities. 10 years as President's Club recipient.
Lee Jewell
Mr. Jewell has 35 years of Marketing and Sales Executive experience, specializing in technology-based products in the semiconductor and golf industries. Mr. Jewell was the Director of Sales for GPS Industries, a Vancouver, BC-based company specializing in GPS and golf course management systems used throughout the world. Prior to GPS Industries, Mr. Jewell was Sales Director, Eastern Region for Prolink, the first GPS and course management software within the golf industry.
Mr. Jewell was the Co-founder of J & S Technical Associates which designed, manufactured, and serviced patented specialty cleaning systems used in semiconductor fabrication facilities. Semiconductor Equipment Companies represented included Materials Research Corp, Novellus, and Advanced Semiconductor Materials. Mr. Jewell has a background in Mechanical Technology Engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Andrew F. Smith
- Captain, United States Navy (Ret)
Andrew is currently the Chief Operating Officer for SwingShot, LLC and was appointed to the role in January 2025 after having served on the Board since 2021. As a lifelong amateur golfer, he is passionate about the game and excited to enable access to PGA Instructors to those golfers that are looking to improve their enjoyment in the game.
After graduating from the University of New Hampshire in 1990, Andrew would serve in the United States Navy for 30 years, primarily flying long range maritime patrol aircraft. He held command three times, serving as the Commanding Officer of Patrol Squadron 45 in Jacksonville, FL from 2008-2010, the amphibious assault ship USS WASP (LHD 1) in Norfolk, VA from 2015-2017, and finally in the Navy ROTC Unit at Rutgers University and Princeton University in New Jersey from 2018-2021. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Naval War College in Newport, RI, (2002) and the National War College in Washington, DC (2013).
Since retiring from the Navy in 2021, Andrew is also a volunteer mentor to the Veterans Ventures Program, which is designed to assist transitioning military veterans in creating an actionable business plan in order to establishing their own business.
Bob Baldassari
Mr. Baldassari is a member of the PGA of America for 29 years and the 2006 national PGA Player Development Award winner for excellence in growing the game, Mr. Baldassari is the founder and Managing Partner for Re-Imagine Golf LLC. A second-generation PGA member, Mr. Baldassari recently served as the PGA of America's Director of Youth Golf Development. As part of the PGA's strategic initiatives to grow the game, he oversaw all national efforts to help promote, create and deliver junior and family-based golf programming for the PGA of America's 29,000 Professionals. Mr. Baldassari served as a leader on the PGA team that created PGA Junior League Golf and PGA Junior Golf Camps, and with Augusta National Golf Club and the USGA for the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship.
A Middle Atlantic PGA Section Past President, and 2017 Eastern Shore Golf Hall of Fame inductee, Mr. Baldassari served as PGA General Manager at PGA Village in Port. Lucie, Florida, from 2007-2011.
Mr. Baldassari is a nationally recognized expert for his innovations in grassroots growth-of-the-game and business development initiatives, leadership skills, and communications expertise, and has shared his expertise for golf instruction programs on numerous national television and radio networks, as well as print publications. He has served as the National Chair of the PGA's Communications and Public Relations Committee and as Chair for the Middle Atlantic PGA Section, as he led PGA members in gaining recognition for the critical role they play in attracting new players to the game.
Previously, Mr. Baldassari was PGA general manager at Cannon Ridge Golf Club, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where he worked for PGA Past President Gary Schaal and former PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman. Mr. Baldassari was named the 2001 Middle Atlantic PGA Golf Professional of the Year, the 2000 Middle Atlantic PGA Section Bill Strausbaugh/Club Relations Award recipient and 1997 Middle Atlantic PGA Section Merchandiser of the Year (Resort).
He has received the keys to two cities—Ocean City, Maryland and Fredericksburg, VA—for his unselfish service and tireless involvement in their communities. Mr. Baldassari was also appointed by the Governor of Maryland to represent the golf industry on a water advisory committee, in order to preserve and protect the environment.
Vikki Vanderpool Valentine, PGA
- 2009 National PGA Youth Development Leader
- 2016 GRAA Growth of the Game Top 50 Teaching Professional
- 2008 Tennessee PGA Junior Golf Leader
- U.S. Kids Golf Top 50 Master Instructor
A native of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Vikki Vanderpool Valentine, PGA is an award-winning PGA Class A Professional, Quarter Century Member and Life Member of the PGA of America whose career spans more than 25 years in golf instruction, player development, coaching, golf operations, competitive golf, and instructional technology.
Vikki played collegiate golf at the University of South Carolina before competing professionally for four years on what was then known as the Futures Tour. Her amateur accomplishments include being named Virginia Golfer of the Year and winning both the Virginia State Women's Amateur Championship and Virginia Women's Stroke Play Championship in the same year. She also competed in the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship and qualified for three U.S. Women's Amateur Championships. As a professional, she added the Carolinas PGA Women's Open Championship to her competitive record.
As a PGA Instructor, Vikki's work in junior golf and player development culminated in receiving the 2009 National PGA Junior Golf Leader Award. She was also recognized for her junior golf leadership by the Tennessee PGA Section and Middle Tennessee Chapter, named a U.S. Kids Golf Top 50 Instructor three times, and selected to the inaugural class of U.S. Kids Golf Top 50 Master Instructors. In 2016, she was recognized as a GRAA Top 50 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional.
Her coaching career has included serving as Head Women's Golf Coach at the College of William & Mary and as Head Golf Coach for the boys' and girls' varsity programs at Brentwood Academy, where she established the school's first girls' golf team.
Vikki was also an early innovator in online golf instruction and instructional technology. As a founding employee of SwingPal/Athlete Nation, she served as Vice President of Coaching Operations and Director of Instruction, helping develop the technology and coaching model that ultimately became Golf Channel SwingFix.
Vikki joined SwingShot in 2025 as an online coach and consultant. In June 2026, she became Video Content Director, working closely with PGA and LPGA Professionals to develop, organize, and shape instructional video content for the SwingShot platform. Drawing on decades of teaching experience and her background in online instruction, she helps ensure SwingShot content is engaging, practical, and grounded in quality professional golf instruction.
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Try what we built.
Download SwingShot and send a swing. A PGA Instructor reviews it within hours. See the difference 14 years of building this makes.