Rory McIlroy is one of the longest hitters in the game.
DataGolf has him in the top 2% of professional golfers when it comes to driving distance, and he finished second on the PGA Tour in 2025, averaging 323.0 yards per drive.
Unlike some of golf’s other big hitters, McIlroy doesn’t depend on height or raw size. Bryson DeChambeau, for example, uses his taller frame for extra leverage, but Rory relies more on technique—especially his explosive hip rotation.
McIlroy has even spoken about what he feels during his swing to help players understand how to put this into practice.
How Rory McIlroy creates distance with his swing
Rory McIlroy has built his reputation on an efficient, powerful golf swing, and he recently explained that it’s all about how he shifts his weight. The four-time major winner uses a ground force move to increase his rotation speed.
“Once I’m at the top, it really is a shift onto my left side,” McIlroy said. “I try to get all that weight onto my left side as quickly as I possibly can.”
“You know, so from here (the top of the swing) bump to my left side – I sort of pressure into the ground so that it’s a bit like a box jump or a squat. You’re really trying to put force in the ground so that you can get that force coming up through your legs, you know, and the kinetic chain.
“So, for me, what I like to feel to get speed is, once I get into that left side, I get this left knee out of the way as quickly as possible. And that means that my hips turn quickly, my lower body turns quickly, and then my upper body just acts like a whip all the way through.”
This approach contrasts with many amateur golfers who try to generate power using their arms alone – often leading to inconsistent strikes or slices. Instead of swinging hard with your arms or rushing your hands through impact fast for more power – shift your focus towards moving your hips and torso together first.
Who had the longest drives on the PGA Tour in 2025?
Even at 36, McIlroy is still one of the longest drivers on tour. He averaged just over 325 yards off the tee last season, but that still wasn’t enough to lead the pack.
The top spot went to Aldrich Potgieter, a 21-year-old from South Africa, who posted a remarkable average of 325.0 yards. McIlroy and Potgieter were the only two players to break the 320-yard mark last season.
Jesper Svensson was right behind them at 319 yards per drive. He was followed closely by Ryder Cup player Nicolai Hojgaard, who finished just 0.2 yards back. Nicolai’s brother Rasmus also made it into the top dozen.
McIlroy wasn’t even the oldest in the top ten — that title belonged to Joseph Bramlett, now 38 years old. Trevor Cone completed the list with an average distance of 315.5 yards.
READ MORE: How Justin Thomas’ comments on Bryson DeChambeau prompted a PGA Tour rule change
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