Is it just me or does this look a bit chicken wingy?

[keeps21]

https://vine.co/v/eAwK7weOXg6

Ah... apparently it's a well known fact that Westwood swings like this.

[iacas]

Ah... apparently it's a well known fact that Westwood swings like this.

Yes. Yes it is. :)

[Kieran123]

Spieth does it a little bit too - anyone else noticed that?

[dkolo]

Spieth does it a little bit too - anyone else noticed that?

They talked about it during Masters coverage a little.

[billchao]

Spieth does it a little bit too - anyone else noticed that?

Yes, it's also well known that he chicken wings.

[slightlymad]

Do you mean not fully stretching the arms at around impact?

[mvmac]

Do you mean not fully stretching the arms at around impact?

Lead arm bending coming into impact. Trail arm should be bent at impact but it's in the act of straightening.

[Jeremie Boop]

Good examples that a swing doesn't have to be perfect to be functional and repeatable :-)

[dchoye]

Holy Cow! If I had that much chicken wing, my ball would slice or fade for miles!

Jordan Spieth has bent left elbow, not as much as Westwood.

Just shows that lead elbow doesnt have to be straight at impact.

I dont think about this in my full swing, but I do notice that  I keep my lead elbow straight when I pitch the ball.

[mvmac]

Holy Cow! If I had that much chicken wing, my ball would slice or fade for miles!

If it looked like Westwood then you wouldn't, he still achieves Key #3, shaft and lead forearm are inline.

[keeps21]

If it looked like Westwood then you wouldn't, he still achieves Key #3, shaft and lead forearm are inline.

Does Westwood's chicken wing mean he can get more shaft lean as his the shaft isn't anchored to where his shoulder is? (if that makes sense). It looks as is forearm can be angled more towards to the right due to the bent elbow giving a greater flying wedge? (And possibly even more secondary axis tilt?)

Does this benefit him at all? If he didn't have a chicken wing and hit the ball with the same amount of shaft lean as he does with the chicken wing would the ball flight be any different, more/less distance?

(Don't worry I'm not going to try to swing with a chicken wing on purpose)

[godswing]

off the top of my head, guys who have bent left elbow at impact with longer clubs:

westwood

oosthuizen

poulter

rory

tiger

fowler

i'm sure this list is not exhaustive

[mvmac]

Does this benefit him at all? If he didn't have a chicken wing and hit the ball with the same amount of shaft lean as he does with the chicken wing would the ball flight be any different, more/less distance?

I don't think the chicken wing gives him anything extra, it's just how he reaches inline impact.