See the Nike footwear, designed using recycled materials, that players like Rory McIlroy, Tony Finau and Jason Day will wear at the Masters.
While Nike’s most iconic golfer, Tiger Woods, is not going to be competing next week at the 2021 Masters, plenty of other big-name players who wear Nike footwear are going to be in the field. Golfers like Rory McIlroy, Tony Finau, Jason Day and others will be at Augusta National Golf Club trying to win the year’s first men’s major championship.
While Nike is not officially making any Masters-themed footwear, the company does have new colorways that will be featured by its athletes starting next week. Collectively, they are being called Nike’s Masters NRG Pack, but individually they are the Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 NRG, Air Max 90 G NRG and the Air Zoom Infinity Tour NRG.
The uppers in all the shoes are made from 100 percent recycled canvas, which gives them a raw, rougher look and feel. The lace loops and the canvas on the tongue are also made from 100 percent recycled materials.
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.
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 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).
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.
Nike, the sporting goods giant that is the footwear and apparel brand of choice for Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Tony Finau, Cameron Champ and a host of other competitors at the 2020 Masters, has announced it is debuting a new collection of …
Nike, the sporting goods giant that is the footwear and apparel brand of choice for Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day, Tony Finau, Cameron Champ and a host of other competitors at the 2020 Masters, has announced it is debuting a new collection of shoes this fall at Augusta National.
The “Fearless Together” collection is comprised of three previously released shoes that are, in Nike’s words, “Designed to celebrate the athletes who tap into their inner strength to break barriers, in golf and beyond.”
All three shoes—the Air Max 270 G, Air Zoom Victory Tour and Air Zoom Infinity Tour—feature yellow (volt) accents along with a white and black abstract-striped pattern.
On the 50th anniversary of the release of the iconic basketball shoes, Adidas makes a golf version of the Superstar available to the public.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jerry West wore them in the 1970s, and Run-DMC rapped about them in the ’80s. And soon you can wear a golf-specific version on the course, because Adidas announced it is making a limited-edition spiked variation of its iconic Superstar shoes available Aug. 17.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the release of the first Superstar shoes. Initially worn by basketball players, they became a fashion statement before Instagram and Tik Tok influencers drove style trends.
Adidas Superstar golf shoes (Adidas)
The leather uppers of the shoes are waterproof, and the famous rubber shell toe cap is there, just like you remember. So is the trefoil logo on the tongue. On the sole, Adidas has added six replaceable spikes for traction, and the company added some nobs in the herringbone sole pattern to increase grip during a swing.
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.
Adidas Codechaos golf shoes (Adidas)
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.”
The FootJoy Tour X golf shoes (FootJoy)
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.
To celebrate the anniversary of Fred Couples wearing the Ecco Street shoes, the company is re-releasing the footwear that changed the game.
Back in 1980, a 20-year-old Fred Couples was in Tucson, Arizona, playing in one of his first PGA Tour events as a pro, when he spotted Johnny Miller on the range.
“I literally flipped out,” Couples said. “He was such a cool guy.”
Couples, the winner of the 1992 Masters, is now 60. For a generation of golfers, Couples played a role similar to Miller as that cool guy. The effortlessly powerful swing, the walk, the casual mannerisms, the hair. Boom Boom is the complete package when it comes to cool, and a decade ago, he unwittingly became a style icon when he wore a pair of Ecco Street golf shoes while playing the 2010 Masters.
To celebrate the 10-year anniversary, Ecco is re-releasing the Golf Street Premiere ($150) and the limited-edition Golf Street 10 ($230).
The story really begins in November 2009, when Couples was living and playing golf in Palm Desert, California. A friend who ran a pro shop that sold a lot of Ecco shoes called Couples and asked if he’d seen the new Street shoes. The former University of Houston star had not, so he got in his car and drove to the shop.
“He showed me the shoes and in a roundabout way, I paid for them,” Couples said. “He wasn’t allowed to give them to me because he didn’t have many pairs and they were so new.”
Ecco Golf Street (Ecco)
Couples started playing golf in them, sockless, which in Palm Springs was easy because the weather was perfect. However, when he brought three pairs of Street shoes (and no cleated footwear) to the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai in Hawaii, “all hell broke loose.”
Sure, Couples shot 65-66-64 to finish second that week on the Champions Tour, but all anyone wanted to ask him about were his shoes.
“People started calling them deck shoes, boat shoes, walking shoes,” Couples recalled. “I said, ‘Yeah, basically you can do all that in these shoes.’”
Aside from the casual style, what made the Ecco Street unique back in 2010 was the sole. At that time, golf shoes were cleated. Everyone wore golf shoes with plastic, replaceable spikes except a few pros who continued to wear steel spikes. Spikeless, hybrid-style golf shoes with traction-enhancing elements were more scarce than double eagles at Augusta National. Until a few months later when Couples, still sockless, wore Ecco Street shoes at the 2010 Masters, played in the final group on Sunday alongside Phil Mickelson and finished sixth.
Fred Couples at the 2010 Masters. (Don Emmert/ Getty Images)
At that point, demand skyrocketed. The shoes looked comfortable to wear and Couples had proved that you could compete and play serious golf in the spikeless Street shoes.
The 2020 version of the Street has a leather upper that has been given a water-resistant Hydromax treatment to help repel water. The rubber outsole is covered with small nobs that create over 800 traction angles to enhance traction while you swing.
“It was kind of comical,” Couples said, thinking back to the 2010 Masters. “I was playing pretty well and was in the golf tournament, and all anyone worried about is the shoes that I’m wearing!”
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.
The PowerStrap increases lateral stability. (FootJoy)
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.
The cleats and outsole pods extend past the sole of the Tour X shoes. (FootJoy)
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.
If you love traditional-looking golf shoes with a classic saddle, akin to something Ben Hogan or Sam Snead might have worn back in the day, the new Adidas Codechaos is not the footwear for you.
The latest offering from the company that makes golf shoes for Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele and numerous other pros is a modern, sporty looking piece of equipment designed to provide today’s golfers with a combination of traction, cushioning and comfort.
Adidas studied where golfers need traction as they swing, then developed the Twistgrip outsole design. (Adidas)
The standard Codechaos ($150) features a newly designed spikeless sole made from rubber and thermoplastic polyurethane that is covered with traction elements. While some of the traction elements have been positioned in waves, the pattern is broken up by several pieces that appear to be scattered in a random pattern in the forefoot.
After studying the way golfers swing and where they put stress on their feet, Adidas designers developed the chaotic-looking system. Called Twistgrip, it provides forefoot traction in every angle by pointing the edges of the traction elements in every direction.
The upper of the Codechaos features layers of mesh for breathability and is still waterproof. (Adidas)
The upper of the shoe is designed using a light multi-layer mesh that makes the Codechaos more breathable. However, because the shoe is made to be worn by elite golfers and people who want to play in any conditions, it is still waterproof.
To ensure comfort and to provide more cushioning while golfers walk, Adidas added Boost cushioning in the heel and forefoot areas. The Torsion X stability bar that debuted in last season’s shoes also was added to the Codechaos to give players more lateral support throughout the swing.
Adidas Codechaos BOA golf shoes (Adidas)
The Codechaos also is available in a high-top version with a Boa ratcheting system ($180). Like the standard version, it has the Twistgrip sole and a waterproof mesh upper, but instead of laces, golfers twist a small dial on the side of the shoe to tighten or loosen the wire lacing system.
The Codechaos Sport ($130) fits in with the other models but has been made with Bounce foam in the midsole. It has the same Twistgrip sole pattern on the bottom but does not have the Torsion X stability bar the standard and Boa versions feature.
