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Review: Nike Flyknit Elite golf shoes

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OK. Let’s discuss the elephant in the Flyknit Elite golf shoe room straight away: A percentage of golfers will never wear a high-top golf shoe, regardless of how well it performs. Likewise, a percentage of golfers will not wear sneaker-style golf shoes.

If you don’t find yourself in one of the groups above, however, beyond aesthetics, the Flyknit Elite presents a viable option if you’re already a Flyknit wearer in other shoes, or are looking for lightweight spikeless shoe with ankle support (and more ankle support than the Flyknit Chukka offers).

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Appearing on the global sports scene during the Sochi Olympics, Flyknit footwear featuring Flyknit technology has been a fixture in other sports for the past few years. The Swoosh brought the TPU yarn technology and high-strength support fibers to golf footwear with the Flyknit Chukka and Flyknit Elite to market in June.

The tech is aimed at offering lightweight support, and the precision weave allows targeted areas to stretch and others to support. The company indicated the concept was born out of “runners a shoe with the snug (and virtually unnoticed) fit of a sock.” Breathability is the hallmark of the knit upper, and the sock-like, mid-height collar prevents debris from entering the shoe.

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While the shoes aren’t waterproof, they do have what Nike calls “dew protection” along the upper’s edge to keep feet dry in wet grass. Obviously, another element of the Flyknit imperative is to use fewer materials is less overall waste, for which our landfills thank us.

The sole, of which a picture is worth more than a thousand words, features what Nike calls an Integrated Traction pattern, which offers a grip at least commensurate with any spikeless offering.

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For this review, I was sent the Flyknit Elites in the Black/Clear Jade/Glacier Blue/White colorway. Two other colorways, pictured below, are also available. The shoes come in sizes 7-12, with half sizes in-between, as well as sizes 13 and 14, and sell for $270.

Here’s the essential question for potential purchasers of the Flyknit Elite: There are bulkier shoes on the marketplace with more stability. There are spike-laden shoes on the marketplace that offer more traction. However, to get a lighter shoe with the Flyknit’s performance and aesthetic characteristics, is that trade off worth it?

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Below is a quote from Nike Staffer Jamie Lovemark about the shoes. And yes, he’s paid by Nike, but he could also be wearing the more traditional Lunar Control line of shoes as he plays for his daily bread.

“I always have guys come up to me and ask about (the shoes),” Lovemark said. “They always want to know if they have spikes on them and if the traction is good, which has never been an issue for me with these shoes. Plus, I like the fact that they have a different look. There’s nothing wrong with standing out when you’re on the course.”

No doubt you’ll stand out. And in giving these shoes a spin, there is likewise no doubt that they are lighter and more fitted to the foot than any offering I’ve come across personally. There’s also more of a feeling of rootedness or connectedness with the ground than many spikeless models offer.

Ultimately, the Flyknit Elite is an athletic shoe you can comfortably and capably play golf in, while, you know, having a commendable shoe game, if that’s your thing.

[wrx_retail_links productid=”102″]

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27 Comments

27 Comments

  1. CCshop

    Aug 16, 2016 at 6:40 pm

    $270 and no waterproofing. Pass

    • Dominic

      Jan 5, 2017 at 4:33 pm

      If you are spending $270 for golf shoes, you likely already have a waterproof pair. I have a pair of the flyknits, and they are the best shoe I’ve ever played in for ordinary dry/warm conditions. When it rains or is wet, I wear waterproof shoes, but when it’s hot, I’ll grab these 10/10 times for their comfort and breathability.

  2. Steve

    Aug 16, 2016 at 8:26 am

    I would wear them… to a job interview at the circus.

  3. Mark

    Aug 16, 2016 at 2:46 am

    Ideal shoe for loitering on a corner while wearing a tracksuit and lots of gold chains. No wonder Nike has cocked up its Golf business.

    • IowaHacker

      Aug 16, 2016 at 2:00 pm

      I bet your a “Blue Lives Matter” supporter too. You win the Internet Ignorance award for August 16, 2016!

      • Jim

        Aug 17, 2016 at 2:54 am

        Problem with Police? You some kinda golf-gansta or just a douchebag wannabe hood?

        You’re OB dipstick.

        • IowaHacker

          Aug 17, 2016 at 9:55 am

          Golf-gansta? Wannabe hood? I’m not sure I know what those two things are. Care to enlighten me James Awad from Connecticut? Maybe when I show up at your door you can talk that sh*t to my face and we can deal with it then. For a golf teacher you sure have a loud mouth, I bet you yell at children while raping their mothers in your terrible excuse for a teaching venue.

    • KK

      Aug 16, 2016 at 11:25 pm

      Did you type this while wearing your pointy white hat?

  4. Korean Slum Lord

    Aug 16, 2016 at 1:15 am

    They just mailing it in for golf goods.

  5. jap

    Aug 15, 2016 at 11:24 am

    I’d like the shoe but the colors are gross. Give at least one option without some bright annoying color on it.

  6. desmond

    Aug 15, 2016 at 10:44 am

    Don’t mind them, but at $270 they are approaching the price of a PXG iron that will last 5+ years, while these shoes may last 1-2 years. $270? Seriously?

  7. Flip

    Aug 15, 2016 at 10:40 am

    Jesus h….. hideous is an understatement. I would figure some of the colored guys that come hack up our club will be wearing that puke.

    • IowaHacker

      Aug 15, 2016 at 10:49 am

      Racist much? Bet you support Trump and the KKK too. Good luck with your bigotry.

    • KK

      Aug 15, 2016 at 9:46 pm

      Holy S. This dude just said “colored guys.” Blast from the 50s.

    • Ron

      Aug 16, 2016 at 11:58 am

      He’s not racist since white is basically a mixture of every color. Hard to get more “colored” than that.

    • KK

      Aug 16, 2016 at 11:45 pm

      The world has so many amazing things to experience. Why stay in your little racist corner? Imagine living in a world without sushi, pineapple fried rice or chorizo tacos. Nah, man.

      • Jack

        Aug 17, 2016 at 3:14 am

        Those are colored foods. He only eats white meat of course.

  8. Anna

    Aug 15, 2016 at 8:22 am

    Where’s the review? This is more like a overview.

  9. DG

    Aug 14, 2016 at 7:51 pm

    LMAO. For $270 bones? And no ‘Jumpman’ logoing? Nike is spoofing us. Right?

  10. DG

    Aug 14, 2016 at 7:49 pm

    LMAO!! For 270 bones? And no ‘Jumpman’? Nike is spoofing us. Right?

  11. jmejones

    Aug 14, 2016 at 2:58 pm

    JM…don’t knock’em till you tried them…I have 2/3 color ways…I love these shoes. 9/10 rounds I play in these now. Most comfortable, best fitting, cool looking golf shoes I’ve ever owned, and I am a golf shoe whore…tried them all over the past 5 years most of the FJ’s, latest Puma’s, countless Nikes, Adidas including boost, Ecco, UA, etc…

  12. JS

    Aug 14, 2016 at 1:06 pm

    They keep making stuff like this they will be done making golf shoes pretty soon as well.

    • Cornfused...

      Aug 15, 2016 at 10:39 am

      You mean offering both traditional shoes and more modern shoes and in general offering the golfing public with more options is going to hurt them? Wow, business acumen has passed you by hasn’t it. Shows perhaps why you don’t own a business. When it comes to shoes, Nike isn’t going anywhere. This is simply another option in the golf shoes market. It has shown decent sales and according to a commenter above, they are well loved.

      • farmer

        Aug 15, 2016 at 1:46 pm

        If you look at the demographics of the golf industry, these ugly things are designed to appeal to the smallest segment. Maybe your uncalled for comment about business acumen shows how much you know about mass marketing.

        • Jack

          Aug 17, 2016 at 3:19 am

          Golf shoes are getting more casual. You are getting Fowler wearing high tops and Puma pushing them out to sell. Younger golfers will love it. Older folk will not since it’s not the golf shoe they are used to looking at. For me even the more casual golf shoes that I have still can be worn with long golf pants. These shoes not so much. I think that’s the main problem with then. You’d have to wear joggers with them? I think the TW shoes were a good mix of sports/dressy.

  13. KK

    Aug 14, 2016 at 12:35 pm

    Needs more Nike swooshes

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Accessory Reviews

Insider photos from Tiger Woods’ launch event for his new “Sun Day Red” apparel line

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On Monday evening, inside the swanky, second-story “Coach House” event center in the Palisades Village, just minutes down the road from the 2024 Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club, Tiger Woods and TaylorMade officially announced their new apparel/footwear/accessory line, called “Sun Day Red.”

The Sun Day Red website officially launched on Monday night during the event, and the products are set to go on sale starting May 1.

The “Sun Day Red,” or “SDR” name will be self-explanatory for most golf fans, since he’s been wearing a victory-red shirt on Sunday’s for his entire professional career, but Woods explained the meaning of Sun Day Red at the launch event:

“It started with mom. Mom thought – being a Capricorn – that my power color was red, so I wore red as a junior golfer and I won some tournaments. Lo and behold, I go to a university that is red; Stanford is red. We wore red on the final day of every single tournament, and then every single tournament I’ve played as a professional I’ve worn red. It’s just become synonymous with me.”

The Sunday Red outfit has worked to perfection for his 82 PGA Tour victories, including 15 majors, so why not make an entire apparel line based on the career-long superstition?

As I learned at Monday’s launch event, the new Sun Day Red line includes much more than just clothing. To go along with a slew of different golf shirt designs and colorways, there were also windbreakers, hoodies, shoes, hats, headcovers, ball markers and gloves on display.

The upscale event was hosted by sports media personality Erin Andrews, with special guests David Abeles (CEO of TaylorMade) and Tiger Woods himself.

As explained by Abeles, the Sun Day Red brand is an independently-run business under the TaylorMade umbrella, and is based in San Clemente, California (rather than Carlsbad, where TaylorMade headquarters is located), and it’s run by a newly-formed, independent group. Brad Blackinship, formerly of Quiksilver and RVCA, is the appointed president of the new brand.

As for the logo itself, obviously, it’s made to look like a Tiger (the animal), and is comprised of 15 tiger stripes, which correspond with Woods’ 15 major championships. While the logo may need a 16th stripe if Woods adds a major trophy to his collection, it makes perfect sense for the time being.

The golf/lifestyle line is meant to combine premium precision and athletic comfort, while still having plenty of wearability and style off the course. Like Woods said on stage at the event, he wants to be able to go right from the course to dinner wearing Sun Day Red, and that was exactly the aesthetic on display at the event on Monday.

Following the official announcement from Woods and Abeles, they revealed multiple pieces of clothing, accessories and footwear for the event-goers to ogle (and photograph). Check out a selection of product/event photos below, or head over to our @GolfWRX Instagram page for video coverage…OR, head into our GolfWRX Forums for even more photos and member discussion.

Enjoy this exclusive look at Tiger Woods’ new Sun Day Red apparel lineup below.

See more photos from the Sun Day Red launch event here

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Apparel Reviews

Apparel review: Justin Rose Collection @ Bonobos

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Bonobos? Bonnaroo? What do they have in common, besides being fun words to pronounce that belong to today’s generations? That’s a question for another story. We’re here to tell you about the latest addition to our curated polo collection, the Performance Golf Polo from the Justin Rose collection. It comes from Bonobos, so kick back to this 2020 Bonnaroo mixtape and read up on white anchors.

Professional golfer, Justin Rose, photographed for his Spring 2021 Bonobos capsule collection.

Bonobos has been working to reinvigorate its golf category that launched in 2011 and bring a fresh face and new thinking to their golf mix. The brand has been eyeing pro-golfer Justin Rose for some time, especially as he’s risen in the game and his style on and off course aligned with the brand’s aesthetic, it was a natural fit. Bonobos made the official partnership in 2019 and since then, Justin has worn Bonobos on the course during his tours, and in his everyday life, by choice.

In March 2021, the brand launched the Justin Rose Golf Collection, its first co-designed golf line with Justin consisting of an assortment of printed performance polos, pants, and shorts that are versatile for casual days on the course, to playing 18-holes and to the clubhouse afterward.

My fit arrived promptly, and I couldn’t help but throw it over my head and shoulders, and strut around the house. No matter the time of year nor the weather outside, a golf polo always works in the indoor arena. I had considered the slim fit, but opted for the standard. It was reassuring to realize that either one would have draped well over my torso. Plenty of room from shoulders to ribs to belly, both static and active. First box, checked.

The next task was no less arduous: wear the shirt in the out-and-about. A brisk day arrived, so I tucked a long-sleeved shirt beneath my polo, and went about my daily business, aka teaching. My students perked up when I entered the hall, and asked immediately about the anchors. “Ya know, just a new polo,” I replied. The company logo was apparent on my sleeve, so no need to ask about its origin. I’ve worn polos in the past that did not interface well with a shirt beneath. When you play golf in the wee morning hours or the evening gloaming, or the shoulder seasons of spring and fall, you often need to trick out your fit with another layer. The Bonobos Performance Golf Polo was comfortable beyond words on this day, and the collaboration with the long sleeve was a success. Second box, checked.

At this point, a little transparency will help matters. I looked good in this shirt, but when I read the added description about the model 40-inch chest, six feet two inches tall, size medium slim fit), I couldn’t help but feel a bit…inadequate? Then I looked in the mirror again, smiled, and winked, and I still looked good.

The final checkpoint was my new, Bryson-esque golf swing pitted against the Bonobos PGP. Having played golf with a gentle, consistent, non-violent swing since I picked up a club, I made the decision that 2021 would be the year that I would tear the cover off the ball. Why wait for a better time than the present, am I right? Swing after swing at the dome produced a variety of shot traces (Bryson wasn’t built in a day, after all), and my body still loved my second skin. Box three, checked.

In addition to the White Anchor pattern, something I would call the small-repeat, Bonobos offers five other patterns for purchase in this shirt model. Two floral patterns (Red Tropical and Teal & Pink) fall under the large-repeat style. The Green Sailboat Geo fills the entire top with a small-repeat, making it hard on the eyes for me. The Blue Lighthouses pattern is a medium-repeat; not as large as the Florals, but more sizable than the anchors, sailboats, and the last pattern (on a dark-blue shirt) the Navy Golf Bags small-repeat. Three white backgrounds, one blue, one red, one teal. That’s a pretty nice lineup from which to select a few new coller-poppers.

End of the day: Two happy shoulders (out of two) for the affordable ($69 retail) Bonobos Performance Golf Polo. If you’ll excuse me, I’m off to check out the rest of their virtual Guideshop. Peace!

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Apparel Reviews

WRX Spotlight: Adidas TOUR360 XT Twin Boa Golf Shoe

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The Product

The new Adidas TOUR360 XT Twin Boa, available in North America now, selling for $250 at adidas.com (only available on Adidas’ website, this shoe will not be at retail).

The Pitch

From Adidas: “The adidas TOUR360 XT Twin Boa® is the epitome of performance golf footwear, designed to offer micro-adjustability in two separate zones. The first is the independent main dial with high strength Boa lace that when combined with the forged 360 wrap creates unparalleled power for your swing by locking the area between your midfoot and forefoot. The second provides micro-adjustability from the middle to bottom instep for a customized fit, feel, and support. The Boa Fit System activates both zones to deliver the ultimate in power, stability, and performance.”

Our take on Adidas TOUR360 XT Twin Boa

BOA technology, a ratcheting cable system that replaces laces for securing the shoe, has been around for a while now. It was a radical departure when it first hit the market and traditionalists viewed it with some skepticism, but those who tried shoes using the system became hooked on the ease of use, secure feel, and reliability of the system. I have had to replace shoelaces, but I have never had a cable fail in a pair of shoes with Boa technology.

With the TOUR360 XT Twin Boa, Adidas has introduced the next step on Boa technology (pun intended). The shoe has a sleek, technology-forward look that is associated with Adidas products. It even looks good in the size 13 that I sport. The color selection is limited, to say the least. You can choose from white with green trim or white without green trim. But the star of the show is the Boa technology, which is implemented in two dials located on the outside of each shoe, replacing the one dial on previous iterations.

Each dial controls the fit for a different part of the shoe, and the ratcheting dial gives the wearer the most precise fit available. The real advantage over laces is that the Boa system stays secure longer and is easier to tighten than re-tying shoelaces. It’s so easy to reach down and give a couple of clicks that it became routine for me to check on each tee box to make sure I had a good fit before teeing off. Equally pleasing is the quick release on each dial that gets you out of your shoes at the end of a round without the terror of facing a wet double-knot.

The shoe is waterproof leather, and it is light and comfortable enough to walk 18 on hilly tracks. I personally would have preferred a slightly wider toe box, but that is nit-picking.

Overall, the Adidas TOUR360 XT Twin Boa is a performance shoe that promises, fit, comfort and stability, and it delivers on all fronts. Not everyone has $250 to drop on a pair of golf shoes, but if you want the tech on your feet to match the tech in your bag, then the Adidas TOUR360 XT Twin Boa is perfect for you.

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