Club-buying tips. Avoid Rory McIlroy's Equipment Problems

Changing Golf Clubs? Learn from Rory McIlroy. (by Eddie Shackleford)

Thinking about trading in your golf clubs for newer models? You might want to think twice before you make any major changes in equipment.

Although the latest and greatest clubs on the market promise longer drives, a smoother swing and targeted aim, switching sticks can sometimes have a negative effect on your golf game. Just ask Rory McIlroy.

After signing a major endorsement deal, Rory McIlroy switched from his trusty Titleists to a new set of Nike golf clubs. He made the switch at the tail end of the offseason, giving him limited time to break in his new clubs.

The result? A less than stellar performance at some of the season’s opening PGA tournaments. He denied any equipment problems in the press, but the scorecard doesn’t lie.

McIlroy saw big success in the 2012 golf season. He won the PGA championship by an astounding eight strokes and climbed to the No.2 spot in the World Golf Rankings. So it seems that the only thing that has really changed between this year and last year, is the golf clubs.

We’ll see how his new clubs perform at this year’s Masters Tournament, and if he’ll be the next winner to host the Masters Champions Dinner .

We can all learn from Rory McIlroy’s experience. If you are thinking about changing golf clubs, consider a few things before you make a big investment:

Do your homework. 
Don’t walk into a golf store without doing a little research first. Sure, golf pros and sales people can be helpful, but it’s good to hear from other people who have purchased the same clubs. Read online reviews, or ask fellow golfers for club recommendations.

Beware of the Brand
Consider switching clubs, but staying within the same brand. If you are still playing pretty decent, and just want upgraded equipment, buying a newer model of the same brand of clubs is a good option. This will minimize any major changes in your swing.

Swing before you buy a couple practice swings in the store won’t give you a true read. Ask to take the clubs out to the driving range.

Hit a few balls with each club. You might find that the driver swings great, but the irons aren’t connecting as well.  In that case, you can always buy a single new club instead of a full set.

Most golfers change out drivers and putters pretty regularly without seeing any major impact in their game.

Purchase, Practice, Practice
If you a buy a new set of clubs, take them for a test drive before you book a tee time. You don’t want to use a new set of clubs in a high stakes tournament without getting some good practice sessions in first.

Start with the driving range, and then follow with a casual 18 holes.

Most importantly, give yourself a little time to adjust – but not too much. Once you make the switch, set a deadline for the transition. It will take a few rounds to get used to the clubs.

But if after a month or two you start to notice your scores getting higher – take a mulligan and try again!

Eddie Shackleford is a Senior Editor at Cable.tv and writes about all entertainment related content. He put this infographic together on the last Master’s winners and the dinner they chose: http://www.cable.tv/masters-champions-dinner/

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Craig’s note:  I bought new clubs last summer that are NOT big name, big advertising, big marketing.

I am extremely happy to report that I am playing fantastic with them and have been very surprised at their performance.   I will be telling you more about this as I conclude my testing but so far, I am totally convinced that you DO NOT need to spend big money for great clubs. 

I also learned from taking a tour of the manufacturing plant that most all clubheads from all the companies come from the same place overseas…  You can pay more for big name marketing, endorsements, and TV ads…or you can keep that money in your pocket and score lower….

tell you more later!

Greens and fairways,

Craig