adidas Men's Zg21 Golf Shoe

Product Information

Thintech construction brings you close to the ground for better transfer, balance and stability, and consistent ball-striking with increased power. Inspired by heat-map studies and running from heel to toe, we target the areas and place the maximum amount of traction where it’s needed most. Although the waterproof sprintskin synthetic upper wasn't entirely to my taste aesthetically, performance-wise it was great. The material is lightweight yet quite strong and durable. The sprintskin synthetic upper will also mean that the shoes are extremely easy to wipe down and keep clean after a round. Always a bonus for the avid golfer who is playing regularly.

With shoes it’s a little easier to sift through the marketing jargon and figure things out for yourself and I have to say that every claim adidas make about the tech in the ZG21 did indeed translate to the course. I simply can’t fault the performance. This shoe does everything it’s supposed to do. With some products (golf clubs especially) you read about all the tech and what it is supposed to achieve but you don’t really know if it’s a load of old nonsense or not as in many cases it’s impossible to tell. I tested these golf shoes in the usual Golfalot way - 18 holes of golf, straight out of the box. Instead this time the 18 holes of golf were a little more special than your average round at the local municipal. Overall the ZG21s styling is very, well, Adidas. It's fairly contemporary, sleek and all in all not too offensive, in fact the ZG21 couldn't really look more like an Adidas golf shoe if it tried and you have to say that when it comes to shoe styling, they've got a pretty decent reputation. If it ain't broke, why fix it?The ZG21 really deserves a better name though. Something cool and memorable. After all, adidas are known for that when it comes to their footwear, whether it’s iconic training shoes such as Samba or Gazelle and football boots like the Copa Mundial and Predator. That mild soreness wouldn't put me off wearing the ZG21 because it's par for the course (sorry!) with spiked shoes and I’d expect this mild discomfort to ease once the shoes are more broken in as wearing a brand new pair of spiked shoes for the first time often has this result. And finally, have Adidas launched a new category in golf footwear? Sorry but, no. This is just another great spiked golf shoe like Adidas have been making for years. Would I Use It? The two BOA models feature the new BOA Fit System, a ‘Y’-strap design that’s a first in the sport and provides an even higher level of performance.

The outsole features six traditional spikes as well as plenty of secondary traction in the form of lugs. The placement of the secondary lugs you can see scattered in between the conventional cleats has been altered from the layout of the ZG21 thanks to some clever research from the R&D team at adidas. Using heat mapping technology with golfers from across the handicap spectrum, the brand has been able to better understand where golfers need extra grip and where they don't, thus refining the positioning of the secondary lugs. This refined outsole is therefore a little lighter than on the ZG21 but with equal - if not more - grip where it's needed most. There is no doubt there's a confidence-inspiring sensation of grip when you hit the turf in the ZG23 and I also found the shoe to still looks and feels low-profile despite the presence of the spikes. Were they as comfortable as advertised? Pretty much, yes. Were they as comfortable as a pair of spikeless shoes? Not quite, but I don't think that is even possible. After all, it isn't a flat sole and it has half a dozen screw in cleats in it. Confidence in your swing leads to success on every hole. These adidas golf shoes provide a solid foundation for your game with a Boost and Lightstrike hybrid midsole for cushioned comfort and energy return. The six-spike Thintech TPU outsole delivers stability and grip for consistent ball-strike. The waterproof upper keeps your feet dry in damp conditions. ZG21 features adidas' renowned Boost cushioning system, but then it is up to 20 per cent lighter than previous comparable spiked models in their range and significantly lighter than many of their competitor's shoes. Two years in the making, the footwear giant is claiming that the ZG21 is up to 20 per cent lighter than the brand's previous spiked shoes and is also 'launching a new category of golf footwear'.The sole is particularly eye catching due to the colour scheme and contrast provided by the Swingplane traction zone. The Stability Fin may be there for the increased support it provides during the swing but it also brings a lot to the shoe aesthetically. It’s just a great looking golf shoe.

It's also worth noting that Adidas are being fairly progressive too with the production of the ZG21, they are made with recycled content as part of their ambition to help end plastic waste. 20% of the pieces used to make the upper are made with minimum 50% recycled content which I have to take my hat off to. 20% isn't a huge amount but it's a start and an attitude I'd like to see more and golf footwear brands adopt. On the positive side, the Lightstrike Foam and Boost Technology in the heel really did provide the extreme comfort that adidas say it does. It's like having a pillow stuffed with marsh mallows under your heel. Unfortunately, Sam is not a member of any club at the moment but regularly gets out on the golf course to keep up the facade of having a handicap of five.The discomfort was more towards the side of my feet where the Stability Fin is located so maybe that did its job a little too well, but it's more likely that I just needed the wide fitting shoe. Another innovative feature is the ultra-light Stability Fin which is a lightweight and durable TPU insert in the lateral sidewall of the shoe that gives increased lateral stability during the swing. Even though a spikeless shoe maybe slightly more comfortable, my preference is to wear spikes and given the choice between the ZG21s and a pair of spikeless shoes I’d go with the adidas on most occasions. The only exception would be on holiday when it’s just more convenient to have the more versatile option of a shoe without spikes that you can wear all day and not just on the course. I tested the shoes in the White/Grey/Lime Green colourway and to be honest didn't find them all too attractive to begin with, though I have to say they grew on me a little as testing went on. There's honestly nothing too fancy here to put golfers off.

I've never been too much of a fan of wide-looking fits and bold colours on the golf course, like most golfers, I like my golf shoes to tie in nicely with my outfit - therefore the flashes of lime don't really do much for me. The configuration wraps around the foot, creating a secure fit over the instep and provides flexibility and freedom in the toe box. Having tested a number of golf shoes from different categories over the last few years, I was intrigued to find out how Adidas had gone about creating a new one and whether that had any benefits for us golfers...An aspect of the design I did like however was the fact that Adidas have designed these shoes with both genders in mind. There isn't a men's ZG21 then a women's ZG21 in the predictable colourways. Everything about them is quite gender neutral - with a nod to modern styling over men's or women's styling. This kind of attitude I'm a big fan of.