Full Definition
A chicken wing is when the lead arm bends at the elbow and points outward through and past the impact zone, rather than staying extended through the shot. It's a compensating move that often appears when golfers try to scoop or flip the ball into the air, or when the body is stalling and the arms have to flip to square the face. It causes loss of power, thin shots, and inconsistent direction. GOATY's WHIP score evaluates lead arm extension through impact.
See How Chicken Wing Affects YOUR Swing — In Real Time
GOATY AI watches your swing live through your camera, speaks coaching cues in your ear while you swing, and measures the exact biomechanics — including chicken wing — that determine your ball-striking quality.
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Chicken wing is usually a compensation for other faults — GOATY finds the root cause. Book a free live lesson to see your own chicken wing data in real time during your practice session.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chicken Wing in golf?
When the lead elbow bends and flares outward through impact, breaking the lead arm connection.
Why does chicken wing matter for scoring?
A chicken wing is when the lead arm bends at the elbow and points outward through and past the impact zone, rather than staying extended through the shot. It's a compensating move that often appears when golfers try to scoop or flip the ball into the air, or when the body is stal...
How can I improve my chicken wing?
Chicken wing is usually a compensation for other faults — GOATY finds the root cause. GOATY AI measures your chicken wing in real time during live practice sessions — giving you instant feedback without needing to film and review video after the fact.
What is a good chicken wing for an amateur golfer?
The benchmark is the GOAT Model — elite swing mechanics scored at 97.3. GOATY AI shows you exactly how your chicken wing compares to this elite standard and coaches you toward it session by session.