Copyright Wright Balance® 2025

The positions of the center of mass and lead knee are produced by the sequencing of motion in the golf swing. Simply stated, How you start the motion of your golf swing determines these positions at the top of the swing. Stance Width plays a major role in the proper sequencing of motion. An Upper Core / Anterior Zone player should always start their motion from a narrow stance.

Notice how narrow the stance is and the lead knee moving behind the ball at the top of the swing. Also note that the center of mass is target side in these images of Payne Stewart and Colin Montgomerie. The narrow stance, lead knee behind the ball and Center of Mass target side are all characteristics of an Upper Core / Anterior Zone player. We know from Wright Balance® research that these players will have their best ball striking with a Stance Width between 8 and 16 inches.

Dr. Wright fit Colin Montgomerie for putter stance and he naturally went to 16 inches as did PGA Tour Player Kevin Stadler with his irons and woods.

Payne Stewart

Note the same Anterior Zone / Upper Core characteristics in Colin Montgomerie at the top of his swing.

Colin Montgomerie

Stance Width

The Anterior Zone / Upper Core player's stance width is 8 and 16 inches. IF the player has done the Wright Balance® Express with tape around the fingernail of each hand OR around the toenail of each foot, anything narrower than 8 inches or wider than 16 inches creates a subtle change in clubface aim.

Notice how narrow the stance is and the lead knee moving behind the ball at the top of the swing. Also note that the center of mass is target side in these images of Payne Stewart and Colin Montgomerie. The narrow stance, lead knee behind the ball and Center of Mass target side are all characteristics of an Upper Core / Anterior Zone player. We know from Wright Balance® research that these players will have their best ball striking with a Stance Width between 8 and 16 inches.

IF the Anterior Zone / Upper Core Player does the Wright Balance® Express without tape around one fingernail of each hand or one toenail of each foot OR if they don't do the Wright Balance® Express at all,

when their stance width is:

  1. Narrower than 8 inches or
  2. Wider that 16 inches

Their hips will open or close

Anterior Zone / Upper Core Sequencing of Motion

The Anterior Zone / Upper Core player starts their swing with the trail hip or lead knee. This sequence of motion creates these positions at the top of the swing. When sequencing of motion begins with the trail hip, the lead knee will always move behind the ball.

Try setting up and start your backswing motion with your trail hip only and note these positions will always occur at the top of the swing. Some players purposely move "off the ball" to their trail side as that is what they have been taught. A bit of coaching to a more natural balance position will place their Center of Mass target side.

Many players think the Center of Mass on the target side at the top of the swing is a result of a reverse pivot. Reassure your student that a sequence of motion that starts with the trail hip fits their body as an Anterior Zone / Upper Core player.

Without a club, use the Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path Test (DCP)to demonstrate an open or closed hip line when the sequencing doesn't start with the trail hip. Also show the square hip line when they start the backswing with the trail hip. Then have them hit a few balls with the correct sequencing. "Experience is the Measurement of Truth."

The Anterior Zone / Upper Core player uses the ground recruiting power rotationally and vertically. They do so by their position of balance in their feet. The Anterior Zone / Upper Core player has their balance over the balls of their feet, well forward of the Interior and Posterior Zone player as shown here.

As they turn through to impact, this balance position necessitates a "rise" through impact. That is how these players get their power using vertical ground force through the ball.

Some coaches see this "rise" through the ball as a defective motion. They might say "you are coming out of posture" or you have "early extension" or "you need to stay in posture through the swing". NOT SO. As noted, these players are on the balls of their feet, there center of mass is target side at the top of their swing and they rise as they approach impact recruiting rotational and vertical ground force for power.

Interior Zone / Middle Core Players

Below is an image of Interior Zone / Middle Core player Sam Snead.

and Bobby Jones

Interior Zone / Middle Core Sequencing of Motion

The Interior Zone / Middle Core player starts their swing with both the Upper and Lower Core together. Sam Snead said he would start the club back by moving his trail knee back toward the target side and then "everything back and through together". Bobby Jones' teacher, Stuart Maiden said he would teach players to start their swing "everything back together", a characteristic of the Interior Zone / Middle Core player.

Stance Width

The Interior Zone / Middle Core player's stance width is between 16 and 24 inches. IF the player has done the Wright Balance® Express with tape around the fingernail of each hand OR around the toenail of each foot, anything narrower than 16 inches or wider than 24 inches creates a subtle change in clubface aim.

IF the Interior Zone / Middle Core Player does the Wright Balance® Express without tape around one fingernail of each hand or one toenail of each foot OR if they don't do the Wright Balance® Express at all,

when their stance width is:

  1. Narrower than 16 inches or
  2. Wider that 24 inches

Their hips will open or close

You will note in these images that when "everything starts back together" the lead knee points at the ball at the top of the swing. You will also note that the Center of Mass is very centered over the pelvis. There is little to no movement to the trail or target side at the top of the backswing.

Use the Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path Test (DCP) to demonstrate the impact of the correct and incorrect sequencing as described in the Anterior Zone / Upper Core Summary.

We know from Wright Balance® research that the Interior Zone / Middle Core player will have their best ball striking with a Stance Width between 16 and 24 inches.

The Interior Zone / Middle Core player uses the ground recruiting power in all 3 ground forces: Rotationally, Linearly (Horizontally) and Vertically. They do so by their position of balance in their feet. The Interior Zone / Middle Core player has their balance just forward of the center of their arches and behind the balls of the feet, between the balance position of the Anterior Zone and Posterior Zone players as shown here.

Posterior Zone / Lower Core Players

Below are images of two Posterior Zone / Lower Core Tour Players: Tommy Fleetwood and Billy Horschel

Tommy Fleetwood

Billy Horschel

Stance Width

The Posterior Zone / Lower Core player's stance width is between 20 and 28 inches. IF the player has done the Wright Balance® Express with tape around the fingernail of each hand OR around the toenail of each foot, anything narrower than 20 inches or wider than 28 inches creates a subtle change in clubface aim.

IF the Posterior Zone / Lower Core Player does the Wright Balance® Express without tape around one fingernail of each hand or one toenail of each foot OR if they don't do the Wright Balance® Express at all,

when their stance width is:

  1. Narrower than 20 inches or
  2. Wider that 28 inches

Their hips will open or close

Posterior Zone / Lower Core Sequencing of Motion

The Posterior Zone / Lower Core player starts the club back with their Upper Core (shoulder rotation). They have the widest Stance Width of the 3 Core Zones. As noted, we know from Wright Balance® research that these players will have their best ball striking with a Stance Width between 20 and 28 inches.

The wide stance is a natural way to minimize hip movement in the backswing. At the top of the swing the lead knee is in front of the ball and the player's Center of Mass is trail side. If the lead knee is not protruding in front of the ball, sequencing is incorrect for the Posterior Zone player.

The incorrect sequencing will be evident when you do the Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path Test (DCP). When the sequencing is incorrect their hips will be open or closed when tested. It is always best to do the DCP test without a club when demonstrating the impact of correct vs incorrect sequence of motion.

The Posterior Zone / Lower Core player recruits their power from the ground rotationally and linearly (horizontally). They do so by their position of balance in their feet. The Posterior Zone / Lower Core player has their balance over the center of their arches, as shown here.

This balance position facilitates ease of rotation through the ball.

Again, use the Wright Balance® Downswing Club Path Test (DCP) to demonstrate the impact of the correct and incorrect sequencing as described in the Anterior Zone / Upper Core Player summary. Have your student also go to a stance width less than 20 inches and point out two things:

  1. As a Lower Core player, they must play between 20 and 28 inches.
  1. When their stance width is too narrow, the separation of the upper and lower body necessary in the backswing is much more difficult than a wider stance.

Grip Size

When fitting a player in their grip size, you will note that the Anterior Zone / Upper Core player uses the smallest grips and the Posterior Zone / Lower Core Player uses the largest grips.
Why? An improper grip size opens or closes unless the grip or subtle movement squares the hips at address. Then, if the grip is too small, the small size moves the player forward toward their toes and, if the grip size is too large, the larger size moves the player toward their heels.

These illustrations show the impact of too large a grip by Core Zone. The box with the Core Zone label is the desired balance position in all of these illustrations.

The following images show the impact of a grip size that is too small by Core Zone.

As you can see from these illustrations Grip Sizing has a significant impact on how a player uses the ground and their ball striking and putting. Setting the proper grip size is imperative for consistent performance.

The Following is a video of how to do a grip sizing of your students.