Notice in the following illustration (circa 1988) that PGA Tour Professional, Nick Faldo, has a lower right shoulder and his left hand internally rotates. The internal rotation of his left hand suggests that his hips rotate left or open for a right-handed player.

In this illustration, Nick Flado is demonstrating how to set Posture. Notice that his right hand is higher than his left hand. If you look at the illustration above you will note that his right hip appears higher as well.

So how did Nick Faldo play at the highest level with this anatomical configuration? I answer that question toward the end of this EBook.

After 25 years of research into various exercise programs, correcting the anatomical anomalies in the above illustration has become as simple as a 2 to 3 minute Tensegrity exercise. Here is the "Core Correction" that the Wright Balance® Tensegrity Exericse (The Wright Balance® Express) creates after 2 to 3 minutes and lasts 12 to 24 hours. The exercises are isometric and based upon a Tensegrity / Quantum Biology model.

The illustrations below show the impact of an imbalanced Core at address. many golfers have their trail hip higher than their target side hip as shown in these illustrations. LPGA / Legends Tour Player, Laurie Rinker is shown here before the Wright Balanca® Express Exercises. Notice that her trail hip is higher at address.

The illustration below is Laurie Rinker after the Wright Balance® Express Exercises. Notice her trail hip is lower.

Below is an amateur prior to the Wright Balance® Express Exercise...

...and following the Wright Balance® Express Exercise. Notice his trail hip before and after the Wright Balance Express.

The origin of the Wright Balance® Express is documented at the end of this EBook. The Tensegrity model used here comes from Dr. Donald Ingber, Founder of the Wyss Institute, Harvard Medical (Wyss.com). Dr. Ingber, a cellular biologist and physician, was the first to observe that physical forces impact cellular behavior.

Dr. Ingber's work led to the new field of Biologically inspired Engineering and he was an early pioneer of Mechanobiology. He was the first to recognize the fundamental importance of physical forces as "bioregulators".

The following illustration shows a graphic summary of the Wright Balance® Express Exercise. This illustration was done by Wright Balance® Professional Mathieu Paradis from Quebec, Canada.

The following video describes HOW the Wright Balance® Express and Optimization Exercises impact the Core. Our "Internal Universe" is the same as our External Universe and subject to the same laws (As above, so below).

Since 1992, I have measured 1000s of Athletes at every level including PGA, LPGA & Mini Tour Players, Amateurs, Juniors and College Players, Major League Baseball Players, Professional Tennis Players, players headed to the NFL Combine and many more. All combined, the age range is 5 to 94 years old. Everyone of those players has had some combination of what you see in the illustrations above.

The Wright Balance® Optimization exercises led to the Wright Balance® Express. The Wright Balance® Optimization Exercises have been tested with over 1000 subjects by Wright Balance® Professionals all over the world. As of this writing the Wright Balance® Measurement system is used by certified professionals in 15 countries.

Proof of Concept

I have said repeatedly over the years that so called "Research" without Proof of Concept, is not "Research". Generally speaking, these statements of "Research" claims are someone's observations and beliefs masked as "Research.

Proof of concept resides in a 2 minute exercise tested in the planes of motion. The results of the Wright Balance® Express are clearly illustrated in the following video using the Planes of Motion as the measurement for Proof of Concept of Core Balance.

Also note that you must do all 9 Stance Widths as shown in the "Proof of Concept" video. The demonstration of changes in planes of motion in 8 Stance Widths vs all 9 Stance Widths clearly illustrates this point.

The Core remains "disrupted" if fewer than the 9 Wright Balance® Stance Widths are used during the Wright Balance® Express Exercise.

When the 2 to 3 minute Wright Balance® Express exercise is done in each of these 9 Stance Widths, the results consistently show that:

  1. The hips and shoulders level
  2. There is a "default" to one Carrying / Power Angle and one Core Region. The Carrying Angle is the same in all stance widths; the hands hang the same in all stance widths.
  3. Any stance width creates the same points of balance. There is no longer a need to lay out stance widths by Core Region when performing a sport, only during the Wright Balance® Express exercise.
  4. There is freedom of motion in all directions
  5. The exercise results last for 24 hours or longer when increasing the duration of the isometric hold to 10 seconds in each position of the exercise.
  6. We have not found any exercise or activity that will disrupt the core following this exercise other than the purposeful Core Disruption moves shown in the videos that follow in this EBook.

As noted the Wright Balance® Express (Isometric Exercise) must be done in each of the 9 Core Region Stance Widths. This brief video was shown above. Below, I have reloaded the same video at the point where Albert has done only 8 of the 9 Wright Balance® Core Region Stance Widths in demonstrating "Proof of Concept".

Wright Balance® research programs are based upon a minimum tests of 40 Subjects. The Core Symmetry has been tested over the past year on over 1000 subjects worldwide with the same results as illustrated in the above video.

BREATHING DURING Wright Balance® EXERCISES

The Nose Breathing process we are exploring at this time is used by Navy Seals as they prepare for a mission. Our most recent observations show that if the Wright Balance® Exercises are done with NOSE BREATHING, you will experience Core Symmetry in all Planes of Motion. We are continuing to explore the impact of "Mouth Breathing" only on the Planes of Motion. We have a limited number of subjects who have tested the Nose Breathing vs Mouth Breathing, all with the same results. If your client is a "mouth breather" due to sinus or similar issues, we are exploring breathing strategies for those clients. Standford University studies suggests that Nose Breathing activates Nitric Oxide whereas mouth breathing does not.

External Shoulder Rotation and Trail Arm Delivery

Here is a video link of Mackenzie Tour Player Albert Pistorios demonstrating how to do the Wright Balance® Express Exercise.

You will note following the exercise that Albert's external shoulder rotation is 152 degrees in all Stance Widths. He has power in all Stance Widths as long as he uses the Middle Core Power Spots in his left and right hands. Any Stance Width Albert assumes following the exercise defaults to the Middle Core. This Middle Core Power is determined by the External Shoulder rotation as described below.

At the time of the above video, **we did not know **that the object held during the exercise defaulted to the player's grip size. Notice that Albert held the blue hip bar when he did the exercise. The diameter of that bar is .98 inches or 980 mils. Using this size object, Albert's external shoulder rotation defaulted to 152 degrees. That is relative to Albert's hand size. Someone else with a a smaller of larger hand size would default to a lesser or greater external shoulder rotation.

Also notice how frequently the angle of his external shoulder rotation shows up through his set up and swing. I have set the video below to the last 3 minutes where the measurement of the External Shoulder Rotation shows up face on and down the line at the top of the backswing.

Following the Wright Balance® Express, the biomechanical results default to:

  • One "External Shoulder Rotation" (determines trail arm delivery), in all stance Widths
  • One Grip Size in all Stance Widths
  • Heel to Toe Balance is the same in all Stance Widths

All of these factors, Core Symmetry, External Shoulder Rotation, Stance Width, Grip Size, Grip and Heel to Toe Balance are Biomechanically Engineered in the 2 to 3 minute Isometric Exercise in the 9 Core Region Stance Widths of Wright Balance®. This overview breaks down each of these "Engineered" changes.

****Our most recent research completed January, 2021 using our worldwide network of professionals shows that the object held to complete the closed kinetic chain defaults to the grip size for play. Below is a summary of these observations.

External Shoulder Rotation & the Grip Size Used During the Wright Balance® Express Exercise

Wright Balance® Associate, Kinesiologist and Professional Club Fitter, Jay Johnson observed the following. When Jay did the Wright Balance® Express in each Core Region with his measured Grip Size that corresponded to that Core Region, his grip size defaulted to the handle size used.

Jay's observations led to research protocols tested by Wright Balance® Professionals around the world for Proof of Concept. This summary is research in progress. As of this writing these are consistent observations from 100 plus combined subjects measured at our various Wright Balance® worldwide locations.

  1. Whatever handle size that is used during the Wright Balance Express Exercise becomes the "Grip Size" that creates balance in all Stance Widths where the hips are square when that handle size is held.

  2. The handle size used during the exercise "defaults" to the player's playing Grip Size

  3. Following the Wright Balance® Express exercise, when a handle size is held that is too small or too large {outside the range of the "defaulted" Core Region as shown in the videos below} the pelvis rotates left or right out of balance.

This video is an overview of the foundation of grip sizing and fitting the Lower Core Player.

Once the Lower Core Grip Size has been set via the Wright Balance Express Exercise, you will find that it cannot be too big as related to keeping the hips square when gripped. However, as the grip size increases, your weight moves toward your heels. The "Engineering" of grip size requires determining the best size for using the ground as a Lower Core Player most efficiently. So, there is an ideal size...

...there is a size that is too big that moves a player to their heels and creates an inside path when all else is neutral...

... or their weight moves forward when the grip is too small but still within a range that "fits"...

This video shows how to fit a Middle Core Player.

This video demonstrates how to fit the Middle Core Player and use the Wright Balance Express to create balance in all stance widths.

After the Middle Core Grip Size has been set via the Wright Balance Express Exercise, you will find multiple grip sizes ranging between 85 and 100 mils where the player's hips are square when the grip is held in the left hand vertically. However, as the grip size increases, their weight moves toward their heels or more toward their toes as the grip size becomes smaller within that 85 to 100 mil range. The "Engineering" of grip size requires determining the best size for using the ground most efficiently as a Middle Core Player. So, there is an ideal size...

Too big within that 85 to 100 mil range moves a player toward the center of their arches as shown here.

And toward the balls of their feet within that 85 to 100 mil range.

So, there is an ideal grip size for every individual where they use the ground with the greatest efficiency.

The following video is about how to fit an Upper Core player in their grip size.

After the Upper Core Grip Size has been set via the Wright Balance® Express Exercise, you will find the largest observed grip size possible for the Upper Core player when they hold the club vertically and the hips remain square. From that observed grip size you will note that anything they grip that is smaller, their hips remain square. It is quite remarkable and not unlike the Lower Core player who can't find anything too large. The Upper Core player can't find anything too small that will cause pelvic rotation. Bioengineering is finding the ideal grip size where their hips remain square and they use the ground most efficiently with the least stress on the body.

However, as the grip size decreases, their weight moves toward their toes as the grip size becomes smaller.

Similarly, as the grip size becomes larger, the weight distribution moves back in their stance.

Here is an illustration of an Upper Core Grip Size that is the correct size (left photo). Notice that I am gripping the handle end of the grip. In the photo on the right I have gripped the club on the club shaft end near the clubhead. Notice how far forward my weight has moved toward my toes.

  1. There is an increase or decrease in the Carrying Angle depending on the Grip Size used. If there is not a structural issue with the players shoulder, the External Shoulder Rotation is the same as the Measured Carrying / Power Angle

  2. If there is a structural issue that limits the player's external shoulder rotation, the Wright Balance® was able to use a handle size during the Wright Balance® Exercise that placed the player within the limits of their external shoulder rotation. Through this process, the Wright Balance® Professionals were bioengineering external shoulder rotation to accommodate a player's physical limitations.

  3. Following the Wright Balance® Express, the arms and hands hang the same in all Stance Widths and the External Shoulder Rotation is the same in all Stance Widths. Therefore, the Grip Size used will always match the range of the External Shoulder Rotation for a particular Core Region within a predictable range as described below.

The illustration below is from a 2008 Golf Magazine article illustrating how to Grip the club when the hands hang the same. Prior to the Wright Balance® Express, the hands hang the same in only one of the 9 Core Region Stance Widths.

Following the Wright Balance® Express, the hands hang the same and external shoulder rotation is the same in all Stance Widths. Thus, there is no longer a need to use Stance Widths by Core Region for practice and play. There is balance in all Stance Widths.

  1. Subsequent to the Wright Balance® Express Exercise, regardless of handle size, the player could play from any Stance Width with equal Power in all Stance Widths. This change in Power in all Stance Widths was found as long as the Power Spots matched the Core Region's External Shoulder Rotation as described in the following summary.

Power Spots have been demonstrated over the years as related to Upper, Middle and Lower Core Stance Widths. This video shows a summary of how Power Spots impact Power based upon changes in Core Region Stance Widths PRIOR to the Wright Balance® Express Exercise.

Following the Wright Balance® Express, Power Spots default to the Grip Size and Carrying Angle / External Shoulder Rotation. Players can play from any Stance Width as long as their Power Spots match the Core Region of the Carrying Angle / External Shoulder Rotation as described in the following illustrations

  • Relative to an individual's hand size, a Grip Size that fits a players Upper Core that is used during the Wright Balance® Express Exercises creates a Carrying / Power Angle in the 160 to 170 degree range.

The results show that a handle size that creates a Carrying Angle and External Shoulder Rotation in the 161 to 170 degree range sets the players weight over the balls of their feet at address...

...and, if their Grip is placed on the Upper Core Power Spots, they have Power from any Stance Width they assume. Following the Wright Balance® Express, Stance Width is no longer an issue.

  • The Grip or Handle Size used during the Wright Balance® Express is always relative to hand size. If the handle size matches the player's Middle Core grip size, the default size sets an external shoulder rotation of 151 to 158.

The external shoulder rotaion of 151 to 158 sets a player's balance between the balls of their feet and the center of the arches.

As with the Upper Core player, the Power Spots match the External Shoulder Rotation as well.

  • Relative to hand size, a Grip Size that fits a players Lower Core Region creates an External Shoulder Rotation in the 148 degrees or less range.

When using the Lower Core Grip Size, the External Shoulder Rotation is 148 or less, balance is set over the arches when the Grip Size is the same used during the Wright Balance Express exercise.

When that same grip is set in the Lower Core Power Spots in the left and right hands, there is Power in any Stance Widths when tested.

  1. The "Set" and "Release" of the club is created by all of the factors summarized here. These factors combine to create heel to toe balance. This videos shows how heel to toe balance changes create the set and release of the club.

The trail arm delivery always matches the default External Shoulder Rotation and Grip Size relative to a player's hand size used During the Wright Balance Express Exercises The Posture also matches the external shoulder rotation for that Core Region

  1. As long as there are no limitations in external shoulder rotation. we are able to "move" (biomechanically engineer) a player to a preferred Core Region for play by changing the handle size used during the Wright Balance® Express exercises.

  2. These handle size observations have been made in golf, tennis, baseball, pickleball, squash and a walking cane where the cane handle permits a baseball grip with both hands during the Wright Balance® Express Exercises.

This video is an illustration of handle size in Baseball. If you have time to view this 11 minute video, you will gain an understanding of how handle size defaults to that used during the Wright Balance Express Exercise and how vision is impacted.

  1. The Changes in Core Balance following the Wright Balance® Express lasts for 24 plus hours if the player takes at least 10 seconds or four (4) deep breaths in each of the isometric hold positions and in each of the 9 Stance Widths.

The Following video is a demonstration of the Wright Balance® Express Exercise using a small vs a large handle and the impact on External Shoulder Rotation, Trail Arm Delivery and Grip Size. If you are a Wright Balance® Professional and you wish to understand exactly how to implement the fitting process, this is a must see video.

The athlete should use their club, bat, etc that they use during play to do the Wright Balance® Express Exercise

Testing the Correct Grip Size

So how do you know if the Grip Size you have determined is the best for the player? The best test is the players performance. There is a simple test that will be an eye opener for the player. That is demonstrated in the following video.

When testing, you want to the side and behind the player so you are facing them as shown in this illustration.

Tell the player you are going to push downward on their downswing plane. Ask them if they are ready to resist. As soon as they acknowledge that they are, press firmly on the downswing plane. You won't be able to budge them if they have the correct grip size.

If the grip size does not fit the player you will be able to easily move them off balance.

Nick Faldo

So how did Nick Faldo player with the configuration shown at the beginning of this EBook? I believe he intuitively set a brief isometric move at address.

This is Nick Faldo at address. Notice his shoulders rolled forward.

This posture is very similar to the isometric move of the Wright Balance® Optimization Move (The Wright BOM). The Wright BOM is an isometric move at address that squares the hips, increases rotation, reduces face rotation through the swing, sets the club on plane and much more. Here is a link to an EBook that shows how the Wright BOM is done and the impact it has on setup and club path.

https://instructions.wrightbalance.com/the-wright-balance-optimization-move-for-full-swing/

As you read that EBook, please remember that we were still concerned with matching Stance Width by Core Region at that time in our research. Stance Width is no longer a concern with the Wright Balance® Express as you learned in this EBook.

Origin of the Wright Balance® Exercises

Some 35 plus years ago, Spine Surgeon and PGA Tour consultant, Dr. Robert Watkins stated that 95% of all back surgeries are unnecessary. He used an exercise program for his patients (the "Dead Bug"} to strengthen their core if they chose to avoid surgery. That exercise was part of our research with Dr. Watkins in the late 90s and early 2000s in Dr. Frank Jobe's biomechanics lab at Centinela Hospital, Los Angeles.

This brief video summarizes the research protocols in Dr. Jobe's lab.

This brief video summarizes the Putting protocol in the Lab

Here is one of our research subjects, Glenn Hoffman, former MLB Player and San Diego Padres Manager doing the exercises.

The results of this exercise were published in an international journal. Here is the title page from that publication.

The Dead Bug was tested on multiple populations in subsequent years including individual lessons and golf schools.

The following illustration shows pelvic (Transverse Plane) rotation in a 6 year-old prior to the Dead Bug exercise...

...doing the Dead Bug Exercise...

... and showing the results following the exercise. Notice the absence of pelvic rotation following the exercise.

Below is PGA and European Tours Player, Colin Montgomerie doing the Dead Bug exercise prior to a putting lesson in the Wright Balance® lab at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, Mission Viejo, CA.

In the years since our original research, testing has been ongoing with multiple other exercise programs performed in the 9 Stance Widths that recruit precise regions of the Core. The Core was "mapped" demonstrating that a particular Stance Width would recruit a precise region of the Core. These Core Regions were divided into groups of three (3). Proof of concept followed with testing of each Region using planes of motion (Transverse / Horizontal; Sagittal / Parasagittal Vertical left to right; and Coronal / Frontal front to back).

One of the first exercises tested following the "Dead Bug" was changing the width of the knees in each of the 9 Core Region Stance Widths...

This exercise was integrated into Wright Balance® Golf Schools shown here. Note the measurement of knee width for each of the 9 Core Regions as the players kneel.

The knees positioned at each of the 9 Stance Widths evolved into a knee plank exercise as show below...

...then to a full plank as shown here. Again, note the measurement strip at the feet for the 9 Core Region Stance Widths.

The Wright Balance® Express Exercise evolved about 4 years ago beginning with the Wright Balance® Optimization Exercise. The Wright Balance® Optimization exercise was the first of the isometric exercises. It consisted of 4 positions in each of the 9 Wright Balance® Stance Widths as shown in these 4 illustrations.

The first move was to "pinch" the shoulder blades together while standing tall and holding that isometric position for two deep breaths repeating this isometric move in each of the 9 Wright Balance® Core Region Stance Widths...

...followed by adding knee flex, continuing to hold the isometric position while pinching the shoulder blades together and taking two deep breaths in each of the 9 Wright Balance® Core Region Stance Widths...

...then standing tall again and rolling the shoulders inward toward the sternum and holding that isometric position for 2 deep breaths, again in each of the 9 Wright Balance Core Region Stance Widths...

... then, holding that isometric position with the shoulders rolled forward toward the sternum and leaning forward with knee flex and holding that position for 2 deep breaths in each of the 9 Wright Balance® Core Region Stance Widths as shown here.

The Wright Balance® Optimization Exercise has been adopted as an exercise for Pain Management and Flexibility. Soft tissue pain relief is relatively fast following the Wright Balance® Optimization Exercise. The Planes of Motion Tests following the Optimization Exercise show proof of concept in each Plane of Motion. However, there is very little resistance to disruption. This exercise is done as an "Open Kinetic Chain" exercise.

The Wright Balance® Express is done as a "Closed Kinetic Chain" and has the greatest resistance to disruption. I won't repeat the images of the Wright Balance Express here as those isometric positions are clearly shown in the embedded videos earlier in this overview.

The original body measurements result in the 9 Core Region Stance Widths. Each exercise that was tested was done in all 9 Stance Widths.

The Origin of the Carrying Angle and External Shoulder Rotation Relationship

The following photo is of Dr. Michael Mellman, one of the principal investigators in the original research, in 1998 demonstrating the Carrying / Power Angle. Dr. Mellman brought the measurement of the Carrying Angle to the research setting in the late 1990s.

The measurement of the Carrying / Power Angle was part of the original research in Dr. Frank Jobe's Biomechanics Lab.

Observations of the Carrying Angle were made in the Biomechanics Lab at Address with and without an iron...

and with and without a putter as shown here.

Each subject hit 20 balls and 20 putts with 4 different grip sizes.

In 2010 Golf Magazine Published an article showing the Power of Angles illustrating the Carrying / Power Angle and the overlap in golf and baseball.

That same year Golf Magazine published a book titled: The Best Putting Book Ever showing the Wright Balance applications of Stance Width...

...Grip Size...

... and the Angle of Symmetry (Carrying / Power Angle) in putting.

The relationship between the carrying / Power angle and External Shoulder Rotation at address and through the swing was discovered in 2011.

Research Questions for future investigation:

  1. Does ball velocity in throwing increase with greater external shoulder rotation? If so, care should be taken to test shoulder girdle strength before engineering changes that the athlete's body is not strong enough to biomechanically support.

  2. I have measured 3 marathon runners, all of whom have a carrying angle of 164 degrees or greater. Do Sprinters have a greater carrying angle? Can we biomechanically engineer changes in speed and endurance by changing the mechanics of running via biomechanically engineering changes in the carrying angle? How does slow twitch (marathon runner) and fast twitch (sprinter) muscle development impact the speed vs endurance with changes in the carrying angle?

  3. Can we enhance rehabilitation of, for example, a "frozen shoulder" by using a large grip to do the Wright Balance® Express, increasing the carrying angle providing conditions for greater range of motion (external shoulder rotation) during physical therapy?

If you know of a research / treatment facility that would have an interest in testing these and other research questions, please have them contact me at [email protected]