Recently Callaway has been making the golf headlines with its new ‘Epic’ Driver. This week however, instead of painting the town an eye-catching shade of electric green, it has unveiled its 2017 Footwear Collection, said to “help build a better game from the ground up”.
In recent years we’ve noticed a shift in the main focusses of golf shoe benefits. Comfort has made its way to the top of the list alongside performance. During this time a spikeless shoe generation has emerged, where golfers are looking for a shoe that can be as effective on the course as off, and Callaway’s new range continues that trend with a nod in the direction of versatility.
The all-new collection features a staggering 43 different shoe styles and colour combinations, that blend performance-enhancing designs with a host of innovative styles for both men and women.
The 2017 collection is split into four very distinctive sub-collections: X Series, Chev Series, Del Mar Series and Sky Series.
Callaway’s headline shoe for 2017 is the Xfer Fusion, a Tour performance signature shoe constructed from full grain leather sitting on what Callaway claim to be the world’s first Fusion 4x4 outsole – a combination of dynamic TPU cleats and spikeless permanent traction.
Callaway claims that this technology gives golfers the comfort of a spikeless shoe but with the performance from cleats. Callaway also claims to have solved the issue of side foot slippage, by featuring the Xfer Lateral Power Wall that absorbs and releases power during the load and unload of the golf swing.
Duncan Patmore, Callaway Europe Footwear Manager, said:
Our 2017 family of shoes for men and women push the performance boundaries a stage further thanks to a host of ground-breaking technologies that not only assist in giving golfers the very best comfort on the course, but could help them improve their games too.
One of the standout models in the new collection, the Chev Vent, may seem like a strange golf shoe for Callaway to produce. Taking inspiration from 80s retro running shoes, Callaway has created a super comfortable, extra breathable, lightweight athletic shoe with a spikeless rubber 4x4 outsole and an Opti-Vent mesh upper, that you wouldn’t be out of place wearing at the local supermarket.
Following on a similar theme is the new Del Mar Retro that combines high quality leather with an Opti-Soft drop-in footbed and with a more relaxed and fashionable retro styling that results in a shoe that can be worn both on the course and off it.
In the 2017 Sky Series, women can choose from 15 different styles and colour combinations, headlined by the Halo Pro range and featuring the stylish, run-inspired Ozone and Sunset Pro lines.
Ozone, like the men’s Del Mar Retro takes on a fashionable retro look that still manages to appeal to all ages. It blends performance leather, a comfortable drop-in footbed, and a new Ground Control outsole.
Callaway offer their final nod to more comfort-based, retro golf shoe with the Sunset Pro. Women can choose from three colourways that take inspiration from the running market, and boast an athletic, comfortable fit and a host of features, including a new Chev 4x4 Outsole featuring Xfer Power Wall traction elements, Ortholite Insert, EVA midsole and full grain of striking leathers.