Rory McIlroy set to switch equipment…again

No Laying Up first reported that Rory McIlroy has decided to move away from TaylorMade.

McIlroy had initially put a TaylorMade driver in the bag, and saw an immediate lift in numbers off the tee. But now he’s moving in a completely different direction.

As No Laying Up reports:

Rory McIlroy will make his 2017 debut at the BMW South African Open on January 12, and will be making equipment changes through the entire bag. No Laying Up has confirmed that Rory will be playing the new Callaway GBB Epic Sub Zero driver, Callaway Custom Apex MB irons, and reuniting with an old (but improved) friend in the Titleist ProV1x ball.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egQOveWbGmg&t=4s

It’s hard to imagine why he would want to change away from the M2, especially given the 8 mph increase in ball speed he gained at the end of last year.

He’s already claimed he won’t sign a new deal in 2017, and apparently his current decision making comes from a desire to focus on the “symbiosis between the different facets of his bag.”

“I want to play the new ProV1x ball and I know the Callaway driver works the best with it. I also know my Nike irons don’t work as well with the Titleist ball because of the groove format. Too spinny, and a loss of distance,” McIlroy told No Laying Up in late December.

Wow, the life of a professional golfer. I speak for most amateurs when I say the type of golf ball I put into play makes little difference to my chronic snap-hook.

The golf space is changing drastically, from an equipment perspective at least. It would appear that your penchant for apparel is what’s driving the golf market away from equipment – which you replace rarely.

Expect to see more of this in the coming months.