Rory McIlroy, Perfect Golf Swing?

Coming off Rory’s major championship, I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to discuss the most important factor in our teachings of the golf swing as swing instructors. 

I feel it’s important for a golf instructor to be open minded and not have a “one size fits all” swing theory. There are many instructors that only teach “stack and tilt” or “one plane”. They try and fit everyone into that swing even if it may be terrible for that individual person. When a golf instructor tries to do this to a student, it is all about the money and marketing themselves. Everyone is built differently, and there is no perfect swing for everyone.

In the video shown below, I have analyzed Rory mcilroys swing and PGA tour winner, Charlie beljans swing. They couldn’t be more different, but both are effective for their body types.

Rory has a very inside-out swing path coming down which makes him hit a “push-draw”. From this swing path it makes it very easy for him to hit up on the driver and launch it crazy distances and still having top spin on the ball when it hits the ground. Rory also squats and stands up through impact to leverage his body to gain more speed at impact. This takes extraordinary talent and I wouldn’t teach this club path or “squat and stand” leverage for power to any of my students. But it works for Rory!

Charlie Beljan had the opposite swing path, where he comes from the outside and across the ball to produce more of a “cut” or “left to right” ball flight. He also shuts the face at the top to eliminate the side spin, de loft the clubface to increase his distance. As you will see in the video, he does not stand up at impact, because he is 6’4 compared to Rory who is only 5’9.

Both golf swings produce enormous club head speed and power. Charlie has the fastest club head speed on the PGA tour at 130mph while Rory is not far behind at 124mph.

Hopefully now you can see there is not a “one swing fits all” method. There is no secrets or perfect golf swing. Find an instructor that works with your personal attributes and identifies how to make you the most powerful, consistent player you can be!