Impact & ReleaseIntermediateFixes: Chicken wing

Stop at Impact Drill (Brake Drill)

Curated PGA Drill by Mark Crossfield

Focus Area

Impact

Rep Guidance

3 sets of 10 slow rehearsal reps

Equipment

Golf club, alignment stick (optional)

Skill Level

Intermediate

Video walkthrough by Mark CrossfieldWatch on YouTube ↗

Why This Drill Works (Kinetic Mechanics)

Trying to stop the club requires the body to 'brace' and the hands to pull back on the handle. This opposing force catapults the clubhead past the hands (release), preventing the lead arm from buckling (chicken wing) to absorb the energy.

How to Perform the Drill

Follow these step-by-step instructions. Rehearse slowly to build proper motor patterns before adding full swing speed.

  1. 1

    Step 1

    Take a medium iron (e.g., 9-iron).

  2. 2

    Step 2

    Hit the ball as hard as you can.

  3. 3

    Step 3

    Attempt to STOP the swing immediately after impact (jam on the brakes).

  4. 4

    Step 4

    Do not let the club swing through to a full finish.

What Good Feels Like

Focus on smooth tempo and maintaining body connection through impact. Your body and club should move as a single synchronized unit.

Common Mistake to Avoid

Rushing transition before completing backswing or lunging upper body forward towards ball at impact. Keep movement controlled.

Swing Faults & Ball Flights Addressed

Chicken wingLack of ReleaseElbow PainWeak Impact

Comprehensive Guides Featuring This Drill

How to Fix a Chicken Wing Golf Swing

A chicken wing happens when your body stops rotating through impact, forcing the lead elbow to bend and pull in to absorb the club's momentum. Fix it by keeping your chest turning through the ball and letting the clubhead release past your hands: extension through impact is a byproduct of rotation, not something you force with your arms.

Not sure this is your real fault?

Upload one swing video and our AI will identify whether chicken wing is actually what's costing you strokes, using physics-backed metrics and a practice plan matched to what it finds. Your first analysis is free.

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