Wabinez
Journeyman Pro
Hi all,
As part of the lucky readers, I went down to Woburn last week to talk about the new Footjoy shoe, which now I can say is called "DNA" (stands for DryJoys Next Advancement).
We had a great introduction to all the FJ staff who were there, and also some special guests, namely Simon Holmes and Paul Waring.
We sat down and first had a presentation on the shoe, going through all of the technologies in the shoe which have been well documented online as they were sent out as "teasers" to certain companies.
First came “Comfort†in the form of the DNA’s 3D FoamCollar. Splayed out and separated from the whole shoe, it looks like a large, spongy gray moustache. But as part of the DNA, it helps mold the upper part of the shoe to the ankle, which is important because excess movement of one’s foot in one’s shoe during the golf swing can sap away power and compromise balance and comfort.
Next came “Fit†in the form of the DNA’s SnugFit Tongue. It is made of similarly squishy material to the 3D FoamCollar, which is meant to aid similarly in comfort. It helps hold the laces region of the shoe to the top of the foot without putting too much pressure there. Once again, the name of the game is both comfort and stability. The Tongue also aids with breathability, which is an underrated feature that becomes very important as the temperature rises.
Next in the Deconstructed Golf Shoe meal came the “Stability†course: FootJoy’s NitroThin TPU Outsole. TPU stands for “thermoplastic urethane.†This feature is the most obvious piece of technology on the shoe, which makes sense because it is kinetic base of the DNA’s total functionality. It houses nine softspikes pushed out to the edge of the shoe.. There are also all manner of ridges and pips in between the spikes that provide further traction.
The final part is “Cushioningâ€: the Xtra-Thick FTF FitBed. In layman’s terms, it is the sole of the shoe. It is very substantial, especially in the heel, and pretty thin in the toe, which is by design. The instep portion of the sole is molded slightly upward, which further ensures the snug-yet-comfortable fit that is a hallmark of the shoe.
As part of the presentation, we also had a sneak peek at some of the TV advertising that was going to be used for the FJs, which I think you'll love, and we also got a quick Q&A with Paul Waring about what it is like to play on the European Tour, how he copes with nerves, his first experience of playing in a big event etc
After this, we went down to the Woburn simulator and got fitted for the DNA shoe. Straight out of the box, the shoes were ridiculously comfortable, and even after a number of swings under the watchful eye of Simon Holmes, who gave us some pointers to improve our ball striking, the shoes were fantastic and remarkably stable. There was a little competition to see who could get inside of Paul's shot on a par 3...which no-one succeeded to do!
After a quick lunch, we went out and played 13 holes on the Marquess where the shoes were even better! The course was, erm, wet and so it was a great test of the waterproof capabilities of the shoes, and also how stable they were in slippery conditions. All 4 of us in the group did not slip once during the round, which is a testament to how good these shoes are, even in difficult circumstances.
These shoes haven;t left my feet when I have been on the course over the past week, and they will be coming with me when I go to Cyprus this weekend!
When they come into shops, give them a look. Try them on. You'll be amazed.
Thanks again FJ & GM for the opportunity!
As part of the lucky readers, I went down to Woburn last week to talk about the new Footjoy shoe, which now I can say is called "DNA" (stands for DryJoys Next Advancement).
We had a great introduction to all the FJ staff who were there, and also some special guests, namely Simon Holmes and Paul Waring.
We sat down and first had a presentation on the shoe, going through all of the technologies in the shoe which have been well documented online as they were sent out as "teasers" to certain companies.
First came “Comfort†in the form of the DNA’s 3D FoamCollar. Splayed out and separated from the whole shoe, it looks like a large, spongy gray moustache. But as part of the DNA, it helps mold the upper part of the shoe to the ankle, which is important because excess movement of one’s foot in one’s shoe during the golf swing can sap away power and compromise balance and comfort.
Next came “Fit†in the form of the DNA’s SnugFit Tongue. It is made of similarly squishy material to the 3D FoamCollar, which is meant to aid similarly in comfort. It helps hold the laces region of the shoe to the top of the foot without putting too much pressure there. Once again, the name of the game is both comfort and stability. The Tongue also aids with breathability, which is an underrated feature that becomes very important as the temperature rises.
Next in the Deconstructed Golf Shoe meal came the “Stability†course: FootJoy’s NitroThin TPU Outsole. TPU stands for “thermoplastic urethane.†This feature is the most obvious piece of technology on the shoe, which makes sense because it is kinetic base of the DNA’s total functionality. It houses nine softspikes pushed out to the edge of the shoe.. There are also all manner of ridges and pips in between the spikes that provide further traction.
The final part is “Cushioningâ€: the Xtra-Thick FTF FitBed. In layman’s terms, it is the sole of the shoe. It is very substantial, especially in the heel, and pretty thin in the toe, which is by design. The instep portion of the sole is molded slightly upward, which further ensures the snug-yet-comfortable fit that is a hallmark of the shoe.
As part of the presentation, we also had a sneak peek at some of the TV advertising that was going to be used for the FJs, which I think you'll love, and we also got a quick Q&A with Paul Waring about what it is like to play on the European Tour, how he copes with nerves, his first experience of playing in a big event etc
After this, we went down to the Woburn simulator and got fitted for the DNA shoe. Straight out of the box, the shoes were ridiculously comfortable, and even after a number of swings under the watchful eye of Simon Holmes, who gave us some pointers to improve our ball striking, the shoes were fantastic and remarkably stable. There was a little competition to see who could get inside of Paul's shot on a par 3...which no-one succeeded to do!
After a quick lunch, we went out and played 13 holes on the Marquess where the shoes were even better! The course was, erm, wet and so it was a great test of the waterproof capabilities of the shoes, and also how stable they were in slippery conditions. All 4 of us in the group did not slip once during the round, which is a testament to how good these shoes are, even in difficult circumstances.
These shoes haven;t left my feet when I have been on the course over the past week, and they will be coming with me when I go to Cyprus this weekend!
When they come into shops, give them a look. Try them on. You'll be amazed.
Thanks again FJ & GM for the opportunity!
