Your 3 Keys to Putting Like Rory McIlroy


Published: March 3, 2026

Rory may be best known for his booming drives, but you can learn a lot from 3 simple keys in his excellent putting stroke.

The concepts below helped him achieve a #2 ranking in Strokes Gained - Putting at the 2012 Deutsche Bank Championship. Whether you're struggling with distance control or consistency on the greens, these putting fundamentals are worth studying closely:

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  • Slightly arcing stroke
  • Lower body stability
  • Forearm-shaft alignment

Watch the video below now because it will help you incorporate these principles and start putting better immediately! If you want to take your entire ball-striking game to the next level alongside your putting improvement, the AI swing analyzer can reveal exactly where your mechanics break down.

How to Groove a Putting Stroke Like Rory's

One of the most critical elements in Rory's putting technique is the relationship between his forearms and the putter shaft. When your lead arm and the shaft form a consistent, unified unit, you eliminate the independent wrist action that causes missed putts. This forearm-shaft alignment keeps the putter face square through impact and promotes a pure putting stroke.

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His lower body stability is equally impressive. By keeping his hips and legs completely quiet, he allows his shoulder rocking motion to control the entire stroke — a true pendulum putting action that produces consistent distance control on the greens. You can train the same movement patterns using the GOAT Drill system, which builds full-body awareness and stability that transfers directly to your short game.

Check out some of the articles and videos we have that cover, in much greater detail, both the good and the bad from this putting stroke analysis:

 

 

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