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FootJoy Premiere golf shoes: Classic styles merge with comfort, performance

Once among the most popular shoes in golf, the classic-looking Premiere is back with modern features and technologies.

Throughout the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, FootJoy’s Premiere line of shoes was among the most popular golf footwear on the PGA Tour. It was also a favorite of golfers around the world who appreciated hand-made, high-quality, traditional shoes.

As recently as 1985, FootJoy’s factory in Brockton, Massachusetts, was turning out nearly 400,000 pairs of leather-soled shoes a year. But as time passed, automated manufacturing techniques improved, other materials and waterproof mechanisms were developed and interest in the top-of-the-line Premiere faded. While FootJoy remained the dominant force in the golf footwear category, it was forced to close the Premiere factory in 2009.

FootJoy Premiere shoes — Billy Horschel in FootJoy Premiere Tarlow shoes at Winged Foot Golf Club in September 2020 (David Dusek/Golfweek)

Then, last fall, a few players were spotted at PGA Tour events wearing a new shoe that had the distinctive look of those old Premieres. Billy Horschel and Ian Poulter took to social media and showed pictures of them, then each player was spotted at Winged Foot wearing them during the U.S. Open. Justin Thomas wore them, as did Adam Scott. The Premiere shoes were back, and at the 2020 Masters, the new Premiere was the most-worn shoe by the field.

FootJoy Premiere Tarlow golf shoes (FootJoy)

There is no denying the trend in golf footwear toward running-shoe style options with sporty colors and aggressive graphics, but the Premiere style is timeless. While each of the three styles – the Tarlow, Pickard and Flint – calls back to the original Premiere classic look, today’s versions have modern features and technologies to enhance comfort and performance.

For example, the leather outsole (and its weight) have been replaced by a new, lighter outsole made from different types of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). FootJoy refers to it as VersaTrax+, and along with a series of replaceable spikes, it is designed to keep a golfer firmly in place during the swing and while walking the course. The traction elements on the bottom of the shoe vary in degree of stiffness, so the firm pieces grab sand and soft turf effectively while the softer TPU parts areas grab cart paths, hardpan and firm terrain.

The Ortholite EcoPlush FitBed inside the shoe is designed to enhance comfort and cushioning, while the upper, which is made from waterproof Pittard’s leather, provides lateral support. It does such a good job keeping feet dry that FootJoy gives the new Premiere shoes a two-year waterproof warranty.

FootJoy Women's Premiere — FootJoy Women’s Premiere Flint (FootJoy)

The men’s version comes in three styles, with multiple color options available in both the laced version ($220) and a version that offers a BOA ratcheting system for a more-customized closure and fit ($250). There is also a women’s version of the laced Premiere ($190) and a BOA version ($220).

New golf equipment for 2021: Footwear

See all the latest golf shoes from Adidas, Ecco, FootJoy, G/Fore, Puma, Under Armour and more.

This story first appeared in the February issue of Golfweek Magazine.

White shoes with a black saddle. White shoes with a brown saddle. All white. All black. It seemed golf shoes were trapped in an endless cycle of conformity for decades.

Thankfully, those days are over. While there are plenty of golfers who still love to play in classic-looking footwear, the trend is toward athletic-looking golf shoes with bold colors and sporty styles. From posh private clubs to municipal tracks, more and more golfers are wearing shoes that resemble something that might be seen at a 10K race.

That does not mean these shoes are short on golf-specific details. Manufacturers study how golfers put stress on their feet during the swing, looking at various traction elements and how cleats dig into the grass. They are always tinkering with new materials that provide pillow-like cushioning without increasing weight.

But regardless of the style of shoe you prefer, getting footwear that fits properly is key. Walking a course can easily involve strolling four or five miles up and down hills, and even if you ride in a cart, you will walk a lot during your round.

Shoes that are too tight are never comfortable, and footwear that is too big can rob you of traction and potentially lead to blisters. Your shoes should flex under the balls of your feet to ensure both comfort and traction when you walk, yet they need to be rigid enough to keep you locked to the turf so you can maintain your balance off the tee.

Here are several new options that are sure to be popular this spring.

Golfweek’s guide to golf shoes: Fit, form and function

Find shoes that fit perfectly, get the story on spiked versus spikeless, and find out whether you need waterproof or water-resistant.

Even when they ride, golfers do a lot of walking on the course. And while strolling around town in running shoes can be comfortable, by swinging a golf club you create significant torque in your feet and ankles. And golf courses, being outside, put you out in the elements, so a shoe’s ability to handle hills, water, sand and dirt is also essential.

For all these reasons, golf shoes are among the most complicated pieces of footwear made. Here are some tips to help find the perfect pair.

Fit is critical
Under normal circumstances, the best way to find a good-fitting pair of golf shoes would be to go to your local pro shop or golf specialty store and try on a few pairs. However, we’re not living in normal times right now, and many stores and golf courses are closed. Shoe companies are selling products online, but trying on shoes before you buy them may not be possible.

It may seem obvious, but to find good-fitting shoes, start with what you know and what has fit well for you in the past.

“Over the last three years, we have not changed our sizing at all,” said Masun Denison, Adidas’ global footwear director. “If you have worn an Adidas shoe in the last three years, there is an excellent chance that the size you were comfortable with then is the size you would be today in any model we offer.”

However, things are not always as simple as buying the same size, because the most crucial factor in how a shoe fits is the last. The last is the mold or form that the shoe is designed around, and it determines things such as how wide or narrow the shoe will be, how much room is in the toe, the curvature and the shoe’s height. Companies often use a different last for different types of shoes, so if you are changing styles or opting to buy a shoe from a different brand, the last in the new shoes likely will be different, and that could make them fit differently.

For example, Adidas’s Tour 360 XT will feel different on your feet than the new Adidas Codechaos Boa because different materials are used in their construction. The shoes also have different lacing systems, and one is a spiked shoe while the other is spikeless. You would likely need the same size in both shoes, but they would feel different on your feet.

“If you look at the shoe from the toe-down view, as if it was on your foot, you can see that some are more rounded and some are pointy,” said Andrew Lawson, Puma Golf’s product line manager for footwear. “You can then look at your foot’s shape and tell if you have a wider foot or a narrow foot. Comfort is king, so if a shoe doesn’t fit your foot’s shape, it’s never going to be comfortable.”

Richard Fryer, FootJoy’s director of product management, said it’s worth noting that if you have a favorite pair of shoes, updated versions and new editions of that shoe will almost always fit the same way.

“As you look through our different categories, if you look at DryJoy Tour, Tour X, Pro S/L, the FJ Fury, they’re all based on the Laser Plus last,” Fryer said. “So if you were a 9 last year, you’ll be a 9 this year and be very happy.”

If you chose to buy a pair of golf shoes online, check the return policy before completing your purchase. It might be smart to buy two pairs, try them both on at home and keep the best-fitting pair if you are offered free returns.

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FootJoy Tour X golf shoes

Golfweek’s David Dusek talks with FootJoy’s Ken LaRose about the FootJoy Tour X golf shoes.

Acushnet, parent of Titleist and FootJoy, launches Union Green

Trying to attract a different type of player, Acushnet launches Union Green, a new brand aimed at people at casual golf lovers.

Titleist is one of the most iconic brands in golf and it’s sister brand in the Acushnet Company, FootJoy, is one of the most successful footwear and apparel brands in the sport. When golfers think about Titleist and FootJoy, things like tradition, history and high-quality products for serious golfers like Adam Scott and Justin Thomas come to mind. While it’s true that Titleist now offers a yellow Pro V1 and makes more game-improvement clubs than ever before, and FootJoy is making plenty of modern, sporty shoes to go alongside its classic-looking footwear, there has always been a level of aspiration to the brands.

That’s what makes Acushnet’s launch of Union Green, a new sub-brand, so interesting. Union Green is going in a totally different direction. The brand’s tone was established in the company’s first social media post, quietly published on Tuesday.

View this post on Instagram

Everyone's welcome. #UnionGreen #JoinTheUnion #UnitedByGolf

A post shared by Union Green (@golfuniongreen) on Feb 3, 2020 at 1:05pm PST

The idea of inclusion is everywhere on the company’s new website (uniongreen.com) and Instagram account, with hashtags like #UnitedByGolf and #JoinTheUnion everywhere.

No one in the images appears to be over 30 and if you study the image on the site’s homepage carefully, it’s hard to believe that this company has related to Titleist and FootJoy.

Awaiting on the tee of what looks like a windswept links, bathed in evening sunlight, a long-haired man wearing shorts has a hat on backwards while another is wearing tan shorts, white tube socks and brown shoes with red laces. They embody a statement found just below the image:

We’re not the golfers you see on tour. We’re different. The ones playing local, taking mulligans, over celebrating and always going for it. Club Championships, rule books, 18 holes every time – that’s not our game. We’re here for golf that fits our life. For fellowship. For the love of the fairway. We’re united by the game.

The two golf balls being sold on the site are the Teebird ($19.99/dozen) and Pinpoint ($27.99/dozen). Both are manufactured in Titleist’s Ball Plant 2 in Massachusetts. The Teebird is touted to be long and fast, while the Pinpoint is designed to give accuracy and control. Details are few at this point, but the target market for Union Green balls may not be concerned with details like compression and cover material.

Union Green golf balls — Union Green Teebird and Pindrop golf balls (Union Green)

In addition to golf balls, Union Green is selling t-shirts, hats and mugs. More things will come in the future, but right now it is interesting to see how Acushnet is trying to tap into a growing number of people who enjoy golf as a vehicle for fun and friendship rather than competition. It is an attempt to grow the business with a new audience, while not diluting the Titleist and Footjoy brands or alienating loyalists who like that gear.

FootJoy Tour X golf shoes

For golfers who try to maximize power, Footjoy’s Tour X is designed to maximize stability while keeping your feet dry and comfortable.

Gear: FootJoy Tour X golf shoes
Price: $220 (laced), $250 (BOA)

Golfers are continually working to generate more speed and power. They want to hit the ball farther and create more power. To do that, they need a solid base and foundation for their swings. The new Footjoy Tour X golf shoes are designed to create that, with features built to provide traction, support and comfort.

To keep you firmly in place throughout your swing, FootJoy designed the Tour X with a thermoplastic polyurethane piece that wraps up from the sole, around the outside of the shoe and into the lacing system. The company calls it a PowerStrap, and it enhances lateral stability, so golfers sway less from side to side.

The Power Strap works with a lightweight outside that features nine cleated pods. They have been placed around the perimeter of the outsole and extend beyond the seam where the upper meets the midsole and outsole. That helps maximize stability and lock players into position.

Inside the Tour X, FootJoy added an OrthoLite Impressions FitBed made from a dual-density foam. It molds itself to the foot but maintains cushioning. For added comfort, the collar is made from a breathable material and the tongue has extra stretch.

The Tour X’s leather upper is waterproof, and the shoes come with a two-year waterproof warranty. While the standard Tour X has a lacing system, golfers can also opt for a version that features a BOA lacing system. It lets players turn a small dial on the side of the shoe to tighten the laces for a personalized fit, then pull the dial out to loosen the whole system completely.