Rory McIlroy took encouragement from how quickly he adjusted to using new clubs during an up-and-down start at the WGC-HSBC Champions.
The world No 3 was using a TaylorMade driver and 3-wood in Shanghai as part of his search for new equipment, following Nike's announcement in August they would limit their golf production to clothing and shoes.
McIlroy mixed two birdies with a solitary bogey on his way to an opening-round 71, leaving him seven strokes adrift of early pacesetter Rikard Karlberg.
The FedExCup champion was left slightly disappointed not to be further up the leaderboard after the first round, despite showing signs of progress with his new clubs off the tee.
"I felt like I drove the ball really well," McIlroy told reporters after his round. "I've been driving the ball well anyway, but yeah, it was nice to see the ball flying where it was going.
"I would say I would have been level without them and maybe a little bit behind before. When conditions are like this and it's so soft, it goes a long way in the air. Hopefully that can be to my benefit over the next few days.
"I felt like with the way I hit it, I probably could have squeezed a couple more out of the round. I feel I did everything okay. I just didn't really get any momentum going."
Defending champion Russell Knox made a fast start to the week by posting a bogey-free 66, with the Scot posting a run of four consecutive birdies along the back nine.
"I didn't put any pressure on myself, so I was proud of myself to kind of relax and enjoy it," Knox said. I'm always thrilled with no bogeys, so I'm delighted to get off to a flyer and shoot 6-under."
Watch the WGC-HSBC Champions throughout the week live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf. Live coverage begins on Friday from 4am.