Rory Mcilroy 2014 vs. Tiger Woods 2001

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Golf instruction has changed for as long as we can remember. One thing that has not changed in the golf swing in 10+ years, is how to create efficient clubhead speed through leverage. In this video, I'll show you how Rory Mcilroy's current swing, stacks up against Tiger Wood's swing in 2001.

  • Sit into the left side before the downswing starts and activate the glutes for stability
  • Maintain the width between the knees throughout the entire sequence
  • Stall the body and release the club in the hitting area for max speed at impact


It's pretty clear for as long as we can remember that golf instruction has always changed and followed the best player like a lost puppy dog and never really been able to give you the hows and the whys of the golf swing. At rotaryswing.com, we do just that. We believe in giving facts based information that's going to help you create the golf swing of your dreams. I'm going to do something a little different this week. I'm going to show you how the 2014 golf swing of Rory McIlroy stacks up against the 2001 swing of Tiger Woods. Let's go ahead and get started.

                All right. The young 25-year-old Rory McIlroy gets his third major championship of his career. Congratulations to Rory McIlroy on that feat. That is absolutely fantastic. He is absolutely awesome to watch and really great for the game of golf. This week, I know that I started out by talking about how golf instruction has always wavered or changed over for as long as we can remember. One of the things that has not changed over from one decade to the next between Tiger Woods of 2001 to Rory McIlroy to today is where we create a lot of efficient club head speed and that's going to be through leverage. I'm going to show you a lot of the common things that both of these players have in their golf swings in order to make a lot of efficient moves, so you can in turn use that to create speed.

                Let's go ahead and take a good close look at things here. I'm going to go ahead and start off with Rory. I'm going to show you guys that maintaining the width between your knees is going to be a critical point in understanding how to use the lower body effectively and efficiently throughout the entire golf swing. I'm going to mark it on both players, then also I'm going to mark a very familiar line for all of you guys and it's right across the belt on both players. Tiger's got his belt up a little bit high. He's got a little bit larger of a shirt on here. Rory's belt is right in this area. Let's go ahead and take a look here as I wind Rory up to the top part of his golf swing, stays extremely wide, makes big, big rotation, but notice that he's maintained the width in the knees there, which is critical for lower body stability and being able to make sure that you're loading up the correct muscles so that when you start to unload, you get good kinesthetic awareness and make sure that your body is anchored to the ground.

                Very similar style move from Tiger back in 2001. You're going to see here as he starts to load, stays extremely wide. You're going to see a little bit more of a lateral shift from Tiger. That's why that line between his knees has moved. If I were to adjust this line here, you would see that it's maintained that same amount of width in the knees there. From a two dimensional aspect, Tiger's actually got a little bit more hp rotation than Rory does at this particular point. You're going to see that both players in transition here, as Tiger starts to work in transition, his belt line drops probably an inch, inch and a half, not a ton as his hands are just above the belt line. You're going to see a very similar style move out of Rory here.

                As he starts to work in transition, he's going sit into that left side and that's a great way to start to get the leverage ready to roll out of the golf swing is making sure that you get into the left side of the body properly. We have a video on the website called Sitting Into the Left Side. You're going to hear us talk about that video a lot. For all of you lower body people that want to learn how to leverage the ground, it's going to be absolutely pivotal that you use the left side of the body to control things that are going on. There's no better player out there in modern golf that does that than Rory McIlroy. He's known for really being able to stall his hips and then be able to pull the power out of the ground and then in turn turn it into a lot of club head speed.

                He's right around 119 to 120 mile an hour range and he hits the ball a ton. You can see as he starts to work down, he's starting to sit into his left side. Now, what you're going to notice here is as his hands start to lower below this belt line that I originally drew, his belt is actually going to start to raise. His hands are going down into the hitting area and his belt is starting to come back up. At this point, he's stalled the hips and he's ready to release through lag and release and then extension through the hitting area, which is absolutely critical for making a lot of speed at the right time. Now, what I want you to notice here is as I work him back down into impact, that he's maintained the exact same width that he started with at the address position.

                You can see a lot of players will start to ... That you've heard a lot golf instruction actually say have that right knee kiss the left. What that's doing is it's allowing for you to push off the right side and when you push off the right side, what can happen is your hips will start to come forward, your spine will start to go vertical, and then in turn you can create a lot of mess with ball striking problems, so a very similar style move here to Tiger. You're going to see his belt start to come back up as his hands start to drop below that line and then at the impact zone, you can see that he's also maintained that width beautifully between the knees. We have a great video on the website call Sitting Into the Left Side. We also have How the Lower Body Works. Both of those are in the program downswing section.

                We also have another video that deals with lower body stability and the rotary connect. I know that there's a lot of Rotary Swing fanatics out there that have been looking for the rotary connect and I got great news. It looks like we're getting those back in stock here in the next week or two, so we'll be sending out pre-orders for those things. Rotary connect is a great tool to put in between your knees or just above the knees and it's going to help you keep that width between there so you learn how to sit into that left side properly. You can use those left obliques to pull that left hip away from the target and teach yourself how to stall. If you don't have kinesthetic awareness of these particular moves, then you're basically just putting band-aids on things.

                You need to be able to make sure that you feel the correct body movements or the correct change within the body to make efficient power and efficient speed. You can see again from 2014 to 2001, both players making right around the same speed. There hasn't been really a lot of change in what they did to make a lot of leverage or a lot of efficient speed. You can see that they both made a small squat into that left side in transition. You can see that they both maintain lag and they also maintain the width in the knees in order to be able to leverage and pull that power out of the ground. All right, guys. I look forward to working more with you guys in the future. Put these videos to use that I mentioned before.

                Also, the Straight Left Leg at Impact video, I know that I've mentioned that a little bit in the past. Check those videos out, get that lower body really anchored to the ground, use it for power, then learn how to lag and release the golf club properly and you'll make a ton of speed as well. All right. I look forward to working more with you guys in the future and I hope you have a great day.  

 

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64x64
Norman
Hi RST Team, what sets Rory apart from other tour players in terms of bombing the driver? For a small guy compared to other PGA pros he is bombing it past them by up to 20 yards if not more. Is it because he has the most efficient swing on tour? Cheers!
August 12, 2014
64x64
Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Norman. Rory's swing is very efficient. One of his keys is that he maximizes his small frame. He uses his width, leverage, and rotation to max ability. Players larger than Rory, try and use more of brute force and strength. Actually leading to slowing down of club head speed.
August 12, 2014
64x64
Norman
Hi Craig, thanks for the prompt reply. Totally agree with you about certain larger players using brute force and strength. How about players like Adam Scott, Ernie Els and Justin Rose. These guys are larger than Rory and have very smooth swings and yet are shorter off the tee. I guess my question would be, "Is there a specific move that Rory utilizes that other tour players do not to generate his exceptional club head speed"?
August 13, 2014
64x64
Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Even for Rory's strength. He maintains a very good balance of keeping supple and letting the muscles stretch to produce fast movements. Rory also utilizes his hips very well. A good stall out movement to transfer power. It's all about maximizing your potential. Rory maxes his out. The other guys have more left in the tank, but don't utilize it. I myself am the same way. Rory's build. Not as strong, but can keep it up with the long guys by using physics properly.
August 13, 2014
64x64
kyle
Having problems clearing my left side out of the way (hips and oblique). Is their a swing thought or drill that can improve to clear the lower body while ensuring the shoulders remain squared to the target line. Thanks!!
August 10, 2014
64x64
Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Kyle. Take a look at the the How the Lower Body Works Video in the Downswing Section. The "stomp" drill will help you clear. The Increase Swing Speed by Deceleration Video in the Advanced Downswing Section will help the new motion of your hips into the ball, while keeping the shoulders square into impact.
August 10, 2014
64x64
David
Great video - just one question -- when you sit down I would think that you would change the point of contact and hit more balls fat. Can you explain how this doesn't happen.
August 6, 2014
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hey David. You actually start to raise up before impact to use leverage from the ground. Take a look at the Tiger Squat Video and Straight Left Leg Video in the Advanced Downswing Section.
August 6, 2014
64x64
George
I block a lot of shots and have not been able to find the instruction or drills that I need to learn to stop blocking. Please direct me to the correct videos/drills to help me with this.
August 6, 2014
64x64
Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hey George. Here are a couple in the Advanced Downswing Section. Blocked Golf Shots | Fwd Shaft Lean and Drills to Avoid Being Stuck in Downswing. Have you uploaded your swing for review? We would be happy to find the culprit.
August 6, 2014
64x64
Pat
I ordered the connect and the putting mat. I have not received them. Approximately how long should it take to receive them?
August 6, 2014
64x64
Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hmm. It shouldn't take too long. Please use the Contact Us link at the bottom of this page and notify Customer Support. They can give you more follow up information.
August 6, 2014
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brandon
Chris - A month ago when you gave a breakdown of Kaymer's swing in the whip video I asked how he got that huge separation between his legs throughout impact and further if you had a drill for it. I still think Kaymer has the most noticeable width in his legs in this portion of the swing. Anyway, I didn't understand it one bit then, but now I have a much better grasp of it. Question regarding the drill of this move - is RST opinion to get that device and feel like you are pulling from the left glute/oblique etc. and feel like the right side is passive? Thanks for posting this video - its a complicated move and it makes more sense now - Brandon
July 28, 2014
64x64
Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Yes. Pulling the the left oblique, glute, and hip while the right is passive. The right will follow. You will lose the gap when the right wants to push and catch up to the left.
July 28, 2014
64x64
johnny
when i click on the link to order the rotary connect, nothing comes up. can you help me out???
July 23, 2014
64x64
Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hey Johnny. Try this link. Let me know if it works. http://www.rotaryswing.com/golf-training-aids/rotaryconnect
July 23, 2014
64x64
John
Chris - Thanks for the video. I know in this video you stress the RST concepts of maintaining knee separation, not pushing off the right side, and not having the right knee kiss the left knee at the finish. I don't know if these concepts are really for the better player, etc. I have been having a lot of trouble with leaving my weight on the right side (I'm a right handed player). All of my efforts regarding the downswing are not working. I have been trying to load the right side going back, then shift to the left heel/ankle during the transition, activate the left glute, and then pull from the left side. I have focused on slowing the hips prior to impact, having my shoulders stay closed as long as possible in the downswing, etc. All of this leaves me stuck on the right side, falling to the right throught impact, etc. When I make one simple change, everything gets fixed. I push off the right instep, and roll my right foot towards the targets on the downswing. I try to make my right knee kiss my left at the finish. No more hanging on the right side. Weight goes on the left. Downswing is stablized, Finish position is solid. Much better contact, etc. I know this conflicts with much of what is taught here. Didn't Chuck do a video somewhere where he talked about some golfers needing to push off the right side, until we learn to use our lower bodies more actively in the downswing?
July 21, 2014
64x64
Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hey John. The typical protocol is not to push of the right. Most golfers do that too much. However, you don't want to stall out with the weight shift and hips too early. Take a look at the Role of the Right Foot in the Downswing Advanced Section to get the proper instep roll you spoke of. Also take a look at the How to Use the Hips in the Golf Swing Video same section. I believe that is what you were referring to with the push.
July 21, 2014
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joe
This video shows that both players have a much wider stance than what is taught at RS
July 21, 2014
64x64
Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Joe. Yes, you are correct. We promote a narrower stance to make the weight transfer easier, more efficient, and safer on the body. Take a look at the Stance Too Wide Video in the Advanced Setup Section.
July 21, 2014

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