Equipment

Adidas to release asymmetrical golf shoes

Published

9 years ago

Mar 31, 2015

Left-handed and right-handed golfers swing from opposite sides of the ball, so why would they wear the same shoes? Adidas is making the case that they shouldn’t with its new Asym Energy Boost golf shoes, which are sold in both left- and right-handed models.

The Asym Energy Boost is golf’s first fully asymmetrical design, Adidas says, and for $300 per pair, golfers can experience what it’s like to wear a pair of shoes specifically designed for their side of the ball.

[quote_box_center]“The great thing about asymmetrical technology is that it is intuitive, meaning whenever we tell someone why we developed the asym energy boost and explain that our feet work differently during the golf swing, people get it,” said Masun Denison, Director of Global Product Marketing, Footwear at adidas Golf. “It is complex to make a shoe like this, but easy to understand the benefit it provides.”[/quote_box_center]

Using biomechanical equipment, heat maps and force plate pressure studies, Adidas engineers found differences in horizontal and vertical forces between the way a golfer’s right foot and left foot worked — for both right-handed and left-handed golfers. With this information, Adidas was able to develop shoes that maximized stability, power and energy transfer by strategically placing boost foam and gripmore spikes in certain areas.

Gripmore spike configurations use different size spikes that are placed in different areas for each foot.

Dissimilar spike configurations between the shoes benefit particular needs of each foot throughout the swing, leading to more stability and traction, Adidas says. The shoes also use a full-length energy foam sole, and asymmetrical outsoles and uppers, which are designed to harness energy.

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Andrew Tursky

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

23 Comments

Mat

May 6, 2016 at 7:48 am

I have spikes that have two settings, and I set them asymmetrically now. This is just another way to do that. It does work, but I can easily say I won’t spend that amount.

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John McGinn

Apr 30, 2015 at 6:34 am

These golf shoes have intrigued me. As a Podiatrist, I am always eager to look into the ethos of design when it comes to helping foot function. Looking at the biomechanical research data will pretty much confirm that these shoes will influence foot function. My question is; will they influence your game? Hmm? The proof is in the pudding but if your golf form is off, don’t expect $300 to set it right. You’ll need to look at your whole game. For me, these shoes look the part. I appreciate the design research which adds to the professional brand but I see many cheaper alternatives in the same class. Will I buy a pair? Not ruling them out till I try them on.

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zoots

Apr 6, 2015 at 2:19 am

Put $300 towards lessons and golf bare foot like Snead

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Golfraven

Apr 2, 2015 at 5:31 pm

Guess those will not stop hackers from slicing the ball. price too high and poor looks. A NO from me.

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Tanner

Apr 2, 2015 at 7:37 am

Do these shoes prevent a sway? There should be shoes for amateurs, that help improve the game. This way we don’t have to worry, about hip bumps, dplane etc making the game more fun.

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Bruce

Apr 2, 2015 at 6:05 am

guess this is why the workers in Vietnam are striking.
they found out their $8 shoes are selling for $300.

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Mike Chong

Apr 1, 2015 at 11:36 pm

$300 is way expensive. hard to convince myself to get a pair

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Steve P

Apr 1, 2015 at 6:17 pm

Etonic Stabilites used to be offered in RH and LH versions. Etonic was also the company that invented waterproof golf shoes.

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Carlos Danger

Apr 1, 2015 at 1:41 pm

Not a horrible idea. I dont think people will bite on the $300, if it started under $200 I think they would get some good sales.

I look at these as less of a performance benefit and potentially more of a durability factor. I personally wear out the toe on my right foot and the outside of my left foot. If these shoes had extra support, padding, rubber, etc…in the places that golfers typically wear out…that would be pretty cool, i guess.

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Nellaad

Apr 1, 2015 at 11:16 am

I saw these shoes being worn by a player just this past weekend on the European Tour event shown on the Golf Channel. I thought they were pretty sharp looking for Addidas shoes. I did not know what the deal was with them but Low and behold here they are. $300 bucks huh, those are Ecco prices and they is the reason I don’t like Ecco’s!! Perhaps I will catch them later in the year on sale at Golf Locker!!

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HeftyLefty

Apr 1, 2015 at 7:01 am

This is not a “new” idea. Puma released asymmetrical golf shoes a number of years ago when their smart quill technology debuted. Not necessarily hating on the tech, just poiting out that this is rehash of a similar concept that obviously didn’t gain much traction in the industry. Any one remember the particular model of Puma shoes? What was your experience, positive / negative / unnoticeable / indifferent?

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TheInfidel

Apr 1, 2015 at 4:23 am

#AprilFool

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Rosie

Mar 31, 2015 at 8:13 pm

I seem to remember that John Huston was penalized at the Masters for illegal shoes which were deemed to be building a stance. Are these shoes “conforming”?

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- Jusitn
  
  Apr 1, 2015 at 12:33 am
  
  Are you stupid? The shoe had nothing to do with building the stance. He moved the surroundings around him to build his stance.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Brian
    
    Apr 1, 2015 at 10:34 am
    
    Weight Rite shoes were banned in the middle of the Masters. He had to change shoes for the next round.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - BD57
    
    Apr 1, 2015 at 12:06 pm
    
    Sorry, Justin, but you’re wrong about that – so Is Rosie (to some extent).
    
    Huston did indeed use “Weight Rite” shoes for a brief period of time. They were built with a “bias” toward the center of your stance – think of putting a wedge of wood (or a golf ball) under the outside of your right foot to keep you from swaying on the backswing, and a wedge under the front foot to keep you from swaying forward on the downswing.
    
    USGA decided they were non-conforming, Huston stopped wearing them & they went away.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Carlos Danger
      
      Apr 1, 2015 at 1:34 pm
      
      I would have guessed that Justin was correct being that he started his comment off with “are you stupid?”
      
      Typically someone who calls someone stupid for making a comment that is not correct, is 100% sure that they are correct themselves…
      
      I think I am just going to start all of my conversations with people like ol’ Justin. “Paper or Plastic sir?”
      “Are you stupid! Paper, please…thank you”
      
      Reply Report comment
Tom

Mar 31, 2015 at 3:13 pm

Awww give it a rest guys. Research and development cost $$$. By the end of the season you can p/u a used pair for $150.

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Shayne

Mar 31, 2015 at 1:31 pm

Very interesting idea, but $300!!!!

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Boo

Mar 31, 2015 at 12:34 pm

Yeah, they need to get real on the $300 price, its not as if the other shoes with good bottoms are getting it done. Not solving a problem just an added feature that might add something but probably not!

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AJ Jensen

Mar 31, 2015 at 12:31 pm

I not one inclined to believe in sport-shoe mumbo jumbo, especially because like club makers the shoe people would rather have us buying new products every season. This does make sense though, consider a golfer stresses his footprint differently for a right or a left handed player, and the stresses are similar from shot to shot

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Nolanski

Mar 31, 2015 at 11:55 am

Makes sense but $300 shoes is insulting. Plus there is no spike in the toes. Hogan would be rolling over in his grave.

Reply Report comment
- Carlos Danger
  
  Apr 1, 2015 at 1:37 pm
  
  Your insulted by golf shoes? Just dont buy them…there problem solved
  
  I did not know Mr. Hogan personally…but I am going to take a wild guess that he would never have cared in any way how much a pair of golf shoes cost
  
  Reply Report comment

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