Leadbetter’s ‘My Personal Golf Trainer’ is world-first for Wii

Golf swing analysis & instruction by David Leadbetter now available at home

STOURBRIDGE, UK – First there was Wii Fit, now it’s time to slim down your golf handicap thanks to the perfect game-improvement partnership: the Nintendo Wii and the world’s best-known golf coach, David Leadbetter.

Using the unique, user-friendly interface that has made the Wii a global hit in millions of households, golf lessons are about to take a huge leap forward when the most advanced home golf product in history goes on sale in the UK next month.

With features and functionality which improve on those offered by golf simulators costing thousands, Data Design Interactive’s new ‘My Personal Golf Trainer’ will be released in March 2010, taking the Nintendo Wii well beyond games and transforming it into a training device.

The Wii’s enormous popularity will bring more people into the sport, and it removes the intimidation factor that some beginners – particularly female and younger golfers – experience at first with golf lessons. And if golfers use their Wii for a few minutes each day to perfect their swing, their handicaps are sure to tumble!

In a world-first, and featuring advice and personalised feedback from the world’s #1 golf instructor, David Leadbetter, ‘My Personal Golf Trainer with IMG Academies and David Leadbetter’ uses the Wii Balance Board and the Wii MotionPlusTM Controller to analyse the full golf swing in 3D space.

Following Leadbetter’s best-selling ‘7 Steps to a Better Golf Swing’ principles, ‘My Personal Golf Trainer’ offers instructional videos and suggests drills for each of the seven basic components of a golf swing: grip, posture, alignment, ball position, coil, swing shape, and tempo.

Golfers can improve their swing step-by-step in easy stages, following on-screen instructions, and can then graduate from training mode to the practice range, and finally onto a full 18-hole golf game where the golfer can choose to receive feedback from Leadbetter, including suggested drills for improvement, after each shot played.

The ultra-sensitive, gyroscopically-controlled Wii MotionPlus controller, introduced in June 2009, enables ‘My Personal Golf Trainer’ to become the first home golf product to record and analyze a full golf swing from address to backswing, impact to follow through, in three dimensions and over time – all on a home TV screen.

Golfers can compare their own golf swing with an ‘ideal’ swing, to identify areas for improvement. With 3D replays golfers can view their swing from any angle for detailed analysis. ‘My Personal Golf Trainer’ then goes further and provides step-by-step corrective drills, guiding the golfer through a simple interactive process. It also provides complete analysis of clubhead speed, angle and force through the entire swing process, and includes weight transfer, swing plane and tempo information.

The result is practice with a purpose, and the opportunity to work on the golf swing in a convenient home environment – either before, during or after a series of golf lessons with a PGA professional – enabling the golfer to build a repeatable, reliable and instinctive golf swing.

“Good golf is built around feel, and a few minutes at home with the Wii is a great way of being able to maintain the perfect feel, and to allow yourself to learn to swing consistently,” said David Leadbetter.

“What you get from ‘My Personal Golf Trainer’, more than anything else, is my feedback – so you know instantaneously when you are doing it right or wrong. It gives you the opportunity to repeat a movement consistently, and with tailored feedback you’ll learn a repeating motion which, hopefully, you’ll be able to take out on the golf course successfully.”

To date, a few golf training devices have been available for the home, but have only given basic feedback limited to just the impact portion of a swing. ‘My Personal Golf Trainer’ takes the golfer through the entire golf swing, and produces analysis comparable with full-size golf simulator installations costing thousands of pounds, way beyond the reach of most golfers.

Stewart Green, CEO of Data Design Interactive, said: “David Leadbetter is recognised as the #1 instructor in golf, and his instructional DVDs are perennial top sellers. We are delighted that this incredible new product features Leadbetter’s world-class personal golf instruction. We hope that it will redefine the way that millions of golfers around the globe will think about their golf swing. We also expect it to encourage more golfers to seek golf lessons with their local PGA professional, and they will find that 'My Personal Golf Trainer' is the ideal product to refine the swing thoughts that their pro has given them, after the golf lesson.

“The new ‘My Personal Golf Trainer’ for Wii enables golfers to move from passively watching an instructional DVD, to actively swinging a ‘club’ and receiving personalized feedback with suggested drills from David Leadbetter himself – all from the comfort of home, for less than £100.”

‘My Personal Golf Trainer’ will be available in March 2010 for purchase online, and from April 2010 at golf retailers throughout the UK with a suggested retail price of £99.

To learn more about Data Design Interactive and its ‘My Personal Trainer’ series, visit www.mypersonalgolftrainer.com.

Ends.

IMAGE: PACKSHOT
My Personal Golf Trainer with
IMG Academies and David Leadbetter
(Nintendo Wii, Spring 2010)

CLICK PICTURE>>>>
TO DOWNLOAD HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGE.

IMAGE: LOGO
My Personal Golf Trainer with
IMG Academies and David Leadbetter
(Nintendo Wii, Spring 2010)

CLICK PICTURE>>>>
TO DOWNLOAD HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGE.

IMAGE: SCREENSHOT 01
My Personal Golf Trainer with
IMG Academies and David Leadbetter
(Nintendo Wii, Spring 2010)

CLICK PICTURE>>>>
TO DOWNLOAD HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGE.

IMAGE: SCREENSHOT 02
My Personal Golf Trainer with
IMG Academies and David Leadbetter
(Nintendo Wii, Spring 2010)

CLICK PICTURE>>>>
TO DOWNLOAD HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGE.

IMAGE: SCREENSHOT 03
My Personal Golf Trainer with
IMG Academies and David Leadbetter
(Nintendo Wii, Spring 2010)

CLICK PICTURE>>>>
TO DOWNLOAD HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGE.

IMAGE: SCREENSHOT 04
My Personal Golf Trainer with
IMG Academies and David Leadbetter
(Nintendo Wii, Spring 2010)

CLICK PICTURE>>>>
TO DOWNLOAD HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGE.

IMAGE: SCREENSHOT 05
My Personal Golf Trainer with
IMG Academies and David Leadbetter
(Nintendo Wii, Spring 2010)

CLICK PICTURE>>>>
TO DOWNLOAD HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGE.

IMAGE: SCREENSHOT 06
My Personal Golf Trainer with
IMG Academies and David Leadbetter
(Nintendo Wii, Spring 2010)

CLICK PICTURE>>>>
TO DOWNLOAD HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGE.

IMAGE: SCREENSHOT 07
My Personal Golf Trainer with
IMG Academies and David Leadbetter
(Nintendo Wii, Spring 2010)

CLICK PICTURE>>>>
TO DOWNLOAD HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGE.

IMAGE: LOGO
Data Design Interactive
(Publishers of My Personal Golf Trainer
with IMG Academies and
David Leadbetter
(Nintendo Wii, Spring 2010))

CLICK PICTURE>>>>
TO DOWNLOAD HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGE.

IMAGE: LOGO
David Leadbetter Golf Academy

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TO DOWNLOAD HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGE.

Raymond Bridgewater, Media Manager, DDI
Tel: +44 (0)1384 447900, Email: Raymond_B@datadesign.uk.com
Web: www.datadesign.uk.com

Data Design Interactive is a leading international developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software products for Microsoft, Intel, Sony and Nintendo. The company has built a diverse portfolio of products that span a wide range of categories and target markets. The company’s new “My Personal Trainer“ series launches an exciting new genre in computer sports using the world’s greatest sports experts to teach and guide players through real sports in the comfort of home.

About David Leadbetter / David Leadbetter Golf Academies

For 25 years, David Leadbetter and David Leadbetter Golf Academies have provided world class golf instruction to golfers of all ages and abilities. David Leadbetter is the World's #1 Golf Instructor and coach to countless PGA Tour, European PGA Tour, LPGA Tour and Champions Tour players. There are currently 27 David Leadbetter Golf Academies strategically located around the world in 13 countries.

About IMG Academies

IMG Academies is the world’s foremost authority in athletic, academic and personal development. Over the span of 30-plus years, the Academy’s advanced training methods have helped countless junior, adult, collegiate and professional athletes improve in sport and life by providing an energetic and inspiring atmosphere on a nearly 350-acre campus in Bradenton, Florida. Consisting of the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy, IMG Leadbetter Golf Academy, IMG Performance Institute, and IMG Baseball, Basketball and Soccer academies, the Academy attracts more than 12,000 dedicated athletes from approximately 80 countries every year. Through specialized training, expert coaching and customizable programs for all ages and ability levels, IMG Academies offers the ultimate preparation for life in and out of the athletic arena.