The Definition A Chicken Wing occurs when the lead elbow (left elbow for right-handed golfers) sharply bends and pulls inward during the follow-through, rather than extending freely toward the target.

This collapsing of the lead arm acts like a parachute deploying through impact. It drastically decelerates the clubhead, prevents the clubface from properly releasing (squaring up), and narrows the swing arc. The result is a severe loss of power, weak slices, and frequently topped shots as the club is pulled up and away from the turf.

The Amateur: The Collapsed Arm

Watch the video below to see what a Chicken Wing looks like in a position-by-position 3D breakdown.

The Data Check: We measure this fault by looking at the Lead Elbow Flex just after impact, when the club is parallel to the ground in the follow-through (P8). Note: A measurement of 180° would mean a perfectly straight, locked arm. Therefore, a lower number means a more severely bent elbow.

At P8, this amateur’s lead elbow flex is a collapsed 105°. Instead of throwing the clubhead out toward the target, they have rapidly pulled their elbow up and into their ribcage. This abrupt folding motion completely absorbs the speed of the clubhead before it can be transferred into the golf ball.

Stop Guessing. Start Measuring.

Do you have a Chicken Wing? Trying to just "keep your left arm straight" usually creates massive tension and ruins your rhythm if your body isn't actually making room for the arms to extend.

Upload your swing video for a Digital Analysis. We will use 3D motion tracking to measure your exact elbow flex through the strike zone to tell you definitively if you are extending through the ball or pulling away from it. [Button: Start My Swing Analysis]

The Professional: Full Extension

For comparison, watch how a Tour Professional fully extends their arms through the impact zone, allowing the club to release naturally.

The Data Check: At the exact same position (P8), this professional’s lead elbow flex is 158°.

Look at the Professional Acceptable Range:

• Lead Elbow Flex (at P8): 151° to 159°

The Pro's arm isn't rigidly locked (which would be 180° and dangerous for the joint), but at 158°, it is beautifully extended. Because they rotate their body completely, their arms have a clear path to extend fully toward the target. This wide, flowing release maximizes clubhead speed and keeps the clubface perfectly stable through the hitting zone.

The Body-Swing Connection

A Chicken Wing is rarely fixed by simply thinking about your elbow. It is almost always a reaction to a blocked path or a physical limitation. There are 13 physical limitations that can impact your golf swing.

If your body stops turning, your arms have nowhere to go but to fold up into your chest to avoid a collision. The physical limitations that directly cause a Chicken Wing include:

• Limited Lead Shoulder Mobility: If your left shoulder lacks external rotation, the arm must bend to allow the club to swing up.

• Failure to Clear the Hips (Poor Pelvic Rotation): If the hips stall, the torso stalls, leaving no room for the arms to extend outward.

• Lead Elbow/Wrist Weakness: Previous injuries (like tennis elbow) can cause the brain to subconsciously protect the joint by bending it at impact.

A simple screening process can identify these limitations and provide a straightforward exercise routine to unlock your swing.

Find out more about mobility in the golf swing: [Insert Link]