ever since fred couples donned a pair of sockless sneakers at the 2010 masters and sauntered his way around the course to the opening round lead at 6-under, the golf shoe has undergone a renaissance.
comfort became king and style became an antsy prince with a dagger under its cloak. now, it seems old and new
shoe manufacturers alike have all responded to the raised expectations with designs that bleed ease and grace.
and, so far, performance has yet to be sacrificed. the emphasis on less weight and lower profiles is not all that
golf shoe designers have borrowed from their running contemporaries. add in waterproofing throughout—
and in one case, yak leather—and you’ve got the makings of golf’s new ruling shoes.
FOOT SOLDIERS
JASON KERKMANS By
THE PURIST
the new adiPure Z ($250) takes the
best of the thintech low-profile cleat
and sole technology found in the adi-
das golf shoe line and gives it a clas-
sical leather styling. the leather sock
lining only adds to the sophistication,
but it’s the reengineered platform, and
its forefoot- and heel-wrapping design
that hugs your feet with just the right
amount of pressure.
adidasgolf.com
NATURAL FIT
ecco created its Biom line of foot-
wear for serious runners and based
the shoes’ anatomical shape on the
scanned impressions of several thou-
sand feet. from this came the ecco
Biom Golf ($225), perhaps the most
well-fitting and comfortable shoe to
wear during a swing or a step. Plus,
the Biom’s uppers are made from yak
leather, which ecco claims is three-
times stronger than other leathers.
eccousa.com
MOON WALK
Born in the running lab, the flywire
saddle-stabilizing fibers wrap on the Nike
Lunar Control ($190) provide support
right where the foot needs it during a
golf swing. While the shoe’s namesake
lunar dual density foam cushioning in the
midsole provides all the comfort your foot
could want, without any of the weight
your legs don’t.
nikegolf.com
FLEET-FOOTED
It’s billed as the lightest shoe worn on
the Pga tour, but the True Linkswear
Tour ($160) may also be the most
comfortable. the Barefoot Platform
allows the toes to move and grip
individually, something we didn’t even
realize we were missing out on until
trying this shoe. and the memory foam
heel was just as welcome a surprise.
truelinkswear.com
WALK ABOUT
Sure, it looks and feels like a go-
anywhere and do-just-about-anything
casual shoe, but make no mistake,
the Cardiff ($120)—part of ashworth’s
new fall 2011 line of shoes—is a serious
golf shoe as well. and yet, even though
the spikeless sole maintains serious
traction on the course, it’s the supple
leather and suede trim that will have
you wearing these even when you’re
not golfing.
ashworthgolf.com
