An apparatus for testing a golf club. The apparatus holds a golf club, and moves that club through a downswing that extends from an initial position that is at the top of the downswing to at least an impact position in which the golf club head would impact a golf ball. The apparatus includes a support frame, motors, an elongate member, a gripping device for holding a golf club, and a controller. The elongate member has an inner section connected to an outer section by a swivel joint. The gripping device is connected to the outer section by a revolute joint. The controller generates motor drive signals to cause the motors to rotate to effect the downswing such that, during the downswing, the outer section rotates relative to the inner section and the golf club face is in an aligned position when the club head is at the impact position.