The Power of Wright Balance® Angles

Updated January, 2024

2023 Carrying / Power Angle Research Results

The history of the Wright Balance® Angles is below. I wanted to give you an update before taking you into the history. If you are unfamiliar with the measurement of the Carrying Angle, that is covered in the History.

Our recent research shows that we are able to change the Carrying / Power Angle in each of the 15 sub-regions (5 sub-regions in Core Zone) when doing the Wright Balance® 4-Way Express. For example, in the Anterior Zone (Upper Core) the narrowest stance width used (8 inches), when doing the Wright Balance® 4-Way Express, results in a shallow Carrying / Power Angle in the high 160s. The weight moves toward the toes and the thigh angle is equal to the Carrying / Power Angle. When walking and running, each step or gait is well forward toward the toes as the person "pushes off" in each step.

Still in the Anterior Zone (Upper Core) the widest stance width used (32 inches), when doing the Wright Balance® 4-Way Express, results in a wide Carrying / Power Angle in the low 159s. The weight moves toward the toes and the thigh angle is equal to the Carrying / Power Angle. When walking and running, each step or gait is well at the back of the balls of the feet as the person "pushes off" in each step.

Our research also shows a very different foot strike in the Interior and Posterior Zones. The Posterior Zone player with a very wide Carrying / Power Angle will have a foot strike that is back in their stance, likely creating drag. The Posterior Zone player will have great rotational ability but will not be the fastest runner in their sport. We are working on a research protocol to measure changes in running efficiency by testing current speed and then changing foot impact via the Wright Balance® 4-Way Express. We know that various sub-regions impact speed and rotation.

The proposed Wright Balance® research is to test various runners from sprinters to long distance runners to determine what foot strike provides the most efficient and fastest running speed as "lag" is removed.

The History of the Wright Angles of Power: The Carrying Angle

The origin of the Carrying Angle is from 1865 Medicine. It was a measure of forearm health. If you fan your arms out so your palms are forward, bend your elbows so that your forearms are parallel to the ground, that is how you would have the strongest angle when carrying, for example, wood in 1865.

Dr. Michael Mellman brought the Power Angle (Carrying Angle) to the original research setting. This image is of Dr. Mellman at Pelican Hill GC in the late 90s demonstrating the carrying angle.

Dr. Mellman is shown in this photo in the biomechanics lab in the late 90s assisting in testing the light sensor placement, in-shoe system and protocols for the original study.

Here is a photo of a measurement of the Power Angle in early 2000s. That is JR Ruda, a Cal Berkley Golf Team Member when he participated as one of the elite amateurs.

I am measuring Jai in our biomechanics lab using a digital protractor 10 years later.

This is a measurement of my Carrying / Power Angle. Note that the measurement was originally taken on the dominant arm. Also note that the angle of my left arm in this photo shows a greater angle than my right. In the years since I have discovered that these imbalances of the left and right carrying angle create "drag" on motion forward and back on the sagittal plane. This "drag appears as a subtle pelvic rotation and knee supination with forward motion. I have discovered how to create the same angle in both the left and right arms and eliminate "drag" (subtle pelvic rotation and knee supination). Using matching handle size to stance width while doing the Wright Balance® 4-Way Express with power spots covered with tape creates the same carrying / Power Angle on the left and right side.

Out of this initial research on the Carrying / Power angle We learned many years later that the Carrying / Power angle showed up in numerous places at address and through the swing. Later on, we realized that it was equal to the persons External Shoulder Rotation and, when the hands were on the club in a neutral position, it shows up in 3 places at the top of the swing.

The following is an article that appeared in Golf Magazine in 2010.

In 2010, Lee Westwood was ranked number 1 in the world. In that same 2010 Golf Magazine issue, we had a companion article showing Lee Westwood's swing sequence tracking his Carrying / Power Angle as it repeated through his swing. Here is that swing sequence. Notice that the 155 degree angle in the first image is measured at address down the trail arm and shaft. All of the other angles (blue lines) are measured 90 degrees to the ground.

This videos shows Laurie Rinker demonstrating the changes in Power Angles by Core Zone.

We know that the Carrying / Power Angle is the angle of range of motion in rotational sports. The Carrying / Power Angle impacts heel to toe balance. The greater the Power Angle, the "deeper" the posture, the more toward the center of the arches balance will be located in a static position and the greater the rotational force. As shown here, this angle shows up in the address position and repeats during the motion.

In 2009, the year before the Golf Magazine article with the Lee Westwood illustrations, the following video was made to demonstrate the repeating Carrying Angle. I am with Jai Edwards in this video as he measures my repeating Carrying / Power Angle. I always was a Posterior Zone (Lower Core) player. Only 10 percent of the golfing population is measured as Lower Core.

In the fall of 2019, Mckenzie Tour player Albert Pistorius spent 3 days with me working on his game. The final day, Albert shot the following video with me demonstrating how the Carrying Angle repeats through the swing and how something as subtle as a grip change can change to a loss of power and the loss of the repeating carrying angle.

The following video was shot during that same session. Albert helps me demonstrate how that same grip he arrived with vs the grip change impacts club face aim and path.

MLB Baseball Players with Different Carrying / Power Angles

The following video shows how different angles impact posture as demonstrated by two MLB players with very different Carrying / Power angles.

Our research applications to date show that we can change the Carrying / Power Angle and create greater rotational force. As we create rotational force in static posture we decrease vertical forces. The key is tailoring a Carrying / Power Angle that maximizes force and efficiency of motion for greater balanced power. Now that we have 5 subregions in each Core Zone, bioengineering the Carrying Angle is really quite simple. I will cover this in detail during our training.

The Discovery of "Power Spots"

What is a Power Spot? The Power Spots are located on your Middle Fingers of the Left & Right Hands. These Power Spots are set by Core Zone.

Here is a visual summary of these Power Spots by Core Zone.

When the Power Spot is set by Core Zone and matching Stance Width, you are able to "hold" (balance) the club parallel to the Ground supported only by the left hand heel pad and Middle Finger Power Spot as shown in this illustration.

When we changed the Stance Width to a Core Zone that did not match the Power Spot or if we changed to a Power Spot in the left hand that did not match a Core Zone Stance Width the shaft dropped below parallel, or became "heavier" to hold, or the club handle rotated in the hand or all of the above. Note that all of this was prior to the discovery of taping the fingers and propagation of force.

Power Spots and the Power Angle

When the golf club grip crosses the same spot on the middle finger of both hands and that spot matches the player's playing core zone, the Carrying / Power Angle is set at the top of the swing...

Why do we call these middle finger positions Power Spot? The Power Spot creates the Player’s Carrying / Power Angle at the top of the swing. When the Power Spot is set at address and matches the Swing Sequencing, the Power Angle repeats at the top of the backswing as shown in the illustrations below.

You may test these Power Spots as one way of determining the Symmetry of a player’s setup. Anything that compromises Power will show up in the downswing. It is simple to test the Power at the top of the swing by pushing up on the butt of the club as shown in this illustration.

Note that Power is demonstrated in the downswing. If you change Stance Widthto a different Core Region, the Power Spot or Sequencing of motion by Core Region, you will see and feel a “Power Leak” as shown in this illustration.

More detail regarding the discovery and testing of Power Spots can be found in this Ebook:

How to Set & Test the Grip Power Spots by Core Zone

https://instructions.wrightbalance.com/how-to-set-test-the-grip-power-spots-by-core-region/

As already noted, our latest research shows that we can set the same Carrying / Power Angle (physiological valgus of the elbow joint) in both the left and right arms. As noted, each Core Zone has 5 different sub-regions of the Carrying / Power Angle. Each of these 5 sub-regions shows a subtle heel to toe balance change within the Core Zone. These changes include in heel to toe balance and bite. These Core subregions are set by the corresponding handle size for the Core Zone while doing the Wright Balance® 4-Way Express in 5 stance widths within the Core Zone. The last stance width used when doing the Wright Balance® 4-Way Express sets the Carrying / Power angle, heel to toe balance and bite.

Other Applications of Balance and the Carrying / Power Angle

Any activity requiring a standing posture requires balance. Part of this balance is having the same Carrying / Power Angle both the left and right side for maximum symmetry. Every activity has an optimum heel to toe balance, level shoulders, hips and knees that are positioned over the center of each foot in a static or dynamic posture and during rotational, forward and backward movement.

Our latest research shows that we can set the same Carrying / Power Angle in both the left and right arms. Additionally, each Core Zone has 5 different sub-regions of the Carrying / Power Angle. Each of these 5 sub-regions shows a subtle heel to toe balance change within the Core Zone and a subtle change in the measured Power Angle. These Core subregions are set by any handle while doing the Wright Balance® Express in one of 5 stance widths within the Core Zone.

So what does this mean for a person walking during rehabilitation or elite athletes running in their respective sport?

Rehabilitation

Balance is important in all activities. The person in rehabilitation will develop muscle rehabilitation and reduce the probability of injury when the body has total symmetry during exercise. Wright Balance® has the technology to create this symmetry in all activities.

The Elite Athlete

For the elite or amateur athlete, we are able to determine the ideal foot strike during movement and the most efficient point of thrust (push off for maximum force / speed recruitment in forward movement) in one of the 5 stance widths when doing the Wright Balance® Express. For the elite or amateur athlete, we are able to determine the ideal foot strike during movement and the most efficient point of thrust (push off for maximum force / speed recruitment in forward movement) in one of the 5 stance widths when doing the Wright Balance Express. If there is a throwing motion, Wright Balance® can set the ideal external shoulder rotation that matches maximum power. Additionally, our research in years past shows vision is accurate when the person is in balance and when out of balance, there is a misperception of an object in space.

Combining Core Zones

I have combined the Wright Balance® Express in 2 of the 3 Core Zones to create changes in heel to toe balance, the Carrying / Power angle, external shoulder rotation and the most efficient forward and backward movement patterns changing foot strike and thrust. Following the Sagittal Plane in the Wright Balance® Express, I have identified the exercises that recruit the Rotatational Plane only in the Wright Balance Express.When Core Zones (Sagittal & Rotational) are combined we have seen greater rotational plane motion and ease of sagittal plane motion without drag. These changes still need to be researched in detail before disclosure of the precise strategy of combining Core Zones.