Rory McIlroy | Swing Theory | Driver, Iron, Wedge

Take an enhanced look at the golf swing of three-time FedExCup champion Rory McIlroy, with analysis from CBS Sports and PGA TOUR LIVE Analyst Mark Immelman, including a deeper breakdown of the nuances of the Northern Irishman’s driver, iron, and wedge swings.
00:00 Intro
00:54 Driver - Back
04:04 Driver - Side
08:00 Iron
10:36 Draw
12:25 Close
Watch more Swing Theory analysis here - • Swing Theory
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[@leifdux7277]

I tried this today, and I was able to do a massive hook which hit the 50 yard hole and ended on another green, thanks!

[@kungfooed5999]

obviously you didn't do it right :D

[@peterlalor5902]

Excellent stuff! Mark Immellman with very insightful knowledge and analysis. Going to watch this over and over until it is ingrained into my swing.

[@genki007]

One of the best swing analysis I have seen! Thank you.

[@jamesthemagnificent3904]

Outstanding analysis. Love it.

[@HughJorgan1]

Rory’s physically one of the best ball strikers ever. The problem is his mental game. After winning so often at a young age he began to struggle when the pressure was on. Same thing happened to Speith.

[@nicksantos7586]

completely agree! they’re both trending good though, hopefully they start winning consistently again

[@aidangriffiths5075]

He literally wins all the time, theres nothing wrong with his mentality

[@jacksonlamperes1010]

I disagree. every player will go through lows… pretty sure he consistently comes back and wins after struggling. Definitely wouldn’t compare him to spieth considering how good his season was last season

[@Q50505]

What are we talking about? Rory is not strugglin at all every tournament he’s literally competitive. Top 25 or top 10 finishes

[@bradypeterson5619]

And Fowler

[@Matthewdavenport7]

Nice swing, with some hard work he could be a good player in the future!

[@lukegarrettgolf]

Lol

[@googlesucks925]

I've heard he could go pro

[@mikepie22]

@@googlesucks925 we can’t ahead of ourselves now

[@julianparge]

Are you high?

[@lukegarrettgolf]

@@julianparge ya you're right this Rory dude will probably amount to nothing

[@blehoo1]

It's great to watch everything I am not doing in golf. Makes me feel really in control of my game.

[@trey8735]

it's best to watch these and learn from them but execute the complete opposite. It's, what I find, what keeps me consistent in my game.

[@reddemunn]

Incredible detail on this brilliant swing.

[@markibaviosa7559]

i can listen to his analysis all day. nicely broken down.

[@zackf3688]

His swing is obviously a fit for his body, but the balance, the tempo and the power are something we can all take away. Go Rory!

[@henryl716]

The unique details of his swing is obviously a fit for pro training, if you are not someone play golf at least several hours a day , enjoy this video but don’t try to mimic which miss lead your swing, except wedge

[@AjaxNixon]

Ive been more feeling and visualizing my club swinging down on a path well infront of my golf swing and its been helping alot. I try to make my backswing path as far back as possible and my frontswing path as forward as possible. Even helps time the weight transfer correctly

[@steviechampagne]

interesting. thanks for sharing. will add this to the list of tips

[@jack-hq7gr]

It’s always good to have someone other than the player tell us what they do, think and feel during “their” swing. That is why we are all getting so much better each week?

[@tylerray180]

beautifully articulated analysis Mark

[@NannyOggins]

Just five foot ten the guy says, JUST five foot ten! I’m five foot two and still trying to do essentially the same things! 😁 Thank you for the stop motion and slow motion analysis, as a beginner this is incredibly useful to me.

[@joshualin6971]

we keep on seeing these swing analyses of perfect drives down the middle of the fairway. However, I think what will benefit us, weekend warriors, the most is a comparison between Rory's good and Rory's bad shots. What is the difference in his swing that allows him to hit the middle of the fairway vs. his swing when he hits it in the trees. Personally, I think its more important to know what to NOT do rather than what to DO.

[@auriferous4462]

You wouldn't see any difference in the swing most likely. The difference would be something like a 2 degree difference in club face direction.

[@Cutlerypotato]

@@auriferous4462 is that what Allah told yoy

[@TheRealWarez]

More like this, please... I would love to see the same player hitting a little draw, big draw, little fade, big fade comparison, similar to that "off speed, lower flighted draw shot" breakdown. Thanks!

[@AthleteEconomy]

great idea

[@mototaco2132]

Amazing analysis.... now for the hard part, applying this swing on the course.

[@CHO_SJ]

🏌🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@jeffnahass8373]

Great breakdown.

[@carnagegaming5188]

amazing video... so good to watch

[@robmoon6442]

Superb Content

[@QenaitheCustodianGuard]

Mark is a very clear and concise speaker, great job on this

[@CHO_SJ]

🏌🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@mikeagesen4887]

Great analysis, Trevor!

[@thegolflibrary7322]

Mark

[@Victoriousandbrave]

Awesome, I’m gonna try that.

[@mahpat]

Arguable the best golf swing on the tour. Who is to argue against that.

[@user-nr4zn1nb6h]

love Rory!!!!! Thanks PGA

[@Bao_Nguyen_93]

Broke my back by watching it. Art 🎉

[@method341]

Strength at address is a good one. I feel that when my feet feel stable and my body sort of feels like its sitting into the ground, I feel like I can make a good swing.

[@CHO_SJ]

🏌🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@thedeeprot]

really interesting stuff tbf changing my swing mechanics right now

[@mattaue]

Swinging the body and club through together and keeping the hands in front of the body (which he mentioned in a TaylorMade video) is probably the best swing thoughts imo

[@jimiverson3085]

Yeah, when the club head gets behind you too much you're pretty well cooked. Don' ask how I know....

[@ts4426]

I fail to grasp this concept in my mind of keeping the hands in front of the body. Is this throughout the entire swing?

[@guyalmighty1]

@@ts4426 look up jimmy ballard. will provide a ton of help and ideas for the swing. all of his stuff is on youtube.

[@dropdown77]

I am loving this series. Please do. Freddie Couples soon.

[@pierreben4211]

First class style swing for Rory !

[@cloudstrife7083]

don'T knows who's talking but you know your stuffs and its pretty good to watch keep on the good work and keep theses kind of videos posted... I loved golf my life and always wanted to play with the latest clubs fitted for me but never had the chance that may change in a year or 2... I have a swing like the pro very fast very powerfull but I play with very old clubs 30-40 years old with old loft and very bad lie angle not fit for me my driver baloon up in the air and my 7 irons are like 37-40 degree... hope to have enough cash to buy a set soon and be fitted by a pga pro trailer

[@robc1014]

The one thing i can honestly say is everyone has a different approach as to what makes them connect all their dots mentally to make the correct physical movement.

[@mariobenitez9673]

EXCELENT VIDEO AND LESSON BEST REGRADS FROM CITY PUEBLA , MEXICO

[@BrianPex]

Anyone that says golf isn’t a sport should see this. Very much an athlete.

[@denisrudi7168]

Rory❤❤❤

[@Cjxtreme66]

My issue is the getting my arms extended at contact. I hit it the same distance, but my technique makes accuracy and consistency questionable. I'd love to have enough money and time to commit to bettering some of those things.

[@oldben1800]

best swing all time

[@hamiltondrew]

Seeing the side view what an insane swing. Tucking his chin basically behind his left shoulder and having his hands all the way behind his head, yeah I’ll stick to hitting 280 lol

[@petel3366]

There needs to be some recognition of the point before the club gets to the top and the point just before the shoulders start turning down. The little dip the top players do to compress their arms into their chest so that the downswing leads with the sternum and not with the arms which will lag very slightly behind until impact. Stopping the tape after that dip means it looks like the backswing has stopped when in it actually stopped earlier- the dip takes it on to the parallel to the ground position.

[@CHO_SJ]

🏌🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@lauriemorgan9083]

RORY key is his right arm bend at top is less than 90 degrees. Caused by by FULL shoulder body turn.

[@leejeongtaek]

His space with the body and club is so interesting. Apply to mine will tell me.

[@SupeDefy]

Didn't know Rory has strong/weak grip. I always played with strong left and weak right hand. Instructors and friends have told me to "fix" it but I've always stuck with it.

[@etkorbs]

Nicest swing in golf.

[@jimiverson3085]

Basically a modern, more torqued version of Sam Snead's swing. The "squat" first move down was classic Snead.

[@nsxdarin]

best swing in the history of the game.

[@CHO_SJ]

🏌🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@ts4426]

Well....Ben hogan would like a word

[@stackinpaper]

@ 0:45 LOL at the reaction of the woman in the crowd to the right of him after he hits his drive

[@touristguy87]

I'm more impressed by how low he's teeing the ball and how tight his right elbow gets to the torso in the downswing. Plus his head and shoulders are way away from the ball in the lower downswing through impact. He's not hitting the ball with any lag, the shaft is providing all the lag for him, and there's no visible torque either. I have two different pairs of drivers. One I hit best with a steep swing with about 15 deg of lag and a flip at impact, the other set with a flat swing with virtually no lag but either a flip for cut spin or no flip with the face open. The first set is TM which allows for an additional 2deg of open setup in the hozel, a steep swing and they will boom the ball when hit right. The 2nd set is Ti which requires me to roll the clubface open to get that same TM open face and also adds at least 5 deg of loft in the process and the shots are high with a slight draw spin. Or I can keep the face closed and hit long drives with cut spin that go straight at about medium height. Either way I can't get good drives reliably with the ball teed an inch off the ground. I need at least two inches. He's burying the clubhead right there under the ball at impact on a 1" tee with the face square to the shotline & getting a good 30-45 deg of dynamic loft in the process. The vertical room for error there is nonexistent, if he's too low he's going to bounce the clubhead and if he too high his shots are going to come out low & cost him 50 yards of distance. But the real kicker is all of this talk about Rory while he's getting outdriven by 60-80 yards by a girl. And working hard to do it! Worse she just started to play golf 10 years ago. She hadn't hit a driver until the year that she entered the womens' long-drive championship and she now holds one of the 4 400+ official drives for women. She would spank Rory in a LD competition. So would BDC It looks to me that he's just teeing-up too low, forcing his angle of attack to be too high at impact trying to make-up carry-distance This is possibly quite normal for low-lofted clubs bu that is another reason not to use a low-lofted driver. You just have to work too hard to get what comes easily with a degree more loft and you simply need that high apex to get a good carry. A lower apex has its time & place but the drive is much easier to hit offline and out of play in trying to make-up the lost carry and certainly hard to make-up the carry if you don't get the apex and ballspeed required to do it. It's funny how such a little change can make so much of a difference in performance and feel.

[@matthaustaylor7730]

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah

[@touristguy87]

@@matthaustaylor7730 I love it when people laugh at my golf comments as it always makes me wonder just how good they are at golf. Looking forward to your video demonstrations.

[@matthaustaylor7730]

@@touristguy87 I was just appreciating your trolling skills! Well done 🤣

[@TimesUp777]

@@touristguy87 sounds like you make the Golf swing a lot more complicated then it needs to be.

[@touristguy87]

@@TimesUp777 ..I love it when the laypeople reply to my perfectly sensible comments with complete nonsense. Gives me such hope for the future of humanity.

[@christophercirocco8611]

Awesome

[@golfprochen]

Rory knows how to generate power and release it at the right moment!

[@jonathanjaramillo1984]

Best swing in the history

[@DavidBadilloMusic]

"1. Strength at address. 2. Hiding the backswing. 3. Turn your body and club through together." He spoke super fast, but I think those are his 3 main swing thoughts?

[@marktimpson1587]

2. "Height in the backswing "

[@vokhacanhvu]

Number 1 golf swing in history ever

[@arealiti1008]

(Club and body together) that isn't what he does whatever he thinks he does, he clearly drops his arms/club behind him and spins inside with his body as do all great swings, and then throws out the arms/club with this centrifugal body rotation inside late. In order for the centrifugal body rotation to throw the arms/club straight out the arms have to drop behind on the downswing or they would spin out around the body requiring either 1: a slow jerky move back in or 2: a faster centripetal move around the body and an outside swing and we all know what that does, slice for 1 and snap hook for 2. This is so simple yet nearly everyone doesn't know what they are actually doing even if they are doing it really well like Rory.

[@sms9106]

Tis a thing of beauty.

[@michaeloberst6497]

Please do this with more players. Hovland or Thomas

[@darcyhogg3852]

The greatest driver of the golf ball ever 🔥

[@jon6387]

Ironically, he has more in common with Norman than anyone else 😂

[@Dreyno]

@@jon6387 Nah. Norman only won 2 majors. Rory has twice that and he’s still playing. Norman had a hat. A hat and an ego.

[@jon6387]

@@Dreyno Norman is considered one of the best, if not the best driver of the golf ball ever ...

[@Dreyno]

@@jon6387 Pity there wasn’t Long Drive for him to win more stuff. Unfortunately for him, real golf requires an all round game.

[@jon6387]

@@Dreyno If he didn't have an all-around game, makes you wonder how he was #1 in the world for 331 weeks.

[@philipchan1856]

I wonder what he wore on his upper left arm?

[@jaciobe]

he has one of the most beautiful swingsn

[@hungry_GoLF]

good

[@nolansanchez5551]

He says little bump like 10 times. Yea 5-7” from top of backswing to impact is “little”

[@mec6288]

This is good analysis, but listen to Rory, he is thinking about it in a much simpler way. Swing the arms and body together. Just that concept goes a long way, and I use it too. The over analysis is difficult to transfer to the course for me.

[@rohannvanzyl1585]

5:47...how does he not have back pain from that body twist? 😅 I'm getting all sorts of neck, shoulder, upper and lower back pain just from looking at that.

[@Golf_Quest]

He's like cross between gumby and popeye. I have no ability to do that with my back, so for me it would be unhealthy to try.

[@Ronald-vz6pl]

Top of the back swing is not with full pressure on the trail side 🤪

[@trashtoscratchgolf5563]

I wish i was good enough to know what any of these swing terms are

[@rideoc6026]

I see quite a lot of Mike Austin in his swing.

[@jack-hq7gr]

Closer to 5’7 than 5’10 ?

[@TimesUp777]

5'9" according to google

[@Sneakymnms]

Viktor Hovland please!!

[@frankxaoz1286]

I need a dusting Johnson video like this

[@redhed9776]

if I tried that swing being a senior (66), I'd be in traction. 😎

[@jackyang3736]

I did that with iron, thought it would be good enough. After filming and compared with his, turn out I was in half speed. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I'm 65.

[@daysofmkty3029]

Power comes from the ground

[@m4wilson]

I have stood next to Rory. He did not seem 5’10”. Makes what he does all the more Impressive!

[@GT-1902]

5'8"

[@xerxeshadrianus4901]

I was walked with him on grass at 2019 ... Scottish Open ... hole by hole ... like spectator ticket holder ...so closely ... I m 5' 3" he isnt much taller ... but strongly athletic...💪🦵

[@nev7711]

Yes, the first impression of his physical stature when you see him in person, is how small he is!! Then you see him hit a golf ball and realise that his swing is near on perfect from a physics point of view.

[@xerxeshadrianus4901]

@@nev7711 yes , I have seen him once ... up close

[@brhughes21]

This video helped me hit my driver 280yd OB left consistently!

[@yewhobagstea9332]

Pausing at 6:00 minutes and looking at the flexibility he has just makes my jaw drop.

[@jacobbelmontes4899]

And that's why he's a pro

[@bobbyjay22]

Did I hear that right, rory hits a fade when he's at his very best?

[@Pulse2AM]

I'm about 5'11" and I have to hold the club out at address like he does. I tried hanging my arms straight down but It doesn't work well when you're not tall.

[@xerxeshadrianus4901]

😅🤣😂... You can walk on the wrong side ... See Rorys legs !!! That s a source of power ! Just blinds can't see it !! So just make 200 push ups , 200 sitting ups and 3-400 squats , and hip turns per day and no inefficyency remains... Use your legs and trunk ... not only arms !!! - Like Rory ... good luck 😉👍

[@Pulse2AM]

@@xerxeshadrianus4901 I'm 65 If I swing like Rory I'll have to to the emergency hospital.

[@xerxeshadrianus4901]

@@Pulse2AM ......😆😅😂... I m "just only" 56 ... Yesterday I was on practice range ... and try swing like Rory ... Today ... I can try to.... just walk ...😅🤣😂... God bless You, good health ...! 😉👍

[@Pulse2AM]

@@xerxeshadrianus4901 😅👍

[@xerxeshadrianus4901]

@@Pulse2AM 😉👍....but don t give up ... next week , i ll try again 👨‍🦯....🏌️‍♂️

[@mitchjones9282]

Arguably the longest on tour, 3 seconds later stats say he is second

[@Optunity]

Rory is the only player keeping PGA alive.

[@user-cw3sf1rs2g]

グリップが身体から離れているのが特長だと思う ボディターンは世界一優れていて、さらに上半身のパワーがスゴい飛ばし屋だよね（笑） アイアンのパンチショットは完璧でタイガーウッズの後継者だった！ 豪快なゴルフの歴史はジャックニコラス、タイガーウッズ、ローリーマキロイと受け継がれているよ！

[@fkg7445]

10:17

[@niuyaowen8856]

Like it

[@onestepatatime5584]

Me2!

[@lawbinson]

how does his left leg stay like that. Built different

[@matm6916]

Rory hits the ball better than tiger. Certainly drives it better. Rory also has a great short game, good sand play. The difference is the mind game and also the putter which is 90% mind game anyway. Tigers mind is unmatched

[@TimesUp777]

The mind is absolutely important in the swing and putting, but it surely isn't 90% for putting. If you don't have a good stroke, can't read greens, and don't have the feel for speed it doesn't matter how good your mind is. Just my opinion

[@chachichochacorta8577]

I hope Wayne DeFrancesco chimes in.

[@CowSaysMooFarms]

Even if I can drive it like Rory. I will still 3 put for a Triple.

[@gigatrendztechnology6406]

Tried that went out injured 🤯

[@withouthesitation9515]

NEVER Lose FEEL In Golf Putting Again! The Secret Of EYES And BODY - Nick Bradley Golf Tips kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHKVaZeun52Ffpo

[@mukbus5935]

Rory

[@ibrodinho]

Rory, 5’10”? How much did he pay them to say that? Hahaha

[@GT-1902]

He's 5'8"

[@evandh1989]

Immelman says a lot of words, but few that mean much of anything or are of any use to someone trying to understand the golf swing. What about this warrants the title “Swing *Theory*?”

[@nepheshr290]

I feel the same

[@Latebloomergolf]

I hit bombs like that maybe 2 holes a round and look at the ball in mystery of how exactly I made it happen . Whipping the club instead of pushing the club at the ball is what makes magic happen. I'll never be this good but I'm figuring out how the bomb actually explodes. Good luck folks!!!

[@chr970]

He does this because he is Rory. Don’t recommend the average person try this.

[@almostGolf]

so it's -- Driver, iron, forget about Rory's wedge?

[@atanjacket]

Why did this dude say just 5'10 as if that is like 2 ft tall?

[@CD62XX]

Because it is rare for such a long hitting player to be 5'10

[@sampeluso7211]

More like 5 foot 7

[@HolyGrailOfGolf]

Rory, like every bomber is NOT PUSHING OFF HIS BACK FOOT! It's been proven time and time again they're all push backward with the front foot but we rarely see that angle so it looks like they're pushing off the back foot. As all you know pushing off the back foot promotes early extension and does not create power. Which is the leg that straightens and stays straight? That's the one he's pushing with, not the one that bends, straightens because it's stretched and then bends again. Look closely. If you don't believe me try to throw a ball while pushing off your back foot. Then try to throw a ball while pushing backward with your front foot.

[@curiousbystander9193]

rory has a little double hip action right before impact and it;s his right foot and leg that does it

[@HolyGrailOfGolf]

@@curiousbystander9193 Ok, Sure. I'm not going to explain it again.

[@curiousbystander9193]

ummm, so pitchers in baseball throw by pushing with the lead leg, is this what you are saying?

[@HolyGrailOfGolf]

@@curiousbystander9193 Yes, absolutely. Pitchers, batters, javelin ... all driven by backward force from the front leg. Have a look at this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHeXgWqIgZiYg5I

[@curiousbystander9193]

@@HolyGrailOfGolf I don;t dispute the dominance of the left leg...what I find amazing is that even with clear video evidence suggesting rory's action through impact involves his right....well, you sir are missing something...... every pro I know that I've discussed rory;s little hip action with has mentioned his right side doing it, not his left.....not whether his left is dominant...... I wanna see the pitcher who doesn;t first push off his back foot first.

[@concentrationmusic6192]

Rory is 5 foot 7 not 5 foot 10

[@minutewithmark]

Tiger’s son is copying Rory. The reason why is because Rory is never off balance.