Browse by category
DRILL OVERVIEW
Rory McIlroy Hand Speed Drill: Practise with Split Hands
Your drill at a glance
This drill is from the Golf Practice Made Fun App.
Step 1. Watch the split-hand demonstration
Notice how the hands are separated on the grip, how the arms move to the top and where the hands arrive in front of the legs. Watch first, then rehearse at a comfortable pace.
Step 2. Rehearse with split hands
Keep your lead hand near the top of the grip and move the trail hand down to create a comfortable gap. Both hands should stay securely on the grip. Avoid sliding the lower hand onto the bare shaft.
Set up, then move to the top
Take your usual stance with relaxed knees and a comfortable bend from the hips. Let the club rest near the ground, then make a slow backswing.
Explore the feeling of width without stretching to a maximum position or stiffening your arms. Use a shorter backswing if that gives you better control.
Bring the hands down under control
Move the hands down towards the position shown, then ease to a controlled pause with the hands in front of your legs. Begin slowly enough that you can decelerate smoothly. Keep the club clear of the ground and do not strike a ball with this stopping rehearsal.
The demonstration uses an “accelerate then stop” cue. Use it to understand the exercise, rather than trying to stop the club violently. Do not try to bend or break the shaft. This paused drill is a rehearsal, not a position to hold during a normal shot.
| Rehearsal step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Split the hands | Keep both hands on the grip with a comfortable gap. |
| 2. Make a slow backswing | Feel space in the arms without forcing extra width. |
| 3. Move down and pause | Bring the hands in front of the legs and decelerate smoothly. |
| 4. Reset | Return to address before repeating. Keep the movement comfortable. |
If the club feels difficult to control, reduce the speed and shorten the movement. The goal is a repeatable rehearsal, not maximum effort.
Step 3. Complete 18 practice repetitions
What to do
Complete 18 controlled repetitions without a ball. One repetition is a split-hand backswing, a smooth move down to the hands-in-front-of-the-legs pause, then a reset.
Keep all 18 at a pace you can control. Take a short break after six and twelve repetitions, and check that the grip and movement still feel comfortable.
| Score | When to award it |
|---|---|
| 1 point | You complete the shot, routine or movement described above. |
| 0 points | You do not complete the attempt. |
George’s Conclusion
Use the split-hand grip to feel the movement clearly. Start slowly, arrive at the downswing checkpoint smoothly and reset each time. Once you finish the drill, return to your normal grip for any regular swings or shots.
For a complementary driver practice task, try the Rory McIlroy Driving Drill.
MAKE THE NEXT BUCKET COUNT
Pick a card. Practise with purpose.
