Did a bag full of new clubs cause Rory McIlroy to miss the cut in Abu Dhabi last week? New equipment is fun, and exciting, and we all want the shiny new toy. And new equipment can improve your game; it can also, in the short run, get you off tempo. Everything looks different, feels a little odd, you have to think for a second because it’s all new.
In a perfect world, new equipment should be used extensively prior to any competition. You need to know how far you hit every single club in your bag, without thinking about it. I’m sure Rory’s clubs were custom fitted just perfectly for him, and if you’re serious about the game, yours should be too. The weight and the length need to be appropriate for your body’s height and weight.
It’s like getting a new phone, you’re all excited because it’s lighter and thinner, but everything is a little bit different, and why can you get your voicemail! But eventually you figure it all out, and it is better and faster, and was worth the pain and learning curve. It’s the same with new golf equipment, you’re going to have a learning curve, just make sure you do it in your practice rounds.
Clay is quick to point out to me that after the 1st round Rory switched from his new Nike putter back to his old one. Reasonable enough choice, there was a lot on the line.
So did Rory’s new clubs throw him off last week in Abu Dhabi, possibly? Will he work through it and get used to his new club, most likely.