Company Creates New Category with Launch Monitor Ball Flight Driven Simulation
AccuSport International, Inc. today announced that it has developed a new realistic golf simulator driven by its Vector Pro Launch System. The new system, VectorLinksâ?¢ will be available for preview at the company’s booth # 3963 at the upcoming 2007 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida.
"VectorLinksâ?¢ is a revolutionary development in golf simulators since it is driven by the actual measurements from a golfer’s performance," said Don Thorup, President of AccuSport. "Up until now, simulators have been driven primarily by data collection devices such as light sensors, lasers or radar which can be very inaccurate with regards to capturing spin, especially indoors. Vector Pro, through the use of photometric technology, measures and doesn’t calculate, each shot for ball speed, launch angle, back spin, side spin and side angle. These critical measurements are then linked into a high quality 3-D graphical simulation for practice, fitting and entertainment."
AccuSport is the leading developer and marketer of golf swing launch monitors and its Vector Launch System is recognized throughout the golf industry for its accuracy, portability and affordability. The Vector and Vector Pro Launch Systems measure and analyze launch angle, ball speed, backspin, side spin and side angle to instantaneously quantify the performance of both player and equipment. The new Vector Pro also now offers a fully integrated video swing analysis application for lessons, along with a student database for storing sessions.
"We have been receiving numerous requests from our retail golf customers to develop and provide them with a ‘realistic simulator’," said Bill Brawley, Director of Sales for AccuSport. "They are using simulators more and more in their operations, but are concerned that the data their customers see might not always be accurate. Radar based systems take readings from a ball flying downrange. When a shot is only moving 8-12 feet indoors then it’s necessary with these systems to either add a piece of metallic tape to the ball or infer spin, neither of which are accurate in fitting or simulation.
"Oftentimes, a customer might purchase a driver based on the performance they’ve experienced in a traditional radar or light sensor simulator, only to find that the club they just purchased actually performs much differently out on the course where actual spin comes into play," Thorup said. "Many times they return the club for a refund and end up with a poor customer experience. Now, with VectorLinksâ?¢ they can hit shots and compare the actual ball performance data in Vector Pro, see their swing on the integrated video swing analysis and at the same time experience the shot in the 3-D simulator," Thorup said.
AccuSport has developed VectorLinksâ?¢ in partnership with TruGolf of Salt Lake City, the makers of the popular LS Golf.
AccuSport’s initial VectorLinksâ?¢ release will be targeted to the company’s retail customers and will provide them with a simple touch-screen interface for a Practice Range, Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin and Three Hole Course. "We will eventually have the ability to offer a customer the full fifty course library from TruGolf, but most of our customers are using the simulators to sell product as opposed to playing a round of golf, so they needed a scaled down version," Brawley said. "VectorLinksâ?¢ is quite portable and can be retro-fit into most hitting bays. Customers will not need to build large, dark, intrusive, free-standing rooms, since the ball information is collected at the tee. This footprint provides us with enormous flexibility in terms of customizing a hitting bay with VectorLinksâ?¢," Brawley said. "In addition, customers will save on construction and materials, enabling us to deliver a very cost effective, high-value product," Brawley commented.
AccuSport will have two hitting stations set-up with VectorLinksâ?¢ and Vector Pro at its booth # 3963 at the PGA Show and also in the ETC at hitting station #35. "We’ll have full screen projection at the booth, and will also be presenting VectorLinksâ?¢ on a wide screen monitor at the ETC along-side Vector Pro" Thorup said. "This additional configuration will allow customers to see the flexible installation options available for VectorLinksâ?¢ and discuss their space requirements within their own golf stores."
About the company: AccuSport International, Inc., located in Winston-Salem, NC, is driven by technology and a desire to improve the game of golf, and make it more enjoyable and accessible to golfers of all skill levels. AccuSport introduced the Vector Launch System to the commercial market in 2003, and has rapidly become the industry leader in launch monitor technology and market share. With distribution in Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan and Australia, the Vector and Vector Pro Launch Systems have become the tools that are changing the way the golf industry looks at ball flight, driver lofts and ball spin rates, and are helping all golfers better understand their game.
Please visit www.accusport.com for additional information and downloadable images.
Contact:
Don Thorup
336-759-3300
