2018 SPIKELESS GOLF SHOE BUYER’S GUIDE

Golf shoes are changing, and they’re changing fast. With all this change happening under our feet, Mygolfspy continues looks for the shoe that provides the Goldilocks effect: The one that’s just right.

In 2018 golfers should demand a shoe that not only looks good but also provides comfort right out of the box. It must also provide stability in the right places and be able to handle the harsh conditions encountered on the course throughout the entire season.

The aim of this spikeless golf shoe buyer’s guide is to identify spikeless shoes that offer the functionality of a spiked shoe with the comfort of your favorite sneaker.

The process of buying anything in today’s time has become stressful and time-consuming. We want to help solve that problem for you. The MyGolfSpy mission is simple: create the world’s most objective and comprehensive testing in the industry. We feel the best reviews are those that help you make the right choices and help you get the most out of your time and money.

This way you can buy with confidence and eliminate a lot of the guesswork. We are here to help show you how a product will perform before you buy.

One key to our testing protocols is that we test products head-to-head. We select the top products from each category and put them through rigorous side-by-side testing. We test both in the lab and in the field. We score each product across a range of weighted categories. We then rank the products, explain why our top performers bested the other entries, and give awards to the best performing products in the category.

This year we approached spikeless shoe testing with more critical scoring and improved protocols. This was based on an intensive look at the market and feedback from consumers just like you. Several key findings from that research influenced the shoe testing process for 2018.

Our findings are based on many factors. This includes the stability provided by the shoe throughout the round. The comfort of the shoe a golfer gets straight from the box and during the swing. The ability of the shoe to resist golf course conditions without breaking down. The style of the shoe as deemed by the majority of consumers. And the overall traction of the shoe that allows confidence to swing as you would in a spiked shoe.

THE METRICS

We’re always fine-tuning the process to make sure we’re collecting as much meaningful data as possible. Continuing that trend we’ve updated and refined this year’s analysis to bring you the best buying advice possible.

We put in hours of testing utilizing data-driven protocols and enhanced metrics.

Over the course of the test, testers hit balls wearing each pair of shoes. For each pair of shoes, testers hit eight shots and gave scores during and after the test. There were opportunities for breaks to limit sweat and tester fatigue. We also closely examined parts of the shoes without our testers present. We checked the insoles, midsoles, and outsoles for anything that could limit functionality or comfort.

Stability (25 points) – How much support does the shoe provide throughout the golf swing? Does the ankle feel stable? Does the ankle move and by how much and in which direction? We also test how far the ball of the foot and toes slide forward and laterally. We find that poor performing shoes allow the ankles and or balls of the foot and toes to roll and or slide instead of forcing them to turn. Shoes that performed well had effectively designed heel cups helping lock the ankle into place. In these shoes, balance is improved because of the more stable lower body. We also found that shoes with either horizontal patterns and or slicker material on the insole can cause the ball of the foot and toes to slide more during the swing.

It should be noted; a quality spikeless golf shoe does not trade stability for comfort.

Comfort (40 points) – Straight from the box, can you play 9? 18? 36? While many shoes are comfortable while standing or sitting, they become uncomfortable when walking long distances. We noticed that some shoes have uncomfortable contouring of their insoles while others have unpliable outsoles. The most comfortable shoes feel light on the feet, yet provide the stability needed during the round. We also integrated fit into this category which examined the length, width, ankle entry, toe box, midsection, and heel cup to ensure that each shoe provided a snug and comfortable fit. Shoes that finished poorly in this category caused discomfort stemming from the fit itself. On the other hand, shoes that performed well fit like a glove.

Elements (15 points) – On the golf course, one faces a variety of different conditions. Therefore one of the main challenges a golf shoe faces is how it handles those conditions. From dew to mud to rain a golf shoe must be able to keep your feet safe from the elements. The best shoes in this category have well-designed midsoles, uppers, and outsoles that seal the shoe from the elements.

Style (10 points) – Score is established by considering what we believe the majority of consumers deem stylish, not whether the individual tester likes the look of the shoe. Survey questions provided to testers were developed to combat any brand-driven favoritism on the part of the individual respondent.

Traction (10 points) – No one likes slipping when hitting a shot on a golf course. Therefore, it’s critical that a golf shoe keep you grounded when hitting a shot. The best shoes in this category allow the golfer to swing without slipping.

It should be noted; traction is not the same as stability.

Final grades were awarded based on total scores. Best Overall is our highest overall scoring spikeless golf shoe, and awards are given to the top five shoes. Also, more specific Best in Class recognition is awarded to shoes in certain categories (like fit, comfort, and stability) that push the industry ‘envelope.’

We also give an “Editor’s Choice” and a “Best Buy” award to those companies that provide value products that seriously compete with the bigger names.

THE BEST SPIKELESS SHOES OF 2018

2018 SPIKELESS SHOE BUYER'S GUIDE

Name	Price	Stability	Comfort	Elements	Style	Traction	Total
Puma Grip Fusion	$75.00	6th	5th	4th	3rd	2nd	89.75
Skechers Go Golf Elite V.3	$100.00	4th	6th	4th	11th	2nd	88.25
Adidas Adipower s boost 3	$130.00	6th	7th	10th	1st	4th	87.75
Footjoy Pro SL	$159.99	3rd	10th	8th	4th	7th	86
Under Armour UA Performance SL	$150.00	1st	11th	8th	8th	7th	85.75
Nike Lunar Control Vapor 2	$175.00	8th	13th	4th	8th	1st	85.5
Truelinkswear Outsider	$169.00	9th	8th	1st	8th	7th	85
Truelinkswear Original	$149.00	9th	11th	1st	7th	6th	84.75
New Balance Minimus SL	$119.99	2nd	9th	4th	12th	10th	84.25
Ecco BIOM HYBRID 3	$200.00	12th	4th	3rd	4th	14th	83.5
Skechers Go Golf Drive 3	$85.00	4th	2nd	14th	12th	5th	83.5
Puma IGNITE PWRSPORT	$120.00	14th	1st	12th	1st	11th	83.25
Adidas Adicross bounce	$120.00	13th	2nd	12th	4th	13th	80.5
Lambda Golf Varenna	$290 Euros	9th	14th	11th	14th	11th	72.5