Well my idea of Tiger re-grouping away from the spotlight seems to have been taken on board… and I didn’t know that he read Golf Shoes Blog!

All the talk is about sponsorships as they start to fall away, though his golf shoe sponsor Nike is supporting him. Quite right too. Some of the media is saying that as blokes play golf he’ll be alright but you should read some of the comments from the US “moral majority” (minority one hopes) – it’s very “moral”.

I saw a great quote which I’ve slipped in an extra word (golf) to make it more salient… “Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their (golf) shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile away and you have their (golf) shoes”.  Thanks Mr Anonymous, for that one.  I’m not sure 100% which way the sentiment of that goes but it made me smile.

Meanwhile good luck Mr & Mrs Tiger…

When I saw these new Premium golf shoes the other day, I loved the look and promised to return with some Tech&Spec.  First up is the design ambition which Nike states is the admixture of classic design and old fashioned craftsmanships with “new world performance”.  So far so good.

The upppers are full grain leather.   A “phylon” midsole makes a cushioned footbed with the patent Air Zoom heel and further enhanced by a full-length contoured removable sock liner & leather linings.  And it all comes with a (limited) 2 year waterproof warantee. (1 year Europe – why?!)

Underneath, there’s the “Power Platform TW” as pictured on the left; a rubber out-sole with tri-lok Scorpion Stinger cleats.

Nike player Stewart Cink should have been wearing  the new Nike Tour Premium golf shoes to the test already at the TOUR Championship.

These golf shoes are available now (since October 2009) at $250 or so – available in 3 colour styles –  Black/Gunmetal-Gunmetal, White/Bronze-Chino and White/Bronze-Dark Cinder-Chino

In Europe they come in plain black or plain white – and ar not nearly as attractive.

And Hey look! A Nike Golf Shoe With No Woosh

(Well only a little one on a tab.)

Whilst I look around for some attributable Golf Shoes Blog spec&tech, just look at these Nike golf shoes.

Are they Nike? They look fabulous!  I’ve just re-run through all the Nike golf shoes posts on Golf Shoes Blog and there’s quite a few ugly ones and a few plain ones and a nearly good looking ones (but more neutral) but never have we seen what look like beatiful golf shoes fromNike before.  Is this a revolution?

Let’s hope it’s the sign of things to come.  Mind the competition is tough as golf shoes look like being a lot better looking in 2010!

More on these golf shoes soon.

Greenpeace are reporting a victory from the shoe makers (including golf shoes) who were challenged to stop using leather implicated in deforestation.  They say “There’s now a unified front from the shoe companies we challenged over Amazon leather in their supply chains. Timberland, Geox, Nike, Adidas and Clarks have all committed to avoiding leather that is implicated in Amazon destruction”.

They add further that “British shoe company Clarks have announced that they won’t use leather in their shoes which has come from recently deforested areas of the Amazon. They’re not only rejecting leather from illegally logged areas of the region, but from any cattle ranch that is being run on deforested land”.

See more about this from earlier reports on Golf Shoes Blog.  Thanks to anyone who made a fuss.

Nike have come out with a new golf shoe/boot as part of a whole range of waterproof gear – whether this is a clever opportunity or  a co-ordinated range I don’t know.  They’re available from this month (Sept 2009) with RRPof £110/€180/$?

The new “high top shoe” (which I call a boot, don’t you) the Zoom Bandon, is completely sealed (as is easier with a boot) and the laces under cover, to keep feet warm and dry. The uppers are synthetic.

The Nike proprietary Zoom Air technology (and the Power Platform outsole for efficient energy transfer) makes this golf shoe/boot part of the cushioned , Nike golf shoe family but it’s obviously a different offering due to the shape & styling.

There’s extra waterproofing features (”a zip forming an impermeable layer to keep moisture entering around the ankles” – which I don’t understand if this is a zip – or zipper if you prefer – or a technique for binding the layers: “added protection around the toe, a seam-sealed double last and a leather pull tab on the heel help step into the shoe”. But to help let some of the moisture out (of the sweaty variety) the synthetic uppers are supposed to be breathable and a Poron sockliner helps comfort and moisture.  
 

The golf shoes aim at reducing grass sticking to the sole with the configuration of the cleats.nub – butI don’t understand this either!.


These golf shoes/boots do not seem to be on Nike’s store website yet though… Why not?  It always seems that the right hand never knows what the left hand is up to with the biggest brands.  Maybe just too much to co-ordinate?  But it does mean that it’s difficult t confirm all the details. maybe they’re not available in the US which is why they’re not on the dotcom site and I can’t find a $price?

Golf Shoes Blog had an update from Greenpeace following their campaign about leather in sports shoes (including golf shoes of course).  The original piece is here with a video Golf Shoes Blog Passes on Greenpeace Message.

Greenpeace said in their update “When we released our Slaughtering the Amazon report, shoe makers Nike and Geox got in touch. The report shows that demand for shoe leather is one of the key drivers of deforestation in the Amazon, as rainforest is cleared to make room for the expanding cattle ranching industry.

Both companies were keen to make sure that their business wasn’t contributing to Amazon destruction. We’ve been working with them over the last few weeks, and the good news is that both have announced new supply chain standards which will keep leather from the Amazon out of their shoes. Equally importantly, they’re going to stick to those standards until we achieve an end to deforestation for cattle in the Brazilian Amazon.”

Which is great news.  “But”, they continued, “there’s more to do. We think that with two big companies taking the lead, the others named in the report – Adidas, Reebok, Timberland and Clarks – are more likely to sign up to similar commitments, if they feel enough pressure.

This is an unique opportunity. The power of international brands can really make a difference back in Brazil. We’d like to ask you to take a few minutes to help us make the other shoe companies understand that it’s time to change. By refusing to buy from suppliers that are linked to deforestation they can help ensure cattle ranching stops slaughtering the Amazon.”

The rest is up to you golf shoes buyers.  Do your bit!

Follow the link for more Golf Shoes Blog info on Geox

While Tom Watson’s sponsor (Adams) enjoyed the most amazing exposure there’s very little or nothing on his golf shoes: I was hoping the shoemakers would come forward with some publicity claiming their boy and their skill in making his special golf shoes.  Meanwhwile Nike are overjoyed too with Cink for touting their whoosh and his Air Zooms.

I haven’t yet seen the cleat boys with their cleat count!  Who won that one then!

It’s another story in the electronic press with out a picture of the golf shoes in question.  How frustrating for Golf Shoes Blog which always likes to have a picture to illustrate each piece we write.

The story was a bit of a non-story anyway.  Some golf shoes were stolen and then they were given back.  What made the news was that they were a pair of Tiger Woods autographed golf shoes and they were being auctioned at the Principal Charity Classic. They had been on display at Glen Oaks Country Club.

The sinister interesting bit was that when they were returned they seemed in perfect condition – unworn – but with  a splash of either blood or mud on the laces.  The police were NOT called.

The golf shoes here are not they, but they are Tiger Woods SP8 Tour form Nike in white

Is it just me or is it quite difficult to find out exactly what golf shoes makers actually make at any given time?

I’m talking about trying to do this on line – where there ought to be a greater access to more golf shoe information than in say, one real shop-store.  In that case you’d go in and they’d have a limited range (obviousy greater, the larger the store) and whatever was in stock would be it (except special orders).  On line you can go to the makers’ (I use the word loosely!) website and there will be what they want you to see as their range. 

In the first case the golf shoe makers may have two sites – let’s call them [a] the brand site with all the jizzy science and wonderful pictures and then [b] they may have a retail site, selling their own product – at MRRP.  .  So you’re already confused between what’s available and what’s currently the high visibility products and this is sometimes in conflict.  Often the golf shoe “brand site” will have products heavily featured that are not yet available.  Often the retail sites will have products that appear no longer available when you look at the brand site.

In the second case they may have one of each of these, for different countries/continents with different ranges of golf shoes for different places.  Obviously the range may vary and that is to try and satisfy local taste and preference and often price points.  But it is confusing if you’relooking for a particular golf shoe.

Then there are third party retailers who have a reasonably up to date range of  golf shoes – but usually with one or two brands in favour and perhaps omitting some.  Then you get retailers who specialise in less expensive golf shoes (and other items) who may only have older golf shoes. And then the likes of “stock out” stores who sell older or less successful golf shoes in odd models and odd sizes.  Just like an old fashioned “Sale” really.

The issue comes up quite a lot for me for example when I see a golf shoe like the Nike SP6 Tour or WatershieldPlus Golf Shoe - as featured here a few days ago – which I’m not quite sure what they are because I cannot verify it against the official site.  In this case it’s the Nike store - as seen above which only has Zoom/Air Zoom, Tour/Zoom Tour, (some of these A for Air?) and Air Max.  But no SP.  And no Watershield.

Maybe they should have an archive.  Or maybe people can come to Golf Shoes Blog for information – though an article like this may just confuse them more!  Maybe I should give up!

1. I posted a short piece about some ugly Adidas golf shoes recently and a lady called Anna complained asking what Adidas would say.  I asked the question as to whether she thought them ugly (they are) and she never came back!
2. Then I saw these Nike WatersShield Plus golf shoes and they are, again, supposedly the ultimate in waterproof golf footwear.  AND THEY ARE UGLY TOO – except the sole which looks like an aifix kit – but before you’ve made it!
3. These golf shoes are said to be newly designed  – at least the sole part is: T@C4 (traction at contact) TPU outsole technology, combined with Scorpion Stinger Spikes and Q-LOK System.  Inside there’s a full length Poron sockliner which won”t break down over time and moulds to the foot.

having said all that I cannot find them on the Nike website where maybe all the golf shoes they show (and the other sports shoes) are all to 2009 and they don’t want you to see these ones?  That’s only speculation.  And if you try to look them up by the model number which I first saw them as (SP6) you never see this colour way- which is maybe why they look ugly – it’s just the colour???