How to make Rory McIlroy’s low putt drive itself

You may have noticed this Rory McIlroy has been relying on a new shot from the tee – especially when the wind starts to swirl. Some call it a low bullet, others call it a stinger. Whatever its name, the goal is the same: a low-launch drive that maintains a stable, ball-piercing flight that can cut into the wind rather than balloon.

It’s a look McIlroy says he’s been refining over the past few years.

“I think I started using it more at Pinehurst in ’24,” he said at the Genesis Invitational last month. “I started hitting it low there. I always have, but I’m starting to hit it more.”

What started as a special shot has quickly become an old reliable for the five-time major champion.

“When I start hitting it more, I start getting more confident with it and it becomes more of a proper shot,” he said, “it’s something I’ll use a few times a round.”

No wonder McIlroy relies on this shot. The low lead car is designed to do one thing: find the freeway – no matter the conditions.

Whether you’re playing mature courses where every bit of extra spin counts, in strong winds that require trajectory control, or on a tip shot that leaves little room for error – this stinging style putt delivers.

And, it says Keith Bennettan instructor at McCormick Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., with a few setup adjustments, you can master this reliable tournament shot and land it in the short grass every time. Here’s how to pull it off.

1. Tee it low (ish)

The first step in mastering McIlroy’s low ball swing is finding the right club height. To start, Bennett recommends sticking your driver with the tip of the ball just below the crown of the club.

Once you’ve taken part in this shot, you can experiment with lowering the height of your mouse for an even more dramatic bite effect – but remember, the lower you go, the smaller your margin for error.

2. Set for a shallow angle of attack

Typically, a driver requires a wider stance to encourage an upward angle of attack. But from a low top, that same wide base can cause you to hit it lower in the face, leading to a weak shot that chops uncontrollably or barely dribbles into the fairway.

Instead, Bennett says to narrow your stance by pulling your back leg back a few inches. This adjustment will shift your weight slightly forward and allow your sternum and pelvis to naturally align, creating a more neutral spine position.

“A lot of people will hit their normal driver set up with a lot of right (off target) tilt,” he said, “But that ball is lower. With the right (off target) tilt, the club is more likely to leave the ground by the time it hits the ball, but we don’t have the high toe height that we’re used to catching it.

Before swinging the club, check that your shoulders are in a neutral position; your lead and trace shoulders should feel level. If your lead shoulder feels higher, you may still be unintentionally slouching your spine.

3. Aim for a slice

Your final setup key is to aim left. Not only does this help you calculate the low and faint ball flight you will produce, but it will also help with ball position. As Bennett explains, when you aim left (for right-handed players), it naturally pulls the ball back into position.

“This will help us get it in the right part of our ‘swing circle’ so we can make the contact we want,” says Bennett.

Remember, the goal for this shot is to have the clubface come into impact at the ideal point in your swing arc, where it moves at a shallow – or even slightly downhill – angle of attack.

Aiming left allows you to get that right angle of attack, time your swing right and make clear contact every time.

4. Finish low

While each of these adjustments puts you in position to get this shot right, Bennett says there’s one final swing key every player needs to keep in mind to truly master McIlroy’s low-ball drive: finish low.

“The most important thing is the intention to follow your path,” he says.

Remember, this is not your stock driver’s swing. Instead of trying to “swing up” to launch it up, Bennett says to feel the opposite—decrease the feeling of your clubhead staying down as it approaches impact and staying low through impact.

“It can help to think about moving the weight forward to keep your head down, or you can also think about keeping your head down, which will naturally pull you to your core,” he says. “Each player will have a different cue that resonates with them.”

One of the easiest ways to train this feeling is with slow, deliberate rehearsal movements. Focus on keeping the clubhead low during the shot, extending down the target line rather than a high finish. You can even place your driver head a few inches in front of the ball and practice taking a low, level exit to really ingrain the feel.

However you choose to frame it, the objective is the same: control the bottom of your swing arc to control your ball flight. Do that, and you’ll be hitting low bullets like Rory in no time.