Rory McIlroy has been using an unusual practice routine lately.
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Welcome to Play Smart, GOLF.com's regular game improvement column that will help you become a smarter, better golfer.
Professionals are meticulous in their practice. Go to any Tour event and you'll see that there is no wasted answer when it comes to perfecting the right moves.
With the many technologies now available (presentation monitors, training aids, etc.) this has improved the effectiveness of proper practice. If you see data points in every shot, it takes the guesswork out of adjusting the curve.
However, sometimes making swing changes requires drastic measures. Take Rory McIlroy's latest practice, for example. At this week's Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, he explained that in the weeks leading up to the tournament, he hadn't seen his footballing light in distance or acting.
“The only way I was going to make a change or at least move in the right direction with my swing was to lock myself in the studio and not see the ballflight for a bit and focus completely on the swing,” he said.
McIlroy's approach is not what you would expect from a top player. With so much technology available, the lack of feedback during exercise may seem odd. However, when making a swing change, it can be incredibly helpful.
Rory's method can help you
Anyone who has made a transition knows that the process can be frustrating. When you're starting out, even getting the ball through the clubface can feel challenging. If you struggle at first, your brain will start to revert to old habits to hit the ball.
If this sounds familiar, don't worry – even experts struggle with it.
“It bothers me that when I try to make a certain swing or change something, and I start hitting it or I don't hit the shots I want, I just go back to what I was doing. because it's free,” said McIlroy. “If there's a sequence of shots you've hit, you'll always go back to what's comfortable.”
That struggle is why McIlroy decided to practice for weeks without seeing where the ball was going. To prevent his brain from reverting to bad (but comfortable) habits, he removed any form of feedback. It was only after the new swing was completely ingrained – and the old habits completely broken – that he walked out onto the course and hit the shot.
If you are trying to make a change yourself, this method can be very beneficial. By removing all feedback and focusing only on the right swing areas, your brain will have an easier time accepting the change. And by the time you get out of the course and hit the gun, the new feelings should feel natural enough that you won't fall back into bad habits.
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