It costs from £10-20 and if it’s good enough for McIlroy, expect to see a lot more of these at your local driving range from now on
Golf is hard, just ask Rory McIlroy. After a stunning rise to the top of the game and landing four majors in just over three years, the Holywood man had to wait a further 11 years to land the elusive Masters title and achieve the career grand slam of all four of the showpiece championships.
After so many near misses at majors, McIlroy enjoyed his best ever day on a golf course at Augusta National in April and has since landed the Irish Open and Ryder Cup in stunning fashion to make 2025 perhaps the standout season in his stellar career.
And still, McIlroy is not satisfied with his game. The world number two is in India right now for the DP World India Championship, and has been pictured going through some bizarre training routines on the range at the Lodhi Course at the Delhi Golf Club.
McIlroy appeared a little like Kevin Costner in the cult golf movie Tin Cup when he was struggling with his game. There are any amount of golf gadgets these days, aimed at improving your swing, stance and mentality. There is no evidence that any of it actually works but McIlroy appears to be a believer.
He was seen on camera using a training aid between his wrists as he took shots at the range. The so-called ‘smart ball’, with an allignment rod pierced through it, is supposed to ensure your arms stay connected to your torso, promoting a coordinated pivot and rotation during the swing.
The ‘smart ball’ is supposed to help correct issues like the “chicken wing” (a flying elbow) and prevents the arms from moving too independently from the body. Regular use helps build muscle memory for the right swing posture which McIlroy can then take onto the course – minus the smart ball between his arms.
The training aid is nothing new to the golf scene, with high-handicappers all too familiar with the smart ball and other allignment tools. This one costs just £10-20, depending on the website or store and if it’s good enough for McIlroy, expect to see a lot more of these at your local driving range from now on.
Fans of McIlroy and the sport in general were delighted to see the Masters champ resorting to their sort of tactics on the range. “One of us,” beamed one fan.
“It’s comforting that the people at the top of the game still use training aids that look like they were built in my uncles garage,” said another.
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