WATCH: Rory Says Swing is “Flat, Long, and too Rotational” – Let’s Take a Look

Rory McIlory hasn’t finished outside the Top 25 since the Northern Trust, aside from 2 recent missed cuts at the Genesis, and PLAYERS. That being said, he also hasn’t been in the mix enough to win a golf tournament. 

He’ll have 1-2 great rounds per week, while the other days are right around even par. And it’s the inconsistency that he’s truly frustrated by. 

After missing the cut at THE PLAYERS Championship, Rory was very candid and honest during his press conference (like he normally is). 

“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t anything to do with what Bryson did at the U.S. Open. I think a lot of people saw that and were like, ‘Whoa, if this is the way they’re going to set golf courses up in the future, it helps.’… I thought being able to get some more speed is a good thing, and I maybe just … to the detriment a little bit of my swing. I got there, but I just need to maybe rein it back in a little bit.’’

Not many players on TOUR would stand up in front of the media and give them this information, but that’s what’s so great about Rory. He would go on to say that his swing “got flat, long, and too rotational.”

Many golf fans may not realize, but these swings changes don’t only apply to hitting driver. They creep in, sometimes unintentionally, to the rest of the golf game. So Rory’s goal of reining it in will not only help him off the tee, but also with wedges and irons, where his game has really seen a decline in the last year. 

After his interview, I went back to look at a few swings, one from a few weeks ago, and one from last year to see if I could spot a difference. There’s a few things I want to point out to show you what he means when he’s saying his swing is getting flat. 

Driver at Arnold Palmer (2021)

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Rory McIlroy Tracker (@rorymcilroytracker)

Driver in April of 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Rory McIlroy Tracker (@rorymcilroytracker)

In the video from the API from a few weeks ago, his takeaway is to the inside. Meaning when his hands get to belt buckle high, the club-head is inside his hands. This move, in most cases (including Rors), will result in the lead arm becoming more flat or laid-off at the top. 

Compare that to his swing from last year. The club-head, when the hands are belt-buckle high, is slightly outside the hands. This is the ideal position a golfer wants to find on the way back. It allows the club face to continue stable throughout the swing, and results in a square position at the top. It also makes the swing a bit more vertical. 

The inside takeaway is also the reason his swing is more rotational. 

When Rory makes his next start at the WGC Match Play in Texas, I would anticipate his swing to look a lot more like the second video. He needs to return to a swing where he feels more comfortable, and not feel like he needs to chase distance. He’s already one of the longest players on TOUR, so finding a few more fairways per round would go a long way (no pun intended). 

I cant’t wait to see Rory return to his normal self, and hopefully, get a few wins before the end of 2021 (especially the one where the winner gets a green jacket). 

Cover Image via Instagram