Impact & ReleaseAdvancedFixes: Chicken wing

Tour Extension Through Impact

Curated PGA Drill by Athletic Motion Golf

Focus Area

Follow-through

Rep Guidance

3 sets of 10 slow rehearsal reps

Equipment

Golf club, alignment stick (optional)

Skill Level

Advanced

Video walkthrough by Athletic Motion GolfWatch on YouTube ↗

Why This Drill Works (Kinetic Mechanics)

Extension is a byproduct of rotation. If the body stops, the arms fold. Keep the body turning.

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

    Swing to the finish position.

  2. 2

    Step 2

    Check that both arms are fully straight/extended at chest height.

  3. 3

    Step 3

    If the lead elbow is bent, you stopped rotating.

  4. 4

    Step 4

    Feel the chest pulling the arms through.

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

Lack of extensionLoss of powerChicken wing

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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