A “chicken wing” is the common name for the lead elbow bending and moving away from the body through or just after impact. It is often a compensation rather than the original cause of the shot.
Best camera view
Face on, with both arms visible from address through the release.
Useful checkpoints
Impact and Release
What to look for on video
- The lead elbow points behind the player soon after impact instead of extending naturally.
- The arms separate sharply and the follow-through becomes narrow.
- The chest may slow while the hands work independently to manage the clubface.
What the ball flight might show
- Weak fades, thin contact or inconsistent start lines can occur, but none is unique to this pattern.
- A bent lead arm is not automatically a fault; anatomy, intent and shot shape matter.
Video is most useful when it is paired with the club used, strike location and what the ball actually did. A visual pattern is evidence, not the whole answer.
Possible causes
These are hypotheses to investigate—not a list of changes to make simultaneously.
- Protecting against a closed face or left miss.
- Insufficient body rotation through the strike.
- A path that leaves the player needing to pull the handle inward abruptly.
One drill to test
Soft-ball extension drill
Place a small foam ball or folded towel lightly between the forearms and make no-ball half-swings.
- Keep the pressure light; do not squeeze the arms together.
- Turn the chest through while both arms extend naturally past the strike area.
- Let the training aid fall after the release if it needs to.
Success check: The follow-through should feel wider without locking either elbow or forcing the forearms to stay together.
Do not overcorrect it
The lead elbow can bend for valid reasons. Avoid forcing a straight arm through discomfort, and stop if a rehearsal creates elbow or shoulder pain.
Stop any drill that creates pain. If the pattern is persistent or the cause is unclear, share several swings and the resulting shots with a qualified teaching professional.
Keep learning
Over-the-top golf swing
Learn what an over-the-top golf swing can look like on video, why camera angle matters, and a simple transition drill to test at the range.
Early extension in the golf swing
See how early extension can appear from a down-the-line golf swing video and try a simple chair-contact drill to test your hip depth.
Check your camera angle
Use repeatable down-the-line and face-on setup before comparing positions.
Read all eight positions
Understand setup through finish without judging the swing from one frozen frame.