COST: $300.

TESTED BY: Jimmy Emanuel, Golf Australia Deputy & Digital Editor

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: In terms of golf shoes, the adidas TOUR360 22 was the most hyped launch I can remember. I sat in on a virtual session with designers and Xander Schauffele and, although intrigued, was holding my judgement until I saw them in the flesh.

Once in possession of my size 10s I had a greater understanding as to why adidas made such a big deal over a shoe … these are fantastic.

The look is great, they feel like a quality product in the hands and, once on, the TOUR360 22 was simply brilliant. My feet felt locked in but comfortable, walking was a nice experience and the grip was very good.

HOW THEY PERFORMED: The mention of looks above is obviously a subjective one when it comes to shoes, however to expand on what made this pair standout, the TOUR360 22 blends athletic and classic better than many other models adidas has produced in the past.

Previously a traditional golf shoe wearer, these days something more modern grabs my attention but I find myself somewhere between the two. This shoe is right there, with the leather upper and wider forefoot from above they look fairly traditional, while the sole design modernises this significantly. And this combination is why I believe the fit is so good.

The leather hugs and moulds to your foot, while the ‘BOOST’ sole components are like a more solid running shoe.

The “locked in” feeling is exceptionally stable when walking and swinging the club, paired with some soft yet solid comfort. Straight out of the box this was the case and I was confident enough to walk straight to the tee without fear of blisters or discomfort.

As time went on, this comfort level increased and I must point out how much I enjoyed the collar and tongue elements. Well-padded without taking too much space, the tongue of the shoe allowed me to find my preferred tightness without the laces feeling as if they were putting pressure on the top of my foot.

The feel of being well supported is combined with the sense that your natural foot shape is accommodated. As Sam Snead was fond of doing, there is nothing like hitting golf balls barefoot, and while it remains an issue in terms of dress codes finding a shoe that lets your foot be your foot is important.

Traction is the other key performance aspect of a golf shoe, and here the TOUR360 22 really stood out.

Some of my friends recently suggested they don’t think there is a benefit to golf shoes and the traction they provide, well two of my most recent games have seen mates slip during the downswing resulting in disastrous shots. Not me when wearing these though.

The moulded soft spikes are interesting and seeing how long they last will be worth keeping an eye on, but adidas’ reasoning for being able to create different shapes and sizes for the location makes sense, and the feeling of connection to the ground is improved. I also loved seeing the centre cone in the spikes that is exactly the style Tour players with metal spikes opt for in what is apparently a ‘more green’ friendly option. That little middle piece might not look like much, but anyone who wore the old spikes knows that there was no ground connection like metal spikes, and this does an admirable job of recreating it.

I have worn golf shoes from pretty much every brand in every style over the journey, and it takes a lot to seriously impress and these did just that. And in terms of finding one for each individual, there is a wide range of colours, plus the BOA models that diversify the range. Perhaps the lead-in work from adidas wasn’t so much hype but excitement.

ADIDAS SAYS: The first TOUR360 ushered-in an era for what has now become the brand’s flagship footwear franchise. The TOUR360 22 marks the next chapter.

After nearly two decades of building upon and improving that original model of the TOUR360, adidas went back to the beginning; adopting that same mindset of taking risks that ultimately drove the creation for that first model.

With the TOUR360 22, the primary focus was to re-examine how the company addressed two critical areas that are important for golfers of all skill levels: fit and traction. To get there, historical models of the TOUR360 were looked at, as well as brand archives from other categories for inspiration.

From the ground up, the TOUR360 22 sits on a ‘Feet You Wear’ last, serving as the foundation for the new ‘TOUR360 FIT’, while new direct-injected ‘SPIKEMORE’ traction system helps golfers stay locked-in and increase confidence with every swing. It’s the first time in golf that adidas have included these features.

Visit www.adidas.com.au/golf to find out more details.