Copyright, Wright Balance® 2024

"All that we don't know is astonishing. Even more astonishing is what passes for knowing." - Philip Roth

Section 1 Introduction

Note: This material is a tutorial for Wright Balance® Professionals and their students as a supplement to the online Wright Balance® Zoom education sessions with Dr. Wright and related in person training around the world.

If you have attended one of our in-person training sessions, you will note that there is a great deal more content in these instruction EBooks than what was covered during the 2 day training.

What you will need.

  1. The Wright Balance® Vinyl strip with the 15 Subregions (Red, Black and Blue)
  2. A digital protractor
  3. 18 inch Wright Balance® Baseball bats or a pool cue
  4. A hip bar and bungee
  5. 3M medical tape or similar tape
  6. Magnetic clubface aim post
  7. Clubface Clips to attach to Grip

If you don't have these materials, you may contact our office at www.wrightbalancepros.com and inquire about how to acquire these materials.

Programmed Instruction

I have written this content as modified programmed instruction. In programmed instruction, the reader receives bits of information and then responds to questions regarding that information. The correct answer follows the question for immediate feedback. Normally, the correct answer is not revealed until the reader answers the question. That is not possible with this EBook as the answer is accessible simply by scrolling down. Please do not do that. Thus, this is modified programmed instruction.

If you don't scroll down or guess the answer, learning will begin. The goal is to have you focus on the content and answer the question based upon what you just learned. If you are participating but not learning, the programmed instruction has failed.

In programmed instruction, each segment builds on the last. The self assessment via the immediate feedback on whether a question is answered correctly will prompt you to either continue or return to the prior information segment to review and "learn" the correct answer. Programmed Instruction is known to be simple and effective in maintaining the readers attention while learning specific content.

Each segment you will read is evidence based. You will participate in each learning segment both in a written response to content you learn and hands on as you read. The hands on experience is to demonstrate, with proof of concept, how this content applies to you and your students.

Over the years, Wright Balance® Professionals around the world have been certified at different phases of the evolution of Wright Balance®. Thus, it is imperative that you "participate" in the Programmed Instruction that will follow in these EBooks and online sessions in the months ahead.

I am developing this instruction model to be certain that all Wright Balance® Professionals are up to speed on the latest breakthroughs. My primary goal is to maintain the integrity of the science of Wright Balance® by having all Wright Balance® Professionals participate in this education to stay current and abreast of the latest discoveries.

If you are currently a Wright Balance® Professional, you may already have an understanding of the history of Wright Balance®, the propagation of force, line of force, the Carrying Angle, etc. Even if you are already familiar with the explanation of propagation of force and the history of Wright Balance, I would encourage you to review it again.

When you get to the content on propagation of force, I would encourage you to "scour" that information as your students and you will have questions. You may provide a link for your student to the various content where your student wishes to drill down further for a better understanding.

What to Look for in Your First Lesson

The following illustrations will provide you your student with an expectation of what they will likely see in photos you will take with their phone. This illustration will also show your student that the imbalances they will see in their photos are common in the majority of people.

I would encourage you to show this illustration comparing the before and after skeletal figures at the end of your lesson. Tell your student that these imbalances, right down to a correction of knee pronation or supination, can be corrected with the correct handle size and a simple 1 minute exercise program reducing the potential for injury.

The majority of your students will have one shoulder lower and their hip on the same side higher, a "crunch factor" as shown in the skeletal image above.

?Question?:

The majority of students you teach will have which of the following.

a. Level hips and level shoulders
b. One shoulder lower than the other, and on the
   *OTHER SIDE* of the body their hip is higher
c. When one shoulder is lower, you will most often
   see that the hip on the same side is higher 
   creating a "crunch factor"
d. None of the above

Answer

"C" You will most often see that the side where a player's shoulder is lower, the hip on the same side is higher creating a "crunch factor"

Take the following PHOTOS using your Student’s phone

a. Take a photo of your student face on or from behind and note that one shoulder is lower than the other and one hip is higher, usually on the same side.

Notice in the above image that I am measuring the distance from the tip of Anne Marie's middle finger to the floor on both sides. Wright Balance® NO LONGER uses this measurement to determine shoulder height due to differences in middle finger and arm lengths.

When you show your student the image of one shoulder being lower, they will often tell you it is because that is the shoulder where they carry... I have heard all the reasons why. Correction is the key and the simple answer is that the shoulders will level, the hips will level and all pelvic rotation eliminated in all stance widths as will knee pronation with a simple 1 minute Wright Balance® 4-Way Express Exercise.

b. Take a photo face on and note the internal rotation of one hand. Note the cards between the index and middle finger of Jai's hands.

The amount of "white" you see on the cards shows that one hand is internally or externally rotated greater than the other. Also note in the above image that Jai's right shoulder is lower and his right hip is higher. His right hand internally rotates more than his left.

This illustration is for learning purposes only. I am not suggesting you use cards between the fingers for your lessons. However, during "practice" with family and friends it will help show which hand internally rotates more than the other. Some players are so obvious cards would not be necessary.

When you look at a person face on, observe the crease between the index finger and thumb. It is easier to determine internal rotation when you use this as an anatomical landmark to compare the left and right hands.

Notice the internal rotation of Nick Flado's left hand. The internal rotation means that he has pelvic rotation to the left or an open hip line for him as a right-handed player.

Also note that Nick Faldo's right shoulder is lower than his left and, as shown in the following photo, his right hip is higher than his left.

You will find this biomechanical configuration in the majority of your players, elite golfers or amateurs. Observe people on the street as you walk behind or on television and notice that one shoulder is lower.

?Question?:

?When you observe the internal rotation of one hand to be greater than the other, how are the person's hips generally rotated?...in what direction?

Answer

The hips are generally rotated in the same direction of the observed greater internal rotation of the hand. In other words, if the LEFT hand is internally rotated greater than the right, the hips likely rotate to the LEFT.

The following illustration is an example of what I once used (No Longer) to look at shoulder height (amount of shoulder tilt to one side compared to the other).

Jai's arm and finger lengths are almost identical. However, I have seen many anatomical differences in players. The middle finger of the right hand is seldom identical in length to the left hand. I no longer use this method for testing shoulder tilt due to differences in arm and finger lengths.

c. Take a photo from behind with club or grip trainer at address and determine the position of trail hip (is the trail hip higher than the lead hip, level or lower?)

These images show a trail hip that is higher than the lead hip.

Discuss with your students the implications of the trail hip position on left to right balance, use of the ground, sequencing of motion, injury and etc. Tell your student that this hip position can be easily corrected with a 1 minute exercise during the next lesson.

Question

Why doesn't Wright Balance® use the height of the hands raised or the length of the arms at the side as a measurement of shoulder height?

Answer

Experience with repeated measures of hundreds of players has shown so much variablility in left and right hand fingers and arms length that these measurements are no longer considered a valid determination of whether shoulders are level or not

Why am I showing you the "failed" measurement strategies. Research is as good as the measurement tool used. I have developed many measurement strategies over the years. I don't want you repeating the measurement mistakes I made.

d. Check for knee pronation or supination. When your student adds knee flex, stand in front and take a photo of the relationship of their knees and the middle of each foot.

This video describes how to test knee pronation / supination.

The photos you take of your student will show either pronation or supination of one or both knees. Discuss how this observation impacts balance either in the backswing or downswing or both. Also advise your student that any knee pronation or supination is showing a strong potential for knee injury.

There are between 200,000 to 250,000 Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries annually in the United States. (There is a disproportionate number of Women in these statistics) That statistic does not include all other knee injuries. Knee pronation is a predisposing factor. The internal rotation of one lower extremity creates the knee pronation and a collapsed arch.

Knee pronation is more common than knee supination and will most often be on the opposite side but in the same direction as pelvic rotation. For example, if there is pelvic rotation to the left, the right knee will be pronated in the same direction as hip rotation.

There is an outlier in knee pronation / supination measurement. When students have not done any exercise, you will see the hip rotation to the left in one stance width and, as they change stance width, the hips will rotate to the right. After the Wright Balance 4-way Express is done a few days, the hips will have a predictable rotation once the effects of the exercise wears off or the core is disrupted.

Please stand, increase the flex in your right knee and note that your hips rotate to the left. From that position, slightly rotate your right knee to the left. That is the most common knee pronation you will see. Again the most significant consideration is that you can completely eliminate knee pronation with the 1 minute Wright Balance® 4-Way Express.

Question:

?What common anatomical imbalances do we see in many elite players and the majority of amateurs?

a. Trail hip is higher when viewed at address from
behind
b. Internal rotation of one hand more than the other
when viewed face on
c. One hip is higher than the other when viewed face
on.
d. There is an internal / external rotation of one or
both knees
e. All of the above
f. None of the above

Answer:

e. All of the above

Why take so many photos with your student's camera?

Recall at the beginning of the EBook on Propagation of Force (https://instructions.wrightbalance.com/how-power-spots-create-propagation-of-force/), I suggested that the next time you shower, look in a mirror and note the internal rotation of one hand more than the other; one shoulder is lower than the other and your hip on the side of the lower shoulder is higher creating a "crunch factor". You likely had no idea about these anatomical imbalances. Your student has no awareness of these imbalances either. These observed imbalances are responsible for pain, a rising potential for injury and poor performance issues that can be easily corrected.

Give your student an opportunity to ask what can be done. The fact is that these anatomical imbalances can be corrected and last at least 24 hours after a 1 minute Wright Balance® 4-Way Express exercise with a handle size that matches their dominant Core Zone. Advise your student that you will cover the exercise in a subsequent lesson.

Gain Your Student's Confidence

If this is a first lesson with this student, demonstrating an understanding of their swing and putting issues prior to them hitting balls will give them confidence in your teaching ability.

Place a bar supported by a bungee on your student's hips. Provide your student with an iron or a grip trainer. Take a photo down the line at address and note a square, open or closed hip line.

If you note your student's hips are rotated open or closed, ask them to look at their knees. Tell them to note that one knee extends further out than the other. **The observation of one knee extending beyond the other is what is creating an open or closed hip line. I will cover the reasons for the knee protrusion in subsequent EBooks.

Note:

  1. If the lead knee extends beyond the trail knee, the hips are closed at address.
  2. If the trail knee extends beyond the lead knee, the hips are open.

If you observe, while your student is in their set up position, that their hips are CLOSED, ask the following:

"Is your miss thin? Do you feel a “flip” or 'handsy' at impact? Do you feel “stuck” turning through to finish? Is your miss a hook or push? Stay in your set up and look at your knees. Do you notice that your lead knee protrudes out further than your trail knee? That is a closed hip line. That hip line predisposes you to the shots I just described. That hip line also predisposes you to back, shoulder and wrist injuries"

If you observe, while your student is in their set up position, that their hips are OPEN, ask the following:

"Is your miss fat / heavy? Do you feel a restriction of rotation in your back swing? is your miss a pull or block? Do you sometimes struggle getting through to your finish when you feel you have blocked the shot? Stay in your set up and look at your knees. Do you notice that your trail knee protrudes out further than your lead knee? That hip line predisposes you to the shots I just described. That hip line also predisposes you to back and shoulder injuries."

Your observations are going to be accurate 80 to 90 percent of the time and your student will be impressed. This observation is an important consideration for your Student in their perception of your ability to properly diagnose and create a balanced set up from which they can begin to swing.

Note the rotation of the bar on the hips in this photo showing the hips are open.

Question

Note the protrusion of the lead knee face on in this photo.

?When the lead knee protrudes as seen in this player, what does that mean about his hip line?

Answer:

The player's hips are closed

It isn't always easy to note the subtlety of the knee protrusion, especially when you observe your player face on. Also note the "strength" of the trail hand grip for this player. That is likely contributing to the closed hip line. We will get to the impact of grip on hip rotation and restriction of motion in another EBook.

Question:

?When you observe an open hip line as shown in this image of Champions Tour Player Bob E Smith (note protrusion of trail knee), what shot would you predict?

(Note the protrusion of Bob's right knee at address. This open hip line was a result of Bob testing a grip size that was too small for his hands.)

Answer:

An open hip line at address will most often result in a steep angle of approach to the ball, a fat shot, a pull or blocked shot. There will be a tendency to "hang back" through impact for some players on a "blocked" shot.

Question:

?When you observe a closed hip line at address, what shot would you predict?

Answer:

A closed hip line at address will most often result in a shallow angle of approach to the ball, a thin shot, a push or hooked shot. There will be a tendency to get "stuck" through impact and feel the hands flip due to the closed hip line. The shoulders will "stop" 90 degrees to the hip line and the arms and hands will continue creating the overuse of the hands.

Question:

?When you observe that the lead knee extends beyond the trail knee are you looking at an open or closed hip line?

If you aren't sure of your answer, stand up, add knee flex and increase the knee flex in your lead knee. Are your hips open or closed?

Answer:

You are looking at a closed hip line

Question

When your student says that they feel their rotation stops or they feel "stuck" in their downswing and overuse (a flip) of their hands, they are likely playing:

a. A club shaft that is too stiff
b. From too wide a stance
c. From a closed hip line
d. From an open hip line

Advise your student that these tendencies will be resolved using Wright Balance® Technology.

Answer:

"C" a closed hip line

Question:

?When there is internal rotation of the left hand as shown in this illustration of Nick Flado, it suggest which of the following?

a.There is hip rotation in the direction of the hand that is internally rotated
b. This observation means nothing related to balance
c. It is likely that the hip on the same side as the internal hand rotation is higher than the other hip
d. None of the above
e. a and c

Answer

"a"

If you answered "a and c", please recall that the lowered shoulder and hip height is generally on the opposite side of the internal rotation of the hand. You can see this if you review the illustration of Faldo below.

Be certain to tell your student to save the photos on their phone as you will be repeating those same photos in a future lesson to demonstrate the changes.

Impact tape

Have your student warm up with an iron. Once they are warm, use impact tape to determine your students impact tendency as shown in these illustrations.

When you see off center impact, you are likely seeing an issue with shaft plane at address, sequencing of motion or both. Shaft plane (covered below) at address is impacted by posture, grip and an open or closed hip line. Incorrect sequencing of motion in the swing can also create off center impact.

Section 2

Square Hips Square Shoulders

?What about a square hip line?

As coaches, we assume that our student's understand the importance of a square hip line at address. Ask them if they are aware that a gold standard in golf instruction is to have their hips and shoulders parallel to their target line. WHY?

When the hips and shoulders are not parallel to each other, what happens? The shaft plane is going to be high or low creating a club path that is not on plane.

Shaft Plane

A "netural"shaft plane is set by multiple factors:

  1. When the hips and shoulders are parallel at address
  2. When the grip power spots matching the Core Zone
    are set in the middle finger of both hands
  3. When posture matches the playing Core Zone
  4. When the left and right hand grip is set with
    compensations or match the carrying angle.

The net result when these 4 conditions are met is that the angle down the shaft and up the forearm, measured when the player stays in posture and the trail hand is removed from the club, is equal to the carrying angle.
Lee Westwood is shown in a 2010 Golf Magazine article on the carrying angle. Note the measurement of the shaft and the forearms position.

Note the measurement of the shaft and the forearms position. That angle is the same as the carrying angle. This image show how the carrying angle is measured.

During the original research in Dr. Frank Jobe's biomechanics lab, the biomedical techs measured the carrying angle using a goniometer.

A digital protractor has proved to be the fastest most efficient process as it has bubble levels to set the lines 90 degrees to the ground and a numerical readout.

That angle (carrying angle) shows up in numerous positions at set up and repeats through the swing. This is one of numerous positions of the carrying angle at address.

Note: I will cover the carrying angle, a neutral grip, Core Zones, posture and left and right hand neutral grip in future EBooks.

Let's review those illustrations describing the shaft plane in pictures. Note, the shaft plane is always measured down the line.

Advise your student that their open or closed hip line is a result of either how they set their posture, the size of the grip they are using, how they place their lead and trail hands on the club or a combination of all of these variables. Each of these variables will be described in detail in the months ahead.

Question

?When these 4 conditions are met...

  1. When the hips and shoulders are parallel
  2. Posture matches Core Zone
  3. When the Power Spots match the Core Zone
  4. When the left and right hand grip matches the Carrying Angle (Again, I will be covering Carrying Angle in a future EBook)

...is the shaft plane neutral?

Answer

Yes, the shaft plane is neutral

Shaft Lean is NOT Shaft Plane

Shaft lean and shaft plane are often confused. Shaft plane is assessed down the line and shaft lean is assessed face on. Let me repeat that. Shaft plane is assessed down the line and shaft lean is assessed face on.

The one thing that shaft plane and shaft lean have in common, regardless of Core Zone, is that they both match the carrying angle as shown here with LPGA and Legends Tour Player Laurie Rinker.

This illustration shows the difference in shaft lean in the 3 Core Zones.

I will cover the Core Zones and how shaft lean is set by Core Zone and the matching carrying angle in subsequent EBooks.

Please remember, shaft plane and shaft lean are very different concepts. As noted, shaft plane is measured down the line and shaft lean is measured face on. They are both equally important.

A Simple Test of a Neutral Shaft Plane

While your student is in their set up, ask them to close their eyes as you "touch" their trail hand. Then ask them to stay in that set up and remove their trail hand. Ask them to let that hand hang relaxed with their palm rotated parallel to their target line.

Tell them to keep their eyes closed. Advise them that you are going to move their hand back toward the grip and to please stay relaxed.

Note: If the shaft plane is neutral, the middle of the palm will cover the thumb of the lead hand while the club is gripped. Ask your student to open their eyes and explain the process.

?Question?

?Which of the following is/are not a condition for a neutral shaft plane?

a. Stance width
b. Foot flare
c. Alignment
d. All of the above

Answer

d. All of the above

An open hip line in this photo equals low shaft plane.

When you remove trail hand with a neutral grip, shaft plane is generally lower than trail hand when hips are open. Please know that the shaft plane is not neutral when the hips are open or closed. I have seen outliers on this test where a closed hip line was matched with a low shaft plane. Just know that the shaft plane is high or low when the hips are not square.

When the grip is neutral and the hips are square, the middle of the palm of the trail hand lines up perfectly with the lead hand thumb as shown here.

The shaft plane with the putter has the same impact. Note that the hips are open and the trail hand hangs above the shaft.

Note in this photo that when the grip is good and the hips are square, the trail hand lines up with the putter grip through the middle of the palm.

The following image is from "The Greatest Putting Instruction Book Ever" published by Golf Magazine in 2010. Note that I am demonstrating 3 different set up positions: Open, closed and square hip line. Also note the "line of force" across the illustration of the feet showing a path that matches the open, closed and square hip line.

These hip line positions and lines of force were originally observed during our early research in Dr. Frank Jobe's biomechanics lab at Centinela Hopital, Los Angeles, CA. 1999 - 2006

The above illustration is of playing professional Ramon Brobio. Ramon won the annual Junior World tournament at Torrey Pines 3 times in 3 different age groups and finished number 1 in putting in 2004 on the Asian Tour.

With elite professional and amateur golfers in the biomechanics lab, it was determined that the line of force (a line connecting the center of force in from the lead to the trail foot) determines the path the club will track with a putter. In the full swing, the line of force present in the downswing sets the club path. The following illustrations are images taken from a balance mat during the original research showing different configurations of line of force.

For a right-handed player, the following illustrations show:

A line of force created by a square hip line...

A line of force created by a closed hip line...

A line of force created by an open hip line

Question

?With an Elite right-handed Golfer [Putting] what would you predict with regard to the path of the putter when the a center of force is forwarded in the lead foot and back in the trail foot as shown here?

Answer

The putter path will be inside-out creating hook spin on the ball or a push.

Question

?What are these an illustration of?

a. Shaft Plane
b. Shaft Lean
c. Neither Shaft Lean or Shaft Plane
d. Both Shaft Lean and Shaft Plane

Answer

Shaft Plane The shaft plane is viewed down the line and shaft lean is viewed face on.

Question

?What does this illustration show?

Answer

Shaft Lean

Question

?With an Elite right-handed Golfer [Putting] what would you predict with regard to the path of the putter when the a center of force is back in the lead foot and forward in the trail foot as shown here?

Answer

The putter path will be outside-in creating cut spin on the ball or a pull.

Subsequent EBooks will be paired with a monthly Zoom session. I will contact you with options to participate in the Zoom calls and EBooks.