Ever wanted to be able to say that your personal golf trainer is David Leadbetter? Now you can without having to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Coming this October, we will all have the chance to get some of Leadbetter’s best tips and drills, along with his swing analysis, from the comfort of our own living rooms.
This year at the annual E3 gaming convention, Data Design Interactive unveiled their latest development, targeted towards golfers and their never-ending quest to get better. For players looking for alternative ways to better their game, Data Design Interactive enlisted world renowned coach David Leadbetter in producing an exciting new game titled “My Personal Golf Trainer.” This new game makes use of the Nintendo Wii’s motion capturing controllers (known as the Wii MotionPlus and Wii Balance Board) to help guide your way to a better swing. Hit the jump to find out more about this upcoming release!
Let me preface this entire column by first saying this is not a substitution for proper lessons from your local PGA teaching pro. Nothing comes close to proper lessons from a living, breathing pro, regardless of how good the technology is. This game does, however, have the potential to be a great way to reinforce the teachings of your pro.
Game Overview
“My Personal Golf Trainer” takes advantage of the Wii Balance Board and the Wii MotionPlus controller in order to provide analysis of all the facets of your swing, including swing speed, weight transfer, swing path, and more. The game incorporates David Ledbetter’s 7 Steps to a Better Golf Swing and gives personalized feedback according to Ledbetter’s 7 steps. It also provides drills and videos to enforce the changes recommended by the game. The player’s swing gradually improves as each of the basics are addressed. The game can then progress to the driving range, and then later to a full 18-hole round. During the round, Ledbetter can be summoned to provide feedback and suggestions. Your entire swing will be tracked and recorded in 3D using the balance board and Motion Plus controller.
Once a swing is recorded, you have the ability to analyze your swing and see the faults, just as if someone were there videoing you. Wanna see where you’re at during impact? Now you can. Shanked a shot into the pond on the right? Ledbetter can help identify why, and then suggest ways to eliminate the faulty movement. When you consider that parts of the swing such as tempo, balance, and weight transfer can be practiced without an actual club, you can see how this game could really help your game.
You could spend thousands of dollars on other devices that will give you some of the same information My Personal Golf Trainer does, but they’re not going to give you feedback from one of the most highly regarded instructors in the world. Game content such as the instructional videos and the drills are most likely worth the cost of the equivalent Leadbetter DVDs.
Pricing & Availability
The game itself will be available for right around $50, but there is more to it than just the game. The Wii Fit bundle, which includes the Balance Board, is going to run around $90 at most major retailers. The MotionPlus controller can be had for $20-$25. As you can see, if you’re a newcomer to the Wii’s motion-sensitive controllers, you’ll have to spend a little bit before you can take advantage of “My Personal Golf Trainer.” If you already own a Wii, and the previously listed hardware, you’re ready to go! Look for the actual game to make its way to stores this coming October.
Final Thoughts
I believe this is an amazing use of technology, and can be a great help, especially for those that live in areas where the weather prohibits golf during the quickly approaching winter season. The concept is great, but as I said before, this is not a substitution for formal lessons. It could, however, serve as a tool to give the golfer a lot of positive reinforcement.
The only issue I see is the controller itself. Without the full weight and length of a club in your hands, it’s going to feel a bit different, and may lead you to swing differently than you would normally. Still, I see this as a great way to practice good tempo, weight transfer, and other components of the swing. With alternative methods of controls, such as the Nintendo Wii’s MotionPlus, and the recently announced Project Natal from Microsoft, an entirely new form of training is possible. I personally believe we are just seeing the beginning of something great!
That sounds pretty cool! I agree about the controller though. When I am playing Tiger with my step-son, I have to swing with one hand because it feels so awkward. I wish they would come up with some sort of real club solution
Not too sure about this one….. Many people take wonderful practice swings without a ball present. Then put a ball down and you will see something entirely different. Another concern with this product is that you are swinging a controller……..
Just another reason why I should get a Wii.
I live in Iowa and have to drive at least an 2 hours to get to an indoor range, so this could be a small advantage to keep the swing going thoughout the winter months. I enjoy playing Tiger on a friends Wii, but I agree, the controller acting as the club feels odd when you already have a pretty good swing. Although, my buddy, who just started, has seen a fair amount of improvement in his overall golf game. He has a better understanding of all the facets involved in making a good solid golf swing. If Tiger can help, Lord knows what Leadbetter’s tips could do….
I have to say I’m pretty skeptical. I love video gadgets and these type of things but without a realistic club, I don’t see how it’ll be beneficial. As Steve mentioned, put a ball in front of someone and you can see an entirely different swing.
It would be interesting to see a full club solution for a controller. I would have to believe though that most people won’t have the necessary space in their house / gameroom for a full club swing, I know I wouldn’t without raising my ceilings.
Yup, the controller will be the bad spot. However, I’m gonna find a way to mount the controller to a real club. The balance board brings you off the ground a good 2 inches. Gonna need a swing board as well to bring the green off the ground 2 inches as well.
Gonna be a fun project 🙂
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This seems pretty cool, maybe with some sort of innovation.
I could see some pros coming along and using motion tracking IN golf clubs to prove if people are on plane or not.
The secret to Tiger Woods on the Wii is to use your left hand to hold the controller. The one arm swing is productive if you simply move the controller to your left hand, that lets you focus on all of the swing attributes that really matter. I will buy this new product and I hope it will be helpful.
What a dumb idea. If they incorporated both the balance board and the MotionPlus controller into a game like Tiger Woods’ or some other golf game, that would be a really neat addition to a game like that… it would make it darn close to virtual reality, rather than being able to hit 340 yard drives with a lazy swing of one arm…
But as a tool for actual improvement on the golf course? Please. I guarantee this product will groove more bad habits than anything.
Sounds pretty neat in theory, but as several other people pointed out, without the feel and weight of your actual club and without a ball actually in front of you, it doesn’t seem like it will work.
This product will likely make you good at video game golf, but that is all. There may be some good drills in here and this might help you in that way but I wouldn’t expect anything too remarkable in this.
Wouldn’t it be cooler if there were small sensors you could stick onto a club? You could use wiffle balls to complete the illusion.
This is just the latest in a long line of golf gimmicks that won’t really help your game I feel.
Not a huge Leadbetter fan and I am a little skeptical of this given it is on the Wii. With that said, if this came out for the XBox Live Natal and you got to swing a real club and hit a ball then THAT would be cool. Until then, I’ll wait and just use my own camera.
Mostly valuable as a sign of the tools and training methods we may use in the future.
Somebody just needs to invent a device that allows you to clip the wiimote to your club! At least it would be a start…
Do you think this program will provide “audio” comments on the swing instead of text one has to read?
They mention…David will “tell you” exactly how you are positioned, leaning to the side or back to far etc
ok it is now november and have not seen it anywhere. any info anyone?
I’ll be getting this. I saw somewhere that it’s now slated to be released at the end of the year…
When will this be realeased? My dad wants it for Christmas this year.
Does anyone know where I can buy this?
My son wanted this game for Christmas..but no one I talk to at the WII places have it?? ANY ideas where to get it…it is not shown on the WII site at all?? Did it get produced??
Regarding the weight of the controller, I was sitting in church service thinking of this issue (don’t judge). My son has a Swiftstik baseball training stick ($35). It is 34 inches and has the weight of a golf club. I taped the controller to the lower part of the grip and fashined a removable widget to insert to hold down the trigger. Works great. Took the Tiger Woods golf game to a new level.
Since reading your review of this product, My Personal Golf Trainer , I’ve looked, called, emailed, browsed, written, and used every other form of communication to locate it and buy it. No one in the business has even heard of it. Does it really exist? Can you provide information about its availability?
GC
anyone know where to find the Wii My Personal Golf Trainer??
When is the release date?
It has supposedly already been released but I can’t find it anywhere
The game was delayed. Look here for more.
The training program (it isn’t a ‘game’) will be available online mid March, the game will be in retail May, plenty of time for fathers day. The completed product was demo’d at the PGA 2010 show, it works very well and accurate with just the remote and balance board.
Accordigng to http://www.my-personal-trainer-game.com the trainer has been delayed until May. You can also register there to be notified via email when the trainer becomes available. Montana golf season starts in March/April time, so I’m going to watch over the summer to see if the price goes down (bad timing on their part). I’m going to mount a controller to a weighted practice swing stick from Wal-Mart or a cut stick for this and Tiger 10. This will allow me to do a full swing in my basement without slamming the ceiling (I’m 6’4″). The only setback I see so far is I’ve heard you need to push all 4 buttons and remain motionless for 3 or 4 seconds before you can swing, but I have all summer to figure that out. 😉
You do have to hold down 4 buttons – this is to ensure you have a proper 2 handed overlapping grip – as you would on a real club. Correct grip is part of the training procedure. Holding positions for 4 seconds is to help develop ‘muscle memory’. This is a real golf training product, not a game like Tiger Woods where you can fling the controller with one hand in any direction and get a hole in one! Unlike ‘games’ which have a short shelf life, this product is expected to be available and selling for years so there will be no price drop later in the year. Also it will not be available in walmart or best buy, only sporting outlets or your pro shop.
How do i know if i hit a fat, thin, topped shot, etc.?
I got mine today as it is now released in the uk via internet sales as of today. I have spent 4 hours on it and can say it does what it says. I play off of a 15 handicap and am prone to hooking the ball and low and behold thats excatly what i was doing on the systems driving range. There are loads of drills to try out and i can see this really helping. The graphics leave a lot to be desired so if you’re looking for a tiger woods style game forget it. My only other gripe is you can only use a driver on the driving range and as thats the best part of my game anyway i would of liked to use mid irons. Also it only recognises full shots not half but all in all and i can see this really helping my game.
Seems like this product is getting mixed reviews. However, I’m inclined to agree with those who think this is a terrible idea. Sure it can provide some hours of fun, but I don’t think it can improve anyone’s golf skills.
It is great at teaching you the correct positions and if you have big hands gripping the controller is not a problem. However, anyone with medium to small hands will have a problem gripping the controller (which is wider than a large putting grip) and making the positions
Very poor. I play off 23 and thought this would be ideal to practice while working away from home. I’ve ended up taking lessons to cure the problems it caused. The balance board is useless, the only time I could see this working is on short chips where the weight needs to be on the front foot but that isn’t in the game. In fact half shots dont get reviewed at all, which to me would be most benefical. The driving range is crap, there is no club selection available other than the driver. I have to keep calibrating the remote all the time when doing the slow drills. If this had been marketed as a game and priced accordingly then it would be worth the £30 but as a training aid unfortunately it just doesn’t work for me and I cant see it benefitting anyone genuinely wanting to improve their game. Spend the money on a block of lessons
Perfect for golf-lovers like me. The only problem for me is that i would rather be coached by Tiger Woods because he is the worlds best in my opinion. By the way: Is it really that bad to play with the wii-remote?
This actually is cool but like what the others say, this won’t be a perfect trainer but this is fun. But who knows, if I let my kid play it everyday, he might just end up like Tiger woods someday.