Driven To Perform: The Biomechanics Behind Under Armour's Latest Golf Shoes

How many golfers consider their shoe to be a piece of performance equipment like a golf club? Probably not many, but when you consider your shoes are your only points of contact with the ground, it should probably be an investment golfers take more seriously. The rise of more casual, spikeless golf shoes has been a great thing for the game, reintroducing fashion and versatility back into the sport. But are these the right types of shoes to help performance-driven golfers get the most from their games? This was the question Under Armour was asking itself as it went back to the drawing board to design its next family of tour-level shoes – the new Drive Pro and Drive Pro SL. 

These shoes have been designed from the ground up, with the brand’s new Swing Support System – known as S3 – the crowning jewel in its new spiked and spikeless shoes. This  system has been in development for two years through close work with world-renowned biomechanist JJ Rivet and long-term tour staffer Jordan Spieth and has led the brand to a traction, comfort and lacing system on both its spiked and spikeless shoes that it is rightly very proud of. 

The Swing Support System

S3 has three main elements: extreme traction from the outsole; energy return and comfort in the midsole; and a new Lockdown Lacing System. It takes performance to a new level all while being lighter than common tour shoes on the market. Starting from the outsole, smarter traction is delivered through a combination of UA’s new custom S3 Spikes and the Tour Flex Pro Spike. Developed exclusively for Under Armour with CHAMP MacNeill Engineering, the S3 Spikes are utilised in the medial heel and lateral forefoot at the optimal angle to resist rotation in the golf swing, allowing you to harness more power. JJ Rivet wanted the spike turned 10° clockwise to hit an exact angle of slip that he wanted to resist. Two different legs on each spike offer different kinds of traction in one of the most dynamic spikes Under Armour has ever used. 

The Tour Flex Pro spike has been inspired by the old metal spikes and uses a centre post to offer grabbing traction where you need it most on the medial forefoot and big toe. The toe spike has been moved to a more central position to ensure ground contact at every stage of the swing. These nine spikes work in conjunction with the improved secondary traction to prevent the back foot from slipping backwards at impact. In the upper, UA’s Swing Support Strap is fully connected to the S3 Spikes and integrated lacing system, providing optimised 360-degree lock-in from lateral ball to medial instep.

The updated HOVR midsole is the only dual-density midsole in golf, utilising the brand’s softer HOVR foam technology and more supportive Charged Cushioning. By using softer HOVR foam in the medial side, the foot is able to sink into the shoe when you apply your peak force and helps transition your weight more efficiently through the ball.

The spikeless outsole on the Drive Pro SL has also been completely redesigned with a rubber and TPU hybrid outsole. The TPU nubs help the shoe penetrate the ground for grip while the rubber nubs add an element of softness, flexibility and friction. Rubber wrapping up the side of the foot also gives added support throughout the entire swing, allowing maximum efficiency. Like its spiked counterpart, the SL remains one of the most lightweight tour spikeless shoes on the market despite all its new technology. 

Under Armour has also done a commendable job in still keeping the prices of both shoes at a sustainable level for most committed golfers. At £150 for Drive Pro and £130 for Drive Pro SL, tour-level performance, grip and comfort are available for a sizable chunk less than many spiked and spikeless competitor shoes.

The Testing

So, what of this new technology when it was put to the test using 3D force plates to track foot movements? In one of our testing sessions, both new models saw us gain up to seven extra yards with our 7-iron - 153 to 160 - while utilising 9% more ground force on average when compared to the spikeless golf shoe we normally play with. In a second session, a different tester using a 6-iron gained upwards of 2mph in the spiked Drive Pro and an even more impressive 5mph in the spikeless Drive Pro SL, which added an extra three yards of carry from 196 yards to 199 yards. Without a doubt, the Swing Support System allowed both testers to swing at their most efficient and the performance gains speak for themselves considering all that was changed was the shoes.  

The biggest conclusion from our testing was simple – if you want to benefit from significant performance gains on the course, you need a pair of shoes that can help you do that. The casual, summer shoe still has a place in the game for the right scenario, of course. However, having studied the efforts Under Armour has gone to in developing a biomechanically supportive shoe that aids the body’s movements through the swing, it’s time for serious golfers to start investing properly in their footwear.

The Under Armour Drive Pro and Drive Pro SL golf shoes are available now at pro shops, golf retailers throughout the UK and the Under Armour website.