With Ross McArthur,PGA Teaching Professional – Al Hamra Golf Club
A familiar position seen in many golfers is a bent lead arm at impact or post impact. This position is commonly known as the ‘chicken wing’.
The chicken wing is a loss of extension in the lead arm through the impact zone. Players with this characteristic tend to lack in clubhead speed and power which leads to struggles in achieving desired distances. Not only does this issue need to be addressed to improve striking, but also it causes excessive force on the elbow and can lead to injuries further down the line.
This bent appearance can be caused by a number of things such as:
- Lack of lead arm strength or shoulder flexibility.
- Poor swing sequence.
- Or more commonly a clubface or swing plane issue.
For example, someone with a strong grip who tends to deliver the clubface in a closed position at impact may try and hold the face square, thus causing the lead arm to bend and not rotate in the follow-through. The same occurs when a golfer has an over-the-top swing plane. So be sure to address any root causes first before trying the following drill.
Who has a chicken wing?
Someone with a strong grip who tends to deliver the clubface in a closed position at impact may try and hold the face square, thus causing the lead arm to bend and not rotate in the follow-through. The same occurs when a golfer has an over-the-top swing plane. So be sure to address any root causes first before trying the following drill.
Drill
3. Keeping the headcover in will allow the lead arm to extend and rotate correctly through the impact and post impact. You will notice your lead arm now stays more connected to your body and the elbow will be pointing down at the finish as you can see in the image below.
Come to Al Hamra Golf Club in Ras Al Khaimah for top class golf lessons from Ross and the team and test your skills on the wonderful track that is set to host the European Challenge Tour Grand Final in October.
