Copyright, Wright Balance® 2026

"Nature knows no right or wrong, only balance and imbalance"
Anonymous

Many players have remarkable golf swings but not all can play at the highest level. Hemmingway described in a sentence what separates people who rise to the top of their arena from those who continue to struggle. This quote encompasses all golfers regardless of their swing mechanics.

"The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places."

Earnest Hemmingway 1929 A Farewell to Arms

This statement is about mental toughness. We will be exploring much more in this realm and what creates this state of resilience in the future. I want you to understand that great play is NOT just about a great golf swing. Great play is about picking yourself up after repeated failures and behaving as though you are about to make your first swing of the day, regardless of your past experiences.

*"When the Kinetic chain is aligned producing body symmetry, physical stress is at a minimum and performance is at a maximum" *
David F. Wright 2026

"Experience is the Measurement of TRUTH"
David F. Wright 2018

Finding Balance

As we train today, I will show you how to align your Kinetic Chain so that when we teach setup and motion, your student will have a setup with balance through the entire kinetic chain. With this balance and an aligned kinetic chain, you and your students will create maximum ground reaction force, consistency and increased distance.

If you haven't reviewed the following eBooks, even after this training, these eBooks are a must to understand, review and provide to your students. They will identify with the swings of the Tour Player's in their Core Zone and be more open to your instruction.

The 3 Swings of Wright Balance®

https://instructions.wrightbalance.com/the-three-swings-of-wright-balance/

The Kinetic Chain

https://instructions.wrightbalance.com/the-wright-balance-express-the-kinetic-chain/

Conversations with Your Students:

"There are 3 Zones of the body where balance at ground level sets heel to toe balance. Each of us has only one of these three Zones that we are born with. Each Zone has predictable heel to toe balance. We call this one Zone our Dominant Zone. This particular Zone we are born with is also where we have the most strength.

Each Zone has an 8 inch Stance Range where we have our best balance and strength when performing any activity.

The three Zones of Body are:

1. Upper
2. Middle
3. Lower

The Upper Body Zone at ground level sets heel to toe balance over the balls of the feet. Upper Body Zone strength is centered from the neck to the lower sternum.

The Middle Body Zone at ground level sets heel to toe balance just behind the balls of the feet and forward of the center of the arches. Middle Body Zone strength is centered from the lower sternum to the naval.

Lower Body Zone Dominance sets heel to toe balance over the center of the arches. Lower Body Zone strength is centered from the naval to the pelvic floor.

The following are abbreviations you will find throughout this eBook.

Acronyms:

DPT= The Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path Test
PSR= The Wright Balance® Performance Stance Range with:

1. The Upper Core PSR is 8 to 16 inches plus or minus 1 inch;
2. The Middle Core PSR is 16 to 24 inches plus or minus 1 inch; ;
3. The Lower Core PSR is 20 to 28 inches plus or minus 1 inch

WBX = The Wright Balance® Express, a 2 minute exercise that creates symmetry in all planes of motion, levels the hips and shoulders and creates the same carrying angle in both left and right arms

Definitions:

Planes of Motion= Body movement in lines parallel to the Planes of Motion:

1. Rotational Plane (or Transverse / Axial Plane) is Observed as pelvic rotation; internal external rotation of hands, etc. and any rotation parallel to these motions

2. Sagittal Plane (Step forward and back and observe pelvic rotation and up and down movement of hips and shoulders)

3. Coronal / Frontal Plane Hip & Shoulder Height and any parallel motion in side to side movement

Kinetic Chain = The "links" of the body in a chain like fashion. The kinetic chain includes the skeleton, ligaments, tendons, muscle and fascia. The connection of the links in the kinetic chain determines subsequent body alignment as measured by the Planes of Motion. When the Kinetic chain is aligned, this produces body symmetry, physical stress is at a minimum and performance is at a maximum.

Propagation of Force = Movement of "force" through the body based upon pressure at focal points (the hands for Wright Balance®). This process is also known as "mechanotransduction" where a mechanical force (pressure on Power Spots) produces changes in the Core as measured by Planes of Motion.

This eBook covers a review of the research on Propagation of Force:

https://instructions.wrightbalance.com/how-power-spots-create-propagation-of-force/

Tiger Tape= Tape covering the non-dominant power spots on the trail hand producing a square hip line in the front and back of the rotational plane in all stance widths when standing tall with and without knee flex. However, even though your hips remain square, you will notice a subtle change in clubface when moving inside or outside the PSR. When testing balance while standing on an alignment stick you will notice that there is no change in heel to toe balance meaning that the Dominant Zone remains constant regardless of stance width within the 0 to 36 inches.

California Freeway Finger= The middle finger used to do the WBX Students will either laugh or be disgusted by this definition. Remember we recall things to which we attach emotion, humor or disgust. Your student won't forget to use the middle finger when doing the WBX or taping for play.

Alignment Stick= Used for standing on and testing points of heel to toe balance in each foot and when testing balance and grip size

Paint Stick = Used for teaching grip via Harvey Penick

Yardstick = Used for setting posture, distance from ball and ball position ONLY after learning grip.

Face Clips = 2 Plastic Clips, one that attaches to the Grip for full swing and the other attaches to the shaft of the putter. A card is centered to the middle grove of an iron on the grip clip; the clip on the putter shaft is aligned square to the top edge of the putter head, not the leading edge

AHA Test = When you stand with your palm on the butt of the club and test a student's power that is said to be their "AHA" moment.
Upper Core
Middle Core
Lower Core
OR when you test for the Dominant Core Zone by each Performance Stance Range (PSR) as demonstrated in this video testing an Upper Core Player.

Dominant Core Zone

Each of us has one Dominant Zone with demonstrated strength based upon:

• A predictable left and right hand Grip
• A predictable Stance Width Range (PSR)
• A predictable Sequence of Motion
• A predictable Posture
• A predictable amount of foot flare for maximum ground reaction force
• A predictable point of heel to toe balance in the predictable Stance Width Range (PSR)

This video was shot in 2026 while I was training Jim Nittoli's staff at SACC where he is the director of golf and a teaching staff of 7 professionals.

In this video I am testing Nick, a teaching professional and demonstrating how to find the Dominant Core Zone using the Power test in 3 different stance widths.

Note The first stance width I am testing is at 13 inches. That is the Power test for the Upper Core where, if this is Nick's Dominant Core Zone he will have Power and his hips will be square between 8 & 16 inches plus or minus 1 inch. The second test I test is for the Middle Core where Nick assumes a stance width of 18 inches. That is the Power test stance width for the Middle Core where, if this is Nick's Dominant Core Zone he will have Power and his hips will be square between 16 and 24 inches plus or minus 1 inch. The third test I do is for the Lower Core where Nick assumes a stance width of 26 inches. That is the Power test stance width for the Lower Core where, if this is Nick's Dominant Core Zone, he will have Power and his hips will be square between 20 and 28 inches plus or minus 1 inch and outside the width of a Middle Core test. As you can see from the video, Nick had the most Power at 18 inches suggesting he is a Middle Core Player. the next video will test his stance width to confirm this observation of Power.

The following video was made in 2023 demonstrating the same process and also that one inch outside the Dominant Core Zone Stance Width will result in demonstrated loss of Power. Thus in testing the 3 Core Zones, I pick a stance width that falls in the middle and outside the other Performance Stance Range for the other 2 Core Zones.

The next video will show a test of Nick's Middle Core Stance Width Range to confirm this observation of Power in his Middle Core Zone. Recall that Nick had the greatest Power at 18 inches. The Middle Core Stance Width Range is 16 to 24 inches, plus or minus 1 inch as shown here.

Next I move to testing Nick's grip for Power. The placement of the club across his middle finger determines his Power. This is easily demonstrated to students.

When first tested for power, Nick was easily moved off balance. Testing demonstrated that Nick is a Middle Core Player. When his grip was checked where the grip crossed his middle finger, his lead hand had the grip across the crease of the first knuckle up from his palm, the Middle Core Power Spot. When checking his right hand, the grip crossed his middle finger on the first pad up from the palm, the Upper Core Power Spot. I showed Nick where he should place his right hand, the crease of the first knuckle up. Nick was then tested and demonstrated power with that subtle grip change.

Note: Each Dominant Zone has an individual Grip Size for precise heel to toe balance. Once the Dominant Zone is determined, use one of the 11 Stance Widths in your student's Dominant Zone. When you find the grip size using the short bat or cue stick, if your student keeps their left foot on the zero mark and changes their Stance Width to any of the other 10 Stance Widths in their Dominant Zone, you will note that their hips remain square. If they step to one of the other 2 non-dominant Zone Stance Widths, you will see rotation of their hips.
Each Dominant Zone has measurable and predictable strength based upon grip Power Spots (Upper, Middle or Lower).

Note: This test is in addition to or in Lieu of using the "AHA" test (having your student swing to the top and placing your palm on the butt of the club and testing Power). When possible I would encourage you to use the "AHA test. The "AHA" test is described and illustrated later in this eBook. If you are changing your student's Power Spots in their grip, this will be their first insight into why they should move the grip more or less into the fingers.

If your student has a history of neck, shoulder, back, wrist, etc. injuries use the following protocol instead of the "AHA" test. Regardless, you will follow the "AHA" test with the protocol below. Your student will need to understand their Wright Balance® Performance Stance Range.

Testing the Wright Balance® Performance Stance Range PSR

Place a bar on your hips. Let's determine your Dominant Core Zone. Using the Wright Balance® vinyl strip. Stand at 12 inches (Upper Core). After you assume your stance, do not move your feet. Take the coffee cup and grip it in your lead hand in your PALM. Move only your left foot and move to 18 inches (Middle Core) and then 26 inches (Lower Core). Set your stance in these widths and only AFTER assuming your stance, hold a cup or grip expander in your palm and add knee flex. Your hips will remain square ONLY when you are in your Dominant Core Zone. In your 2 non-dominant core Zones, your hips will rotate open or closed.

Note: You are likely wondering: "Why take the cup only after assuming your stance width?" BECAUSE you must set your Lower Kinetic Chain (Stance) before setting the Upper Kinetic Chain (Grip). If you set up holding the coffee cup, your hips will always be open or closed. This process is based on Grip Sizing. We originally believed that and incorrect grip size opens or closes the hips. It only moves heel to toe balance WHEN BOTH hands are placed on the club. That is why we do grip sizing using the lead hand to begin.

"The Bar Isn't Moving Enough for me to Determine the Dominant Core Zone Where the Hips are Square in Only One of The 3 Zones."

For years I have heard that it is difficult to determine the Dominant Core Zone because there is little to no hip rotation in any Stance Width. The cup or grip expander, when gripped deep in the palm, is the same as an oversized grip which will magnify hip rotation when the player is out of balance. The cup or grip expander has no impact on hip rotation if the player is in their Dominant Wright Balance® Performance Stance Range (PSR). The only movement the player will experience in their balance is heel to toe. The cup or grip expander will likely move them toward their heels.

Finding The Wright Balance® Performance Stance Range (PSR) Protocol

Determine the Wright Balance® Performance Stance Range PSR using a CUP or Grip Expander to magnify grip size. Use the starting Stance Widths below to determine the 8 inch Performance Stance Range.

Once your student is in one of the Stance Widths listed below, hand them a cup or grip expander to hold in the palm of their hand with their fingers around it.

If your students hips squared after they were handed the cup or grip expander at:

12 inches= Upper Core Their Performance Stance Width Range is 8 to 16 inches plus or minus 1 inch

18 inches = Middle Core Their Performance Stance Width Range is 16 to 24 inches plus or minus 1 inch

26 inches= Lower Core Their Performance Stance Width Range is 20 to 28 inches plus or minus 1 inch

Foot Flare

FOLLOWING the Wright Balance® Express in their address position, your student should flare to place their femur and hip joint in their normal alignment.

Find the "Natural Flare" your student should use. Observe your student as they walk away from you and back toward you and note the amount of foot flare as they do. A person who walks with either or both feet angled away from the midline of their body is demonstrating the natural position of the interface between their femur and hip joint. That is their "natural" position of balance and the position where they will have their greatest balance at address.

OR, stand and talk with your student and notice how they adjust their stance after 1 or 2 minutes.

If your student would attempt to balance on 1 foot, you would find that their "natural flare" would be the position where they have the longest balance hold.

NOTE: Traditional instruction teaches flare of the feet to create a deeper turn. You will find that some of your students, when told to flare their lead foot in an unnatural position will actually create pelvic rotation in the direction opposite of the flare. Stay with what is natural. Test how the student walks as you observe from behind and note how they stand relaxed...

Hands Hang the Same Inside Your PSR only After the Wright Balance Express® (WBX)

Note that your hands hang exactly the same inside your Wright Balance® Performance Stance Range (PSR) and one or both hands rotate when your stance is outside outside your PSR after the Wright Balance Express (WBX) and with NO TAPE. When you apply tape, as you learned during the training, AND following the Wright Balance Express (WBX), your hands will hang the same in all stance widths.

Note Hip & Shoulder Height inside your students Wright Balance Performance Stance Range (PSR)

In the majority of players you will note that one shoulder is lower than the other and one arm hangs lower. The hip on the side where one shoulder is lower is almost always higher. Both of these factors are shown in the illustration below.

If the trail hip is higher at Address:

1. The angle of attack with both putter and full swing will be steeper.
2. Your student's ability to set secondary tilt will be compromised
3. Hip turn in the backswing will be restricted without some compensation (for example straightening the trail leg in the backswing)

Note: The Wright Balance® Express (WBX) levels the shoulders and hips and creates core symmetry in all planes of motion. Following the Wright Balance® Express (WBX), the Kinetic Chain is aligned and your student's body is set to maximize the recruitment of ground reaction forces.

The AHA Test

The "AHA" Test is imperative for your student to understand the change in power with different Power Spot grip positions. The "AHA" test also confirms the Wright Balance® Performance Stance Width Range (PSR) and Dominant Core Zone.

The "Low Budget Biofeedback for Balance": An Alignment Stick

1. Place a bar on your hips.
2. Stand in your Performance Stance Width Range (PSR).
3. Stand on an alignment stick and find the balance of your Dominant Core Zone. You will easily find your balance as a straight line between your left and right feet.
4. Note that your hips are square on that alignment stick when you are set on the heel to toe balance points of your Dominant Core Zone
5. With the bar on your hips indicating a square hip line, change the balance on the alignment stick by stepping forward one inch and back one inch.
6. Note the rotation of your hips when you are out of balance.

While standing on an alignment stick place a sleeve on your a non-dominant Power Spots of both hands. Note that even though Performance Stance Range moved to a different Core Zone, your heel to toe balance remains unchanged.

NOTE: The only way to move heel to toe balance is by doing the Wright Balance® Express WBX in different Stance Widths on the vinyl strip with a Core Zone. There are Eleven (11) Different Stance Widths in each Core Zone. Each of these Stance Widths, when doing the WBX moves heel to toe balance forward or back within that Zone. You will do the WBX in different Stance Widths (one of the 11 color coded Stance Widths) during training.

The narrower the Stance Width in any Dominant Zone when doing the WBX moves the heel to toe weight forward. The wider the Stance Width in a particular Dominant Zone moves the weight back within that Zone. For Example, if you do the Wright Balance Express at 8 inches and then add knee flex, you will note that your weight is on your toes. If you then do the Wright Balance Express at a Stance Width of 35 inches and add knee flex, you will note that your weight has moved toward the back edge of the balls of your feet, still in the Upper Core Zone but back in that balance Zone at ground level. You can change the player's delivery to the ball by simply changing to wider or narrower stance width.

Expanding the Performance Stance Range

If your Dominant Core Zone is Upper Core and you place tape or sleeves on the Middle and Lower Core Power Spots of your trail hand, your performance Stance Width expands to 0 to 36 inches. However, you will note that your heel to toe balance remains constant as shown here:

If your Dominant Core Zone is Middle Core, and you tape the Power Spots of your Upper and Lower Core on your trail hand, you will note that your heel to toe balance remains constant (as shown here) even though your balanced Stance Widths changed to 0 to 36 inches:

If your Dominant Core Zone is Lower Core, When you tape the Power Spots for Upper and Middle Core of your trail hand, you will note that your heel to toe balance remains constant (as shown here) even though your balanced Stance Widths changed from 0 to 36 inches:

When to set the Lower Kinetic Chain vs Upper Kinetic Chain

Next, use the Wright Balance® Downswing club Path Test (DPT) while setting the correct kinetic chain (Lower Body) versus incorrect kinetic chain Upper Body. This video demonstrates how important it is to set the Lower Kinetic Chain (Stance) before the Upper Kinetic (Grip). It also shows how the majority of your students will create an open hip line when their grip (Upper Kinetic Chain) is assumed before the lower kinetic Chain (Stance).

>Test this process using a cup or grip expanders

PUTTER PATH, the PSR, Power Spots, Face Clip & DPT

1. Set up with a Putter in your PSR with Power Spots set. Make a Stroke and Use the DPT & Face Clip on Putter
2. Note Face clip Path with PSR and Power Spots on putter & DPT
3. Note: Face clip and Path with PSR WRONG Power Spots and test with DPT
4. Note Face Clip Path with Wrong PSR via the DPT
5. Repeat #1 above

SET & RELEASE OF PUTTER AND FULL SWING

There is a good bit online regarding the set and release of the club. As you will see from this exercise, the set and release of the club is a function of balance.

With a putter, move to the balls of your feet (Upper Core) and be certain to stay their. Relax your arms and hands by taking a deep breath and relaxing your shoulders (traps). Mid way through your exhale start the putter back for a SHORT putt and hold the backstroke. Note how quickly you feel the putter set. Now stay on the balls of your feet and make a through stroke. You will note and feel the release of the putter.

Next, move your weight over the center of your arches (Lower Core). Again, stay over the center of your arches and feel the backstroke and notice there is little to no set of the club. If you stay over the center of your arches you will note that there is little to no release of the putter in the through stroke.

WHY? The set and release of the club is a function of heel to toe balance. The set and release of the club is predictable and matches the player's playing Core Zone.

Here is a link to a YouTube video I made 8 or 9 years ago on the set and release of the club.

The Impact of Shoulder Rotation

The following graphics on Shoulder Rotation as related to distance. were done, after extensive calculations, by our resident Physicist, Dr. James M. Smith.

Backswing Sequence of Motion

These videos show Posture, Sequence of Motion and the Downswing Path Test (DPT) for the Upper, Middle and Lower Core Players.

Upper Core Posture, Sequence of Motion & the Wright Balance® Downswing Path Test (DPT)

Note: The testing described here is BEFORE the Wright Balance Express (WBX) Exercise used when teaching sequence of motion. Once the Wright Balance® Express is done in a particular Stance Width, you are locked into one Core Zone and heel to toe balance does not change, regardless of stance width.

Add finger sleeves to Upper Core Power Spots of both hands and move to your Upper Core Performance Range (PSR)

Middle Core Posture, Sequence of Motion & the Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path Test

Add finger sleeves to your Middle Core Power Spots of both hands and move to your Upper Core Performance Range (PSR)

Lower Core Posture, Sequence of Motion & the Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path Test

Add finger sleeves to your Lower Core Power Spots of both hands and move to your Lower Core Performance Range (PSR)

The Origin of The Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path Test (DPT)

Research in Dr. Frank Jobe's biomechanics lab at Centinela Hospital in the early 2000s shed a precise light on the balance position at ground level and path with the putter. The following images were shot during the putting segment in the Biomechanics Lab. Each player had 40 light sensors on their body, 1000 force sensors in their shoes and light sensors on the putter and irons.

When the putter path was observed as square to the line, the following balance image of the force / pressure sensors was present 100 percent of the time from address through the stroke to finish.

When the putter path was outside-in, this was a predictable observation at ground level before and after the stroke. Note the position of heel to toe balance as shown by the force / pressure sensors.

When the putter path was inside - out, this was a predictable observation of the force / pressure sensors at ground level. Note the position of heel to toe balance. Note the center of force / pressure forward in the left foot and back in the right foot.

Each research subject had a multiple data collection points with putter where they had a bar on their hips. The orientation of the bar matched the balance configuration observed with the force / pressure sensors at ground level.

Those observations were tested over several years. It was determined that the full swing could be tested similar to the way the putter was tested. In the full swing, having the player stop at any point at address or in motion before impact, stand tall and face their target line and add knee flex, the observed line of PRESSURE was predictive of the path the club would follow in the downswing: The Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path Test (DPT). As long as the player didn't move their feet, the orientation of the hips correctly predicted the path the putter, irons and woods would take through impact.

Posture, when to Grip the club, Grip, Stance Width, Shaft Lean and Sequence of Motion tests were added to the full swing and putter path tests. The grip and posture tests identified full swing and putter path 100 percent of the time.

When testing the address position with students I observed that shaft plane changed when the student was in balance...

...versus out of balance:

Pressure Vs Force & the Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path Test

Pressure is the measured observation of your body as you stand on a balance mat. That pressure becomes FORCE as your kinetic chain starts in motion (kinematics) in any activity. The ground FORCE that is applied is directly related to the amount of FORCE that is recruited from the ground.

FORCE**** is the effort or energy you actively apply or recruit through your body's kinetic chain. Forces in the golf swing are categorized as Horizontal (Linear), Rotational (Torque), and Vertical.

Pressure to Force to Pressure: The Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path Test

The Relationship of PRESSURE and the beginning "recruitment" of FORCE starts in the address position. Each position at address (Posture, when the club is gripped, grip, shaft lean, stance, etc) creates either a symmetrical line of PRESSURE at ground level as shown here...

or a variation on one of the two resulting lines of PRESSURE

Line of PRESSURE TO PRESSURE Test

The line of PRESSURE TO PRESSURE is done before swing motion begins. In the full swing, the player starts with a line of pressure. Wright Balance® teaching creates a symmetrical line of pressure at address by matching the player's playing Core Zone to a corresponding Performance Stance Width Range (PSR); Posture; noting when to place their hands on the club, the Grip and Shaft Lean.

The Line of Pressure is measured by a line connecting the center of PRESSURE of one foot to the center of PRESSURE of the other foot as shown here.

NOTE: Each of these address positions (stance width, posture, grip, shaft lean) is tested separately and, when properly set, creates a symmetrical line of PRESSURE (a straight line). When any one of the address positions is set incorrectly, the Line of Pressure is diagonal from the Center of Pressure in one foot to the enter of PRESSURE in the other foot.

The Wright Balance® Dowswing Club Path Test is done with each of the set up positions, one at a time. When, for example, the Performance Stance Range (PSR) matches the Core Zone, the line of PRESSURE will be a straight line as shown here.

When the player sets up outside their matching Performance Stance Range, the line of pressure will result in one of the following lines of PRESSURE.

How to Do the Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path Test (DPT)

You can test EVERY address position and backswing and through swing motion to impact using the Wright Balance Downswing Club Path Test from grip to sequence of motion. For example when testing lead hand grip, from the address position, the player stands, in a tall position facing the target line and adds knee flex. You can magnify hip rotation or lack thereof by giving the player a cup or grip expander to hold in the palm of their trail hand. If the line of PRESSURE is square. That feedback reinforces the player's practice and your teaching. Next, move to the trail hand only when the player shows a consistent lead hand grip.

Let's assume your player has gone through each phase of their setup repeatedly with consistent success. Now you are observing their full swing in a lesson and their ball striking or putting is not good. What do you do? You check each address position before motion begins.

If, when the player stands tall facing their target line their hips are rotated with the DPT, it's time to test each address position. You know that one problem is in their setup. Note their Performance Stance Range --PSR , check each hand for grip, lead hand cup, shaft lean, posture set and posture angles, etc. When the address position is determined using the DPT, have your student swing to the top and hold that position, then return to square, stand tall and add knee flex. You can even take the club at this point and give them a cup or grip expander to hold in their trail hand to amplify any hip rotation. If the DPT results in a square hip line, your student can return to ball striking. If the DPT shows an open or closed hip line, you can check sequence of motion. If the hips are square, your student can now swing to the top and you can test their impact position with the DPT. Tell your student not to make a full swing, just stop at impact. Do they need secondary tilt? Is their downswing sequence not a match for their Core Zone? Begin the correction(s) here.

This immediate feedback sets the stage for immediate correction and learning for both you and your student.

Research showed that these positions will be the resulting Downswing Club Path through impact when their is hip rotation when doing the DPT.

The simple corrections are in one of the address positions or in motion when tested one at a time with the Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path Test (DPT).

Based upon Wright Balance® research, your ability to recruit maximum ground forces is determined by your Core Zone and setup (address position of your kinetic chain) and a sequence of motion that matches your Core Zone.

If your fundamentals don't match your Core Zone or your sequence of motion moves toward the toes or heels, this compromises your ability to recruit maximum ground force, regardless of how much pressure you try to apply. These factors can be "teased out" using the Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path Test (DPT).

Testing a Sequencing of Motion Fallacy

Testing a Teaching Fallacy with the Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path Test (DPT)

I learned and taught for years that a player should load their weight into their trail heel at the top of the swing. Posture,a Performance Stance Width Range (PSR) and Sequencing of Motion that matches your or your student's Core Zone must precede this tesing. Then, without a club, test the backswing to the top of the swing purposely loading your weight in your trail heel. Stop at the top without moving your feet and do the Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path Test. You will note that the line of Force created is an inside - out path or an outside - in path as a predictor of the impact path.

Testing the Balance Line of Force in the Backswing

Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path research confirms that balance is a straight line in the golf swing. If is important for your student to practice this process. Be certain to use the Wright Balance diary for daily practice.

NOTE: It is important for your student to have a ball on the floor in front of them when they practice any of the setup drills.

1. Have your student stand on an alignment stick with a bar on their hips. Their hips will only be square when and only when their heel to toe balance matches their Core Zone as experienced by the pressure of the alignment stick under their feet.
   2.Next, in their Dominant Core Zone set the Wright Balance® Performance Stance Width Range (PSR) and Posture.
   3.Use the Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path Test to be certain Stance Width Range (PSR) and posture have been set correctly.
2. Next you are going to have your student rotate to the top of their swing and load their weight into their trail heel USING THE SEQUENCE OF MOTION THAT MATCHES THEIR CORE ZONE.
3. Return to square, and do the Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path Test. Note that their hips open or close when loading the trail heel at the top of the swing.
4. Again, have your student reset their feet on the alignment stick and find the balance line that matches their Core Zone where their hips are square. As they start their motion to the top have your student focus on staying in the starting balance position of their trail foot as they get to the top of their swing.
5. Have your student return to square without moving their feet. Do the Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path Test. If Posture and Sequence of Motion matched their Core Zone their hips will be square.
6. If your student's hips are open or closed when doing the Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path Test, test Posture and Sequence of Motion separately and repeat the test on the alignment stick.

Note: As an aside, there is a theory that posits when the Kinetic Chain is aligned to deliver maximum force from the ground, the "propagation of force" throughout your body is facilitated by the fascia system. The fascia system acts as a "tension structure." When force is applied correctly through your Core, hands and feet, there is a balanced application of force across your entire core through your kinetic chain to and from the ground. This is when maximum power is created.

Testing the Downswing using the Wright Balance® Downswing Path Test

The alignment of the body is referred to as the Kinetic Chain. Motion sequencing in any activity is referred to as the Kinematic Sequence. The Kinematic sequence of the golf downswing is just the opposite of the backswing with one major consideration:

Do you need to set Secondary Tilt at Address?

IF your your setup and backswing sequencing passes the Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path Test, your student's address position is not an issue. HOWEVER, if your student passes the sequence of motion to the top of the swing and then, when returning to impact their hips are open or closed, the absence of secondary tilt is a strong possibility.

What are you testing? One of the teaching strategies of many professionals is to start the downswing with a "hip slide" or "bump" of the lead hip from the top of the swing parallel to the stance line. The average amateur will not have a "hip bump" or "slide" from the top of their swing.

The following images are of Middle Core player Rory Mcllroy. Notice his address position followed by his hip bump at the top as he starts his downswing.

Rory's address position.

Top of his Swing:

In this image Rory is just beginning his downswing. Note the comparison of the images in the gallery behind him versus his address position. Note his center of mass is over his pelvis and his lead knee is pointed at the ball. This means he has started his swing with lower and upper core together, a sequencing characteristic of Middle Core Players.

Here is Rory in that same swing sequence at impact. Again, note the same gallery images in the background.

This is an image of secondary tilt at address for a Lower Core Player, Dustin Johnson.

This is an image of Sam Snead at the top of his swing...

Sam Snead's first move in his downswing was to "sit down". This sit down move is taught by many instructors as a way to "recruit more force from the ground"; "shallow out" the downswing path, etc.

This is an image of secondary tilt at address for me, a Lower Core Player, taken for a golf magazine circa 2010.

Question

From the illustration of me above, assume that I have arrived for a driver lesson and you see the address position in the above image. I hit balls and my ball flight is low and boring with a slight draw. From the above illustration of me at address, what would a Wright Balance®
teacher say to me to adjust my set up? By the way, this was 10 plus years before the Wright Balance® Express and my trail hip was always higher than my lead hip. Consider your answer in present day with your Wright Balance® Knowledge. You have the Wright Balance Express and the DPT to use.

NOTE: THIS IS A TRICK QUESTION. CONSIDER YOUR ANSWER BEFORE SCROLLING DOWN

Why is this a "TRICK QUESTION?" What was your first thought? Did you return to review the image and notice my secondary tilt, my strong grip and my wide base and my center-forward ball position? Did you think about moving my hands ahead? Moving my ball position forward. Was that your answer? If so, you demonstrated your knowledge of Wright Balance® for a possible quick fix. However, that is not a Wright Balance® lesson.

Answer

You tell me you need to determine my Dominant Core Zone, my Performance Stance Range, test my grip and posture to see if I have matching setup elements, teach me a grip that matches my Core Zone and teach me sequence of motion. Then you recommend that I do the Wright Balance® Express to level my hips and shoulders. You proceed doing the Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path Test (DPT) from the Wright Balance® Performance Stance Range to lead hand grip to posture to backswing through downswing. As you do the DPT, you teach me how to do the self DPT testing for immediate feedback.

There have been no guard rails for instruction to date. I believe as teachers, we have taught what we do or what we observed, or believe we observed, great players do.

Thirty plus years ago, in the early and mid 90s I used an ASTAR video system for teaching. It was mounted in a oblong box that stood vertically. It looked like I was standing at a video game. I could capture and load an image of my student's swing on the left side of a split screen and an image of any tour player on the
right side. I could freeze frame each part of the swing on both sides. The goal was to have my student emulate the pros swing. Not a lot has changed in golf instruction in the years since. There are so many theories on the golf swing and so little science.

Secondary Tilt Considerations

• If the trail hip is higher at address (if the hips are open the trail hip is always higher, setting secondary tilt is problematic. The way around this issue is to teach your student the Wright Balance Express.

• If your student has no secondary tilt at address and their hips remain square when doing the Wright Balance Downswing Club Path test through impact, secondary tilt is not an issue.

Let's Test the Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path to Impact With and Without Secondary Tilt

The outcome of that test will determine whether your student needs Secondary Tilt. I will show you during the training following grip instruction how to set ball position, Posture and distance from the ball while gripping a yardstick. However, grip must be taught before using a yardstick.

GRIP

Lead Hand Grip With Paint Stick

For a comprehensive review of the use of a Paint Stick when practicing grip, these eBooks will be your primary reference:

Grip: The Genius of Harvey Penick Part 1

https://instructions.wrightbalance.com/grip-the-genius-of-harvey-penick/

Harvey Penick: Grip and Wrist Cock Part 2

https://instructions.wrightbalance.com/october-13-zoom-session/

Note: that the grip in the lead and trail hands is ALWAYS taught and tested in the student's Performance Stance Range.

A. Grip in your tested Performance Stance Range (PSR) with Paint Stick & Power Spot of Lead Hand & do the Wright Balance Downswing Club Path Test (DPT). Practice until DPT results in a square hip line.
B. Step in PSR; Wider than PSR & Narrower than PSR and note face changes with lead hand inside vs outside PSR
C. Check wrist cock changes inside vs outside your Performance Stance Range...Lead Hand Only

D. When adding the Trail Hand to the grip, add with power spot first and then heel pad.

Note the parallel lines of fingers on trail hand and lead hand when opened only when added by Power Spot first.

When placing heel pad of the trail hand first, note that the fingers do not set parallel when you open your hands.

Butterfly vs Complementary Grip

Note TEST Butterfly vs Complementary Grip in Through swing

E. Check Carrying Angle L & R difference before and after Wright Balance® Express

Before exploring the use of tape on the fingers, you and or your students will benefit from an understanding of what impact this has on the Core and in particular with stance width, the ability to rotate, set posture and grip the club. This eBook describes the impact pressure on any finger has on what is called mechanotransduction or propagation of force.

https://instructions.wrightbalance.com/how-power-spots-create-propagation-of-force/

Suggesting to a student that tape on the hands is important during the Wright Balance Express or for play was often met with skepticism or some magical impact. Even after a student, spouse or parent reads the above eBook on propagation of force, I have had a parent and spouse tell the student is "hogwash". We know have a way around that. If Tiger did it, there must be something to it. The "push back" I experienced in the past, when describing the taping process as something Tiger did, is virtually nonexistent.

Wright Balance® Tiger Tape.

Tiger was a Middle Core Player so his Power Spot is the first knuckle up from the palm as shown here.

Tiger applied tape to the **Upper Core Power Spots **of his right hand on his middle and occasionally his ring fingers as shown in the above illustration. The Upper Core Power Spot is the first pad up from the palm on any finger of either hand as shown here on the middle finger.

Why did this create an advantage for Tiger

Why Tiger tapes his fingers?:

To prevent painful blisters and calluses. The Earliest Sightings of this tape were in 1997. Golf fans began noticing and discussing the tape on his right middle finger as early as April 1997, the year he won his first Masters.

The Real Reason: Tiger has explained that the tape is for callus management, not a specific injury. He stated that the friction from his high volume of practice caused the callus on his middle finger that would split and bleed without the tape. He credited his father, Earl Woods, for teaching him that the middle two fingers of the right hand are crucial for controlling the club, which leads to them taking the most "abuse" during his swing.

Tiger is a Middle Core Player. We can tell this by his sequence of motion and center of mass at the top of his swing. His center of mass is over his pelvis and his lead knee points at the ball meaning that he started upper and lower body back together, a characteristic of all Middle Core Players.

Tiger's Wright Balance® Performance Stance Width Range (PSR), as a Middle Core Player, is 16 inches (plus or minus 1 inch) to 24 inches (plus or minus 1 inch).

Tiger applied tape to his Upper Core Power Spot on his right hand. By applying tape to the Upper Core Power Spot of his middle finger on his right hand he changed, among other things, his Wright Balance® Stance Width Range (PSR) from 16 to 24 inches plus or minus 1 inch to 0 to 24 inches plus or minus 1 inch at 24 inches with irons and woods, but not putter. For putting, as you learned he must stay inside his Middle Core Performance Stance Range (16 to 24 inches plus or minus 1 inch).

These were Tiger's other advantages you will note when dong the Wright Balance Downswing Club Path Test (DPT):

1. Tiger's PSR no longer matters (EXCEPT WITH PUTTER AS DEMONSTRATED WITH Wright Balance® Downwing Club Path Test) where hips open or close through downswing path when tested from 0 inches to 24 inches plus or minus 1 inch (or 23 or 25 inches)
2. Tiger's hands will hang the same in all stance Widths from 0 inches to 24 inches plus or minus 1 inch (or 23 or 25 inches) as his new defined Wright Balance Performance Stance Range with irons and woods BUT NOT PUTTER.

3.Tigers hip line will be square in all stance widths out to his Middle Core Stance Width range of 24 inches plus or minus 1 inch (or 23 or 25 inches).

4.Tiger had no restriction in shoulder rotation from 0 inches to 24 inches (plus or minus 1 inch).
6.When Tiger gripped the club across the Upper Core Power Spot of his left and right hands, the clubface does not change from a neutral grip inside his "NEW" PSR to open or closed except wider than 24 inches (or 23 or 25 inches).
7. Wrist cock does not change outside his Middle Core PSR up to 24 inches (or 23 or 25 inches)
8. Posture can be set in any stance width and his hips would remain square. Outside of 24 inches his hips would open or close.

Question to test During Training

Does the "AHA Test" demonstrate "weakness" / loss of power when a Middle Core Player grips the club in an Upper Core Power Spot (Scottie Scheffler, Xander Shaufle; Tiger Woods, etc.)? That appears to be the case with Middle and Lower Core players?? That is an unknown that can be easily tested by adding tape and doing the "AHA" test.

HOWEVER

However, without doing the Wright Balance® Express, there is no change in the sagittal or coronal planes as they still show pelvic rotation when stepping forward or back. Shoulders and hips are still not level. After the Wright Balance® Express (WBX) on a Middle Core Stance Width, with tape applied to the Upper Core AND Lower Core Power Spots of the trail hand, there is a square hip line in all planes of motion and there is no need for the Wright Balance® Express corrections in the second phase of the exercise.

Wright Balance® Tape and the Wright Balance® Express

This eBook is a guided reminder of how to do the Wright Balance® Express. Do the Wright Balance® Express with tape on the Power Spots not matching the Core Zone you are exercising. For example, if you are doing the Wright Balance® Express on an Upper Core Stance Width, place tape on the trail hand of your Middle and Lower Core Power Spots

Note: You should be practicing, playing, working out in a gym, chores at home, and etc with tape in these positions. Tape remaining in these positions will limit stress on your kinetic chain and provide stability with any movement in all stance widths

https://instructions.wrightbalance.com/how-to-use-the-3-grip-sizes-to-do-the-express/

Setting Arms Position on Chest Wall

Set up to do the Wright Balance Express with the middle finger of your trail hand and the thumb of your lead hand. Apply pressure to the Core Zone Power Spots of your chosen Core Zone to exercise. Extend your arms in front with no elbow bend, relax your shoulders and allow your arms to drop to your chest wall. Note the position of your arms on your chest wall. Hold that position, and note the ease of shoulder rotation. Move your elbows closer together or wider apart and note the restriction in your rotation

Posture, Ball Position & Distance from the Ball Using a yardstick to set up

The following are Kinetic Chain corrections AFTER the Wright Balance® Express

a. Hips & Shoulders are level
b. Shoulder Rotation in all stance widths
c. Performance range 100 yards in for Middle & Lower Core Players and outside Performance Range
d. Test / Teach clubface in lead hand only inside and outside PSR
e. Shoulder Rotation in the backswing by Core Zone sequencing inside and outside PSR is unrestricted
f. Carrying Angle on your Left and Right side are identical
g. Step forward and back (sagittal plane) shows no hip rotation
h. There is no longer knee pronation or supination. The knee is over the middle of the foot on both sides when walking
I. Heel to toe balance is predictable
J. Bite is predictable
K. Foot strike when running or walking is predicable
L. The visual perception of objects in space is valid

Pain & Stiffness Relief from the Wright Balance Express

The WBX aligns the kinetic chain such that physical stress within the core is decreased moving from:

To:

Numerous students have commented that when the Kinetic Chain is aligned following the Wright Balance Express over successive days that they experience less pain and stiffness, greater range of motion through their body and their posture improves.

Grip Sizing

Zoom Lessons

Zoom lessons are ideal for long distance lessons or followup on current lessons. You are able to video the entire lesson and send it to your student and keep it on file for yourself. Your student can review their lesson before your next lesson.

Your student would need the following for an online lesson...

1. A yardstick
2. A 1 or 5 gallon gallon paint stick (depending on their hand size)
   3 A 3 foot 3/4 or 1/2 inch dowel pole
3. A 24 inch flat strap (bungee cord)
4. A fiberglass alignment stick...driveway marker used in snow or an alignment stick you might already have in your bag.
5. A yardstick (ideally a thin yardstick unless you and / or your student has large hands).

The above items are available at Lowes Home Improvement...you will want to find a dowel that isn't warped ...if you sight it from 1 end you can find a pretty round dowel

6. A putter
7. A mid iron
8. An empty coffee cup