One of the biggest challenges golfers face isn't on a perfectly flat driving range mat, it's learning how to make athletic swings from uneven lies. Whether you are standing on an uphill slope or simply losing your balance during the backswing, poor interaction with the ground can rob you of speed, consistency, and solid contact. That's exactly why we created the Force Board Pro.
Our goal is simple: help golfers learn how to generate speed from the ground up by creating realistic practice environments that improve movement patterns and force production. One of our favorite drills for accomplishing this is the Trail Heel Smash Heels Up.
Why Practice with Your Heels Elevated?
By raising your heels on the Force Board Pro, you are intentionally putting yourself into a position where your momentum naturally wants to move toward the golf ball.
This recreates the challenge of many uneven lies while exposing balance and pressure control issues that often go unnoticed during normal practice.
Golfers who struggle with early extension, poor balance, or inconsistent contact typically find this drill both challenging and incredibly effective.
The Goal of the Drill
The objective is to maintain your balance while learning to properly load the trail side during the backswing.
As the club begins moving away from the ball, focus on aggressively applying pressure into the inside of your trail foot. This "smash" into the trail foot helps create:
- Better trail-side loading
- Improved hip depth
- Increased stability
- More efficient ground force
- Greater speed potential
Even though your heels are elevated, your goal is to stay centered and athletic throughout the swing.
If You Feel Yourself Falling Forward
That's normal. Many golfers will immediately notice they want to fall toward their toes.
Instead of fighting that feeling with your upper body, increase the amount of pressure you are applying into the inside of your trail foot during the takeaway.
The stronger and earlier you establish that trail-side pressure, the easier it becomes to stay balanced and make a powerful backswing. If you want to go deeper on that loading pattern, our guide to properly loading your trail leg in the backswing breaks down the companion drill.
A Powerful Drill for Early Extension
Early extension is one of the most common swing faults among amateur golfers. When your pelvis moves toward the golf ball during the downswing, it becomes much harder to deliver the club consistently.
Because this drill naturally encourages your body to move toward the golf ball, it teaches you to resist that movement by creating better stability from the ground up.
Over time, golfers often notice:
- Better posture through impact
- Improved strike quality
- More centered contact
- Increased ball speed
- More efficient force production
Take It to the Golf Course
Once you have made several rehearsal swings, hit golf balls while keeping the same focus on trail-foot pressure and balance.
The Force Board Pro's ball position attachment allows you to maintain a consistent setup while repeating the movement under real hitting conditions.
As you become more comfortable, you will notice that awkward lies no longer feel nearly as intimidating.
Train for Real Golf
The course rarely gives you a perfectly flat lie. Every round presents uphill, downhill, and uneven stances that demand excellent balance and pressure control.
The Force Board Pro allows you to recreate those conditions during practice so your body learns how to produce speed and stability regardless of the terrain.
By mastering drills like Trail Heel Smash Heels Up, you will improve your ability to stay balanced, generate force efficiently, and hit more solid shots even when the ground isn't working in your favor.
Because in golf, the best players don't just adapt to difficult lies, they use the ground to their advantage.