Building your own golf pressure board is one of the single best things you can do to understand how the golf swing really works. Contrary to popular belief, the best players in the world don’t just shift their weight, they masterfully shift their pressure to generate incredible power and consistency. This guide will walk you through exactly how to build a simple, inexpensive, and highly effective pressure board, and then show you how to use it to transform your ball striking.
At its core, a golf pressure board is a simple training aid, often just two pieces of wood connected by a hinge in the middle, that rocks from side to side. It provides real-time, physical feedback on how you’re using the ground during your swing. High-level golfers generate power through what’s known as ground reaction forces. They "push" into the ground to create leverage and speed, and a pressure board makes this invisible feeling completely tangible.
Think about it like this: your swing is a rotational action powered by your body. To rotate effectively, you need a stable base, but also a dynamic one. You need to know when and how to shift pressure from your trail foot to your lead foot. Without feedback, it’s all just guesswork.
Expensive launch monitors that measure pressure can cost thousands of dollars. You can build a perfectly functional version for under $30 that gives you 80% of the same critical feedback. Let’s get to building.
We’re going to build a simple "rocker" style pressure board. It's the most common and effective design. The goal is to create one solid surface that pivots in the middle, forcing you to feel where your pressure lies.
This process is incredibly straightforward and should take you less than 20 minutes once you have your materials. Don’t rush, taking a few extra moments for proper alignment makes a big difference.
Lay your two pieces of plywood side-by-side along their long edges. The connection between them should be as flush and seamless as possible. Take your sandpaper and smooth out any splintered or rough edges, especially the two long edges that will meet in the middle. This will ensure your hinge sits flat and the board pivots smoothly.
Keep the two boards pushed together. Place the door hinge directly over the seam in the center of the boards. You want the pin of the hinge perfectly aligned with the gap between the boards. Position the hinge so its ends are equidistant from the shorter ends of the boards. Once you’re happy with the central placement, use your pencil to mark the location for each screw hole on both pieces of plywood.
This is an important step to prevent the plywood from splitting when you drive the screws in. Choose a drill bit that is slightly smaller in diameter than the screws for your hinge. Carefully drill shallow pilot holes where you made your pencil marks. You don't need to drill all the way through, a hole a little more than half the length of the screw is perfect.
Place the hinge back over your pilot holes and, using your power drill, drive the screws in until the hinge is securely fastened to both pieces of wood. Make sure the screws are flush with the surface of the hinge so they don’t stick up. Test the board by rocking it back and forth. It should have a smooth, stable pivot.
If you have grip tape or anti-slip stickers, now is the time to apply them. There's no right or wrong way to do this. Simply put a few generous strips where your feet will be placed. This will give you the confidence to make full swings without worrying about slipping off the board.
That’s it! You now have a high-performance golf training aid ready for use.
The build was the easy part, now it's time to learn the an athletic skill. Using the board correctly is about feeling the proper sequence. Start with slow, deliberate practice swings without a ball before you try hitting shots.
Place your newly built board on a flat, level surface. Step onto the board with your normal golf stance, with the hinge running directly under the center of your arches. Your goal at address is to have the board perfectly flat. You'll feel this immediately. You have to engage your core to find balance. Rock back and forth slightly until you find a 50/50 pressure balance in your feet.
The goal here is to feel yourself loading pressure into your trail side without swaying.
This is the most critical drill. This is a sequence that the best ball strikers have mastered: the lower body leads the downswing.
A good finish position is a direct result of a good pressure trace.
After you feel comfortable with these movements, you can start hitting balls off a mat while using the board. Start with small, waist-high shots and gradually build to full swings, always starting with the goal of keeping the board rock steady at address and finishing in a balanced position.
Building and using a golf pressure board is a game-changer because it gives you instant, undeniable feedback on what was previously an invisible feeling. By training with this simple tool, you will develop the same dynamic sequencing used by the best players, helping you unlock more power, consistency, and a purer strike.
Matching this physical feedback with smart digital analysis can accelerate your progress even more. With our app, Caddie AI, you can get instant guidance on any shot you face and ask any question about the swing, day or night. For instance, after feeling the proper pressure shift with your board, you could ask Caddie AI how that feel translates to hitting a tour-quality stinger versus a high draw, connecting the dots between practice-feel and on-course performance.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
