Chicken Wing in the Golf Swing: Fix the Bent Lead Arm

What Is a Chicken Wing in Golf?

A chicken wing golf swing is one where the lead arm (the left arm for right-handed golfers) bends at the elbow just after impact: the lead elbow bends and points away from the target, instead of the arms extending toward it. It usually means weaker, less solid contact.

Left-handed? Your lead arm is your right arm; everything else mirrors.

The good news is that a chicken wing is rarely an arm problem at its root. In most cases the arms are reacting to something the body or the clubface is doing. Fix the cause and the arm usually takes care of itself.

What It Looks Like

During the follow-through, the lead elbow bends and points away from the target, creating a "wing" shape. Instead of the arms swinging out and around toward the target, they collapse up and in toward the body. The clubhead may not square properly at impact, and the shot often comes out low, weak, and short of your usual distance.

If you look at a photo of your finish, a chicken wing shows up as a lead elbow bent and pointing away from the target, with the hands close to the lead shoulder and the club pointing more up than around your back.

Main Causes

1. Early body stop: The body stops rotating in the downswing. The arms still have speed, so they fold because they have nowhere to go.
2. Fear of hitting the ground: Players tense up and pull the arms in to avoid hitting the turf, which shortens the follow-through.
3. Poor shoulder rotation: The lead shoulder doesn't keep turning, so the lead arm has to bend to get the club past the body.
4. Face held open: If you feel the face is open, you may hold off the release by pulling the elbow up and out.

Most golfers have one main cause, sometimes two. The self-check below helps you find yours before you pick a drill.

Quick Self-Check

• Film your swing from face-on and pause just after impact. Is the lead elbow already bending and pointing away from the target?
• Check your finish. Is your chest facing the target, or did your body stop short while your arms kept going?
• Look at your divots or strike marks. If you are catching the ball thin and the arms pull in, fear of the ground may be part of it.
• Notice your ball flight. A weak shot that starts right and curves further right can point to a face held open (right-handers; for lefties, left and further left).

The Main Fix: Keep Turning and Let the Arms Extend

Focus on rotating your body fully through impact. Feel your chest, hips, and lead shoulder keep turning toward the target while the club passes the ball. Picture both arms extending toward the target after impact, as if you were reaching out to shake hands with someone standing a few feet in front of the ball.

Avoid letting your lead shoulder drop or hunch. Let the forearms rotate naturally through impact so the face can square up; you don't need to "save" the shot by holding the face open. When the body keeps turning and the face releases, the arms have room to extend and the chicken wing fades away.

3 Drills to Fix a Chicken Wing

1. Towel Drill

Setup: Tuck a towel or headcover under both armpits.

Steps:

1. Stand in your normal address position with a short iron.
2. Make smooth half swings, turning your chest back and through.
3. Keep the towel pinned until after impact.

Reps: 10–15 swings per set, 3 sets.

What Good Looks Like: The towel stays pinned through impact, your arms stay connected to your turning chest, and both arms extend toward the target after the ball.

Common mistake: Squeezing so hard that you stop turning. The towel should stay in place because the body and arms move together, not because you clamp down.

2. Arms Extend Checkpoint

Setup: Use a mirror, a phone on a tripod, or a friend to observe your swing.

Steps:

1. Make slow half swings and stop when the club is about waist high after impact.
2. Check that both arms are extended and the lead elbow hasn't bent and moved away from the target.
3. Focus on rotating your torso toward the target to reach that position.

Reps: 10–15 half swings per set, 3 sets.

What Good Looks Like: At the checkpoint your arms form a triangle with your chest, the club points roughly at the target line, and your torso has turned toward the target.

Common mistake: Reaching the checkpoint by throwing the arms while the body stays still. If your chest is still facing the ball, start the turn earlier.

3. Finish Hold Drill

Setup: Use a mirror or a friend for feedback.

Steps:

1. Hit easy shots and hold the finish position for 3–5 seconds.
2. Check that your lead arm extended toward the target before folding naturally into the finish.
3. Make sure your weight is on your lead side and your chest faces the target.

Reps: 5–10 swings per set, 3 sets.

What Good Looks Like: A balanced finish with your body rotated toward the target and no lead elbow bent and pointing away from the target.

Common mistake: Posing a pretty finish after a swing that stopped at impact. Hold the finish only if you got there by turning all the way through.

How to Practice

Start with the towel drill to feel the body and arms moving together, then use the checkpoint drill to confirm the arms are extending. Finish each session with the finish hold drill on real shots. Keep swings slow at first; speed comes back once the new motion feels normal.

If your arm or shoulder hurts, stop and see a qualified professional.

FAQ

Does a chicken wing cause a slice?

Not always. A chicken wing can lead to a weak shot, but the curve depends on the clubface and swing path. If the face is held open as the elbow pulls up and out, a slice is common.

Does a chicken wing hurt?

If your elbow or shoulder hurts, stop and see a qualified professional; this page covers technique only.

Is a chicken wing fixable for someone with limited flexibility?

Usually, yes. Keeping the body turning and letting the arms extend matters more than how far you can stretch. If turning is limited by pain or stiffness, see a qualified professional.

I'm left-handed, which arm is my lead arm?

Your lead arm is your right arm. Everything else on this page mirrors.

Related Pages

• Golf Swing Basics — all the swing basics in one place.
• The Downswing — how the downswing sets up extension.
• Swing Sequence — why the body has to lead the arms.
• Fix a Slice — if your chicken wing comes with a slice.
• Lefty Golf Guide — mirror guide for left-handers.

Last updated: 2026-10-26