6 things you can (actually!) copy from Rory McIlroy’s swing

Golf instruction is ever-evolving, but the best advice stands the test of time. In GOLF.com’s series, Timeless Tips, we’re highlighting some of the greatest advice teachers and players have dispensed 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 McIlroy‘s 2026 major season started about as well as he could’ve hoped. After racing out to the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history, he did just enough over the weekend to slip on the green jacket for the second straight year. In doing so, McIlroy became just the fourth man to win at Augusta National in back-to-back years and pushed his major total to six.

The Northern Irishman has evolved over the years from a straight bomber to a more complete and nuanced player. But while he may wedge and putt it better than ever before, his long game is still among the game’s best.

Back in 2012, the team at GOLF Magazine, with the help of Peter Kostis, highlighted some of the attributes that made McIlroy’s swing so elite at an early age; yes, that was a while ago but the takeaways still hold up! Read below for a breakdown on 6 things you should steal for your own swing.

Steal Rory’s key moves

Rory McIlroy’s swing is one of the most impressive the PGA Tour has ever seen, and to emulate his motion perfectly you’d need an incredible amount of flexibility, athleticism and balance. However, as unlikely as it seems, there are a number of things Rory does that you can use to improve your own technique.

If you crave more power and distance, copy the way he stores energy and “cracks the whip” as he delivers the clubhead through the impact zone. If you’re in need of better balance, then swinging in the proper sequence like he does will make a positive difference almost immediately. And if you’re a slicer, mimicking Rory’s closed shoulders/open hips position in the downswing, as well as his full release, will work wonders.

Take a close look at McIlroy’s various positions and techniques with an eye toward improving your weaknesses, and be sure to try the drills I’ve provided. With just a little bit of work, you can get your game an inch closer to that of the best player in the world.

1. Relaxed setup and strong grip

Rory’s setup position has several noteworthy characteristics, but the number-one thing to copy is his relaxed and tension-free stance. Tightening your arms, shoulders and hands at address makes it very difficult to swing in sequence and generate maximum clubhead 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 face-on view of his setup, the logo on his glove is clearly visible, meaning his left hand is rotated clockwise on the handle. This is critical for players like Rory who prefer to draw the ball from right to left with the driver. It’s also a good technique for those who struggle with slicing. If this is you, I suggest erring on the side of too strong with your left hand, rather than too weak.

2. Don’t fear the ‘cup’

Although modern teaching standards call for a flat left wrist at the top, Rory actually cups his wrist a bit, which allows him to maintain a square clubface despite his strong left-hand grip. He also exhibits a full wrist hinge, evidenced by the fact that the shaft is near parallel to the ground. This is impossible to do if you tense up at address. The secret is to make as full an upper body turn as possible while keeping your arms, wrists and hands loose and free to hinge the club up.

Moreover, allowing your left wrist to cup instead of forcing it perfectly flat makes it easier to keep your left arm relaxed and to hinge your wrists to their maximum capacity. A flat left wrist sounds nice, but it can potentially lead to undue 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 bullwhip? Yes, that sound you hear when a whip is cracked is caused by the incredible speed of the whip’s end as it unleashes all of its built-up energy. This phenomenon is very similar to the way an extremely powerful player like McIlroy unleashes the power of his swing into the ball.

If you’ve noticed, Rory isn’t a huge guy, but he winds up his body on the way back and then swings in sequence on the way down with his hips rotating at full blast, and then — just like the handle of a bullwhip — stopping for a split second just before impact. This move unloads all of 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 an incredibly balanced swing and finish position. Unlike a lot of amateurs, you never see him fall over or to the side after he hits a shot, even when it’s a 350-yard smash to a tight fairway. The reason he can do this, in addition to his incredible flexibility and athleticism, is that he swings in the proper sequence and uses his body to properly support his dynamic movement.

If you try to create power by swinging the club from the top with nothing but your arms, or thrust excessively with your legs with the club trailing too far behind, you’ll always be off balance, and your delivery of power will be inefficient and weak.

Instruction

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “swing within yourself,” and this is what I’m referring to. Rory may swing incredibly fast, but his near-perfect balance shows that he’s swinging comfortably within his capabilities and from the “ground up.” Regardless of how far you hit it now, if you improve your balance you’ll swing with much more power and control.

5. Swing the clubhead

Another thing that Rory does incredibly 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 this, he’s able to sling both of them past his body with natural speed and power. This is impossible to do if you grip the club so tightly that you can’t feel the clubhead when you swing. When he gets post-impact, he has completely let the clubhead go — there’s absolutely no steering or holding on. That’s a mistake that most amateurs make.

6. Keep the shoulders closed

Another signature Rory move is the way he keeps his shoulders closed for so long on his downswing. Although he starts rapidly turning his hips counterclockwise as soon as he reaches the top, he keeps his shoulders point- ing right of the target until he just about reaches impact. This is his key for getting the club swinging on the perfect plane and the clubhead moving on the desired inside path to the ball.

Important: The shoulders control the path of the club to impact while the hips control the path of the club past impact. If you want to hit the ball longer, straighter and with a slight draw, mimic Rory’s open hips and closed shoulders as you swing down and through the hitting zone. If you move your shoulders too early, you’ll hit the ball on an outside path.