Are Footjoy cutting quality?

[HickoryShaft]

That is a really fantastic response and attitude to take to issues that have been raised.

The company looks like it uses feedback / complaints to improve not just sweep them under the carpet like some

Interestingly on the point about correct fitting, the only pair of Footjoys I have owned (still own) that did not feel comfortable was when I had the chance to play somewhere when away with work and borrowed all the kit apart from shoes which I bought from the pro shop. Didn't have my size so went for a size bigger and didn't really get on with them. They are in my locker with a pair of extra thick socks as a standby should I ever need them again but otherwis will stay there. Not FJ's fault of course but confirms the issue that correct size is key to comfort

Other than the pair mentioned above I have 2 pairs of FJ contours and one pair of AQL all bought this year or last at the moment and happy with all of them

 

[gdc]

The company looks like it uses feedback / complaints to improve not just sweep them under the carpet like some

I agree it is good that they FJ have taken the time to reply. It would however have been remiss of them not to.

FJ might say all the right things re quality service etc (were they ever going to say anything different?) but the reviews on this thread are contradictory to their claims.

If they are as good as they claim to be then good for them - but in my cynical world actions speak louder than words and only time will tell.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I agree it is good that they FJ have taken the time to reply. It would however have been remiss of them not to.

FJ might say all the right things re quality service etc (were they ever going to say anything different?) but the reviews on this thread are contradictory to their claims.

If they are as good as they claim to be then good for them - but in my cynical world actions speak louder than words and only time will tell.

But to be fair, the reviews on this thread represent a tiny proportion of FJs sales.

Countering that however, 0.5% return rate actually seems quite high as it means 1 in 200 pairs is returned for some reason or another which really doesn't sound like a good statistic.

Clearly this is the marketing perspective but the part about fitting is actually a good point and I'm sure holds some validity.

Either way, thanks to Mike and Russ for taking the time to reply.

 

[GB72]

I note the comments made by FJ about the incorrect sizes being purchased and their desire for correct fitting but the simple fact is that most pros do not have the facilities to measure feet etc. I would assume that those people who bought the 'wrong' size have gone by the usual test in that they felt comfortable in the shop. After all, what else can you do to assess if a shoe fits. Without the aid of someone with a foot measure calibrated to the FJ sizes, the average golfer is not going to know that the size tens that he has always worn are not the best option and a size 9 with a wide fitting would be better. Furthermore, most pro shops have a limited stock (most do not even have half sizes or varying width fittings) and so all that the average golfer is going to have to compare against is a size up or down.

If, and this is the point that FJ are making, having the wrong size seriously impacts on the durability of a shoe then they need to be doing more to ensure that every retailer they use has the ability to property measure feet and assess the correct fitting. They could make the most of this, tie it up with some marketing as 'custom fitting for your feet' but they need to do something.

I also note that a few years ago this was not a problem. You could have come on this forum and asked about shoes and 99% of people would have said buy FJ. That would not appear to be the case now.

 

[Twire]

I must say that that's the sort of reply I was expecting, making all the right noises regarding production and quality control. Poor fitting was something I've not considered as instrumental in shoe life. From my point of view, I've been wearing FJ's for the last 30 years, most have been fitted in pro shops, but IMO the quality is not what it used to be, and I will be looking at other brands when I'm due to change, that's something I wouldn't have considered 3-4 years ago.

 

[gdc]

I must say that that's the sort of reply I was expecting, making all the right noises regarding production and quality control. Poor fitting was something I've not considered as instrumental in shoe life. From my point of view, I've been wearing FJ's for the last 30 years, most have been fitted in pro shops, but IMO the quality is not what it used to be, and I will be looking at other brands when I'm due to change, that's something I wouldn't have considered 3-4 years ago.

Someone who has worn them for 30 years but is moving away due to quality. It's only a drop in the ocean but that speaks volumes to me. Fair enough if they no longer like the style or fashion of the new shoes but all these threads are quality based.

 

[MikeH]

I might be wrong but I was under the impression every FJ stockist would have the 'brannock device' that's used to measure feet. How many retailers use it is another thing through and I know that's something FJ are working on. As Russ said...
"We are continuing to work with our retail partners to ensure that professional shoe fitting is carried out to ensure the correct shoe size is established before a purchase is made."

I have...
5 pairs of FJ ICON
4 pairs of Contour Casual
2 pairs FJ Sport
3 pairs of XPS-1
1 pair of M-PROJECT

But I have to confess I have never had my feet measured for any of the above although I know 8W fits me well (ie no creasing) in ICON, Sport & M-Project but I need to go down to a 7.5W for Contour Casual & XPS

as an aside the above shoes are between 3 months and 4 years old and to my knowledge none have ever let in any water

Like Hawkeye though I am freakish about looking after my shoes and keeping them as clean as possible!

 

[Khamelion]

With the M-Project I have, they have shoe tree's insert, to help keep their shape, after a round they are cleaned and polished with neutral polish to keep the water out. Yet my feet were still soaked after a wet round.

This may be me, expecting to much of the shoe, especially as the tongue is quite open and moisture frm grass may have been the culprt rather than leakage, but I couldn't positively say that was the case.

But now that there will be more wet rounds than dry, I'll be putting the M-Projects away till next year and dry rounds.

 

[virtuocity]

Part of our research has uncovered that in excess of 80% of golfers are wearing incorrectly fitted shoes, in most cases the shoe being too large for the foot.
Russell Lawes FootJoy Marketing Manager


Funny- my first pair of shoes (Greenjoys) are an 11 and I'm a 12. I was going to return them after realising I bought the wrong size but found that they fitted quite well. I still wear them and have never had a problem with them.

 

[GB72]

I have bought FJ shoes from 3 different Pro shops, Direct Golf and American Golf and not one has mentioned the need or having the facilities to measure feet.

 

[Twire]

I have...
5 pairs of FJ ICON
4 pairs of Contour Casual
2 pairs FJ Sport
3 pairs of XPS-1
1 pair of M-PROJECT

To be fair Mike, not many golfers have 15 pairs of shoes to to chose from and rotate accordingly. I do look after my shoes, I blow them with the airline to get the grass off, dry them with newspaper inside and regularly put transparent polish on them, but I'm lucky if they last a season. I never need to change the spikes any more as the uppers seem to crack and split and coma away from the sole quicker than the spikes go.

 

[MikeH]

To be fair Mike, not many golfers have 15 pairs of shoes to to chose from

that's only my FJs...
but yes I do take your point!

 

[Captainron]

that's only my FJs...
but yes I do take your point!

How many pairs do you own then Imelda?

 

[njc1973]

I would personally be looking for a pair of shoes that I spend over £100 and wear only once or twice a week to last a lot longer than the 1 year guarantee available. I've had rugby boots that have lasted 4-5 years, without any cleaning and worn in horrendous weather, so I don't understand how a pair of golf shoes can lose their waterproofness over 1 season.

This isn't aimed at Footjoy just a general observation of what you get for your money.

 

[DCB]

I have...
5 pairs of FJ ICON
4 pairs of Contour Casual
2 pairs FJ Sport
3 pairs of XPS-1
1 pair of M-PROJECT

Are you Homer in disguise ?

 

[CMAC]

the simple facts are....

1) You would not get a thread like this about FJ shoes a few years ago, just the opposite I would feel.

2) Well done FJ representative on replying, not many companies would take the time...or interest...to do so, so a feather in your cap for that. However, it's the kind of generic information you would see on any marketing information and doesn't tackle the overall issues that the GM forummers are explaining, I do realise that we are possibly a very small minority but most of us wouldn't have said much apart from the medium of this thread to do so. How many 'others' are possibly dissatisfied I wonder and will Acushnet only realise when sales continue to slide.
I personally spoke directly to FJ QC when I had my issues and they didn't deny they've had an unusually high number of returns in the last 18 mths.

3) Up till I was fortunate to be chosen for a pair of Adidas Adizero through GM I had only worn FJ shoes for as long as I can remember, looking at other brands didnt even figure in my head. After 3 mths of shoes going back and forth with similar issues (mine failed the first outing) I am reluctantly going to buy other shoes when the time comes. As an aside the Adizero is the most comfy shoe I've worn for a long time and wasn't 'fitted'.


Anyway, just replying and apologies for harping on.

 

[groundskeeperwilly]

Whether its 0.5% returns or more I have noticed a LOT of folk complaining about wet feet wearing FJ. I bet a lot of these folk just accept damp feet and don't go through the returns process.

I had a 10 year break from golf until recently. Back then everyone wore and loved FJ. Today they are nowhere near as well regarded-even by folk who are self confessed FJ lovers. Must be something in that.

 

[njc1973]

Although the forum is only a small number of people in the scheme of things, it should be sufficient to show that there are a greater number of dissatisfied customers than previously, surely this must be a bit of a worry to Footjoy. From reading people's responses it seems that unless their doubts are alleviated they will chose another manufacturer next time, also not sure how much I follow the fitting process "excuse", I've never been properly fitted for any shoe and most last longer than a year or 2.

 

[groundskeeperwilly]

Just to add that I have 'specialist' footwear for golf, rugby, climbing, running and mountain biking. Golf is the most expensive and in my opinion has the easiest life but guaranteed that the golf ones will let in water, stink or fall apart faster than all the others....

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Slightly off topic, but while looking for the details of FJs warranty, I noticed that the waterproof warranty in the U.S. is 2 years whereas in the UK it is 1 year