Rory McIlroy will get his 2025 season underway in Dubai this week and he’s already been spotted doing something new on the driving range ahead of teeing off.
McIlroy is looking to finally win major number five after a positive enough year in 2024 saw him miss out in agonising fashion to Bryson DeChambeau at the US Open.
McIlroy has been tipped to win the PGA Championship and it remains to be seen just what shape his game is in.
However, McIlroy’s slight changes to his swing at the back of the 2024 saw him win the DP World Tour Championship comfortably and if he can build on that, he’ll be fine.
Indeed, McIlroy has now been spotted swinging a short club on the practice range in Dubai and he’s now moved to explain just why he’s doing that.
Rory McIlroy explains his new ‘shorter club’ practice method
Speaking to the DP World Tour’s official social media channels, McIlroy has offered up a unique insight into his new method and explained that, in simple terms, it’s all about club head feel.
“So the purpose of the swing with the shorter club, it’s heavier, so I can feel the head a little bit better and I can feel where I want the club to be during the swing,” McIlroy explained.
“It’s also got a pre-set grip, which helps sometimes because my left-hand grip gets a little strong at times and that’s really it. I’ve used it since basically October, when I was trying to make a change to my backswing.
“So it’s kind of a little club I can carry around with me. I bring it back to the hotel with me, I swing it in the house just anytime I want to get a feel, that’s what I do, so it sort of comes with me everywhere.”
Rory McIlroy is constantly working on improving his swing
It’s quite frightening really that a player of the calibre of Rory McIlroy with a near picture perfect golf swing feels the need to keep making tweaks and improvements.
However, such is the nature of the beast at the top and the drive of the best players that McIlroy probably feels it more than necessary.
McIlroy’s changes to his swing in November looked to be positive and it’s no surprise to hear he’s been working on things since just before then.
Still, like all new things, McIlroy was told at the time that his new swing still had some issues so it will be interesting to see if he has ironed those minor flaws out.
If he has, then McIlroy could well be in for a huge 2025.
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