Golf instruction is always evolving, but the best tips stand the test of time. In the GOLF.com series, Eternal advicewe’re highlighting some of the greatest tips that teachers and players have shared in the pages of GOLF Magazine. Today we look at 6 things you can copy from Rory McIlroy’s swing from our December 2012 issue.
Rory McIlroyThe 2026 premiership season started as well as he could have hoped. After racing to the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history, he did enough over the weekend to slip away the green jacket for the second year in a row. In doing so, McIlroy became only the fourth man to win Augusta National in back-to-back years and pushed his major total to six.
The Northern Irishman has evolved over the years from a straightforward bomber to more of one complete and nuanced player. But while he can make an impact and do it better than ever before, his long game is still among the game’s best.
In 2012, the team at GOLF magazinewith the help of Peter Kostis, highlighted some of the attributes that made McIlroy’s swing so elite at such a young age; yes, that was a while ago, but ready meals still hold up! Read below for a roundup of 6 things you should steal for your beat.
Steal Rory’s key moves
Rory McIlroy’s swing is one of the most impressive the PGA Tour has ever seen, and to perfectly mimic his swing you’ll need an incredible amount of flexibility, athleticism and balance. However, as unlikely as it may seem, there are a number of things that Rory does that you can use to improve your technique.
If you want more power and distance, copy the way he stores energy and “cracks the whip” as he drives the clubhead through the impact zone. If you need better balance, then moving in the right sequence like that will make a positive difference almost immediately. And if you’re a cutter, mimicking Rory’s closed-shoulders/open-thighs position on the landing, as well as letting it go completely, will do wonders.
Take a closer look at McIlroy’s different positions and techniques with an eye toward improving your weaknesses, and be sure to try the drills I’ve provided. With just a little work, you can bring your game an inch closer to that of the best player in the world.
1. Relaxed fit and firm grip
Rory’s set-up position has several important characteristics, but the number one thing to copy is his calm and relaxed demeanor. Tightening the arms, shoulders and hands at address makes it very difficult to move in sequence and generate maximum head speed. Feel relaxed – not tight – before and during your swing.
The second thing to take from Rory’s address is his relatively strong left hand grip position. From a head-on view of his setup, the logo on his glove is clearly visible, meaning his left hand rotates clockwise on the glove. This is critical for players like Rory who prefer to pull the ball from right to left with the driver. It is also a good technique for those who have trouble cutting. If that’s you, I suggest erring on the side of too strong with your left hand, rather than going too weak.
2. Don’t be afraid of the ‘cup’
Although modern teaching standards call for a flat left hand at the top, Rory actually closes the wrist slightly, which allows him to maintain a square face despite the strong left hand grip. It also features a full wrist hinge, evidenced by the fact that the shaft is nearly parallel to the ground. This is impossible to do if you tense up at the address. The secret is to make as full a turn of the upper body as possible, keeping the arms, wrists and hands loose and free to hang the ball up.
Rory McIlroy tops the backswing.
Getty Images
Additionally, allowing your left wrist to cup instead of forcing it completely flat makes it easier to keep your left arm relaxed and hang your wrists to their maximum capacity. A flat left hand sounds nice, but it can potentially lead to unnecessary tension in your lead arm.
3. Crack the whip
Did you know that the first man-made object to break the sound barrier was a whip? Yes, that sound you hear when a whip is cracked is caused by the incredible speed of the whip end as it releases all of its built up energy. This phenomenon is very similar to how an extremely powerful player like McIlroy unleashes the power of his swing on the ball.
If you’ve noticed, Rory isn’t a big guy, but he swings his body on the way back and then swings in sequence on the way down with his hips rotating at full speed, and then — like the handle of a bullwhip — stops for a split second just before impact. This movement unloads all the power he has built up in his arms and hands to the clubhead and, ultimately, the ball.
4. Maintain balance
One of Rory’s hallmarks is his extremely balanced swing and finish position. Unlike many amateurs, you never see him fall upside down or sideways after he hits a shot, even when it’s a 350-yard putt on a tight fairway. The reason he can do this, aside from his incredible flexibility and athleticism, is that he swings in the right sequence and uses his body to properly support his dynamic movement.
If you try to generate power by swinging the club overhead with nothing but your arms, or pushing too hard with your legs with the club trailing too far back, you will always be off balance and your power distribution will be inefficient and poor.
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “swing within yourself,” and that’s what I’m referring to. Rory can swing incredibly fast, but his near-perfect balance shows he’s swinging comfortably within his abilities and from the “core.” No matter how far you’ve taken it now, if you improve your balance, you’ll move with much more power and control.
5. Swing the club head
Another thing Rory does extremely well that most amateurs don’t is control the clubhead. When he swings, you can clearly see how much awareness he has of the clubhead and the clubface, and because of that, he is able to get both in front of his body with natural speed and power. This is impossible to do if you grip the club so hard that you can’t feel the clubhead as it swings. When he takes after the shot, he has completely left the clubhead – there is absolutely no direction or hold. This is a mistake that most amateurs make.
6. Keep your shoulders closed
Another important move of Rory’s is the way he keeps his shoulders locked for so long in his downswing. Although he begins to quickly rotate his hips counterclockwise once he reaches the top, he keeps his shoulders on target until he reaches impact. This is his key to getting the club swing on the perfect plane and the club head moving on the desired inside path to the ball.
Important: The shoulders control the path of the club, while the hips control the path of the club. If you want to hit the ball longer, straighter and with a slight pull, mimic Rory’s open hips and closed shoulders as you move down and through the hitting zone. If you move your shoulders too early, you will hit the ball on an outside fairway.
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