Sweet Stuff
FootJoy Pro/SL
FootJoy recently infused its most popular golf shoe with some new styles, colors and features for the current season. The stylish Pro/SL™ has been FootJoy’s most popular shoe in golf shops and on the professional tours worldwide, according to the company, and now sports a new look and some design refinements that make this shoe one you don’t want to ever take off!
The Pro/SL has a soft, comfortable waterproof leather upper coupled with a midsole/outsole system that features three distinct layers for comfort, perimeter stability and superb traction in all conditions. In fact, the molded sole has 223 individual points of ground contact that provide superior traction and support for a shoe without removable cleats.
This shoe has a light feel and fits like a glove but gives one a feel of staying connected to the ground on just about any type of terrain on the course. The sporty-modern look makes these shoes a stylish choice for any golf attire or even after activities, and they are designed for comfort to the point where you could walk 18 holes right after taking them out of the box.
According to Footjoy, the Pro/SL has been chosen by more of the top-ranked 100 players in the world than any other shoe model.
“Our players can choose from any shoe in our line, so the fact that so many continue to choose Pro/SL, on Tours all over the world and in all possible conditions, really validates the product’s performance and our extensive design and development process,” said Richard Fryer, Director of Product Management, FootJoy.
Another new feature of the Pro/SL is the advanced midsole/outsole design that
provides improved comfort and performance. Its multi-layer construction utilizes FineTuned Foam (FTF) which is 10% lighter than the conventional EVA foam used in most golf footwear, and each layer is engineered to deliver discrete performance benefits. The top FTF layer cradles the foot in a soft foam insert for tremendous underfoot cushioning, while the lower/outer layer is a firmer blend of FTF that provides perimeter stability and motion control.
As a spikeless shoe, it says something that so many professionals opt for this shoe since those playing for a living are looking for performance and feel above all else.
Included among the players wearing the Pro/SL who compete at the highest level are Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen, Ian Poulter, Kevin Na, Charley Hoffman, Peter Uihlein, Patrick Cantlay, Cameron Smith and Andrew “Beef” Johnston, to name a few.
“Of all the shoes I’ve worn throughout my career, these are by far the most comfortable,” noted Poulter. “I get great grip in wet and dry conditions, plus with the BOA® system, I can dial in the fit and comfort to get exactly what I want.”
Among the new styles and colors available are: White/navy/red laced; White/silver laced; Black/silver BOA®; Grey/white laced; Black/ black laced; White/indigo BOA®.
For more information: www.FootJoy. com/prosl.html
Acu-Strike
Efficient practice aides that can improve one’s game—and can be used indoors and outdoors—seem to have the best chance of gaining traction with the golfing public.
One such tool that is proving to help players with their swing and can be used just about anywhere is the Acu-Strike Golf Impact Training Mat that gives you (or your instructor) all of the feedback you could ask for when it comes to practicing and improving your swing path either on the range or in the confines of your own home.
This portable mat is made of a specialized fabric that shows your swing path and has guidelines so you can instantly see where your clubhead hits in relationship to the ball. It is great for not only checking to make sure you are swinging on the correct path, but also not hitting behind or too far in front of the ball. You just swipe your club backwards to erase the swing path mark and hit again!
Mark Seiver invented this mat that won the PGA of America’s Best New Product Award at the 2019 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando earlier this year, and he has developed an outdoor and an indoor version that can be used to practice swings with or without a ball. The outdoor mat can be secured to the ground with the four included tees while the indoor mat is thicker and has a backing that won’t slide on either concrete or close-looped carpet.
The indoor or the outdoor mat can be purchased separately or in combination so you can practice anywhere, and the outdoor mat conveniently rolls up and will easily fit in a golf bag.
The Acu-Strike Golf Impact Training Mat can be purchased through Amazon or on the company website at: www.acustrikegolf.com