3 Insights Golf Force Plates Can Reveal
In the era of performance-focused sports, data has become a game-changer—and golf is no different. Whether you’re a PGA pro, swing coach, or passionate golfer, golf force plates like the Bertec Portable Swing Station are quickly becoming a crucial tool for achieving peak performance.
"Golf force plates provide critical data that can't be seen with the naked eye. By capturing ground reaction forces in all three planes, they reveal how a golfer’s interaction with the ground affects their power, balance, and efficiency—insights that traditional methods simply can't uncover,” shares Dr. Kiara Barrett, Lead Computational Biomechanist at Bertec.
1. How You Generate Power
Force plates can track how quickly and efficiently a golfer applies vertical force to the ground. Bertec force plates are able to provide force and movements in all three planes; not just vertical. This is particularly important when measuring movements in a golf swing because tiny changes in the AP and ML directions can have a signficant impact on club/head contact and the swing in general.
By analyzing rate of force development and peak ground reaction force, coaches can identify if a player is “leaking energy” or failing to use the ground effectively to generate clubhead speed.
Insight: More force isn’t always better—timing and direction matter more.
2. Balance and Weight Transfer
Many swing deficiencies stem from poor weight transfer. Golf force plates like those in the Bertec Swing Station measure center of pressure (CoP) movement during the swing, which reveals how well a player is shifting their weight from trail foot to lead foot.
This data helps identify:
Early or late weight shifts
Lateral sway or instability
Excessive toe or heel pressure
Insight: Even minor weight shift delays can lead to inconsistent contact and reduced distance.
3. Customized Coaching and Feedback
Not all golfers move the same—and they shouldn’t be taught the same. Bertec’s Swing Station has golf force plates that allow coaches to tailor instruction based on a player's unique force profile.
Using this data, coaches can:
Build custom swing drills
Track improvement over time
Bridge the gap between feel and real
Insight: Objective data-driven feedback leads to faster, more focused progress.
The Bottom Line
If you're serious about understanding your swing from the ground up, golf force plates offer insights that no other tool can provide. From generating power to mastering balance and customizing instruction, force plates are revolutionizing the way we approach performance in golf.
The best golfers don’t just work harder—they work smarter. And golf force plates, like those found in the Bertec Swing Station, are helping lead that evolution.
Learn more about our Swing Station here
