Do you make consistent contact with the golf ball with every swing? Or, are you like most golfers and struggle with thin misses, chunked shots, and overall inconsistent contact?
If you’re the latter, don’t worry, you are not alone.
While there are a lot of moving parts in the golf swing, one part that is crucial to your success is your weight transfer. How your weight moves (some like to think of it as mass vs. weight) plays a big role in the quest for better ball striking.
But sometimes it’s easier said than done. We all know that we need to load up on the backswing then transfer our weight on the downswing. However, it’s not always easy to feel this shift on the driving range.
A new training aid called the Pressure Plate is here to change that.
If you want to feel a proper weight shift in your golf swing, this training aid might be just what you need. Keep reading for our full review of this product and alternatives so you can start hitting it better than ever.
Why Golf Pressure Plate Review
If you’re tired of hitting thin or fat shots, let’s fix it once and for all.
To start, it’s important to understand why these shots happen. Thin shots aren’t the end of the world (hence the saying, “Thin to win”) but are frustrating at times.
So, why does it happen?
A thin shot happens because your weight is too far on your backside.
More weight is on your back foot, not your front foot at impact. This leads to a scooping motion where you hit the bottom part of the golf club. I’ve hit a lot of “two groove” shots in my career so I know what it’s like.
The opposite of hitting it thin is a fat shot. These are much worse than thin shots as they go a fraction of the normal distance and are extremely frustrating. If you really chunk one it might even hurt too.
A fat shot occurs from moving your center of gravity. This could be from swaying, too much head motion, and/or too steep of a downswing.
Ultimately, your weight isn’t moving correctly in the swing with a fat or thin shot. Luckily, the Pressure Plate can help with both types of shots so you can hit the ball in the middle of the face.
How the Pressure Plate Works
Unlike other training aids, the Pressure Plate is very straightforward and easy to use. There are no apps, bands, or anything else required. Simply take it out of the box and start using it.
The Pressure Plate is essentially a teeter totter for golfers. Stand on the board and make a golf swing to feel the perfect weight transfer in your swing.
On the backswing, you will feel the board move to your backside and hit the ground. Then, on the downswing you will feel the board move to your lead foot.
What’s great about this product is that it gives you instant feedback on if your weight is shifting properly. As they said on their website, “Shifting your weight in a swing is important, but it’s hard to know when and by how much. The Pressure Plate solves that by tipping only when you shift your weight correctly. You know in real-time, every time.”
Because sometimes you might transfer your weight but just not enough. Or, you might transfer it too early or too late. This plate solves that problem so you can start timing your weight shift at the proper time in your swing.
Unless you move at least 60% of your weight, the board won’t move. This will ensure that you get the majority of your weight on your back foot then transferred to your lead foot.
More Benefits of the Pressure Plate
While the main goal of this device is to help you feel the proper weight transfer, it has other benefits too.
First, it makes sure you’re in a great setup position.
Sometimes golfers don’t transfer their weight properly because too much weight is on the left or right side. But if you aren’t about 50/50 when you step on the board, it will let you know immediately. This ensures you’re in a great address position and in the best spot to make a solid swing.
Second, it’s easy to use and doesn’t require much on your end. I’ve found that the easier a device is to use, the more likely you are to actually use (and not just collect dust in your garage). Plus, you can use it at home without hitting golf balls to create new habits in your swing.
Additionally, you can even hit balls with this device. Some training aids don’t allow this and makes it hard to transfer the feeling properly. But with this device you can hit it from mats or grass and see how the ball reacts.
Finally, it’s small enough that you can keep it in your car or golf locker for regular use.
Improves Your Short Game
Not only does this device train your full swing but it can help with your short game too. Chipping requires a different setup and swing but most golfers don’t adapt. Instead, they try to swing like it’s a full swing and suffer from poor ball striking as a result.
With chipping, you need more weight on your lead foot to ensure you create a descending blow. Most teachers would say about 60-70% on your lead foot. By standing on the front of the board, you can guarantee that you’re in a great setup for chipping.
If you feel the board move to the back, that means you moved your weight which isn’t good for short shots. This will likely lead to hanging back, hitting up on the shot, and skulling it over the green.
Stay left (assuming you’re right-handed) to see how it impacts your contact and trajectory.
Related Products
There are tons of training aids out there to help you improve your swing and specifically help with your weight transfer. Here are a few other alternatives to the Pressure Plate that you might want to consider.
DownUnder Board 2.0
A similar product to the Pressure Plate is the Down Under Board 2.0. The main goal of this training aid is to help you learn how to use your lower body in the golf swing.
Although it looks similar to the Pressure Plate, it’s actually quite different. Unlike the Pressure Plate, you do not stand on the Down Under Board.
Instead, the board rests between your feet. The goal is to squeeze the board with your feet to keep your lower body active and engaged. This is very different as you actually stand on the Pressure Plate to feel the proper weight shift in your golf swing.
Click here to read our full review of the Down Under Board 2.0 now.
FAQs About Pressure Boards in Golf
Do you have other questions about this training aid? If so, keep reading to learn more and decide if it’s right for your game.
How do you use a golf pressure board?
A pressure board like the one from Why Golf is a great tool to improve your ball striking. They’re very easy to use compared to some training aids as you simply get on the board and start hitting shots. It even works if you’re only taking practice swings too.
The goal is to move your weight so the board shifts on your backswing (this ensures 60% of your weight is on your back foot). On the downswing, you want to move your weight forward so the majority of your weight is on your lead foot.
Pressure boards will ensure you don’t hang back on your trail leg and hit up on the shot. Don’t forget, you need to hit down and through the shot to compress the golf ball.
Where should the pressure be in a golf swing?
Pressure changes during the swing. At address, you should have your weight about 50/50 on each foot.
On the backswing, your weight should be primarily on the backside. During transition, you want to start moving your weight back toward the target. Finally, on the downswing you want to move a majority of your weight to your lead foot.
This will ensure that you maximize power and not hang back like most amateur golfers do. It should help with accuracy, distance, and overall contact with the golf ball.
How does foot pressure affect swing path in golf?
Pressure is important in the golf swing as power is generated from the ground up. Too many amateur golfers neglect their lower body and lose out on a ton of distance as a result.
To maximize your swing, make sure to transfer your weight properly by using a Pressure Plate training aid.
What is their return policy? Is there a warranty?
Why Golf offers a 30-day return policy if you aren’t completely satisfied. They will refund both the cost of the product and shipping plus taxes so you can buy with confidence.
Additionally, they also offer a one-year warranty as well.
Final Thoughts on the Pressure Plate
I love this training aid and think it can help everyday golfers improve their ball striking fast.
Some of the main reasons this is such a good device include:
- Easy to use
- No app required
- Provides immediate feedback
- Helps improve your short game and full swing
- Can hit on the driving range or use at home to train the proper weight transfer
Overall, it can help you master a crucial skill in the golf swing which should improve your ball striking like never before. If you’re tired of scooping shots and hanging back, this is the device for you. With a 30-day guarantee, it’s a no-brainer decision.
Click here to learn more about the Pressure Plate from Why Golf now.