Oh man, Rory McIlroy. What a guy, right? The newly-crowned Masters champion. This dude’s basically a legend when it comes to driving. Seriously, look up his stats. Since 2015, the worst he’s done is like, 6th place in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee. Imagine having a bad year and still being 6th best in the world at driving. Mind-blowing.
But here’s the kicker — pun totally intended — his wedge play? Not always his strong suit. Somehow, McIlroy’s got this rocket speed off the tee that makes the cool cash, but ironically, doesn’t always translate into great wedge shots. It’s like owning a Swiss army knife with only the toothpick missing. Ever seen him keep his head down and back through a shot? Great for drives, but not so much for delicate wedge plays. (Quick tip: Check out Steve Stricker’s short game on YouTube if you haven’t. It’s pure magic — no joke.)
Enough fan-boying, let’s dive into what you can actually apply from Rory’s game. Here’s some stuff you can steal — oops, I mean learn — to wedge it McIlroy-style.
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Caution! Yeah, don’t keep that noggin tucked. It’s just awkward with wedges. Rory pulls it off ’cause he’s as flexible as a yoga instructor, but for most of us mere mortals? Yeah, we’re not built that way. Trust me on this.
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Belly it. Man, Sir Nick Faldo — that guy knew wedges! He used to move his belly ’round to finish his swing. Seems Rory picked this nugget up too, except he still insists on that head-down business. Anyway, swing your belly, not just your arms. Your shots will thank you.
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Let it go. Not trying to have a Frozen sing-along, but for real, let that swing fly. Rory’s aggressive release isn’t some exclusive club move saved for drivers and mid-irons. Bring that into your wedge game. Forget about reinventing the wheel — same mechanics, different club.
- Go long and left. Rory’s secret spell seems to involve a strong front leg shift during impact, even without a full-on ground-slam like his driver swings boast. This is where control over swing arc depth comes in — who knew pointing your leg could be so crucial?
End of the day, it doesn’t take wearing green jackets to pick up a few pro tips. Anyway, there you have it. Swing like Rory, or at least amuse your buddies by saying you’re trying. Now go bless that course with your ‘almost-Rory’ moves and maybe leave the psycho-wedging to the legends. Happy golfing, folks!
