Rory McIlroy's Driving: His Three Driver Shots
In this TaylorMade video, Tiger Woods asks Rory McIlroy about his driving. Rory explains how he made his swing more neutral, how he hits a low cut shot when he needs to find the fairway, and how he unleashes his full speed when he wants to hit the ball very far.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
Early in his career, Rory McIlroy would let the club drop at the top of the swing and compensate with a big draw; when that didn't work, the ball would go off in either direction. So he neutralized his club career: He feels his left arm and the club shaft form a single line, turns, stabilizes the clubface, then rotates his body, pushing off the ground and his left hip. Radar results: a path of 1.2 and a clubface angle of 0.5—meaning the bad shots weren’t as bad.
He added a low safety cut: Lower the tee to reduce the angle of attack from about 5 or 6 degrees upward to 2 degrees, keep your posture slightly straighter, and keep your right side high at impact. To hit as hard as possible, ...he does the opposite: a slightly higher tee, the ball toward the front foot, a wider stance, and the feeling of throwing a medicine ball from the right hip. Tiger Woods praises his closed face at address, which forces the body to rotate instead of swinging the arms. On the final hole, Rory plays a tight, controlled shot: Each hole corresponds to one of his three shots.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- At address, make sure your left arm and the club shaft are aligned, as if they were a single line.
- During the backswing, rotate and then stabilize the clubface instead of letting it open up.
- When coming down, turn your body by leaning on the ground and your left hip, rather than flinging your arms out.
- To hit the fairway, lower your tee, stand a little straighter, and keep your right side up at impact.
- To increase your distance, place the tee a little higher, move the ball toward your front foot, and widen your stance.
- Before each shot, decide which of your shots is best suited for the hole.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Let the club drop below the swing plane and compensate with your hands.
- Let the face open, then throw your arms out to close it.
- Lack of rotation: the right arm swings forward and the ball flies off.
- Always make the same shot, no matter which hole you're playing.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Drives while feeling the left arm and club shaft aligned
- A series of low cuts, lower tee, high right side
- Medicine ball throws from the right hip, like Rory McIlroy does indoors
- Alternating between draw, bomb, and low cut on different targets
Your Questions
What has Rory McIlroy changed about his driving?
He has made his swing path more neutral. Before, the club would drop behind the ball on the swing plane, and he would compensate with a strong draw; when that didn't work, the ball would go off in either direction. Now, his bad shots aren't as bad.
How does Rory McIlroy secure his spot in the cut?
He lowers the tee, which reduces his angle of attack, stands a little straighter, and keeps his right side up at impact. He uses this shot when he absolutely has to hit the fairway.
What does he do to hit the ball as far as possible?
He raises the tee slightly, positions the ball toward his front foot, and widens his stance. He’s trying to get the feel of a medicine ball throw from his right hip—an exercise he does in the gym.
Why does Tiger Woods like to keep his clubface closed at address?
A strong shot at address forces you to turn your body to clear it. If it opens up, the reflex is to throw your arms out, which makes your shots inconsistent.
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Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Tiger Woods). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.