Equipment Roundup: Dell Technologies Championship

Rory McIlroy entered the Dell Technologies Championship off a two-week break that included lots of practice and very little downtime. Some of McIlroy's time on the range centered around the TaylorMade TP5x golf ball that's been part of his setup since last May.

Playing alongside Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods during the first two rounds of the PGA Championship, McIlroy noticed how both of his playing competitors were able to flight their short iron approach shots with spin, something the 4-time major winner wanted to add to his arsenal.

Along with watching old videos of McIlroy's swing when he was a teenager, with instructor Michael Bannon, the two came to the conclusion that a ball change to TaylorMade's TP5 could also help dial-in launch and spin.

"I mean mentally it gets to you when you aren't hitting the golf shots you want to hit," McIlroy said. "And you're visualizing what you want to do with the golf ball and the ball is not doing that. So mentally that can be frustrating. But more physically. I know why the golf ball is doing what it's doing. And it's just a matter of getting the reps away from tournament play."

McIlroy's switch from TP5x to TP5 meant getting used to a lower compression ball that not only felt softer at impact but also launched with a penetrating flight and a little more spin.

The results for McIlroy in his event with the number ball were mixed. He ranked 36th in Strokes Gained: Approach-the-green while logging a T12 finish at TPC Boston.

Hatton's golf store buy stays in bag: Tyrrell Hatton's putter purchase from a local golf store produced immediate results during the final round of THE NORTHERN TRUST. The good vibes carried over to the Dell Technologies Championship, where Hatton made a run at his first TOUR title with the PING Sigma G Darby mallet before finishing T12.

While the head shape was a familiar sight for Woods, he continued on with a relatively new 6061 aluminum and polymer-grooved Pure Roll face insert that, according to Woods, allowed him to "roll the ball better."

Stanley goes upright: Kyle Stanley traded his Odyssey O-Works Red #7 for a Jailbird Mini that was significantly more upright (74.5-degree lie angle) than his previous mallet. Stanley reportedly felt the new lie angle allowed him to swing the putter more naturally. Stanley chose the putter from four different Odyssey models that were sent to his house during an off-week.

Chappell changes irons: Before this week, Kevin Chappell was using a set of Nike Vapor Pro irons that once belonged to former Nike mastercraftsman, and current Artisan Golf founder, Mike Taylor.

That changed at the Dell Technologies Championship, where Chappell became one of the first TOUR players to put Mizuno's JPX919 Tour irons in the bag. Chappell tested the iron extensively, starting on Tuesday, and officially made the switch during the first round.