The Vertical Line Board Review

There’s a brand new golf training aid called the Vertical Line Board. And once you learn about it, you’ll want to know why the industry didn’t come up with this ages ago.

You know all those complicated set-ups you use to drill ball position, swing path, and body alignment? The alignment rod laid just so, the strategically placed tees… all that stuff you have to readjust every time you shift targets or switch clubs?

The new Vertical Line Board seeks to eliminate that mess. The idea is that one super-simple tool contains everything you need to practice a variety of skills like:

• Feet and body alignment
• Clubface aim
• Ball position
• Takeaway path
• Pre- and post-impact path

So, basically all the elements of your setup and swing that determine the quality of your shots. 

The implication is that this single training aid can help you:

• Eliminate the slice
• Master the nice, high draw
• Learn to shape your shots to navigate hazards and wind
• Gain control over your trajectory
• Pick up distance
• Improve contact, accuracy, and consistency
• Master your driver and your irons

Of course, the crucial question here is, “Does it actually work?” And does it fit into your practice strategy?

We’ll lay out everything you need to know about the Vertical Line Board so you can decide for yourself.

What’s the Purpose of the Vertical Line Board?

The Vertical Line Board looks simple—just a lightweight board with some extending alignment bars and strategically placed lines and holes. But this training aid does a lot.

First, it offers versatility. While most training aids are created for a specific purpose, this single board allows you to practice a wide range of skills in one session.

Second, the super-simple design of the board means you can switch focus at any time without having to move anything. If you want to go from drilling iron shots to practicing your draw off the tee, you can just do that. There are no alignment rods to readjust, no gear to switch out.

Third, the board’s design aligns perfectly with the principles of the Vertical Line Swing (VLS). If you’re not familiar, VLS is a new swing technique that’s been helping casual golfers get past the rut of too-complicated swing methods and finally see real improvement in their game. (Psst. You can check out this video to learn more about the VLS System.)

Who is the Vertical Line Board Golf Training Aid For?

Much like the Vertical Line Swing System, the Vertical Line Board exists as a no-nonsense solution for every golfer.

This is because the board was designed around the laws of ball flight. Unlike body type or natural movement, those laws are the same for every golfer. If you want to hit a draw, you need the same clubface angle and club path as any other golfer.

Plus, the versatility of the board makes it valuable for all skill levels. Beginners can use it to get familiar with proper positioning, alignment, and swing path. Seasoned players can use the board to improve their ability to shape shots or maximize their carry distance.

Do I Need to Know the Vertical Line Swing System to Use This?

Not at all. 

Sure, the Vertical Line Board is a great tool for students of the VLS system who’d like more physical guidance in their practice sessions.

But the entire goal of the board is to provide all golfers with a visual guide for harnessing ball flight laws and building a stronger golf game.

How Does It Work?

First, let’s talk about the design. 

This is a compact, lightweight, and sturdy board that’s easy to bring along to the driving range or golf course. 

The face of the board features guidelines to help you visualize swing path and clubface angle. 

Holes along the center line of the board allow you to move ball position and tee up depending on the type of shot you’re making. Additional red and blue holes provide the option to position tees to focus your swing path. (More on this in a minute.)

There are also two ball position bars and an alignment bar extending from the board itself.

Here’s how these features come into play. 

Feet & Body Alignment 

While it’s a key element to creating the perfect club path and curing the slice, feet and body alignment get overlooked. A lot. And even the golfers who take alignment seriously aren’t always doing what they think they’re doing.

When you position yourself alongside the Vertical Line Board, you find an alignment bar running along your toe line. This bar is adjustable to three positions: square, closed (oriented to the right if you’re right handed), and open (to the left if you’re right-handed). 

You simply adjust the bar to the proper position for the type of shot you hope to hit. Line your toes up along the bar and allow your knees, hips, and shoulders to fall in line. 

Clubface Aim

We all know the importance of this one. Unfortunately, we also know how hard it can be to judge our aim in a split second.

The Vertical Line Board seeks to take the guesswork out of clubface aim using a trio of gray lines. 

When you hit from the center of the board, you use the gray line on either side of center to guide the aim of your clubface. When hitting from forward or backward of center, use the center gray line as your guideline.

Ball Position

You know how passionate we are about ball position here at USGolfTV. Poor ball position is a painfully common mistake responsible for slices, chunks, skulls, and almost every other shot that haunts your dreams.

To help you get ball position exactly right for your driver, the Vertical Line Board features HiLaunch Driver Slots. Tee up your ball in the slot closest to the target and make sure the outermost ball position part is even with your lead instep.

For iron shots, you use what the designers call the “Auto-Strike System.” 

It’s super simple. You position your ball in the center of the board and use the center ball position bar to check your feet. If you’re hitting a wedge, make sure the bar is in the center of your stance. For longer clubs, creep that bar a little forward of center.

Takeaway Path

A great takeaway gets your club on-plane and sets you up for an effortless transition and perfect contact. And a bad takeaway… well, it can ruin the day. 

This is one of our favorite aspects of the Vertical Line Board. To drill your takeaway, you place tees in the holes closest to you and farthest from you. Then you’re looking for two things:

• You want to make sure your clubhead follows the center gray line as you swing back.
• You want to avoid hitting the tees.

If you hit the tees, you know you’re too far inside or outside (depending on which tee you hit). It’s a quick, easy way to correct errors and get the feel for a beautiful takeaway.

Pre- and Post-Impact Path

This is where you start shaping those shots. 

If you’re working on your draw, you want your pre- and post-impact clubhead path to follow the blue line. This is the inside-out path that the designers call the “Tour Draw Zone.”

Looking to master a fade? Follow the red path on the Vertical Line Board.

It’s All About Visualizing and Feel

The goal is to train your eyes and body to recognize what the perfect angles, paths, and positions look and feel like. These are precision adjustments. You can’t think them through as you make your split-second swing.

But you can drill them using a visual aid. You can use a tool like the Vertical Line Board to make immediate changes and feel the difference between what does and doesn’t work.

Bottom Line: Is It Worth It?

In our honest opinion, yes. The Vertical Line Board is versatile, affordable, and truly does help you train skills that are fundamental to a strong game.

With this training aid, you can drill the same skills we teach for curing a slice, boosting driving distance, controlling trajectory, and more.

It’s hard to find a downside.

But what do you think? Can you see yourself benefiting from a tool like this? 

Drop into the comments below and let us know your thoughts! And if you’ve tried the Vertical Line Board for yourself, let your fellow golfers know if it helped.

After all, we’re all just here to help each other play better golf.