Rory McIlroy has tip for any amateur golfer who wants to add more speed to their golf swing

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When it comes to the best golf swings – perhaps of all-time – they do not come much better than Rory McIlroy, who has been one of the top players in the world for the last 15 years.

Rory McIlroy looked to be destined for greatness from the moment he finished as the low amateur at the 2007 Open Championship. The 2008 season would prove to be the last time a year passed without the Northern Irishman finishing in the top 10 at at least one of the majors.

McIlroy is arguably the most talented player of his generation. And there is arguably no part of the game where McIlroy excels more than off the tee. The 35-year-old just appears to have the most flawless tempo to his swing.

McIlroy was second for average driving distance on the PGA Tour in 2024. And he has an incredible ability to step on the driver when he wants to really send one out there.

Rory McIlroy shares how amateur golfers can add more swing speed

Of course, speed training has become more and more popular in recent years. Ever since Bryson DeChambeau showed a completely different way to tackle the world’s best golf courses from 2019, many have looked to change their own games.

McIlroy did try and chase DeChambeau. But he was already one of the longest hitters of the golf ball, so it is no surprise to see him remain at the highest level even after his quest to keep up with DeChambeau did not pay off.

And speaking to Grant Horvat, McIlroy – who was reaching 190 miles per hour ball speed – shared what each golfer really needs to do to add speed to their swing.

“If anyone wants to seriously think about adding more speed, learn how to move the thing fast first and then you can reign it in and you can start worrying about [direction]. The one thing I realised is if I can get my fastest speed as high as possible, then my baseline comes up,” he said.

“So when I started working with the TaylorMade guys, I was 179, 180. And now, I cruise at 186.

“It’s a little bit in the gym. Whenever I did work on speed and everything, I did some stuff in the gym. I was still doing stuff in the gym anyway. One of the other things I do, I do these medicine ball throws in the gym, and sometimes when I’m doing this stuff, I’ll imagine myself throwing the medicine ball.

“So I actually do one that’s like a shot-put throw. I’ll have the ball here, and a bit like what Kyle Berkshire does. He’ll pressure into his left, I’ll slide to my right and then plant, and I go that way. I try to feel the same thing with the golf swing.”

Where Rory McIlroy’s driving has ranked on the PGA Tour over the years

It obviously makes a lot of sense to push yourself to the limit on the driving range. That will quite naturally bring the swing speeds up when someone is hitting their stock shot with the driver.

Of course, you can criticise McIlroy’s decade-long wait for a fifth major. However, he has still had an unbelievable amount of success over the last 10 years. He has 26 wins on the PGA Tour during his career.

And clearly, his driving statistics are central to that success. He has not been outside the top four for the longest hitters on the PGA Tour since the 2016 season.

With an ability like that, there is every chance that McIlroy’s hunt for major number five will end in the near future. He is always likely to be in the mix when he can send the ball such a long way off the tee.