The Country’s First Program Using Scientific Research on the Setup and Swing to Reduce Injury and Prevent Stress on the Body; School to be held at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club Aug. 11 – 13
Mission Viejo, Calif. (June 28, 2006) – Dr. David Wright, a Golf Magazine Top 100 Instructor, has teamed with Dr. Michael Mellman, team physician for the L.A. Dodgers and Kings to launch Fit Like a Pro, a groundbreaking golf school that incorporates scientific research and orthopedic evaluations in order to improve golf fitness, on-course performance, overall enjoyment of the game and reduce golf-related injuries. The school will benefit golfers of all skill levels and will especially appeal to those with injuries and pain.
The inaugural three-day golf school will be held at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, Calif. August 11 – 13. The cost is $2,795 per person and will be limited to 10 participants. Additional information is available by contacting the Wright Balance Golf Academy toll free at 888-620-4653 or online at www.wrightbalance.com.
"Elite athletes around the globe benefit from high-tech research, instruction and comprehensive medical, nutrition and fitness guidance," Dr. Wright said. "Now, for the very first time, we are providing those same opportunities to the amateur golfer in an all-inclusive program that will ensure maximum performance. Our biomechanics research has established precise measurements for balance and motion with consideration of physical limitations that can be applied to any golfer regardless of ability or conditioning."
A pioneer in the field of balance with over 15 years of research to his credit, Dr. Wright brings to life his studies from the lab to the golf course with a common sense approach. Having measured over 2,000 students in the past 10 years, from beginners to professionals, Dr. Wright has demonstrated that balance is a critical element of the game directly impacting proper club path and unrestricted body rotation. He has patents pending on core rotation measurement and correction, and stance width customization.
The importance of proper stance width, grip size, club fitting and alignment to the target combines to affect balance. If one aspect is slightly off, it becomes that much more difficult to hit a good shot and can lead to injury. Conversely, if the golfer is in perfect balance there is more opportunity for success and less chance of injury.
As director of Sports Medicine at the renowned Centinela Hospital, Dr. Mellman has been collaborating with Dr. Wright on his research for the past six years and has been an advisor to his Wright Balance Golf Academy. His expertise in the body’s physiology provides an unparalleled resource that is generally not available to the amateur golfer.
This innovative golf school, not offered anywhere in this country, combines this research and knowledge of sports medicine in a way that is easy to understand and tailored to the individual.
"It is truly amazing to see the reaction from my students when they are put in proper balance and how quickly that translates into an improved swing plane, better ball flight and distance with less stress on the body," Dr. Wright said. "These techniques are easy to learn and demonstrate the importance of not just the basics, but the right basics that matter."
The wellness component of the school includes a personalized review of injury/medical history and measurements of strength and flexibility with a physical exam by Dr. Mellman. This is followed by a daily segment devoted exclusively to core exercise and flexibility training tailored to each student that provides strategies to improve overall health and fitness. Each student will also participate in club fitting with the use of a launch monitor to determine the best equipment to fit their body
The golf portion of the school, which incorporates the health component, combines lectures and instruction and includes these key elements:
o Shaping your Thoughts for Mental Toughness (including concentration and routine, breathing and relaxation)
o Balance Drills & Alignment
o The New Science of Putting (how you stand changes your perception of lines)
o The Art of Putting (the relationship between balanced stance width, symmetry and posture in seeing lines)
o Grip, Posture and Iron Clubface Aim
o The New Science of the Full Swing
o The Art of Pitching and Chipping
o Greenside and Fairway Bunker Shots
o The Set Up for Mid, Long Irons and Woods
o Visualization and Feel Drills to Targets
o How to Practice on and off the Range
o Techniques to Fine Tune Your Performance
o Blending the New Science and Art
o On-course instruction
About Dr. Wright:
Dr. David Wright has been a golf teaching professional for over 20 years. He has received numerous accolades for excellence as a golf instructor, including:
â?¢ Golf Magazine Top 100 Instructor
â?¢ Golf Magazine Top 25 Golf School
â?¢ Southern California PGA Teacher of the Year (2 times)
â?¢ Horton Smith Trophy for excellence in education for his PGA peers
â?¢ Top Teacher in California by Golf Digest
â?¢ Board of Directors, Dr. Frank Jobe Biomechanics Laboratory at Centinela Hospital in Los Angeles
Dr. Wright’s students range from beginner to professional levels. He works with over 100 tour players worldwide. He conducts golf schools and individual lessons at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, Calif., as well as at other select national and international locations. He has authored two golf books and numerous videos and teaching aids.
Dr. Wright is also in his fifth year as an Assistant Coach to the University of Southern California Men’s and Women’s Golf Teams. During his tenure, the Men’s and Women’s teams have combined to win three conference championships, an NCAA Regional Championship and an NCAA National Championship.
Dr Wright has perhaps the most diverse background of any PGA instructor in the world. Prior to becoming a golf professional, he earned two doctorate degrees in Psychology. His areas of specialization are in the Psychology of Learning and Psychophysiology with emphasis upon both research and clinical psychology. He started and ran one of the first pain management centers in Southern California and was a full time member of the faculty of the University of Southern California School Of Medicine for four years. He has remained a member of the clinical faculty of the School of Medicine for 23 years. As one of the top teachers in America, Dr. Wright is able to draw upon this diverse background to help golfers reach their maximum potential.
About Dr. Michael Mellman, MD:
Dr. Mellman is the team physician for MLB Los Angeles Dodgers, NHL Los Angeles Kings and is the Director of Sports Medicine at Centinela Hospital and Medical Consultant for the Los Angeles division of Health South. He has been an advisor to the Wright Balance Golf Academy for six years.
Most recently, Dr. Mellman has been working with Dr. Wright in organizing a medical research team of spine specialists and ophthalmologists to study the anatomical and visual factors related to balance, club path and the relationship between these factors and the perception of points on a players target line as a straight line. Dr. Mellman is also involved in the biomechanics study of the "Science" of various set up positions on club path.
Contact:
Ann Victor
Victor Communications
562-621-1142, ext. 1#
