Once upon a time, golf footwear was a pretty simple affair — little more than a repurposed dress shoe with a bit of added traction in the form of some steel spikes. However, as athletes continued to look for an edge on their opponents, it became increasingly important that their footwear was up to par with their potential. As such, these days, golf shoes are highly-engineered items that share a lot in common with other sport-specific models.
Take Adidas’ new ZG21, for example. It rides on a bed Lightstrike, a type of foam that allows it to be 20% lighter than its predecessors as well as 40% lighter than any other EVA offering on the market. What’s more, because it features the brand’s BOOST technology, it’s also incredibly soft and forgiving underfoot. And in order to make sure that the shoe was plenty stable atop all of its cushioning, Adidas gave it Six-cleat Thintech traction, as well as a special Sprintskin synthetic upper for security, a BOA Fit System for micro-adjustment, and a TPU fin for lateral stability through your swing. It’s available now for $200.
