11-03-2025
Get Equipped: New FootJoy shoes, Fujikura Ventus shafts
Get Equipped: New FootJoy shoes, Fujikura Ventus shafts
In the days leading up to last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational, Rory McIlroy made wholesale changes to his equipment set. As I wrote, he added a new TaylorMade Qi35 driver, 3-wood and 5-wood, and made changes to his wedge setup by going from four wedges to three.
Well, things didn't go the way McIlroy planned over the first three days at Bay Hill, and he switched back into his old gear before the start of the fourth round.
"I probably just didn't give myself enough time," he said Sunday afternoon. "It can look good on the Trackman and it can look good on the range at home at the Bear's Club or on the golf course, but once you get out here in these conditions, that's where it really shows itself, and it just wasn't quite ready."
McIlroy added he anticipated using his Qi10 driver and fairway woods through the rest of the Florida Swing and at the Masters, which starts just 30 days from today.
I think, at some point this season, McIlroy will transition into the Qi35 again, but what Rory talked about at Bay Hill is a phenomenon every pro and recreational golfer has to understand: there can be a big difference in the way you perform with new equipment on the range or in casual rounds compared to how you perform with the same gear when there is pressure. For McIlroy, that means in tournament conditions against the best players in the world, but for you, it could mean your Saturday morning match. If a golfer feels doubt, that can lead to tension, and tension leads to bad swings, poor decisions and inconsistent results, leading to a negative cycle. On the other hand, trusting your gear and your swing encourages confidence, keeps tension low and often leads to better shots and more success.
If you are looking to get into new clubs this season, take your time, go through the custom fitting process at a facility and with an expert you trust. Ask questions and learn everything you can about why a club is ideal for you and your game. A craftsman knows everything he can about his tools and how they work, and even a 20-handicap golfer should know why a driver, set of irons or a particular putter should benefit his or her game.
