Golf shoes have come a long way, baby!
Take a look at the shoe section in any pro shop or retail golf store and it’s filled with color and fashionable styles. Indeed, the selections have come a long way since the choices were basically black, brown or white in oxford, and black or brown with white in a saddle shoe.
Not that those styles and color patterns aren’t still available.
But there is much, much more.
Over here, there’s Puma, a relatively new entrant in the golf footwear category, offering sleek European styling, patterns and colors. Next to those, there’s Bite, a pioneer in biomechanical footwear with myriad golf styles ranging from sandals to athletic models to even boots.
And then there’s MyJoys, a new offering from FootJoys which can’t be fully displayed in stores because it’s up to golfers to design their own color schemes and then match them up to various styles for custom ordering. Pick your base and accent colors, then personalize the shoes on the outer side of the heel with a logo or your name or slogan.
To help you sort it all out, here’s a selected look at what’s new in golf footwear this season.
MYJOYS
As another company in another business once said: “Have it your way.”
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| With FootJoy's MyJoys program, you can customize your shoe. |
“MyJoys are built to your unique specifications, including different sized pairs if you wish,” states a FootJoy brochure. “We make them from scratch and deliver them to you in just four weeks.”
In addition to a modest selection of base and lace colors, there are 33 saddle/accent colors and textures, including limetta smooth, pink tumbled and Hawaii print. There’s a library of logos, includes flags from various nations, a shamrock, dollar sign, pink ribbon and more. And, if you choose to monogram on the heel, there are 21 colors for that, including bright orange, crimson, fudge brown, purple and cobalt blue.
The name of the DryJoys PRO model stems from Platform Responsive Outsole technology, which provides a two-pod sole fused by a lightweight, yet strong, aluminized fiberglass bridge. With a leather upper by Pittards and Pulsar cleats by Softspikes with the fast twist system, suggested retail price for ordering this men’s-only model is $190.
DryJoys are similar but with a slightly less high-tech outsole. They do have a leather upper and leather linings. Suggested retail prices are $175 per pair for men’s and $150 for women’s.
The Contour series has leather uppers, super-soft linings and contoured fit-bed with a TPU stability bridge. List price is $140 per pair for both men’s and women’s.
BITE
“We’ve put a lot of focus into this season on developing the lightest shoes in golf,” said Dale Bathum, Bite Shoes founder and owner. “With a lot of people thinking fitness, or others who are aging, a heavy shoe is just the wrong thing to wear for golf. Heavy shoes put a lot of pressure on the legs and feet.”
According to Bite, the average walking round of golf consumes 10,000 steps. Bite’s new lightweight shoes weigh an average 9 ounces for women’s styles and 10 ounces for men, vs. an average of 16 ounces for others. With lightweight shoes, it’s said, a golfer will encounter 3,000 less pounds of stress.
Bite’s lightweight shoes include the new Vibe AC for men and a four-model Cirrus lineup for women. The men’s model comes with a Biotrac outsole, FootFrame technology and a mesh upper that allows a cool airflow. The women’s line has a removable footbed for those who may wish to use orthotics.
Available in a selection of color schemes, suggested retail price for the Vibe AC is a cool $79 per pair, while the Cirrus line is priced $69 to $89 per pair.
Also new from Bite this season is the Charter golf shoe, a classic boat-style shoe in several tones. There’s a leather upper, moisture intrusion prevention system, and padded tongue and collar for comfort. These just look comfy. Charter also is equipped with FootFrame technology and removable sock liner. The outsole has molded traction teeth and lugs for a green-friendly grip.
List price for the Charter model is $99 per pair.
PUMA
Puma is a global athletic brand that launched golf shoes in the U.S. last year. For 2007, its footwear catalog has vastly expanded in a splattering of Euro fashion, swirls, styles and color schemes.
Concorde GTX, for men and women, is listed as a top-of-the-line performance shoe which takes its inspiration from Puma’s lightweight soccer shoes. The GTX model features a waterproof leather upper with a Gore-Tex membrane. The outsole boasts a carbon fiber composite embedded in injected thermoplastic urethane. The carbon fiber is meant to ensure enhanced pressure distribution while reducing weight and supporting the natural flex points of the forefoot.
In addition to several color choices, there’s one model without Gore-Tex for men and women in a very noticeable metallic gold.
The Concorde GTX is Puma’s ‘statement’ shoe for 2007,” said Kristina Fields, Puma public relations manager. “It’s based on the soccer technology, but it’s been adapted for tour-quality golf. It’s lightweight, to help reduce stress, and it’s very stable.”
Suggested retail prices are $200 per pair for both men’s and women’s models.
PG styles include PG GTX, with crocodile upper and Gore-Tex membrane and GTX without crocodile. All models have an EVA midsole and solid rubber outsole with eight Scorpion cleats. There’s a choice of color patterns in both models.
Suggested retail price is $170 per pair for the men’s CR version, $160 for the men’s PG GTX and $140 for the women’s PG Wmns models.
Click here for complete specifications on all shoes mentioned in this article.
