By John Burckle
Photos Michael Weinstein
Watching Rory McIlroy hit a driver is so magical for most of us golfers. Not only does his swing seem effortless but the power he produces is even more astonishing. Even though he’s in great shape, he doesn’t have the size of a long drive competitor but effortlessly hits drives over 300 yards. Let’s look at a few images of some key areas that create Rory McIlroy’s power positions that generate all that power.
In photo 1, the shoulders, arms, and club working in sequence on the takeaway with nice extension. The club is setting (hinging) without tension. If you were to draw a line from the ball to the shaft he’s right on plane.
As he continues his backswing in photo 2, notice how his legs, hips, and feet haven’t moved much compared to his shoulders, arms and club which continue to turn and he maintains his width by not letting his arms collapse at the top.
In photo 3, notice the left arm and club face at the top of the backswing are parallel to each other and in perfect alignment. His incredible shoulder turn and restricted lower body stores his power.
Now, as Rory starts his down swing, one of his signature moves is he sits or squats. You can really see this in photos 3 and 4. This is a power move for Rory.
As he gets to impact you can see his legs extend upward as he delivers the club to the ball (photo 5) This helps him use ground forces to produce power. Another signature move for Rory.
With all the speed and power, my favorite thing about Rory’s swing is his ability to look effortless and completely in balance at the finish (photo 6) Rory’s swing is something every golfer should watch. Power, grace and balance.
JOHN BURCKLE – Director of Instruction at GolfLabAcademy.com
25 Years Teaching Experience
80 Professional Wins
6X Golden State Tour Order of Merit Champion
Golf Lab Academy
1224 Village Way
Santa Ana, CA 92705
[email protected]
