What Is Chicken Winging in the Golf Swing?
A chicken wing happens when the lead arm bends through impact or into the release instead of staying extended. For a right-handed golfer, this usually means the left arm folds outward in a shape that looks like a chicken wing. For a left-handed golfer, look for the same issue in the right arm.
Ideally, the lead arm should remain relatively straight through the impact zone and continue extending into the early release. When the elbow bends and lifts away from the body too early, that is the classic chicken wing position.
Where to Look for a Chicken Wing
The easiest places to identify chicken winging are:
- Just before impact — the lead arm may already begin to bend.
- At impact — the lead arm may be noticeably folded instead of extended.
- Through the release — the elbow may flare outward and the arm forms the clearest “wing” shape.
How to Analyze Chicken Winging in the HandyGolf App
Use the HandyGolf app to review your swing slowly and look for the position of the lead arm through impact.
Step 1: Open or Record a Swing
Record your swing or open an existing swing video in the HandyGolf app. A clear face-on view is especially helpful for checking the lead arm through impact and release.
Step 2: Scrub Through the Swing Slowly
Move through the swing frame by frame or scrub slowly as the club approaches the ball. The goal is to clearly see what the lead arm is doing before, during, and after impact.
Step 3: Check the Lead Arm Before Impact
As the club comes down into the ball, look for any early bend in the lead arm. If the arm is already folding before impact, that is a sign of chicken winging.
Step 4: Check the Lead Arm at Impact
At impact, the lead arm should be extended rather than collapsed. If the elbow is bent and pulling away from the body, you are seeing a chicken wing pattern.
Step 5: Check the Release Position
The release is where chicken winging is often easiest to see. If the lead elbow folds outward and the arm forms a wing-like shape shortly after impact, that confirms the issue.
What a Swing Without Chicken Winging Looks Like
In a swing without chicken winging, the lead arm stays straight through the impact zone and continues extending into the release. Instead of the elbow folding away from the body, the arms work more freely through the ball.
Quick Checkpoint
When reviewing your swing in HandyGolf, ask yourself:
Does my lead arm stay extended through impact and into the release, or does it bend and flare outward?
If the lead arm bends noticeably through that section of the swing, you are likely seeing chicken winging.
