More Swing Speed in Seconds! This Follow Through Tip Really Works!

Learning how to properly extend your arms and release the club through impact can make a huge difference in both distance and control. In this post, we’ll explore why extension through the ball is so important, how to avoid the dreaded “chicken wing,” and give you simple drills to help accelerate your club head through impact and improve your swing.

The Importance of Extension Through Impact

One of the most common issues seen, especially among recreational and female golfers, is an incomplete release—often referred to as the “chicken wing.” This happens when the lead arm (left arm for right-handed golfers) bends and lifts away from the body through impact instead of extending fully toward the target.

Players might take a beautiful backswing, but as they approach impact, they decelerate and pull their arms around their body. The result? Weak contact, lost speed, and poor direction. Instead, the goal is to extend the arms through the ball and allow the club to naturally release, with the end of the grip pointing toward the target.

This kind of follow-through adds clubhead speed, improves ball flight, and makes solid contact much easier to repeat.

Understanding the Release and Follow-Through

To swing like a pro, it’s essential to focus on what happens after impact—not just the takeaway and backswing.

Here are some key points to keep in mind:

Extend Toward the Target: Through impact, feel your hands and arms reaching out toward the target. This extension encourages better speed and solid ball striking.

Let the Club Release: Like in racket sports (tennis or table tennis), your swing shouldn’t stop at impact. Let the club rotate naturally through the ball to avoid decelerating and creating that chicken wing position.

Point the Grip Down Range: A great checkpoint is to see where the end of the grip is pointing during your follow-through. Ideally, it should be directed down the fairway—not back toward your body.

Drills to Improve Your Extension and Release

1. Target Extension Drill

Setup: Take your normal stance with your club.

Execution: Make slow practice swings where you feel the butt end of the club pointing down the target line immediately after impact. Focus on extending your arms and not “quitting” the swing early.

Tip: Do this in front of a mirror or record your swing to check your follow-through shape.

2. Whip Through Impact Drill

Setup: Stand in your regular golf posture with a 7-iron or 8-iron.

Execution: Without hitting a ball, make a swing with the goal of “whipping” the club head through as early and fast as possible. Feel your arms stretch long past the ball and naturally rehinge after impact.

Tip: If done correctly, this should feel fast and free—not stiff or forced. This drill encourages natural club acceleration and eliminates the tension that leads to a chicken wing.

Conclusion

If your arms are collapsing after impact or you’re losing distance, it’s time to pay more attention to your follow-through. By extending your arms toward the target and allowing the club to release naturally, you’ll see immediate gains in speed, strike quality, and consistency. Try the drills above and focus on pointing the grip down range—it could be the simple tip that transforms your swing.

Remember, a powerful golf swing doesn’t stop at the ball. The real magic happens through the ball.