By Paul Myers

As a young professional golfer, Rory McIlroy certainly has accrued quite a list of achievements in just a short time on tour. Already having been ranked number one in the world, Rory has two major titles to his credit and seems to be destined for a Hall of Fame-caliber career. With an all-around game and impressive touch to go with it, when Rory is going well on the course there isn’t much that he can’t do.

Much as you would expect, power is a big part of the game that McIlory brings with him to the course. It seems that all of the young, star golfers on tour today are able to drive the ball incredible distances and pair that power with the other necessary skills that a touring pro must have. While he is not the longest driver on tour today, Rory McIlroy’s swing speed does rank highly in the list, thanks in part to a combination of excellent physical fitness and beautiful technique.

In just 22 rounds so far during the 2014 season, Rory McIlroy’s swing speed has averaged an impressive 119.69 MPH, as measured by the PGA Tour. That average includes a high reading of 123.43, and a low of 117. 58. With Bubba Watson leading the way at 124.11 average, McIlory is only a few ticks behind the very longest hitters on tour today.

How Does He Do It?

Unlike many of the top players in today’s game, McIlroy is not a mountain of a man. While he is very fit, he stands less than six feet tall so he doesn’t have the long arms and legs that someone like a Dustin Johnson can use to generate speed. Rather, more like a Sergio Garcia, the Rory McIlroy swing speed generates the power partially with rotation – and McIlroy does so very successfully.

Rory McIlory has one of the best-looking shoulder turns on tour, as his flexibility allows him to coil up significantly during the backswing before unleashing all of that energy at the ball. The result is his club head has plenty of time to gather speed, and he is able to fully release his body into a finish position while the ball rockets through the air.

Of course, with all of that speed, Rory’s swing requires excellent timing to repeat shot after shot. If his timing is off a little bit, or he gets out of rhythm, it can be tough to find the fairway. Fortunately for him, he seems to have great timing and great hands, meaning that more often than not the ball is sailing down the center of the fairway. You don’t get to the top of the game without being able to control your prodigious power, and Rory is able to handle this pretty darn well.

The Future is Bright

It is amazing to think about what McIlroy has accomplished at such a young age. Assuming he is able to stay healthy and keep competing for another couple decades or more, Rory could wind up challenging some of the biggest records in the sport. It is reasonable to assume that while we have already seen some amazing golf come from Mr. McIlroy, the best may still be yet to come. Most golfers don’t peak until they are in their late 20’s or early to mid 30’s, and Rory is still years away from that point. If he indeed follows that pattern and is still a ways away from his best golf, we will all be in for a real treat when it comes to watching him play.

Concerning the Rory McIlroy swing speed, it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. McIlroy keeps himself in top condition, and have many more years of his twenties and early thirties in which to play. It is a safe bet that Rory will remain as one of the longest drivers on Tour, and should keep registering swing speeds in the 120 MPH range for years to come.

If you liked this article and you think it would help another golfer, please like it.

To learn more about Swing Man Golf products, click here.

 

 



COULD YOU DRIVE IT AS FAR AS RORY?

With Swing Man Golf’s Swing Speed Training, based on your gender, age, handicap and average driving distance, how far could you be driving it? Use this tool to find out:

Male Female