Are you tired of hearing about AI? Doesn’t it seem like AI has found its way into every golf club tech story this year?
While I have a finite understanding of its application in golf club design and engineering, I am intrigued by AI’s ability to make recommendations based on specific promptings.
For example, what if I wanted to buy a new pair of golf shoes? I need them to look cool and feel comfortable. Traction and stability aren’t as important to me. And I’m on a budget so I’d like to find something that’s less than $150.
Can ChatGPT (or any AI bot) make a solid, data-driven recommendation?
I prompted three different AI bots to recommend golf shoes based on my criteria listed above. Each was given the exact same prompt in order to provide an accurate comparison. The results are very interesting. Besides reaching some solid conclusions, the difference between each bot offers an intriguing glimpse at just how vast—and potentially dangerous—AI can be.
Chat GPT Recommendations
I asked Chat GPT to recommend a golf shoe based on my personal preferences. Here’s what Chat GPT said.
Certainly! Considering your priorities for comfort, aesthetics, and budget, here are three spikeless golf shoes that you might find suitable:
- Comfort: adidas is known for producing comfortable golf shoes, and the Boost technology in these shoes provides excellent cushioning.
- Style: The Adipower S Boost 3 has a sleek and modern design, offering a good balance between sporty and stylish.
- Price: As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, these shoes were within the $150 range, but prices may vary, so it’s worth checking current prices.
- Comfort: FootJoy is a reputable brand in golf footwear, and the Flex XP line is designed with comfort in mind. The shoes are lightweight and flexible.
- Style: The Flex XP combines a sporty look with a touch of sophistication, making them versatile on and off the golf course.
- Price: FootJoy often offers good value for the price, and the Flex XP should be within or close to your budget.
- Comfort: PUMA’s Ignite foam technology is designed to provide responsive cushioning, ensuring comfort during your rounds.
- Style: The Ignite NXT Solelace has a contemporary design with a clean and attractive look, blending performance with style.
- Price: PUMA golf shoes often offer a good balance between quality and price, and the Ignite NXT Solelace should be within your budget.
Remember to check the latest reviews and pricing before making a final decision, as these factors can change over time. Additionally, trying on shoes in person, if possible, can give you a better sense of the comfort and fit.
My Expert Analysis of Chat GPT’s Recommended Golf Shoes
The elephant in the room is this: the Chat GPT I used only has access to data prior to January 2022. This, of course, will skew the results to feature only shoes that were available then.
Overall, I feel like the AI did a decent job with my prompt. All three recommended shoes are more comfortable and flexible, rather than stable. While I may not love how the PUMA’s look, I am a fan of the Flex XP and adidas Adipower Boost 3.
As far as price goes, all three recommendations hit my budget.
My big gripe though is that, even without super-current data, the recommended shoes seem a little … dated? With the exception of the Flex XP, the other two models are pretty darned old. The PUMAs came out in 2018!
Perhaps I should have asked for current models only.
Moving on!
Google Bard Recommendations
I asked Google Bard to recommend a golf shoe based on my personal preferences. Here’s what Google Bard said.
Here are my top 3 recommendations for spikeless golf shoes that prioritize comfort, style, and affordability (all under $150):
These shoes are known for their exceptional comfort, thanks to their anatomical last and soft, yet supportive, uppers. They also feature a stylish, hybrid design that looks great on and off the course. Ecco Biom Hybrid 3 typically costs around $120.
These shoes offer a blend of comfort and performance, with a comfortable, athletic fit and a flexible outsole that provides good traction. They also come in a variety of stylish colors and designs. FootJoy Flex typically costs around $90.
New Balance Fresh Foam Contend X Golf
These shoes are designed for all-day comfort, with a plush Fresh Foam midsole and a soft, breathable upper. They also have a stylish, modern design that looks great on and off the course. New Balance Fresh Foam Contend X Golf typically costs around $80.
My Expert Analysis of Bard’s Recommended Golf Shoes
Right away, I’m more satisfied with Bard’s recommendations. I can say that, for the most part, they all hit my criteria in one way or another. All fell well within my budget and I do like how each of them looks.
New Balance Fresh Foam cushion is known to be uber-comfortable and ECCO’s shoes always provide an anatomically comfortable fit.
It’s also here that we first see overlap with the FootJoy Flex. Maybe it needs to be at the top of my list? While the Flex and Flex XP aren’t identical, they’re pretty similar golf shoes.
Bing Copilot Recommendations
I asked Bing Copilot to recommend a golf shoe based on my personal preferences. Here’s what Copilot said:
Certainly! When it comes to spikeless golf shoes, comfort is key, especially if you’re spending long hours on the course. Let’s find you some stylish and comfortable options within your budget of $150:
- Comfort: The adidas CodeChaos 22 is exceptionally comfortable, making it an excellent choice for long rounds. Its underfoot cushioning ensures a pleasant walking experience.
- Style: With a sleek design, it strikes a balance between modern aesthetics and functionality.
- Price: Priced within your budget, this shoe offers great value for money.
- Comfort: The PAYNTR X 003F provides great comfort without breaking the bank. You’ll appreciate its cushioned feel during your rounds.
- Style: While it may not be the flashiest shoe, it’s a solid all-arounder with a clean look.
- Price: This budget-friendly option ensures you stay comfortable without compromising on style.
- Comfort: The Skechers GO GOLF Elite 5 GF punches well above its price tag. Its ArchFit insole provides exceptional comfort, and the wide base ensures stability.
- Style: While not overly flashy, it’s a classic design that looks good on the course.
- Price: This shoe offers great value for its comfort and performance.
Remember, these recommendations prioritize comfort and style, so you can enjoy your golf game without any distractions. Happy golfing! 🏌️♂️👟
My Expert Analysis of Bing Copilot’s Recommended Golf Shoes
Well, what do you know? It looks like Bing used my Most Wanted Spikeless Shoe test to formulate its recommendations! Unlike the other AI bots, Copilot listed the sources at the end of its response. All four references were from MyGolfSpy.
This, of course, was unprompted by me.
I like how the recommendations are definitely filtered by price. For example, the Payntr X001 and X005 both made my top five but were omitted from Copilot’s recommendations because they were too expensive.
Of course, as the author of the piece that Copilot used, I feel good about its recommendations. I will say, though, that I don’t necessarily consider the Skechers a “good-looking” golf shoe.
What Can AI Do For You?
I hope you learned as much from this exercise in AI as I did. It’s curious how all can be prompted in the same way and reach such different conclusions.
Overall, I feel that, with a little refinement, AI has the capability to make solid product recommendations. A lot of it right now comes down to how it’s prompted. But with machine-learning capabilities and giving an AI model time to learn your tendencies and preferences, it could be a potentially powerful tool.
But, for right now, I’ll just have a little more fun and hope that Chat GPT can convince my wife to let me buy a few more pairs of golf shoes.
Siamese Moose
3 months ago
I bet you could sell a lot of those (Bengal) tiger shoes in Cincinnati.