Rory McIlroy has been working through some things in his golf swing recently. At the Players Championship, McIlroy said he effectively needed two golf swings: One that felt and worked amazingly well off the tee, but hurt him with his irons.
So, in the weeks between the Players and the Masters, Rory revealed he paid a visit to the legendary teacher Butch Harmon for a second opinion on his golf swing. Then, ahead of the Valero Texas Open, he showed up with a slightly different pre-shot waggle, which you can see below.
So what's going on?
Rory's new (old) move
McIlroy has said before one of his tendencies is to push his club and arms very wide and "out" on his takeaway. He stretches his arms back—powerful and good—but can also cause him issues later in his backswing.
5 things you can learn
Specifically, as McIlroy explained in a 2014 Golf Magazine cover story, one tendency he has is to lift the club up and out.
"The first two feet of my swing are critical. If I start the club back on plane, I won’t have to reroute it on the way down," he says.
That same habit has been popping up in his swing this season, and it's caused him to get slightly flat and across the line at the top of his golf swing. Hence his ball striking inconsistencies.
Which brings us to his new waggle move where he's feeling the opposite to counteract that habit.
Instead of his arms and club extending out, McIlroy is keeping his arms a little closer to his body, and the clubhead outside his hands. He's done this rehearsal before through the years (it's become something of a go-to for him), and if you look at his two-major winning 2014, this move was easy to spot in his golf swing.
1. Your takeaway is important! Don't get lazy with it.
2. Getting wide with your arms is a powerful move that can help most golfers. Just ask Tiger.
3. The best takeaway for you depends on your body, and your grip. You can learn more about that right here.
4. One common takeaway mistake is when people move their body before their clubhead.
5. Low and slow may be a common piece of advice, but faster takeaways actually help a lot of golfers—here's why.