Hello Miffin:

Following up on your post concerning the dreaded "chicken wing" or flying left elbow.

First off, in the golf swing both of your arms should reach full extension just after impact. If you look at the correct impact position the left arm is straight but the right arm does not straighten fully until after impact. Many higher handicaps achieve full extension too early, usually at impact which leads to the chicken wing.

Try this test to see an interesting demonstration on just how different impact and the follow through are and how the former is reliant on the latter in the golf swing. From your adress position take your left hand off the club and point it to a position that you feel would represent your full left arm extension in a golf shot. Your arm should be extended toward but right of the target line. Now take your right arm and reach it across to attempt to touch your left hand without bringing your left arm back. You will see that the right arm can only reach your left forearm. One of the great mysteries in golf is how to achieve that full extension of both arms past impact. In other words how do we make that right arm longer or the left arm shorter.

Those who are not able to grasp the above stated concept will usually chicken wing it to allow the right arm to extend as far as the left. Sensing that they are not able to acheive the proper right arm extension, they instinctively pull back with the left hand which bends at the elbow creating the wing. This results in poor inconsistent contact and usually weak shots.

Well, how do we acheive the proper extension? In the proper impact position you will see that good players have the left arm pressed firmly against their torsos. The upper portion of the left arm will appear glued to their chest. This pinching action of the left arm to the torso aids in releasing the club. This is why it is vital to stay behind the ball at impact. If you get ahead of the ball by swaying or lunging you will not be able to acheive this connected left arm and torso relationship.

That describes impact but again, what about the extension in follow through? Two things. You must tilt your torso away from the target during the release. You must also pull your left shoulder back to allow the left arm to remain straight (no wing) but moving behind your torso as your right side (shoulder arm and hand)release through to the target. Many high handicaps who's swing theory is to simply hit at the ball will neglect to rotate fully with both shoulders which provides the arms the ability to extend. Usually they will quit with the left shoulder although they fire with the right which again leads to the wing.

By combining the torso tilt with the rotation of the shoulders you can acheive pro quality extension. Again, you must stay behind the ball for any of this to happen.