Did anyone see Ernie Els shoes at Wentworth?

[Tiger]

So many different threads but I'm going to comment on this one because Snelly makes me laugh. This is how I see it. FootJoy are the number one shoe in golf. FootJoy are a performance brand. Ecco are looking to create and dominate a niche in the footwear market. The marketing guys pore over new innovations and old approaches. They plump for the comfort market and target the older golfer who doesn't spin like the Tasmanian Devil on the back swing but would like a comfy pair of grandad shoes. They promote this line with the silver fox Fred Couples. A younger audience starts showing an interest and Boom Puma lead the way as soon they're all at it (except FootJoy of course) 'givvin the yoof sum fresh kicks' they can wear on and off the course.

It's all marketing and reflects the growth of golf fashion in recent times. You know why we're sold 'performance fabrics' and 'multi layering'? Because they are cheaper to manufacture than cotton and wool, easier to pattern in eye catching colours and offer significantly larger profit margins.

But going back to the OP yes you are right Snelly they looked hideous, but if someone paid me to wear them I'd have them on in a flash...

 

[shewy]

christ imagine if you wore them with shorts that were not tailored!!!

 

[fundy]

Well ive just come home from playing in my Ashworth Cardiffs for the first time and have to say they are exceptionally comfortable. Had no problem with grip at all, but it is bone dry currently at our course, still not sure Id be comfortable wearing them in damp conditions but for now Im very happy with them and will happily be wearing them again (assuming it stays dry lol)

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Pimple soled shoes have been around since the late 70's and peaked arguably around 81-84 and then suddenly seemed to die a death as soft spikes became the new kid on the block. Old idea just brought up to date with some fancy styling and positioning in the market place

 

[Val]

So many different threads but I'm going to comment on this one because Snelly makes me laugh. This is how I see it. FootJoy are the number one shoe in golf. FootJoy are a performance brand. Ecco are looking to create and dominate a niche in the footwear market. The marketing guys pore over new innovations and old approaches. They plump for the comfort market and target the older golfer who doesn't spin like the Tasmanian Devil on the back swing but would like a comfy pair of grandad shoes. They promote this line with the silver fox Fred Couples. A younger audience starts showing an interest and Boom Puma lead the way as soon they're all at it (except FootJoy of course) 'givvin the yoof sum fresh kicks' they can wear on and off the course.

It's all marketing and reflects the growth of golf fashion in recent times. You know why we're sold 'performance fabrics' and 'multi layering'? Because they are cheaper to manufacture than cotton and wool, easier to pattern in eye catching colours and offer significantly larger profit margins.

But going back to the OP yes you are right Snelly they looked hideous, but if someone paid me to wear them I'd have them on in a flash...

Tiger, footjoy also make them. Google footjoy contour casual.

 

[Tiger]

Tiger, footjoy also make them. Google footjoy contour casual.

And so it begins. Does the death knell now toll for soft spikes having already claimed the majority of their metal cousins? Thanks for the heads up and correction fella. I'm standing corrected all over the show at the moment!

 

[need_my_wedge]

Actually Footjoy have a couple of different styles. When I was in Japan a couple of months back I found these Footjoy Street

I don't like these ones personally, but I do like the Ecco ones (thought Ernie was wearing Ecco but may be wrong).

Shoes are just part of fashion, much the same as orange trousers, pink shirts or what ever other lovely colours you chaps wear. Everyone has their own taste, and provided they are designed for golf.........which they are, then if someone chooses to wear them.....so what!!

Oh yeah, Ernies trousers are way to high and Simon Cowell, same can be said for Westy. These guys are younger than me but they really need a helping hand with their clothing style.

 

[SAPCOR1]

Why do people get so wound up about what others wear on the feet? As long as the sole does not damage the course then what is the problem?

Moulded soles have been around since the 80's at least as have various alternatives. If you don't like them then don't buy them!

All this "no place on the golf course" boll*x does my head in. Mind your own business!

If someone wants to wear a pair of shoes that look like a 1920's gangster then that's fine with me. Not my style but live and let live.

As for the comment that performance fabrics and layering are all just marketing hype, well I am sorry but that is wrong. Cotton absorbs and holds on to moisture, whether that be rain or sweat (or both!)

 

[Tiger]

As for the comment that performance fabrics and layering are all just marketing hype, well I am sorry but that is wrong. Cotton absorbs and holds on to moisture, whether that be rain or sweat (or both!)

I wasn't saying performance fabrics don't work They do and waterproofs are a god send. But what do you think was the driver for bringing them into the golf market? Was it because thy really wanted us to have lighter, more breathable, drier clothing...or the fact that they saw that the production cost of a replica football shirt is about £3 and you can sell them with a retail value of £40+?

Whilst there will always be performance drivers that lead to new developments at the end of the day it's all about the bottom line!

 

[SAPCOR1]

Of course it is all about bottomline but isn't everything?

If it was all snake oil I would agree, for me if I had £30 to spend on a new polo top and the choice between cotton or performance polyester then I would go for the latter.

 

[Deleted member 15717]

Have you noticed that all the tour players wearing them don't win anything anymore. Tiger, Ernie, Freddy, Justin???

I quite the look of These Ecco Biom Shoes:

You mean like when Justin won the WGC Cadillac in March?

I have just ordered a pair of the Adicross shoes in Blue/White. Will be interesting to see the reaction at my club...but I don't think many people will care to be honest...and it's a club that is known to be a stickler for the correct dress code!!

 

[Tiger]

Of course it is all about bottomline but isn't everything?

If it was all snake oil I would agree, for me if I had £30 to spend on a new polo top and the choice between cotton or performance polyester then I would go for the latter.

But have you seen what they have done with cotton... Now it's organic cotton and it is a luxury product sold with a matching merino wool jumper and a nice little logo for a premium price so the margins stay the same...

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm not really that fussed about what anyone else wears. There are some things that I don't like but that's the point, the industry is appealing to a broad range of people and always trying to think about how they maintain their profits. The growth of golf fashion and footwear is a reflection on the growth of the wider fashion industry.

Taylormade are being savvy by getting Rose into their Ashworth line of clothing, whether Snelly or I like the shoes is irrelevant, there will be enough people who watched the BMW who will probably be online as we speak looking to snaffle a pair.

They'll sell us performance golf tees, new woods with extra smash, irons that fly longer, wedges that spin more and spit in the face of the groove rules, putters that never miss, shoes that look cool on and off the course, shoes that nail you to the floor, bags that are lighter than air (until you pack them full of your kit that is), balls that fly long, straight and true off your driver but feel soft as butter and spin like a washing machine on a fast cycle on the green, clothing that will keep us drier for longer, belts that will knock five shots off your handicap and make you look cool while they are doing it...

And we'll all trundle off and try the things that catch our eye and buy the stuff we like, the kit we believe is the missing piece, the retina scorching outfits and a brand new pair of shoes. And we'll be happy, at least for a while and many years from now lying in our beds we'll lie there wishing for one chance, just one chance to go back and tell those golf companies that they may take our last pennies but they'll never take our freedom!!!!!!!!!!!

Or something like that ...remind me what was I talking about again????

 

[DaveM]

But have you seen what they have done with cotton... Now it's organic cotton and it is a luxury product sold with a matching merino wool jumper and a nice little logo for a premium price so the margins stay the same...

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm not really that fussed about what anyone else wears. There are some things that I don't like but that's the point, the industry is appealing to a broad range of people and always trying to think about how they maintain their profits. The growth of golf fashion and footwear is a reflection on the growth of the wider fashion industry.

Taylormade are being savvy by getting Rose into their Ashworth line of clothing, whether Snelly or I like the shoes is irrelevant, there will be enough people who watched the BMW who will probably be online as we speak looking to snaffle a pair.

They'll sell us performance golf tees, new woods with extra smash, irons that fly longer, wedges that spin more and spit in the face of the groove rules, putters that never miss, shoes that look cool on and off the course, shoes that nail you to the floor, bags that are lighter than air (until you pack them full of your kit that is), balls that fly long, straight and true off your driver but feel soft as butter and spin like a washing machine on a fast cycle on the green, clothing that will keep us drier for longer, belts that will knock five shots off your handicap and make you look cool while they are doing it...

And we'll all trundle off and try the things that catch our eye and buy the stuff we like, the kit we believe is the missing piece, the retina scorching outfits and a brand new pair of shoes. And we'll be happy, at least for a while and many years from now lying in our beds we'll lie there wishing for one chance, just one chance to go back and tell those golf companies that they may take our last pennies but they'll never take our freedom!!!!!!!!!!!

Or something like that ...remind me what was I talking about again????

Liked that post. The last bit made me smile. Change you name to "Citizen Smith".

 

[Snelly]

But have you seen what they have done with cotton... Now it's organic cotton and it is a luxury product sold with a matching merino wool jumper and a nice little logo for a premium price so the margins stay the same...

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm not really that fussed about what anyone else wears. There are some things that I don't like but that's the point, the industry is appealing to a broad range of people and always trying to think about how they maintain their profits. The growth of golf fashion and footwear is a reflection on the growth of the wider fashion industry.

Taylormade are being savvy by getting Rose into their Ashworth line of clothing, whether Snelly or I like the shoes is irrelevant, there will be enough people who watched the BMW who will probably be online as we speak looking to snaffle a pair.

They'll sell us performance golf tees, new woods with extra smash, irons that fly longer, wedges that spin more and spit in the face of the groove rules, putters that never miss, shoes that look cool on and off the course, shoes that nail you to the floor, bags that are lighter than air (until you pack them full of your kit that is), balls that fly long, straight and true off your driver but feel soft as butter and spin like a washing machine on a fast cycle on the green, clothing that will keep us drier for longer, belts that will knock five shots off your handicap and make you look cool while they are doing it...

And we'll all trundle off and try the things that catch our eye and buy the stuff we like, the kit we believe is the missing piece, the retina scorching outfits and a brand new pair of shoes. And we'll be happy, at least for a while and many years from now lying in our beds we'll lie there wishing for one chance, just one chance to go back and tell those golf companies that they may take our last pennies but they'll never take our freedom!!!!!!!!!!!

Or something like that ...remind me what was I talking about again????

Good post! Well said!


And I don't care who buys these shoes - I was just sharing my unwelcome opinion that they look like they came from a charity shop.

And performance fabrics? Are you having a laugh? (not aimed at you Tiger BTW!) It 's golf we are discussing, not running marathons! You don't need specialised fabrics for golf as it is basically going for a walk! Still, I don't suppose they would sell many if the marketing pitch was:

ATTENTION FAT AND SWEATY GOLFERS! PANIC OVER AS WE HAVE GOT SOME NEW MATERIAL FOR GOLF SHIRTS. COME AND GET THEM IN PERFORMANCE NYLON TO STOP YOU SWEATING LIKE THE LAST BEE GEE STANDING!


I should be in marketing, I really should.....

 

[SAPCOR1]

Good post! Well said!


And I don't care who buys these shoes - I was just sharing my unwelcome opinion that they look like they came from a charity shop.

And performance fabrics? Are you having a laugh? (not aimed at you Tiger BTW!) It 's golf we are discussing, not running marathons! You don't need specialised fabrics for golf as it is basically going for a walk! Still, I don't suppose they would sell many if the marketing pitch was:

ATTENTION FAT AND SWEATY GOLFERS! PANIC OVER AS WE HAVE GOT SOME NEW MATERIAL FOR GOLF SHIRTS. COME AND GET THEM IN PERFORMANCE NYLON TO STOP YOU SWEATING LIKE THE LAST BEE GEE STANDING!


I should be in marketing, I really should.....

You are entitled to your opinion and should wear whatever you deem fit for your purpose and what you like wearing.

Have you ever tried the shoes or clothing that you decry? If not you do not know what you are talking about. If you have well, as I said you are entitled to your informed opinion.

 

[MegaSteve]

If it was all snake oil I would agree, for me if I had £30 to spend on a new polo top and the choice between cotton or performance polyester then I would go for the latter.

The biggest problem I have is as soon as 'performance' becomes part of a shirts description they cut back on the amount of room in the fit irrespective of size selected... Now contoured/tailored/sports fit may be fine for many but not on a man approaching his 60's with a 42" waist and 50" inch chest... So think I'll be sticking to my 'old fashioned' poly/cotton mix shirts for now anyway...

 

[SAPCOR1]

The biggest problem I have is as soon as 'performance' becomes part of a shirts description they cut back on the amount of room in the fit irrespective of size selected... Now contoured/tailored/sports fit may be fine for many but not on a man approaching his 60's with a 42" waist and 50" inch chest... So think I'll be sticking to my 'old fashioned' poly/cotton mix shirts for now anyway...

Being 46"chest and 36" waist I avoid slim fit too! Lol

 

[Scadge]

Don't you just love the marketers paradox. Getting forty something's wearing twenty something's clothes is always wrong in fashion but twenty something's spend less on golf gear I guess than us older men so bring on Ernie. It's like going to the nightclub and feeling like you should be collecting your kids. Perhaps they'll give free collostomys with the next line. PS like tiger I too am now sponsored by FJ

 

[triple_bogey]

All you haters, just get over it. Things are changing whether you like it or not.

LMAO @ the comments that performance fabrics don't work for golf.

 

[Scadge]

I'm not a hater, just pointing out that I don't look as great on the course in the same clothes as my 14 year old and things need to fit right and look right. Some people do Ricky Fowler some people do Pauline Fowler - the good thing is there is now huge affordable choice for everyone and if you don't have an opinion then how can you choose ?