Carrying Angle Part 2: The Upper Core Player

by David F. Wright

Copyright, Wright Balance® 2026

"It's not what happens to you but how you react to it that matters"

Epictetus 55 AD to 135 AD

How to Use this eBook

I have edited the video of our March, 2026 Zoom session into 7 short videos, each followed by a brief quiz. Your time is valuable, I know. If you have time to view each video, I would encourage you to do so. If time is tight, take the quizzes following each video. If you have no problem answering the quiz questions correctly, advance to the next quiz. When you struggle with a quiz, watch the brief video.

Please know that this content will appear on your annual recertification exam.

The Disadvantage of the Lower Core Player Part 1

4 minutes & 30 seconds

Question

Is it Possible for a Lower Core Player to change their Core Zone to Upper Core?

Answer

As a general rule, Yes. However, to produce a 161 - 164 degree Carrying Angle the carrying angle to be tested at different Stance Widths of the Upper Core, perhaps in the narrowest stance width, 5 inches.

Question

Is it Possible for a Upper Core Player to change their Core Zone to Lower Core?

Answer

That is highly unlikely since the beginning Carrying Angle is quite shallow (high 150 degrees to high 160 degrees) When we get to increasing speed and rotation by combining Core Zones, you will want to move the Upper Core Player into the Lower Core

range to increase ease of rotation.

Question

The Performance Stance Range (plus or minus 1 inch) for the Lower Core Player is:

  1. 17 to 25 inches
  2. 20 to 28 inches
  3. 16 to 24 inches
  4. 8 to 16 inches

Answer

  1. 20 to 28 inches

Question

The Performance Stance Range -PSR- (plus or minus 1 inch) for the Upper Core Player is:

  1. 17 to 25 inches
  2. 20 to 28 inches
  3. 16 to 24 inches
  4. 8 to 16 inches

Answer

  1. 8 to 16 inches

Question

Of the three (3) Core Zones, why does the Lower Core player have the greatest disadvantage in the short game?

Answer

As the Lower Core Player narrows their stance, their hip line opens or closes (generally opens) and their shoulder and stance lines cross either behind (from an open hip line) or in front (from a closed hip line). As the hips and shoulders cross their grip continues to change and their internal rotation of their hands and club path changes. The same thing happens with the Middle Core Players but to a lesser extent.

Question

Other than Core Symmetry, what is the greatest impact the Carrying Angle has at address?

  1. Posture
  2. Stance Width
  3. Grip
  4. Alignment

Answer

  1. Grip

Leveling the Playing Field for the Lower Core Player Part 2

6 minutes & 30 seconds

Question

When I added tape to my trail hand, which of the following DID NOT change?

  1. Hip Line from 0 to 36 inches
  2. My hips squared for the short game
  3. My Posture set was good in all stance widths
  4. My grip was the same in both hands

Answer

  1. My grip was NOT the same in both hands due to the difference in the Carrying Angle on my left and right side prior to the Wright Balance® Express.

Since my Carrying Angle did not change, my left and right hand grip angles were not the same and DID NOT change and DID NOT match

Question

How do I change my Carrying Angle so that I have Core Symmetry through my Kinetic Chain and my grip is the same angle in both my left and right hands?

Answer

The Wright Balance® Express, when done in any stance width "color" with matching power spots in both hands will create the same carrying angle in both left and right arms and the angle of the grip will also be the same in the left and right hands.

Question

What will disrupt my Core and return me to being square only in my Performance Stance Range (PSR) after placing tape on the Power Spots of my trail hand?

  1. A ring on my lead hand
  2. Placing tape on any two fingers next to each other
  3. Taping only my Dominant Core Power Spot on my trail hand
  4. All of the above

Answer

  1. All of the above

Question

What is the last thing you should focus on in the first lesson?

  1. Posture
  2. Alignment
  3. Stance Width
  4. Grip

Answer

  1. Grip Recall from the video that my trail hand was 4 degrees "stronger" (clockwise) than my right hand. Your student may have found their "neutral" grip. You don't want to change the grip until you begin with a yardstick or paint stick and, ideally, after the Wright Balance® Express.

Upper Core Video 3

9 minutes & 20 seconds

Question

When a player arrives without having done the Wright Balance® Express exercise and their Carrying Angle is not the same on the left arm as the right arm, what does this tell you?

Answer

The player's grip will not be the same on both sides. Thus, the backswing or through swing will require an adjustment in the grip.

Question

How can a Wright Balance® Professional adjust the grip to be certain their is no restriction in shoulder rotation in the backswing or through swing.

Answer

Place a bar on the player's hips and adjust each hand clockwise or counterclockwise until the hips are square. OR, more importantly, have the player do the Wright Balance® Express to create the same Carrying Angle and the angle of the grip in both hands.

Question

What impact does doing the Wright Balance® Express in Upper Core Stance Widths at 35 inches vs 5 inches have on the Carrying Angle.

Answer

The wider the Stance Width when doing the Wright Balance® Express, the wider the Carrying Angle. Thirty-five (35) inches for example might create a 156 degree Carrying angle and 5 inches might create 164 degrees.

Question

If I want a very shallow Carrying Angle compared to what I currently have, I would do the Wright Balance® Express at a:

  1. Wider Stance Width
  2. Narrower Stance Width
  3. 3 inches Wider
  4. None of the above

Answer

  1. Narrower Stance Width

Question

An Upper Core Player wants to use more body in their golf swing and move from Upper Core to Lower Core by doing the Wright Balance® Express. Is that possible?

Answer

It is highly unlikely that the Upper Core Dominant individual is able to create a Carrying Angle that would produce the under delivery to the ball of a Lower Core Player. On the other hand, it is likely that a Lower Core Player can do the Wright Balance® Express in a narrow Upper Core Stance Width and create a shallow enough Carrying Angle and play as an Upper Core Player. Why? It is easier to reduce a Lower Core Carrying Angle to Upper Core than to increase an Upper Core Carrying Angle to Lower Core. Anatomically it is more difficult. However, don't let these comments stop you from testing the above. Experience is the measurement of truth.

Upper Core Video 4

5 minutes & 30 seconds

>

Question

When I interlock my trail middle finger and my lead thumb, fully extend my arms and let my arms drop to my chest, what am I determining?

  1. My Dominant Core Zone
  2. My arms position and type of grip I will use
  3. My ideal posture
  4. My ideal knee flex

Answer

  1. My arms position and type of grip I will use

Question

My Upper Core 8 inch Performance Stance Range (PSR) is:

1.16 to 24 inches

2.12 to 20 inches

3.8 to 16 inches

4.10 to 18 inches

Answer

  1. 8 to 16 inches

Question

If my Carrying Angle is not the same on both sides, how does that impact my setup to the ball?

  1. My secondary tilt will change depending on the club I am hitting
  2. My stance width will not always be the same
  3. There is no impact on my setup
  4. My left and right hand grip will never be the same

Answer

  1. My left and right hand grip will never be the same

Question

Which Core Zone has the greatest advantage in the Short game?

Answer

The Uppoer Core since the Upper Core Player can narrow their stance to as little as 8 inches to hit a short shot. The Middle Core Player can only be as narrow as 16 inches before the hips rotate and the clubface opens or closes. The Lower Core Player can only be as narrow as 20 inches. At 18 inches, the Lower Core Player's hips will open or close as will the clubface

Upper Core Video 5

.6 Minutes & 52 seconds

Question

What happens to the Carrying Angle following the Wright Balance® Express?

  1. The Carrying Angle is the same on both sides
  2. The Carrying Angle becomes greater
  3. The Carrying Angle does nothing after the Wright Balance® Express
  4. None of the above

Answer

  1. The Carrying Angle is the same on both sides

Question

I am an Upper Core Player. My Carrying Angle is 157 degrees. What do I need to do to reduce my carrying angle to an Upper Core range of 161 to 164 degrees.

Answer

Do the Wright Balance® Express at narrower stance widths until I find the stance width that creates that 161 to 164 range.

Question

The Carrying Angle is most easily tested by doing what?

  1. Placing your hand on a digital protractor and testing shoulder rotation
  2. Use a long iron to determine delivery to the ball
  3. Stand tall and turn your palms forward
  4. None of the above

Answer

  1. Placing your hand on a digital protractor and testing shoulder rotation

Question

What grip do I suggests will be the best grip for the Upper Core Player and Why?

  1. Butterfly
  2. Complimentary
  3. 10 finger grip
  4. It doesn't matter

Answer

    1. Butterfly A Butterfly Grip produces what EA Tischler describes as a "covering" or "on top" delivery to the ball whereas a complimentary grip is more of a "side cover". An Upper Core player has more of an "on top" delivery to the ball.

Question

How many degrees change in your Carrying Angle can you predict you will have for every stance width in your Dominant Core Zone.

  1. 2 degrees
  2. 1.5 degrees
  3. 1 degree.
  4. You need to test it to find out. Everyone is different

Answer

  1. You need to test it to find out. Everyone is different

Video 6

7 minutes and 14 seconds

Question

What is the purpose of the alignment stick as demonstrated in this video

  1. Teaching heel to toe balance
  2. Demonstrating Sequence of Motion and impact of loading the trail heel
  3. Emphasizing the importance of using the Downswing Path Test
  4. All of the above

Answer

  1. All of the above

Question

In this video I demonstrate loading the trail heel. What does the Downswing Path Test (DPT) show when the trail heel is loaded.

  1. The club path test shows the hips are square to the target line
  2. The club path test shows the hips are not square to the target line
  3. The club path test showed an open hip line
  4. 2 and 3 above

Answer

  1. 2 and 3 above

Question

The Upper Core Player starts their backswing with

  1. The shoulders
  2. Everything together
  3. The lead knee ir trail hip
  4. It doesn't matter

Answer

  1. The lead knee or trail hip

Question

What is the one of the most important things you should teach your student?

  1. Grip
  2. Posture
  3. Sequening of Motion
  4. The Downswing Path Test (DPT)

Answer

  1. The Downswing Path Test (DPT)

Question

When gripping a yardstick or a golf club, the shaft should be paralell to the ground. Why?

Answer

The Carrying Angle will show up in the lead hand and shaft when the yardstick or golf club is gripped correctly and the arms position on the chest wall is correct.

When the club is gripped, the arms are firm and extended and drop to the chest, the shaft is naturally parallel to the ground and the Carrying Angle is created in the lead arm and shaft. When the shaft IS NOT parallel to the ground as the arms drop, there is an issue with the grip or arms position or both. This is one of numerous places the Carrying Angle is set at address. If this angle is not correct, the rest of the address positions will not match the Carrying Angle.

Video 7

4 minutes & 42 seconds

Question

Why should the arms be away from the chest wall when practicing grip?

  1. To be certain the clubface is square
  2. The arms position, like the grip, impacts shoulder rotation
  3. To allow room for the placement of the trail hand
  4. None of the above

Answer

  1. The arms position, like the grip, impacts shoulder rotation. If the arms are set on the chest wall when practicing grip, the feedback when testing hip line while practicing grip will be related to the arms on the chest wall, not grip.

Question

What impact does the incorrect arms position have on the backswing and through swing?

  1. There is no impact
  2. The grip will override any impact of the arms position
  3. There will be a restriction in shoulder rotation
  4. None of the above

Answer

  1. There will be a restriction in shoulder rotation

Question

How do you determine the arms position on the chest wall?

Answer

Stand tall. Interlock your trail hand middle finger Power Spot with the same Core Zone Power Spot of your lead thumb. Extend your arms in front, relax and let your arms drop to your chest wall. If done correctly, when you leave your arms on your chest wall you will have full shoulder rotation if you use the motion sequence of your Core Zone in the backswing and through swing.

Question

What happens if I don't have the correct arms position on my chest wall?

  1. Nothing if my grip and motion sequence matches my Core Zone
  2. I will over swing in my backswing
  3. I will have restricted shoulder rotation
  4. None of the above

Answer

  1. I will have restricted shoulder rotation

Question

I am an Upper Core Player. What happens if I set my arms on my chest wall like a Lower Core Player?

Answer

I will have restricted shoulder rotation.

I added this question because so many players have read Ben Hogan's book:The 5 Fundamentals. In that book is an illustration showing the arms tied together creating what would likely be a Lower Core arms position. Your students will have read this book. OR, how about the different size balls that we use for students to hold between their arms during a lesson to get the feeling of a 1 piece take away? These teaching aids fit one Core Zone, but not all three.