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A golf enthusiast's guide to the best shoes for any course
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Sam Greenwood / Getty ImagesIf you buy only one thing to improve your golf game for the coming season, make it a good pair of shoes. Having extra stability during your swing is invaluable, as is solid traction as you negotiate a course that’s either hilly and wet or flat and dry. Most of all, you need your feet to feel comfortable and energized, or each round may well be thoroughly unenjoyable. The styles below look great and they're also eons better built than any shoes from even two years ago. Your feet will thank you.
adidas Golf TOUR360 Boost
The athletic brand celebrates 10 years of its popular TOUR360 franchise with a new model, which boasts full-length "Boost" cushioning in the forefoot and heel. It’s delightfully comfortable and feels as if it’s giving you a little spring in every step — the first time you try it, you’ll feel a little bit bionic.
This new iteration has a re-engineered "360Wrap saddle" that’s lighter and more flexible than any of its predecessors and is combined with the outsole, giving the shoe greater adjustability and adaptability. Every time you step down, those two sections cave in slightly to better grip the ground. This assures independent flexibility and control between the two sections, while enhancing arch support and traction.
The new heel shape, inspired by adidas' training and running shoes, features an "S"-curve that follows a foot’s natural contour for a better fit, while the lining material reduces friction, moisture, and heat. The upper is made of premium leather that’s durable. I wore these on a hilly course in very wet conditions, and the shoes performed with grace. They had plenty of traction — even when going directly from wet grass into a sandy bunker. And I didn’t slip going from dewy turf onto a cement cart path, either. They also felt above-and-beyond stable throughout my golf swing. I also liked that the outsole is thin — that helps you get lower to the ground for better stability while you’re swinging the club. My feet weren’t tired after the round — a confirmation that the Boost material helped energize my feet the way it’s supposed to.
Expect to see some of your favorite Tour stars wearing them this coming season. Dustin Johnson and Jason Day both plan to don these in 2016.
Adidas Golf Men's Tour360 Boost Spiked Shoe, $199, available at Amazon.
ECCO Speed Hybrid
Put on this model bearing a vintage-sneaker look and you'll be wowed by how good it feels. Its durable polyurethane midsole has soft cushioning and flexibility, while the outsole includes roughly 100 molded traction bars that last five times longer than rubber and provides 800 traction angles for superb turf gripping.
The shoe's Hydromax technology keeps your feet dry whatever a course's conditions and helps control perspiration. Its leather insoles are removable to help you get extra width if you need it. Its midsole lends itself to exceptional cushioning, flexibility, and durability. And the brand’s proprietary "Freedom Fit" mixes a snug heel setting with a roomier forefoot area that allows toes to move naturally.
Like all Ecco golf shoes, this model is crafted using a direct-injection process, which bonds the upper and outsole, thereby creating a permanent memory and a firm, water-tight seal. There are three color available. The Speed Hybrid looks great for wearing off the course, as well.
ECCO Men's Speed Hybrid Golf Shoe, $179, available at Amazon.
FootJoy D.N.A. BOA
This is the iconic shoe brand’s most feature-laden model, offering lightweight support, a secure fit, and comfortable performance with every step. Just three months after it was launched, it became golf’s best selling shoe.
The low-profile model has a SnugFit tongue that adds durability, and is made of thin, soft, and breathable materials — including ventilation — which conform to the top of your foot.
Its 3D FoamCollar molds to your ankle for comfort, fit, and support. By locking your ankle into place, it minimizes foot movement to help you maintain swing power. You’ll find the leather upper to be extremely soft, lightweight, and durable as well.
Its midsole uses two densities of foam — a firmer density for stability around the perimeter and a softer density in the heel and forefoot for comfort. Its thin TPU outsole gives the shoe a strong chassis, which is complemented with a cleat system for enhanced traction in all playing conditions. And with its cable-closure system, you never need to worry about shoelaces unraveling during your round.
FootJoy D.N.A. BOA, $219.99, available at Golfsmith.
Nike Lunar Control 4
This model is all about stability during your swing. Nike touts it as being the choice of Rory McIlroy and his 120-plus MPH swing.
It features several of the brand’s top-end technologies. For example, the Dynamic Nike Flywire provides lateral support in the midfoot, while a fresh, robust, external asymmetrical heel counter helps lock the foot in place through a swing. The upper is made of a lightweight, waterproof microfiber that give its wearers a soft, unrestricted feel with lasting comfort. The shank is made of carbon fiber. And the tongue was redesigned to wrap around the ankle and provide a natural break when walking — for adaptive lateral support.
Inside, a full-length proprietary midsole delivers unsurpassed, springy, cushioning underfoot. Nike’s Control Platform gives you underfoot stability, smooth weight transfer, and control through impact, and the cleated outsole enhances traction and gripping. It’s offered in three colors for men and three for women.
Nike Lunar Control 4, $169.99, available at Amazon.
PUMA Titantour Ignite
Truly one of my favorite new shoes on the market, Puma's Titantour Ignite is a pleasure to walk a course in. The new and proprietary foam cushioning provides energy return, responsive comfort, stable cushioning, and step-in comfort. You can feel your feet just kind of sink into each shoe. But that’s only the start.
The shoe’s “PWRCOOL” insole increases comfort and actually regulates temperature — exactly as an astronaut’s suit would do in space — by utilizing phase-change materials that absorb, store, and release heat for optimal thermal comfort. In fact, this is certified space technology. An ultra-thin and supportive thermoplastic polyurethane frame encases that foam, for lightweight strength and durability, more flexibility with each step, and superior traction on all lies you’ll encounter on the course. The shoe’s last — the frame it’s built on — is designed for comfort and fit out on the course, as well.
The innovative outsole construction makes for a very stable platform throughout your swing, too. It uses both hard and soft materials that collectively support natural foot movement, with multiple flex angles that boost flexibility and stability. The upper is made of a full-grain leather, with textile lining and heavy-gauge thread for quality and durability.
PUMA Titantour Ignite Men's 2016 Golf Shoes, $149.99, available at Amazon.
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