Sole music

Functionality now rivals comfort and style as a golf shoe's chief selling point. Doug Robinson, Vice President of Product Design and Development Worldwide for FootJoy, explained to Duncan Lennard how the technology in the latest FJ ranges are helping the golfer find the fairway and green - and how they are keeping an enviable market share intact

Published: 20 August, 2009

In 2004, while golf's legislators were acting over the yard or two gained by COR advances in the face of the driver, Padraig Harrington was putting a shoe into play which, according to FootJoy's stats, added 17.5 yards to his tee shots.

Harrington, who signed with FootJoy at the start of this year, is as aware as any golfer of the golf shoe's potential for offer performance benefits. Having signed with the market leader, his first comment on his chosen shoe, the

SYNR-G, was not based on style or comfort, but on functionality. "This shoe supports the foot well throughout the golf swing," he said, "and that is so important to hitting solid, powerful shots."

In the last few years the notion that a golfer's footwear can rightly take its place alongside ‘boosted Moment of Inertia' or ‘increased peripheral weighting' in offering performance aid has taken hold. All major shoe manufacturers have fused functionality to the shoe staples of style and comfort.

FootJoy is at the forefront of research into how the shoe can affect the numbers we write down on the scorecard. In fact, as far back as 1992, the company commissioned a research team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to conduct a biomechanical analysis of the golf swing to determine the potential for the role the shoe could play. Today, each of their products is the result of extensive research conducted with a biomechanics laboratory at a major American university. Each shoe is analysed for performance in traction, forefoot flexibility, waterproofing, cushioning and stability through the swing.

FootJoy's research into the biomechanics of the golf swing has revealed a complicated pattern of weight movement, though two design features are deemed especially important.

"During the swing, shoes should resist too much lateral movement on to the outside of the back foot, and so provide a good base to push off during the downswing," explains Doug Robinson, vice president of Product Design and Development Worldwide for FootJoy. "Also, golf shoes should not pitch a player forward on to the toes or back to the heels as this may compromise ball contact."

So just what exactly can a golf shoe do to make us hit better golf shots? Robinson reveals there are four performance benefits worked into FootJoy shoes.

"First, the shoe needs to provide a stable platform to hit a golf ball, efficiently transferring energy in the direction of the flight of the ball. Secondly, the shoe should mimic the natural motion of the foot to reduce fatigue and allow smooth transitions during the swing.

"Then there is optimal placement of spikes or cleats to provide better and safer traction during the swing. Finally, the shoe should keep the feet dry and comfortable throughout the round. This allows the golfer to maintain focus on their game."

FootJoy has developed a series of technologies, prevalent in their current ranges, designed to meet these performance desirables.

OptiFlex, found in the outsole of FJ's premium shoes, is a soft and flexible TPU material. It is strategically positioned to provide maximum flexibility in the sole unit, working with the foot. FootJoy believes this offers more stability because more of the outsole can remain in contact with the ground; the technology also makes for a more comfortable shoe for walking.

FootJoy's much vaunted ‘Flextability', as found in the latest DryJoys, is a word the company has come up with to describe this attainment of stability through maximum flexibility.

"We have now extended the OptiFlex zones across the forefoot area of the outsole, and located the cleats on seven individual PODS," explains FootJoy's European marketing manager Richard Fryer. "The result is an extremely comfortable golf shoe, but one that achieves excellent ground traction as the flexibility allows more of the PODS, and therefore the cleats, to remain in contact with the ground."

FootJoy has even looked to the lacing for functional help. The Boa lacing system found on the ReelFit shoe uses a polymer-coated stainless steel lace that runs through the lace guides. The lace is able to create pressure points by making continual minute adjustments to the fit as you walk and swing. This, says FootJoy, generates excellent stability and comfort.

"The research we do validates our design concepts," says Robinson. "For example, with the SYNR-G product we set out to build the most stable golf shoe ever made. Its key design attributes - the G-Force outsole, the Tri-lateral stability frame and Perforated Alloy Stability bridge were the result of the engineering efforts.

"Our research showed the SYNR-G was the most stable golf shoe ever tested, providing a significantly greater force in the direction of the ball flight when compared to the nearest competitor. This means more power in the golf swing is being translated to the ball at impact."

One thing not mentioned by Robinson is the key - and often overlooked - element of balance. Unfortunately, the rules have a say in just how far the shoe can go in this respect.

"Under the rules golf shoes cannot force a player to distribute weight in any way that is considered ‘building a stance'", Robinson confirms.

"FootJoy golf shoes are engineered with optimal toe and heel spring to put the golfer's weight distribution in a neutral position, slightly forward of centre. Years of experience and testing have proven this to be best for consistent contact."

FootJoy's devotion to increased functionality, manifested through continued innovation and attention to detail, is bearing fruit. Their market share for shoes, for the period of January to May 2009 compared to the same period last year, rose from 52.5% to 54%.

"The great thing about these designs is that, unlike some hardware technology, golfers of all skill levels can benefit from them," Robinson concludes. "Enhanced flexibility and comfort is important at all skill levels, but providing a stable platform for swinging the club is an essential part of the game - and that applies whether you are just learning the game, or if you are Padraig Harrington."

www.footjoy.com

Fleet of foot: The FootJoy men's range

Classics

Hand stitched in the US. Feature premium calfskin for superior beauty, comfort and softness
RRP £285

SYNR-G

The choice of top players for ultimate stability and motion control
RRP £145

ReelFit

Hi-tech waterproof show featuring the BOA lacing system
RRP £130

DryJoys

Further improved with introduction of PODS outsole technology
RRP £115

Contour Series

Special construction allows for the ultimate in underfoot comfort and flexibility
RRP £90