Bethel, Maine ‚ Sports Vision Technologies, creators of the revolutionary P3pro golf simulator and analyzer, has entered into a strategic partnership with Dr. Gary Wirenís Golf Around the World and Swing Technologies, Inc., which manufactures the SwingView Pro video capture system.

The partnership allows the P3pro and SwingView pro to be marketed and sold together, affording teaching pros, club fitters and serious golfers a comprehensive suite of analysis tools including precision swing calculations and video swing analysis.

"This is an unprecedented approach to golf improvement," said Chris Brink, chief operating officer of Sports Vision. "It brings highly detailed swing analysis together with video. Both systems use a common PC platform, and both can be used independently. But by integrating the P3pro analytical data into the SwingView Pro, golfers and professionals can utilize the two most sophisticated training aids available. And the system is very affordable."

"The data from the P3Pro sensor pad greatly enhances the SwingView Pro experience," said Dr. Gary Wiren, author of The PGA Teaching Manual and Chairman of Golf Around the World, Inc.

"SwingView Pro provides detailed visual analysis of a playerís swing. P3Pro puts some hard data behind the visual information SwingView Pro provides. P3Pro can be utilized to automatically trigger the capture of video, so the player can instantly view their swing speed, tempo, swingpath, face impact, face position relative to the target line, distance and shot shape. Itís a real plus for both the teacher and the student."

Dr. Wiren noted that the combined system allows golfers and pros to relate what theyíre doing physically to actual results.

"The flight of a ball on a course or driving range is not actually as precise an indicator as one would hope," he said, "because several different combinations of swing flaws can produce similar results. The SwingView Pro/P3pro system allows the player to make minor swing changes and immediately see the effect those changes have on the clubface through impact and the resulting shot pattern. As a result the learning process is improved dramatically."

The SwingView Pro system utilizes any digital video camera with a FireWire or USB output, including inexpensive USB web-cameras, for single or dual-camera capture video of a golferís swing. Numerous onboard tools enable the golfer to precisely track his or her bodyís motion during all phases of the swing, and enables golfers to compare their actual swing against an ideal. Advanced vector drawing tools can be added to the swing and burned with the shot data to student CDs which include a student viewer program provided free of charge by SwingView Pro.

P3pro utilizes a precision infrared data capture system to exactly measure critical swing parameters during the swing, including swing path, sweet spot, club face angle, speed, tempo and toe and heel heights. Precise swing data is displayed on the computer screen, along with a graphic representation of the ballís flight path. In addition to its swing analysis function, P3pro also includes a golf simulator and game mode, which allow golfers to play virtual rounds on an 18-hole championship course and engage in putting contests.

Officials from both Sports Vision and Golf Around the World noted that the integrated system will also be helpful for club fitters, because the effects of specific elements of clubs, such as shaft length and clubhead weight, can be precisely analyzed.