Are you struggling to find a real cure for the golf swing?
Holy chicken wing! Watch this video to get rid of it!
You're not alone.
Want to feel this in YOUR swing? Try a free AI-powered golf lesson → — GOATY gives you real-time voice coaching, pose tracking, and instant feedback on every rep.
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This common swing fault plagues golfers at every level, and it's quietly robbing you of both consistency and power you didn't even know you were losing.
A collapsing lead arm through impact causes your clubface to twist unpredictably, costing you distance and accuracy on every shot.
The good news is that with a focused 3-step drill, you can fix this problem permanently — and start making a more athletic, extensible follow through right away.
Not only will this video get your swing looking and feeling dramatically better, but you'll also discover:
- How to keep both arms wide and extended through your impact position and into the finish, and
- How correcting your chicken wing can also stop your over-the-top slice and loss of lag — two of the most distance-killing faults in the game
Want to know exactly how your own swing stacks up? Get a free AI swing analysis and see in seconds whether arm extension through impact is holding you back.
Check out this video now — because fixing your chicken wing golf swing unlocks a chain reaction of improvement across your entire game. For a complete structured practice system built around these exact mechanics, explore the GOAT Drill video lesson and start building real, measurable change.
How to Fix the Chicken Wing Golf Swing
Learn a 3-step drill to eliminate the chicken wing swing for better consistency and power.
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1
Set Up Alignment Stick
Place an alignment stick vertically on the target line in front of you. This will serve as a guide to help you maintain proper arm extension during your swing.
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2
Make Swings to the Right
Practice making swings while ensuring that your trail arm misses the alignment stick to the right side, which is the target side. This encourages proper arm extension through impact.
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3
Check Arm Extension
After each swing, check to ensure that both your lead arm and trail arm are fully extended through the finish position. This is crucial for correcting the chicken wing issue.
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4
Hold Your Finish Position
At the end of your swing, hold your finish position for a moment. This will help you confirm that you have achieved the correct arm extension and width necessary for a proper follow-through.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the chicken wing in a golf swing?
The chicken wing describes a follow-through position where the lead elbow bends upward and points away from the body instead of extending through impact. It signals that the lead arm lost structure before the clubhead reached the ball, typically causing thin shots, pulls, and a loss of clubhead speed.
What causes a chicken wing?
The chicken wing is almost always a symptom of poor body rotation rather than an arm problem. When the hips stall through impact the arms must compensate by breaking down to prevent the club from swinging too far inside. The lead elbow buckles because there is nowhere for the arm to go without a full pivot continuing past impact.
What are the three steps to cure the chicken wing?
Step one is to restore hip rotation so the lead side fully clears through impact. Step two is to keep the lead arm connected to the chest through the hitting zone. Step three is to practice an extended high finish where the lead arm is still relatively straight at the three-quarter follow-through position.
Will fixing the chicken wing add distance?
Yes, significantly. The chicken wing represents a structural collapse that bleeds clubhead speed just before and during impact. Restoring a full, connected extension through the ball can add 10 to 20 yards for many golfers by preventing that energy leak. Consistent face contact also improves dramatically because the low point of the swing stabilizes.
Watch part 2 now to see how you're moving your body in the opposite direction of the pros!
