The Cricket Crossover is More Real Than you Think

There is a lot of cool gear in the golf equipment world that doesn’t always fit neatly into Most Wanted Tests or Buyer’s Guides. You still want to know how it performs. In our We Tried It series, we put gear to the test and let you know if it works as advertised.

What we tried:

The Phantom Phorm1. The first golf shoe offering from the UK-based Cricket company.

Who tried it:

Connor. Director of Content and resident sneakerhead. I’m very familiar with Cricket companies making waves in golf (a la PAYNTR Golf) so when I saw the Phantom Phorm1, I was very intrigued.

What I look for in a golf shoe

The way I review golf shoes is slightly different than how we test for Most Wanted. But, for the most part, the attributes I’m looking for remain the same. I want something comfortable (first and foremost) and stable. Traction is important to me and waterproofing even less so to my personal needs.

Let’s breakdown the Phantom Phorm1.

Behind the design

The crossover between Cricket footwear and golf footwear is very real. Well, at least that’s the premise behind the Phorm1. Phantom Golf co-founder Gabe Gallucci saw a real need in the marketplace for more comfortable and stable golf shoes and found that the needs of Cricket athletes and golfers were very similar.

Everything about the shoe, from the TPU outsole to cushy EVA foam midsole, was designed with the golfer’s needs in mind.

Comfort

Is the Phantom Phorm1 comfortable? Yes and no. It’s not the most comfortable golf shoe I’ve ever worn but it’s most definitely not uncomfortable. I’m a fan of the lightweight, plus EVA midsole. But the accompanying hard TPU outsole makes it difficult at times to really feel the “squish” of the cushion.

It’s also worth noting that the shoes run a bit small so a half to full size up would have given me a more comfortable fit, no doubt about it.

Stability

This is where the Phorm1 really shines. The TPU outsole and generous outrigger make this shoe one of, if not the most, stable spiked golf shoes on the market. It feels impossible to roll over in the Phorm1 and it has plenty of torsional support to resist twisting during the swing.

I absolutely feel like I can make a quick, explosive move in this shoe and the lateral containment would keep me safe and secure. It’s almost like it was design for cricket!

Traction

The traction on the Phorm1 is definitely interesting. These aren’t your typical SoftSpikes. But they work. The custom spikes and additional traction lugs make these shoes great in wet and dry conditions. No complaints here.

A solid effort

Overall, I’d consider the Phantom Phorm1 a solid spiked golf shoe, and an admirable first offering in the golf space for the successful Cricket company. If stability is what you seek, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a golf shoe that’s better in this regard.