50 Words or Less
The Power Shift Board is a straightforward trainer that emphasizes a key fundamental of good ball striking. Teaches a strong shift into the front leg and more. Good value. Works anywhere.
Introduction
There are a lot of things promoted as “fundamentals” of the golf swing. To me, one of the most overlooked is a good weight shift. When I go to the range, nine out of ten struggling golfers are swinging from their back leg leading to poor contact and a lack of distance. The Power Shift Board is a new trainer designed to ingrain the feeling of shifting your weight into the front leg. I tested one to see if it can help golfers become better, more powerful ball strikers.
Set Up & Ease of Use
The Power Shift Board is ready to go as soon as it’s unboxed. No set up is required; it comes fully assembled.
This trainer is similarly straightforward in terms of what it’s supposed to do. There is a subtle, unpainted arrow on the board that should be pointed toward the target. Once the board is in position, you stand on it and make golf swings.
There is a quintet of instructional videos that are accessed via QR Code on the box. They’re all very short – the longest is only two and a half minutes – which I applaud. The first two don’t offer much. The third suggests teeing the ball up to match the added height of the board. #4 discusses practicing without hitting balls and the idea that the backswing and downswing are not really discrete entities. Finally, #5 suggests making practice swings on the board then stepping off to hit balls. In short, I’d say that these videos will be helpful for newer golfers, but are likely extraneous for more seasoned players.
Effectiveness
When you step onto the Power Shift Board, you’ll notice that there is stout resistance against your forward weight shift, but nothing stopping you from tilting gently backward. I was surprised at how actively I needed to step into my lead foot to get the springs to give and activate the auditory feedback. This is a very sound principle of good training aids – requiring exaggeration to ingrain the new movement.
As I used the Power Shift Board, I realized that it can be used to train the backswing as well as the downswing. Players who shift too far into their rear leg can work on keeping the board centered or balanced at the top of their downswing before pressing into their lead leg. Alternately, players who are looking to gain power from a more exaggerated weight shift can work on tilting the board back before snapping it forward.
Need to bust your slice? Check out The Draw Board HERE
Additionally, the Power Shift Board is an unintentional tempo trainer. Poor tempo or an overly quick transition is often linked to a poor weight shift. With the focus on shifting into the lead foot before starting the arms down, this trainer is promoting better sequencing and tempo, too.
Need more tempo help? Check out Tour Tempo HERE
I also want to note the smart and safe design of the Power Shift Board. The base is spiked so that it does not slide when you’re swinging. Also the sections you stand on have a sandpaper-like grit to keep you in place. Whether you are hitting shots or making practice motions, you can swing as hard as you want without worrying about falling.
Finally, I want to tip my hat to the makers of the Power Shift Board for eschewing the silly, over-the-top claims of so many training aids. The things they advertise – teaching a good weight shift, adding power to your swing – are exactly what this trainer does. There’s no talk of slicing your handicap in half or doubling your driving distance. Additionally, they set realistic expectations by advising that you use it daily to see real improvement. Kudos.
Longevity
The longevity of the Power Shift Board is a mixed bag. On the positive side, it’s easy to use and requires no set up. Additionally, it’s a trainer you can use in any setting: I’ve been getting most of my training done next to my desk.
The biggest negative is that it’s conspicuous. I think a lot of players – particularly the less skilled players who need it most – will feel self-conscious about using this on the range. Additionally, it’s large, so you won’t be able to store it in your bag and always have it with you. Finally, there’s nothing gamified about using it.
On balance, I rate the Power Shift Board slightly above average for longevity because of the value I place on being able to train away from the range.
Value
The Power Shift Board retails HERE for $125. This is an average price for a training aid, in my estimation.
I think this is a decidedly above average training aid, so I rate it a strong value. The only caveat is that it’s not for everyone. This is a very specific training aid – not quite a uni-tasker, but close. If you don’t have issues with your weight shift, this is not a training aid you need to invest in.
Conclusion
The Power Shift Board is an early candidate for one of my favorite training aids of 2024. It has a clear mission which it accomplishes. If you need to improve your weight shift to up your ball striking and power, this is a trainer worth purchasing.
Buy Power Shift Board HERE
He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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9 Comments
Thanks for the great review Matt. I need a training aid that helps to better utilize ground force and generating power by “using the ground”. In your opinion is this a good training aide for that?
Odie,
It depends on what you mean by using the ground. I’ve seen that phrase used to mean different things. Can you clarify?
Best,
Matt
Good read Matt.
I would like to see a widget that measures the percentages of your weight shift through out the swing.. Include transmitters you put in your shoes and record the results on your cell phone.
Also include an app to record your body weight shift percentages (left to right. right to left) results-oriented with your swing. (I.E Stack and Tilt). I have always wanted to know when I have 55% of my weight on my lead side at setup?
I’m not sure I trust the results from me standing on two sets of scales in my bathroom.
Also, I would like to know at the top of my backswing when I start my downswing does more of my weight shift to my back foot?
In the back of my mind I seem to remember several years ago one of the golf magazines displayed photos of your body muscles during the swing.
Matt, how would you compare this to the Down Under board?
Mark,
Respectfully, they’re entirely different trainers. Outside of the fact that they both ostensibly deal with your feet, they don’t have much in common.
Full DUB review here: https://pluggedingolf.com/down-under-board-review/
Best,
Matt
Matt – regarding my “using the ground” question, I am looking for a swing trainer that helps me better feel the sensation of ground reactionary force, or vertical force at impact to create more speed (Justin Thomas at impact for example). I feel I need to feel more of a “squatting into the left knee “ (RH player) sensation during my weight transition from the top. Wondering in your opinion if this product might help with that.
Odie,
The Power Shift Board will definitely get you to shift and load into your lead leg, but that’s where it stops.
Have you checked out the Down Under Board? https://pluggedingolf.com/down-under-board-review/
I think the two trainers together could be pretty powerful.
Best,
Matt
Matt,
Good review (as usual). This product seems very similar to the Sheftic pressure board and retails at a similar price. If I’m not mistaken, you did a review a few years ago on the Force Pedal. How do you feel that those three compare? Thanks for your reviews.
Bob,
I do not recall reviewing the Force Pedal, and I could not find it in our archives.
The Sheftic board (based on a quick overview of their website) seems like the Power Shift Board minus the springs. I would very this as a lesser trainer, as the springs provide feedback and force exaggeration. The Force Pedal seems interesting for its potential versatility, but I’d need to look further into the training protocols to say anything more definitive.
Best,
Matt