Below is a RESEARCH PROTOCOL testing Grip Size and the Wright Balance® Express Exercises. The purpose of this research was to determine the cumulative impact of doing the Wright Balance® Express using all 3 Grip Sizes (Upper, Middle & Lower) **without disrupting the Core between the Exercise conditions. **

Participants (Subject Pool)

If you have the 9 Stance Widths from your Wright Balance measurements, you will be able to test this research protocol on your own. Any Student, Wright Balance® Professional or Member on the wrightbalance.com Website may participate as a subject as long as they have their 9 Stance Widths. One of our goals was to determine if not only Wright Balance Professionals can follow the methodology and results but also students and members of our www.wrightbalance.com website.

RESEARCH PROTOCOL

You have heard me say on numerous occasions that "Proof of Concept" is critical. I won't release instructional content until it has been verified through controlled research with a minimum of 40 subjects. I appreciate your participation in our past research. Without your objective evaluations, this research would not be possible and Wright Balance® would sit stagnant with regard to instructional content.

Every study requires a scientific design that provides a proof of concept. This is a protocol where you will be the only test subject.  This study design is referred to as a A-B-A design. The A represents conditions where measurements of a behavior(s) are done. The resulting measurements are called the baseline against which treatment results are compared. This study has measurements of 1 behavior (hip / pelvic rotation) in 5 conditions. When measuring a behavior in more than one condition, it is referred to as a multiple baseline design.

The B in the A-B-A design represents the "treatment". The treatment in this research is the Wright Balance® Express Exercise using all 3 Grip Sizes (Upper, Middle and Lower Core) for an individual. Following the Wright Balance® Express Exercise in the 9 Core Region Stance Widths with each Grip Size, measurement of hip / pelvic rotation is repeated across the 5 conditions.

The measurements you will be taking are Yes or No. Did the hips / pelvis rotate (Yes) or are the hips / pelvis parallel (square) to the stance line with no rotation (No). It is a simple measurement.

The second "A" in the A-B-A design is a return to the Baseline condition where your body was before the Wright Balance® Express Exercise. To return to the baseline condition you simply disrupt your Core and repeat the Baseline measurements. Again, The measurements you will be taking are Yes or No.

It will take approximately 5 minutes to complete the research protocol after doing the Wright Balance® Express Exercise using the 3 Grip Sizes, each grip size in all 9 Stance Widths.

Testing Materials

You will need:

  1. Your 9 Stance Widths on a measurement tool, like a yardstick.

  2. A billiard cue stick, Wright Balance® grip sizing prototype or similar tapered object to measure your grip size by Core Region.

  3. A bar and bungee to check pelvic rotation and planes of motion. (Note: You may make your own hip bar using a 3/4 inch wooden dowel and a 24" "Flat Strap". Both of those items are available at Lowe's Home Improvement Stores. Home Depot doesn't carry either of those items in bulk)

  4. A golf club, tennis racquet, baseball bat, or similar sports equipment and a tool with a handle.

  5. Tape to mark the precise location on the tapered billiards cue or Wright Balance® prototype the grip sizes for your Upper, Middle and Lower Core Grip Sizes.

  6. A lined Wright Balance set up mat or similar straight edge as a reference to observe changes in hip rotation.

7, The only measurement you will be doing is observations of hip / pelvic rotation. To do this measurement you will likely need someone standing at your side visually comparing the relationship of the bar on your hips to the reference line at your feet. When the bar on your hips is parallel to the reference line, your hips are considered square or "not rotated". Any rotation of the bar that is not parallel to the reference line should be considered "rotated" for the purpose of recording the results.

PLEASE NOTE: EVEN IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH AND USE GRIP SIZING WITH A BILLIARD CUE STICK or Wright Balance® Prototype, AND YOU HAVE MARKED YOUR MEASURED SIZES FOR UPPER, MIDDLE & LOWER CORE GRIP SIZES ON ONE CUE STICK, PLEASE REVIEW THE ENTIRE PROTOCOL, ESPECIALLY THE SECTION MARKED "CONTROLS".

Place the bar and bungee on your hips. Each time you test your hip rotation with the bar and bungee in the Research Protocol, be certain the bar is below your hip bones (anterior iliac crest) 2 to 3 inches and flat on your hips (pelvis). Before each assessment of your hip / pelvic rotation, stand tall and relax while taking 2 deep breaths inhaling and exhaling through your nose.

The first Step is to be certain to disrupt your core by holding a handle (golf club, baseball bat or any implement with a handle large enough for both hands) horizontal to the ground with both hands touching using a 10 finger grip. While holding the gripped handle horizontal to the ground with a ten finger grip and hands touching, bend forward from the hips, rotate your shoulders toward your middle chest (sternum) and set an isometric hold while inhaling and exhaling through your nose 2 times taking a deep breath each time.

Next, stand tall, still holding the handle horizontal to the ground, add knee flex and bend backwards squeezing your shoulder blades together, again taking 2 deep breaths inhaling and exhaling through your nose.

(Core Disruption is accomplished in any Stance Width in 10 seconds.)

NOTE: This is the only time in the Research Protocol that you will disrupt your CORE.

Stand tall and look at the bar and bungee in each of the following conditions.

If you have a disrupted core:

  • Your hips should be rotated when Standing Tall.
  • Add knee flex. Your hips should be rotated.
  • Take a step forward. Your hips should be rotated.
  • Take a step back. Your hips should be rotated.

You have just tested your Core in "** 2 Planes of Motion**". If your pelvis / hips are not rotated in these planes of motion, you have not disrupted your Core. If you don't observe the pelvic / hip rotation as described above, repeat the Core Disruption exercise. You will need to use the bar and bungee in several of the "tests" following the exercises. The changes you just observed in hip rotation will be tested throughout the results of the Wright Balance® exercise testing. As already noted, the tests will be yes or no. (Yes = hip rotation or No = No rotation.)

NOTE: AGAIN, This is the only time in the research protocol that you will purposely disrupt your core.

Condition A: The Baseline

  1. Grip your golf club with your left and right hands and your grip rotated to an extremely strong (clockwise) position. Stand tall, relax and note any hip rotation or the absence thereof.

Please record for hip / pelvic rotation:

a. NO= No Rotation

b. YES= Rotation

  1. Grip your golf club with your left and right hands and your grip rotated to an extremely weak (counter-clockwise) position. Stand tall and note any hip rotation.

Please record for hip / pelvic rotation:

a. NO= No Rotation

b. YES= Rotation

  1. Take the billiards cue or tapered object you used to determine your grip size. Hold that object vertically at the Smallest diameter of the taper. Stand tall, take a deep breath and relax. Note any rotation of your hips.

Please record for hip / pelvic rotation:

a. NO= No Rotation

b. YES= Rotation

  1. Take the billiards cue or tapered object you used to determine your grip size. Hold that object vertically at the Largest diameter of the taper. Stand tall, take a deep breath and relax. Note any rotation of your hips.

Please record for hip / pelvic rotation:

a. NO= No Rotation

b. YES= Rotation

  1. Take any object (Golf Club, shovel, hammer, tennis racquet, ski pole, pickleball racquet, sledge hammer, bar used for weights for squats, lats or bench press, pole vault pole, javelin, golf club, putter, baseball / softball / cricket bat, etc) and hold it in both hands. Stand tall, take a deep breath and relax. Note any rotation of your hips.

Please record for hip / pelvic rotation:

a. NO= No Rotation

b. YES= Rotation

Note: if you experienced no rotation in one or more objects, please list those objects here or if you experience rotation in in only one object please list it here.

SETTING YOUR UPPER, MIDDLE and LOWER CORE GRIP SIZES ON A CUE STICK

UPPER CORE GRIP SIZE To set your Upper Core grip size use a cue stick or similar tapered object. Place the bar and bungee on your hips. Again, be certain the bar is below your hip bones (anterior iliac crest) 2 to 3 inches and flat on your hips.

Set your feet, using your 9 Wright Balance® Stance Widths measurement strip, on one of your Upper Core Stance Widths. Your Upper Core Stance Widths are 7, 8 or 9 on your measurement strip. You are going to test the grip size for your Upper Core first.

Use only your non-dominant hand (left for right-handed players) and hold the billiards cue stick vertically. If you are right-handed and swing from the right side, you will hold the cue stick vertically in your LEFT HAND at the smallest point on the tapered cue stick.

Grip the cue stick at the smallest diameter and notice your hip rotation as you look at the bar and bungee. If you see no rotation of your hips, that is your Upper Core Grip size.

If your hips are rotated at the smallest diameter, move the cue stick from the small tapered end slowly upward toward the larger end. When you see your hips square (using the bar and bungee to determine "square"), mark the cue stick at the point of your MIDDLE FINGER on the cue stick. Your Middle Finger is the key to Grip Size Measurement. Repeat the process until once again your hips square. When your hips square a second time, check to see if it is the same as your first test. If the position is the same as your first test, step to another Upper Core Stance Width (stance width # 7, 8 or 9) and check to see if your hips remain square.

If your hips remain square in all 3 Upper Core Stance Widths, mark the location of your MIDDLE FINGER on the cue stick with tape. Once the tape is set on the cue stick, check again on stance width #s 7, 8 and 9 to be certain your hips remain square.

Here is a video of the demonstration of finding your Upper Core grip size. Below is a video on finding your UPPER CORE GRIP SIZE. Please go to minute 3:05. Do Not watch beyond Minute 5:00. We will return to this video once you have marked your Upper, Middle and Lower Core Grip Sizes.

You are now going to learn how to find your Middle Core Grip Size

  1. MIDDLE CORE GRIP SIZE Move your Stance Width to a Middle Core position (Stance #s 4, 5 or 6). Let your hand slide up the cue stick again observing your hips until the hip bar squares. Repeat the same strategy you used to find your Upper Core grip size. Mark your Middle Core Grip Size at the precise spot on the billiard cue stick of your Middle Finger the same way you marked your Upper Core.

Here is a video on how to determine your MIDDLE CORE GRIP SIZE.

  1. LOWER CORE GRIP SIZE Move your Stance Width to a Lower Core position (Stance #s 1, 2 or 3). Let your hand slide up the cue stick again observing your hips until the hip bar squares. Repeat the same strategy you used to find your Upper and Middle Core grip sizes. Mark your Lower Core Grip Size the same way you marked your Upper Core. Mark your Middle Core Grip Size at the precise spot on the billiard cue stick of your Middle Finger the same way you marked your Upper Core.

Here is a video on how to determine your LOWER CORE GRIP SIZE.

When you have finished marking the cue stick, notice that your Lower Core Grip Size is the largest size and your Upper Core Grip size is the smallest with your Middle Core Grip Size falling between the Upper and Lower Core Sizes. If this sizing difference is not what you observe, your measurements are incorrect and should be repeated.

Visually, when you look at the tape on the cue stick, the distance between the Upper and Middle Core Grip size tape and the Middle Core Tape and the Lower Core should appear equal. I have observed that the distance between the Grip Sizes on the tapered tool vary from one individual to another.

You are going to be doing the Wright Balance® Express 3 times, each time with a different grip size (Upper, Middle & Lower Core Grip Sizes) in all 9 Stance Widths for a total of 27 (3 x 9). Here is a video review of how to do the Wright Balance Express and test using planes of motion.

Of particular importance in this Proof of Concept video is to do all 9 Stance Widths. Note that when you do not do all 9 Stance Widths there is still a rotation of the pelvis in all planes of motion. Test the planes of motion after each of the 3 exercises conditions, Upper, Middle and Lower Core Grip Size.

You will be using the measured grip sizes you determined by Core Region on the tapered grip sizing tool. When you do the Wright Balance Express Exercise in the 3 separate conditions (Upper Core Grip Size, Middle Core Grip Size and Lower Core Grip Size), DO NOT DISRUPT YOUR CORE in any grip size condition or between test conditions.

CONTROLS

Controls are for experimental conditions that, if not "controlled" for, can impact the measurement results. In research, these conditions are referred to as intervening variables.

Please use the following "controls" while doing the Wright Balance® Express Exercises:

  • During your Wright Balance® Express Exercises wear clothing similar to that you were measured in, for example, compression shirt, T-shirt etc.

  • Middle Finger Location As you do the Wright Balance® Express Exercise your middle finger of your lower hand on the billiards cue should be on the tape indicating that is your grip size for any particular core region.

  • Begin each Wright Balance® Express Exercise with a forward bend (flexion) followed by the Express backward bend (extension) with knee flex both forward and backward.

  • Do NOSE BREATHING when you do the exercise.  **Inhale through your NOSE and exhale through your NOSE.

Your lower hand on the Grip (left hand for right handers) will set your grip size. Don't worry about the taper on the cue stick (smaller to larger or larger to smaller) or whatever you are gripping as long as you are using a baseball grip with all fingers touching.

RESEARCH PROTOCOL

MEASUREMENT Efficacy: We know from prior Wright Balance® research that the hips remain square in all planes of motion when the Wright Balance® Express exercise is done in all 9 Stance Widths using 1 grip size. When 1 or more of the 9 Stance Widths is omitted, there is rotation of the hips in all planes of motion. This was presented in the "Proof of Concept" Video. The first measurement you will do is to confirm that you have done the Wright Balance Express in all 9 Stance Widths. The following video is the proof of concept based upon the Wright Balance®.

TREATMENT (B of the A-B-A Design)

The Wright Balance Express using all 3 Grip Sizes

1:   Using the Upper Core Grip Size   do the Wright Balance® Express Exexcise in all 9 Stance Widths. Your Middle Finger of your bottom hand must be set on the Upper Core Grip Size tape marker on the cue stick. Your Middle Finger is the key to proper grip sizing.

(REMINDER: DO NOT DISRUPT YOUR CORE at any point in this protocol. Remember, inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth and always begin the Wright Balance® Express Exercise with a forward bend followed by a backward bend.)

Measurement: When you complete the Wright Balance® Express using the UPPER Core Grip Size in all 9 Stance widths, place the bar on your hips. Stand tall and take 2 deep breaths inhaling and exhaling through your NOSE.

You should note that your hips/pelvis:

  • Your hips should have no rotation when Standing Tall.
  • Add knee flex. Your hips have no rotation.
  • Take a step forward. Your hips have no rotation.
  • Take a step back. Your hips have no rotation

Following the Wright Balance® Express using the Upper Core Grip Size, if you have done the Express Exercise in all 9 Stance Widths, your hips / pelvis will remain square (parallel) to your stance line in all conditions. If you see a rotation of your hips in any of the measurement conditions, be certain the bar is flat on your hips and repeat the test taking a deep breath with each movement. If you continue to see a rotation of your hips, it means that you "missed" one of the stance widths during the Wright Balance® Express exercise. If so, repeat all 9 Stance Widths using the UPPER Core Grip Size.

2:   Using the Middle Core Grip Size, do the Wright Balance® Express exexcise in all 9 Stance Widths.  As a reminder, DO NOT DISRUPT YOUR CORE. Placement of your Middle Finger on the Middle Core Grip Size tape marker on the cue stick is key to doing the exercise. Remember, inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth and always begin the Express Exercise with a forward bend followed by a backward bend.

Measurement: When you complete the Wright Balance® Express using the MIDDLE Core Grip Size in all 9 Stance widths, place the bar on your hips. Stand tall and take 2 deep breaths inhaling and exhaling through your NOSE.

You should note that your hips/pelvis:

  • Your hips should have no rotation when Standing Tall.
  • Add knee flex. Your hips have no rotation.
  • Take a step forward. Your hips have no rotation.
  • Take a step back. Your hips have no rotation

Following the Wright Balance® Express using the Middle Core Grip Size, if you have done the Express Exercise in all 9 Stance Widths, your hips / pelvis will remain square (parallel) to your stance line in all conditions. If you see a rotation of your hips in any of the measurement conditions, be certain the bar is flat on your hips and repeat the test taking a deep breath with each movement. If you continue to see a rotation of your hips, it means that you "missed" one of the stance widths during the Wright Balance® Express exercise. If so, repeat all 9 Stance Widths using the Lower Core Grip Size.

3:   Using the Lower Core Grip Size, do the Wright Balance® Express exexcise in all 9 Stance Widths.  As a reminder, DO NOT DISRUPT YOUR CORE. Placement of your Middle Finger on the Middle Core Grip Size tape marker on the cue stick is key to doing the exercise. Remember, inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth and always begin the Express Exercise with a forward bend followed by a backward bend.

Measurement: When you complete the Wright Balance® Express using the Lower Core Grip Size in all 9 Stance widths, place the bar on your hips. Stand tall and take 2 deep breaths inhaling and exhaling through your NOSE.

You should note that your hips/pelvis:

  • Your hips should have no rotation when Standing Tall.
  • Add knee flex. Your hips have no rotation.
  • Take a step forward. Your hips have no rotation.
  • Take a step back. Your hips have no rotation

Following the Wright Balance® Express using the Lower Core Grip Size, if you have done the Express Exercise in all 9 Stance Widths, your hips / pelvis will remain square (parallel) to your stance line in all conditions. If you see a rotation of your hips in any of the measurement conditions, be certain the bar is flat on your hips and repeat the test taking a deep breath with each movement. If you continue to see a rotation of your hips, it means that you "missed" one of the stance widths during the Wright Balance® Express exercise. If so, repeat all 9 Stance Widths using the Lower Core Grip Size.

Measurements of Condition B (Treatment) of A-B-A Design

  1. Using the grip size measurement tool (billiards cue or Wright Balance® prototype), grip it at the smallest diameter at the bottom of the tool and hold it vertically. Stand tall, take 2 deep breaths, relax and note any hip rotation.

Please record for hip / pelvic rotation:

a. NO= No Rotation

b. YES= Rotation

  1. Using the grip size measurement tool (billiards cue or Wright Balance® prototype), grip it at the largest diameter and hold it vertically. Stand tall, take 2 deep breaths, relax and note any hip rotation.

Please record for hip / pelvic rotation:

a. NO= No Rotation

b. YES= Rotation

  1. Grip your golf club with your left and right hands with your grip rotated to an extremely strong (clockwise) position. Stand tall, take 2 deep breaths, relax and note any hip rotation.

Please record for hip / pelvic rotation:

a. NO= No Rotation

b. YES= Rotation

  1. Grip your golf club with your left and right hands with your grip rotated to an extremely weak (counter-clockwise) position. Stand tall, take 2 deep breaths, relax and note any hip rotation.

Please record for hip / pelvic rotation:

a. NO= No Rotation

b. YES= Rotation

  1. Take any object (Golf Club, shovel, hammer, tennis racquet, ski pole, pickleball racquet, sledge hammer, bar used for weights for squats, lats or bench press, pole vault pole, javelin, golf club, putter, baseball / softball / cricket bat, etc) and hold it in both hands vertically. Stand tall, relax and note any hip rotation with and without knee flex.

Please record for hip / pelvic rotation:

a. NO= No Rotation

b. YES= Rotation

Condition A (2nd A) of A-B-A Design

In this last phase of the protocol we DISRUPT your core and return to the baseline condition of the first A. The first Step is to be certain to disrupt your core by holding a handle (golf club, baseball bat or any implement with a handle large enough for both hands) horizontal to the ground with both hands touching using a 10 finger grip. While holding the gripped handle horizontal to the ground with a ten finger grip and hands touching, bend forward from the hips, rotate your shoulders toward your middle chest (sternum) and set an isometric hold while inhaling and exhaling through your nose 2 times taking a deep breath each time.

Then stand tall, still holding the handle, add knee flex and bend backwards squeezing your shoulder blades together, again taking 3 deep breaths inhaling and exhaling through your nose.

(Core Disruption is accomplished in any Stance Width in 10 seconds.)

NOTE: This is the only time in the Research Protocol that you will disrupt your CORE.

Stand tall and look at the bar and bungee in each of the following conditions.

  • If you have a disrupted core your hips should be rotated when Standing Tall.
  • Add knee flex. Your hips should be rotated.
  • Take a step forward. Your hips should be rotated.
  • Take a step back. Your hips should be rotated.

You have just tested your Core in the "4 Planes of Motion". If your hips are not rotated in these planes of motion, you have not disrupted your Core. If you don't observe the hip rotation as described above, repeat the Core Disruption exercise. You will need to use the bar and bungee in several of the "tests" following the exercises. The changes you just observed in hip rotation during your Core Disruption will be tested throughout the results of exercise testing. The tests will be yes or no. (Yes = hip rotation or No = No rotation.)

Evaluation of Condition A (2nd A) of A-B-A Design

  1. Using the grip size measurement tool (billiards cue or Wright Balance® prototype), grip it at the smallest diameter at the bottom of the tool and hold it vertically. Stand tall, take 2 deep breaths, relax and note any hip rotation.

Please record for hip / pelvic rotation:

a. NO= No Rotation

b. YES= Rotation

  1. Using the grip size measurement tool (billiards cue or Wright Balance® prototype), grip it at the largest diameter and hold it vertically. Stand tall, take 2 deep breaths, relax and note any hip rotation.

Please record for hip / pelvic rotation:

a. NO= No Rotation

b. YES= Rotation

  1. Grip your golf club with your left and right hands with your grip rotated to an extremely strong (clockwise) position. Stand tall, take 2 deep breaths, relax and note any hip rotation.

Please record for hip / pelvic rotation:

a. NO= No Rotation

b. YES= Rotation

  1. Grip your golf club with your left and right hands with your grip rotated to an extremely weak (counter-clockwise) position. Stand tall, take 2 deep breaths, relax and note any hip rotation.

Please record for hip / pelvic rotation:

a. NO= No Rotation

b. YES= Rotation

  1. Take any object (Golf Club, shovel, hammer, tennis racquet, ski pole, pickleball racquet, sledge hammer, bar used for weights for squats, lats or bench press, pole vault pole, javelin, golf club, putter, baseball / softball / cricket bat, etc) and hold it in both hands vertically. Stand tall, relax and note any hip rotation with and without knee flex.

Please record for hip / pelvic rotation:

a. NO= No Rotation

b. YES= Rotation