Want to learn from Rory McIlroy's swing? You can pick up more than you might think.
While calling Rory McIlroy's swing the "most beautiful" in professional golf might be subjective, for those who have spent years observing and teaching the sport, it's not an unsubstantiated claim. Adam Scott might have the "prettiest" swing, Ludvig Aberg is highly regarded for his body movements, and Russell Henley is almost technically perfect and one of the straightest ball strikers. But if you were asked, "Would you trade your swing for Rory McIlroy's?"—most golfers, even at the professional level, wouldn't hesitate to say "Yes!"
In a recent series of photos capturing Rory McIlroy's driver swing, Golf Digest invited an expert to analyze and highlight aspects that any player can learn from and apply to their own swing. Below is a phase-by-phase breakdown of Rory McIlroy's swing, with practical and actionable details for players of all skill levels.
ADDRESS
Balanced and Stable
Observe Rory's setup at address: his toes are slightly flared out, his knees are slightly flexed inward, and his weight is evenly distributed on the insides of his feet and legs. This creates an incredibly stable stance, forming a solid foundation for his swing.
Rory's upper body forms a triangle between his arms and shoulders, indicating that he's about to move this entire unit back in sync. This is an excellent start for a rhythmic swing. Another valuable takeaway: the ball is teed up quite high, which allows for a shallower angle of attack, ideal for the driver.
TAKEAWAY
Shifting Weight to the Trail Foot
As Rory begins his backswing, his lower body remains stable with no lateral swaying—a common mistake for many players. Instead, he shifts his weight to his right foot while simultaneously coiling his upper body backward.
When hitting a driver, it's crucial for the body to be behind the ball to generate power. Rory maintains a slight flex in his right knee—this detail helps increase efficiency during the turn. While it requires some flexibility, if you can achieve this, you'll find your backswing feels much more powerful and stable.
HALFWAY BACK
Turning Rather Than Lifting
As his wrists begin to hinge to bring the club up, Rory's shoulders and upper body rotate in a circular motion rather than dipping down. This allows his arms to reach a deep position at the top of the backswing.
Players should avoid the feeling of lifting the club too steeply, as this often leads to an out-to-in downswing path, causing slices or pushes. Instead, focus on rotating your shoulders in a smooth circle, keeping your lead shoulder from dropping to help the club approach from an inside-out path.
AT THE TOP
Keeping the Lead Heel Down
At the top of the backswing, Rory's left heel remains on the ground—a significant difference between professionals and amateurs. Keeping the heel down allows him to create maximum separation between his shoulder turn and hip turn—a key factor for powerful shots and definitely capable of adding a few yards from the tee.
While not everyone is as flexible as Rory, simply trying to keep your lead heel on the ground for as long as possible will help you build more power for the downswing.
DOWNSWING
Generating Power from the Ground Up
The downswing should start from the ground up. Rory drives his knees towards the turf, with his left knee moving towards the target.
While mechanically, the hips will be the first to move, it's actually the knees that initiate the action. Rory pushes very hard, and that is a crucial element for generating power.
Players can practice this feeling by pausing mid-downswing, keeping their right shoulder back while their lower body has already started to open. The correct feeling is when the feet, knees, and hips lead, while the upper body and club "follow."
IMPACT
Releasing All Energy
At impact, Rory's upper body is still behind the ball, meaning his entire body weight is channeled into the shot.
After his left knee drives towards the target, it now begins to recoil backward, a movement that fully releases the energy from his body, transferring it to the clubhead.
While it's difficult to mimic the entire movement, players can still learn three things: keep your upper body behind the ball at impact, relax to allow the club to fully release, and hit with an upward angle of attack. Do these three things well, and the first two elements will happen naturally.
FOLLOW-THROUGH
Stable and Smooth Finish
Rory McIlroy has one of the most beautiful and stable finishes in golf. At the end of his swing, he stands so firmly that it would be hard for anyone to push him over.
Players can learn to fully extend their arms and club during the follow-through, ensuring all energy is transferred into the ball.
Imagine your swing finishing with your right shoulder high and facing forward, your arms and club wrapping around your head, and your body relaxed. This isn't an overly forceful shot, but a smooth, complete motion much like Rory's swing style.