FootJoy Hyperflex Golf Shoe

Soothing foam and extreme performance…

The entire concept of golfing footwear has been revolutionised in recent years and Footjoy have played a significant role in the vast improvements. We take a look at their latest offering for 2015…

The Hyperflex Golf Shoe is designed to bring unrivalled comfort to the wearer and carries an edgy contemporary style. It ticks all the specification boxes and then some…

On first inspection the shoe is clearly designed on two definite formats; a material breathable top and soft foam base.

The base is the second generation of Footjoy shoe to include Fine Tune Foam (FTF) technology that soothes the foot and relocated pressure points. It is more than simply a soft durable cushion layer allowing seamless traction between the turf and foot. The designers claim it adds a spring to the wearer’s step that encourages better posture and reduction on foot sores.

The base also extends beyond the width and length of the top section for added balance control and a larger walking pattern.

The top section of the shoe is ultralight with complete water tightness. It is a sturdy design which aids balance in the golf swing and supports the foot throughout the round. The mesh covering adds appeal and also allows for breathability.

The heel of the shoe is also larger, with the aim of further comfort to the back of the foot and extra support on each step. The entire shoe is raised meaning the player is elevated from the turf but it is not particularly noticeable during wear.

The shoe does come with the usual Footjoy waterproof guarantee.

The main concern with the design is keeping it clean in muddy conditions. It is packed with little crevices just asking to be cluttered with British mud.

The shoe has already been worn on tour by Hunter Mahan with excellent feedback. Footjoy make no pretence this eye catching styling will suit everyone. It is aimed at the modern player that enjoys exploring their golfing wardrobe and adding colour to their look.

Here at Foremost Golf we stock all leading shoe brands and the Hyperflex is no different. Read our reviews for more information or ask a member of the golf team.

We say embrace the slick new formula and your feet will agree…

What’s in the Bag?

Event – Hero Indian Open 

This week’s tour champion is Anirban Lahiri claiming the prize at the recent Indian Open. The 27 year old Indian fought off fellow native competition to win by one at seven under par.

What is most remarkable about this success is that Lahiri claimed the win without a driver in his golf bag. He follows the example of Phil Mickelson at the Open in 2013 claiming victory with a conservative approach in difficult conditions.

The win has moved the Indian up to 34 in the current world rankings.

Stats Don’t Lie…

The key to his victory was his short game, leading the event in putts in regulation. He averaged a remarkable 1.649 putts that proved decisive as the pressure built on the final day.

Despite the absence of the driver, he averaged 274 yards from the tee and found 60% of fairways. Although this appears lower than an average event winner, the course is notoriously narrow which is why he left the driver at home in the first place!

The Winners Bag…

Lahiri relied on his Callaway Diablo Edge Tour 3 Wood. It ensured he remained in play and provided the confident platform for success.

He successfully used his 5 wood, an X2 Hot from Callaway to compensate from playing further back and utilised a low punch shot frequently to great effect.

His Srixon Irons (Z Forged 725) allowed the champion to break par each day with quality approach play.

His most successful club was the Titleist SC GoLo M3 putter. Despite recovering well from hazards it was his blade that proved the difference.  

(Available 16th March)

The shoe that personifies golfing footwear class is coming to the UK and Foremost Golf.

The FootJoy Icon is currently worn by 50% of FootJoy Tour Pros and widely regarded as the most luxurious brand on the market. The shoe is not only defined by its legendary comfort but packed with footwear technology to generate leading sporting performance.

The marketing team at FootJoy stated: “We have no doubt that they [Icon Black] will strike a chord with the aspirational player seeking premium quality in their next purchase.”

It is without question the Ferrari of golfing footwear…

The Technology

The shoe sole is formed using Opti-Flex properties that allow seamless and flexible movement throughout the swing and general walking on the course.

The Golf Pulsar cleats from SoftSpikes are designed to be easily interchanged and offer numerous extreme points of contact with the ground which aid balance and movement through the golf swing. Each cleat has 8 spikes which grip the turf softly to protect the course but provide supreme performance.

The quality stitching between the base and leather segments ensures complete waterproofing with the FootJoy guarantee in place. This differs from many shoes where glue alone is used to seal the base to prevent ingress but reduces comfort and durability.

Everything about the manufacture is high end which is reflected in the detail and wear-ability of the shoes. Careful research was carried out on how to improve footwear performance and the result was this brand new format.

Performance – Why is it top of the range?

The upper leather section of the shoe is made from premium calf skin, adding comfort to the foot.

A stacked leather trim at the rear of the shoe completes the style, refining the shoe for a contemporary elegant look.

The interior contains a variety of additional padding to protect key areas, this includes the heel and arch to prevent sores building up.

The shoe also has the ability to allow internal moisture to escape, maintaining dryness at all times through various pours on the top of the leather. Breathability is key to shoe success.

Joining FootJoy Class

The shoe is available in two styles with a T-Toe Dress design in Black Patent and Tan Patent, the Split Toe Saddle will be available in White and Black.

As you would expect from premium footwear they are priced at the top end of the market, retailing at £300. What price do you place on comfort? Leading pros demand the best and so should you.

Foremost golf stock a variety of FootJoy golf shoes and offer great prices on the Icon Black model. Visit us today for details.

Become a trend setter and experience unrivalled comfort and performance with FootJoy. Happy feet equals better golf…

Event – True Thailand Classic presented by Black Mountain

Winner – Andrew Dodt

This week’s tour champion is Australian Andrew Dodt claiming his second career title in Thailand.  The victory came as a shock to bookmakers and the golfing public alike. Having only recently reclaimed his tour card via the qualifying school, he became the second graduate to win on tour this year (Indian Anirban Lahiri in Malaysia).

The 29 year old from Queensland held his nerve to win by one from compatriot Scott Hend and the home favourite Thongchai Jaidee. 

The foundation to his success was an immense tee to green performance over the four days and was a model consistency with the driver.

Stats Don’t Lie…

Hitting a remarkable 73.2% of fairways and an average distance of 301 yards, Dodt found salvation in the short stuff. He also found 79% of greens in regulation, tied 9^th in the field and 100% save success from sand traps.  

He averaged 28.3 puts per round, highlighting consistency with the blade throughout.

All round a solid performance making him a worthy, if unexpected champion.

The Winners Bag…

The coveted driver of the week is the Titlist 915 D3 producing a tournament of long, straight hitting in the heat.

Dodt is Titleist loyal, utilising the successful 714 CB Irons and Vokey SM4 Wedge Series. This was his ultimate strength of the week finding the heart of numerous greens providing extreme control.

His Newport 2 Putter helped the Aussie hold his nerve and sink the winning put after a solid week of holing out. 

When you are putting, pace is all-important. If you can't hit your putts at the right pace it doesn't matter how well you read the green or control the face through impact, you will never hole your share.

Before you head out in a competition, hit some long putts to no specific target. The idea is to get your balls to finish in a very tight dispersion. Once you've hit five balls into one area, choose another spot on the practice green to aim at and do the same. Then do it again. As you hit more putts your natural feel for the pace of the greens will improve. Then when you head out onto the course, you'll have a much better chance of hitting every putt at the perfect pace.

Selecting the right putter for your individual stroke is essential. If you are using the wrong type, you'll be giving away important shots. For some impartial advice on what to do, please go and see your local Foremost Golf professional. 

If you can hole one or two makeable birdie putts and eliminate three putts from your game, you'll never be too far off the prizes. Of course, there are certain key fundamentals that will help the consistency of your stroke. For advice on how to groove these, please book a lesson with your local Foremost Golf professional. In the meantime, here are a couple of drills designed to help your feel on the greens.

Control The Face 

As with every other club in the bag, your hands need to work together when you putt. However, a good way to think about your stroke is to think of your hands performing two slightly different roles. Your left hand (for right-handed players) controls the direction while the right hand controls the fluidity and rhythm of the stroke. To help with the former, hit some putts with just your left hand on the club. This is a great way of gaining control over the direction of the putt through impact.

Let The Stroke Flow

Now turn your attention to the rhythm and path of your stroke. Use three clubs to set up a box around the hole as shown here (the hole should be at the very front of that box). The idea is from around 20ft, to hit a series of putts that run fast enough to enter the box without hitting the shaft at the back. Once you have a feel for the putt, hit some more with just your right hand on the grip. You should notice how the stroke develops its own freedom improving your feel for the distance. It should illustrate how a fluid, unhurried motion is so important for consistent distance control.

There are certain clues with regards to the way in which putts break that you mustn't miss. One of those relates to water. Natural water hazards appear in low-lying areas and these are often used by course designers to add interest and protection around the green. If you are on a green with water surrounding it, remember that the putting surface will tend to slope towards that water.

One of the big mistakes that I see is when players think too much about their specific putt and miss some of the major slopes running through the green. How many times have you hit a putt that finishes short of the hole only to discover that you hadn't spotted the gentle slope you were putting up? For this reason, make sure that as you walk up to the putting surface, you take in the general topography of the green. Spot the major slopes, see where the big run offs are and you'll be in a much better position to go on and read your own putt.

Walk it 

When looking at your own putt, if it is long with a significant break, it makes sense to walk it. Feeling the contours in the green beneath your feet will give you a feel for how the putt will roll. Try to build a picture for where the putt will start to break from. This will be your aim point so understanding where that is, is crucial.

Reading greens is an art that many golfers spend too little time thinking about. Spotting subtle slopes and building a picture in your mind for how the ball will roll requires some careful observations. The first thing to remember however is that, essentially every putt is straight. All you can do is pick your line and hit a straight putt to the apex of the curve. Then, depending on the quality of your read and judgement of pace the ball will either go in or it won't. Before we get into the specifics of green-reading remember that once you have picked your line, aim the putter face at the point at which you expect the ball to break. I often think many amateurs get drawn into aiming too far towards the hole when they face a big, swinging putt. Don't fall into this trap.

Over-flowing with water tip

Of course, the slower the ball is travelling, the more break it will take. That's why you need to pay particular attention to the slopes surrounding the hole. A good tip is to imagine the hole over-flowing with water - where would that water drain off? Visualising this will really help you pick out those subtle slopes that many others will miss.