Golf Glossary
Chicken Wing
In short
A chicken wing is a swing fault in which the lead arm folds after impact and the elbow points away from the body. Seen from behind, the arm looks like a chicken wing. The fault costs distance and direction because the club cannot swing through at full speed.
Chicken wing in golf: meaning and how to spot it
In a chicken wing the lead arm folds just after impact. The lead arm is the left arm for right-handers and the right arm for left-handers. Instead of extending towards the target, the elbow pulls out and back. The hand stays close to the body and the forearm forms a sharp angle with the upper arm. The picture resembles a wing, hence the name.
The best way to spot the fault is on video. Place the camera behind you in line with the target and look at the moment just after ball contact. If the arm is still almost straight there, all is well. If the elbow points left or outward and the arm is folded in, you have a chicken wing.
A note for perspective: even good players bend the lead arm later in the follow-through, at the latest in the finish. The timing is what matters. After impact the arm should fold further forward and higher up, not directly behind the ball.
Causes: why does a chicken wing appear?
The chicken wing is rarely a problem of the arm alone. It is usually a symptom that comes from another cause.
- The body stops too early. Hips and chest do not keep turning through the swing. The club then travels faster than the body and the arm has to get out of the way.
- Fear of the hook. A player who dreads a clubface that closes too early tries to hold the club back and pulls the arm in.
- Steering the ball with the hands. Players who want to guide the ball slow the arms down instead of letting them swing.
- Too little mobility in shoulders or thoracic spine. There is no room and the arm folds.
- Hips too close to the ball. This is called early extension and it takes space away from the arms.
Because the cause usually lies in the body, simply straightening the arm achieves little. Working on the root cause is more promising.
Effects on ball flight: distance and direction
A chicken wing shows up in ball flight in two ways.
- Lost distance: the club is slowed after impact. Energy is lost and the ball flies shorter. You can see this, for example, in club head speed that is lower than your build and strength would suggest.
- Dispersion, mostly to the right: with the folded arm the face often stays open. Shots to the right, such as a slice or a push, are typical. If the club also comes from outside, the ball starts left and curves right.
- Thin and fat strokes: because the arm is not stable at impact, the low point of the swing wanders. The ball is struck thin or fat.
The fault is especially visible with short irons and wedges. There is little time to compensate, and the ball often comes up short or goes right. Anyone who regularly slices and sees the fault on video should look at both points together.
Practical example: a 7-iron on a par 3
Imagine a par-3 hole of 140 metres. You take the 7-iron, which you normally hit about 140 metres. In the practice swing everything feels fine. In the real shot, however, the body slows down at impact, the lead arm folds and the club comes from outside. The ball starts left and curves right. It lands 15 metres short and well right of the green.
The result: instead of a putt on the green you face a chip from the rough. A possible par easily turns into a bogey. On video a coach sees that the arm folded after impact.
After a few practice sessions the picture changes. You keep the body moving through the swing. The hips turn all the way to the target and your belly button faces the flag in the finish. The arm follows because there is room. The ball starts straighter, flies further and finds the green more often.
Drills to fix a chicken wing
These drills are easy to practise, first without a ball and then with one.
- Towel drill: tuck a small towel under the armpit of the lead arm. It should not fall out during the swing. This keeps the arm connected to the chest.
- Slow swing with body rotation: swing slowly and let the hips turn all the way to the target. Hold the finish for three seconds.
- Split-hands grip: slide the lower hand about 15 centimetres down the shaft. This helps to extend the arm.
- Impact bag or cushion: hit into a soft resistance and feel how the arm stays extended.
- Half-swing series: play balls with a half swing and think only about keeping the arm long after impact.
Repeat each drill ten times and film yourself. You often feel first progress after a few sessions. It usually takes longer before the new movement holds up on the course.
Chicken wing compared with early extension and over the top
The chicken wing often appears in a list with other swing faults, but it can be told apart clearly.
- Chicken wing: the lead arm folds after impact. Visible in the follow-through.
- Early extension: the hips move towards the ball in the downswing and the upper body straightens up. It is a frequent cause behind it.
- Over the top: in the downswing the club travels from outside to inside. A slice or pull results. This is a path fault before impact, whereas the chicken wing shows afterwards.
- Slice: a ball that curves right for right-handers. It is a consequence, not the fault itself.
Knowing all four terms helps you understand a coach’s comments. Usually two or three patterns occur together. The coach then works through them in an order that suits the player.
When a coach makes sense
The problem can often be improved with drills. If it persists after several weeks, an outside view helps. A coach sees whether the cause lies in mobility, grip or hip movement and chooses suitable drills.
Video from two angles, behind and face-on, is helpful. Measurements such as club path add orientation. Alignment and grip are checked too, because they influence how the club approaches the ball.
Give yourself time as well. A new movement often takes several weeks to show in real play. Practise in small sessions with a clear aim, for example: today only the arm after impact.
Try it at Golf Lounge
Whether a chicken wing is hiding in your swing is best seen on video. The PGA coaches at the Golf Lounge offer 60-minute individual lessons, on request with swing analysis using TrackMan data and V1 Pro video analysis. Short focus sessions are also available for beginners and more experienced players. You book your sessions online. Training takes place all year round on the covered range.
Frequently asked questions
What is a chicken wing in golf?
A chicken wing is a swing fault in which the lead arm folds after impact and the elbow points away from the body. It costs distance and often leads to a slice or pull. The cause usually does not lie in the arm itself but in body rotation that stops too early.
How do you fix a chicken wing?
Turn your hips and upper body all the way to the target in the follow-through. The towel drill under the armpit, a split-hands grip and slow swings with a held finish all help. Film yourself and repeat each drill ten times. If in doubt, a coach can help.
Why do I slice the ball with a chicken wing?
When the body slows and the arm folds, the clubface usually stays open to the swing path, and the club often comes from outside to inside as well. That tilts the spin axis and the ball curves right for right-handers. The fault therefore magnifies an existing slice.
Is a chicken wing always a fault?
Not always. Good players also bend the lead arm in the follow-through, at the latest in the finish. It becomes a problem when the arm folds immediately after contact and slows the club. Club head speed then drops and the ball starts in an uncontrolled direction.
As of: October 2026