Rory McIlroy Returns to Blades: A Tale of Feel and Consistency
As Rory McIlroy begins his 16th season on the PGA TOUR, defending his title at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, he’s made a significant equipment change: returning to his signature RORS PROTO muscle-back irons. This comes after a brief experiment with TaylorMade P7CB cavity-back irons during a few starts on the DP World Tour earlier this year.
The Experiment with Forgiveness
McIlroy’s decision to test cavity-back irons stemmed from a universal desire among golfers – finding more forgiveness. He noticed a significant difference in performance with mishits, with bladed irons losing 10-15 yards compared to the 5-7 yard loss with cavity backs. Despite the improved consistency, the experiment ultimately proved unsuccessful.
“That experiment’s over,” McIlroy stated to the media at Pebble Beach. He found the cavity backs had a slight right bias, causing unexpected ball flight deviations. “I felt like the cavity backs just had a little bit of a right bias in them… I’d make swings that I feel like I’d make with my blades that would be a very neutral ball flight, and then with the cavity backs they would just like start to tail off to the right.”
The Importance of Feel and Muscle Memory
While McIlroy appreciated the potential to “fully release the club” with the cavity backs, the change disrupted years of ingrained muscle memory. He’s accustomed to a “held-off” position through impact with his bladed irons, and transitioning to a release felt unnatural, especially under the pressure of competition.
“Once you get on the course with a card in your hand, for so many years I’m used to feeling that like held-off position through impact and then to go from that to trying to release it, it just was a different feel, especially under pressure or in the heat of competition,” McIlroy explained.
Blades Remain Dominant on Tour
McIlroy’s return to blades aligns with a broader trend on the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour. According to SMSonTOUR.com, 10 out of the 13 winners this season have used blades to secure their victories. This suggests that, despite advancements in forgiveness technology, many top players still prioritize feel and control.
For Rory McIlroy, the choice is clear: feel over forgiveness. As he aims to add another title to his impressive career, he’ll be relying on the familiar feel of his RORS PROTO blades at the iconic Pebble Beach Golf Links.
Source: PGA TOUR
