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How to Fix the ‘Chicken Wing’ in Your Golf Swing

ByThe Golfer

← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Common Faults & Fixes


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Quick Answer

  • Keep that lead arm straighter through impact.
  • Think about a full shoulder turn, not just arm power.
  • Practice drills that build proper rotation.

Who This Is For

  • Golfers losing distance and accuracy because their lead elbow bends too much.
  • Anyone fighting slices and inconsistent contact.

What to Check First: Chicken Wing Golf Swing Fix

  • Grip Pressure: Are you white-knuckling it? Too much tension kills arm extension.
  • Clubface at Impact: Is it open? Sometimes the wing is a compensation for an open face.
  • Stance and Posture: A bad setup can force your body into weird positions.
  • Wrist Hinge: Are your wrists hinged correctly on the backswing and unhinged smoothly?

Step-by-Step Plan: How to Stop the Chicken Wing in Golf

  • Action: Loosen your grip. What to look for: A relaxed hold, like holding a bird, not crushing it. Mistake: Gripping too tight, which forces your arms to bend and restricts natural movement.
  • Action: Focus on lead arm extension. What to look for: Your lead arm remaining relatively straight through the hitting zone, from the top of the backswing through impact. Mistake: Allowing that elbow to tuck in towards your body, creating the tell-tale “wing” shape. This robs you of power and control.
  • Action: Practice a full shoulder turn. What to look for: Your back pointing towards the target at the top of your backswing, indicating a full coil. Mistake: Relying only on your arms, not rotating your body. This leads to an arms-only swing, which is a prime culprit for the chicken wing.
  • Action: Feel the unhinging of your wrists. What to look for: A smooth, natural release of stored energy through impact, allowing the clubhead to square up. Mistake: Holding the hinge too long, which can lead to a late and uncontrolled release, or releasing it too early, killing speed and accuracy.
  • Action: Use a mirror or video. What to look for: Visual confirmation of your lead arm staying extended and your body rotating properly. Mistake: Believing you’re doing it right when you’re not. Seeing it yourself is often the best teacher.
  • Action: Try “L to L” drills. What to look for: Creating an “L” shape with your lead arm and the club on the backswing, and then swinging through to a mirrored “L” shape on the follow-through. This emphasizes proper arm and club positioning. Mistake: Turning it into a full swing too quickly, before mastering the feeling of proper extension and release.
  • Action: Focus on body rotation through impact. What to look for: Your chest turning towards the target after impact, feeling like you’re swinging through the ball, not at it. Mistake: Stopping your body rotation at impact, which often causes the arms to take over and bend.

Common Mistakes: Chicken Wing Golf Swing Fix

  • Mistake: Gripping the club too tightly — Why it matters: Restricts natural arm movement and creates tension throughout your arms and shoulders. This tension makes it nearly impossible for your lead arm to stay extended, forcing the elbow to bend. — Fix: Focus on a relaxed, light grip pressure. Imagine holding a delicate flower; you want to hold it without crushing it. Experiment with different grip pressures on the range until you find a relaxed feel.
  • Mistake: Early extension of the hips — Why it matters: As your hips thrust towards the ball early in the downswing, your body stands up. This movement pulls your arms in towards your body, almost inevitably causing your lead elbow to bend inwards. — Fix: Focus on keeping your chest more oriented towards the target through impact. Feel like you’re rotating around your spine, rather than pushing your hips forward. A good drill is to place a headcover under your trail foot and try not to let it move forward.
  • Mistake: Insufficient shoulder turn — Why it matters: If your body isn’t rotating properly in the backswing, your arms have to do all the work to get the club to the top. This leads to an arms-only swing, where the body isn’t providing the power, and the chicken wing becomes a compensation to try and make contact. — Fix: Concentrate on a full, powerful shoulder turn in the backswing. Feel like your lead shoulder is turning under your chin. Let your body lead the swing, not just your arms.
  • Mistake: Trying to “hit” the ball too hard — Why it matters: This common impulse puts emphasis on raw arm speed and manipulation, rather than the proper sequencing of body rotation and club release. When you try to muscle the ball, your body’s mechanics break down. — Fix: Focus on a smooth, controlled swing that allows for proper body rotation and a natural release of the clubhead. Think about swinging through the ball with good tempo. Sometimes, slowing down your swing will actually make you hit it further and straighter.
  • Mistake: Not hinging wrists properly — Why it matters: A lack of wrist hinge in the backswing means less stored energy in the club. To compensate and generate speed, golfers often manipulate their arms, leading to the chicken wing. It also means a less efficient release through impact. — Fix: Practice drills that encourage a proper wrist hinge. On your backswing, feel your wrists naturally cock as your arms reach parallel to the ground. Then, focus on a smooth unhinging through impact.
  • Mistake: Over-reliance on video analysis without understanding what to look for — Why it matters: You might see the chicken wing on video, but if you don’t know why it’s happening or what to adjust, the video can be more confusing than helpful. — Fix: Use video as a confirmation tool after you’ve practiced the correct movements. Focus on specific checkpoints like lead arm extension and shoulder turn, rather than just looking for the bend.
  • Mistake: Trying to force the lead arm straight with tension — Why it matters: Actively trying to keep your lead arm “straight” by tensing up will create more problems, leading to rigidity and a disconnected swing. The arm should remain relatively straight due to proper body rotation and sequencing, not brute force. — Fix: Focus on the feeling of your body rotating and your lead shoulder turning away from the ball. The extension of the lead arm should be a natural result of this rotation, not a conscious effort to hold it rigid.

FAQ

  • What exactly is the ‘chicken wing’ in a golf swing?

The ‘chicken wing’ is a common golf swing fault where your lead elbow (left elbow for a right-handed golfer) bends significantly and tucks inwards towards your body during the downswing and impact phase. It looks like a bird’s wing bending. This happens primarily because the arms are trying to compensate for a lack of proper body rotation or sequencing.

  • How does the chicken wing affect my golf shot?

It has a pretty significant negative impact. Primarily, it drastically reduces your power and clubhead speed because you lose the efficient transfer of energy from your body’s rotation. It also leads to a loss of accuracy and consistency, often resulting in slices because the clubface tends to stay open at impact. You’ll find yourself hitting the ball shorter and with less control.

  • Is the chicken wing a common golf swing fault?

Oh yeah, it’s incredibly common. You’ll see it in golfers of all skill levels, but it’s particularly prevalent among amateur players who are trying to generate more clubhead speed and power. Many golfers develop it as a compensation for other swing flaws, like insufficient hip turn or an improper weight shift. Fixing the chicken wing in your golf swing is a key goal for many seeking improvement.

  • Can I fix the chicken wing without a pro?

Absolutely, you can. With focused practice, patience, and the right drills, you can definitely make significant improvements. The key is to understand the root causes – usually related to body rotation and sequencing – and then work on drills that reinforce those correct movements. Watching videos of your swing is a huge help in identifying the issue and tracking your progress.

  • How long does it take to fix the chicken wing?

That’s the million-dollar question, right? It really depends on how often you practice, how ingrained the habit is, and your ability to feel and replicate the correct movements. Be patient with yourself. For some, it might be noticeable improvement in a few weeks of consistent effort, while for others, it might take a few months to fully retrain the muscle memory. Stick with it, and you’ll see results.

  • What are some good drills to practice to stop the chicken wing?

Several drills are super effective. The “L to L” drill is fantastic for emphasizing proper arm and club positioning. Another great one is practicing slow-motion swings, focusing on your body rotation and feeling your lead arm stay extended. You can also try hitting balls with your trail arm only, to get a feel for how the lead arm should stay connected and extended during the swing. Standing in front of a mirror and focusing on keeping your lead arm extended through impact is also a simple yet powerful visual aid.

  • My lead arm feels stiff when I try to keep it straight. What’s wrong?

That’s a common issue. The goal isn’t to keep your lead arm rigidly straight like a board. Instead, it should remain relatively straight as a result of your body’s rotation and proper sequencing. If you’re tensing up, you’re likely forcing it, which leads to rigidity and disconnect. Focus on the feeling of your shoulders turning away from the ball and your body rotating through the shot. The extension of the lead arm should be a natural outcome of that, not an independent action.

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