Does Rory McIlroy's New Nike Golf Shoe Live Up To The Hype? I Test It To Find Out

In the world of golf shoes, it is interesting to see how much buzz a new Nike shoe often gets. Despite not making golf clubs for years the brand still has a lot of juice when it comes to the apparel/shoe sector and I am as guilty as anyone of buying into it as well. When Rory McIlroy showed up at The Showdown last year I immediately spotted the new shoes, the Victory Tour 4’s and I just had to get my hands on a pair to test. I have been lucky enough to test the previous Victory Tour 2 and 3 golf shoes so I was excited to get these out on the course to compare, especially to the previous 3 which got five stars in my review, and believe me, I very rarely give out five stars. It deserved to be labeled one of the best golf shoes out there, so can the 4 continue that theme?

Starting with the looks, our shoe expert Dan Parker and myself have talked regularly about how sneaker-like, casual golf shoes have become a lot more popular of late, and yet we are also seeing brands continue to offer a more traditional style. We then see some try and combine the two. I think the Victory Tour 4’s fit into that last category. Whenever I see the Swoosh I usually think of sneakers, but this shoe, in my opinion, combines a modern, casual look, with a more sophisticated aesthetic, especially when you compare it to the previous 3’s. The lines of the shoe flow together nicely and it is a simple looking shoe which I like.

The construction isn’t simple though thanks to the soft, full-grain leather used, which is soft to the touch and gives it a premium feel. There are currently 4 different colors available including a special edition Masters-themed finish with blooming pink flowers which certainly stands out, and I expect more special editions to come out throughout the year, along with other standard colors. Overall I am confident many people are going to really love the look of this shoe, and I think it does look great, but I should admit I think I still prefer the previous 3 looks-wise.

Moving to comfort, this is the area I was really looking forward to testing. The 3 was one of the most comfortable golf shoes I’ve ever used and it is still part of my regular rotation. Well I am pleased to report the 4 also delivers top-notch comfort despite some noticeable tweaks to the design. The first thing I noticed was the thicker padding around the ankle has been slimmed down which I was initially nervous about given my proneness to blisters in that area, but there was no need for concern in the 4’s thanks to the internal foam collar. Elsewhere Nike says it took feedback from athletes to create a new frame for a better shape and fit - chiefly the Dynamic Fit system for more support and the Cushlon midsole for comfort and stability.

Additionally a new Flyplate technology has been added, which is a carbon fiber plate designed to flex as you walk, and stiffen when swinging, for added comfort. I must say it is hard to really feel the different technologies working in this shoe but all I can say is it felt very comfortable to use all day, which I did a number of times. I think the biggest compliment I can pay a golf shoe is that I forget I am wearing them during testing, and I think this is the case here. Walking in them was a pleasure and the inner materials seemed to mold to my feet nicely, but I will say, the midsole feel is on the firmer side so if you want a softer-feeling shoe underfoot, then go for the G/FORE MG4+ O2 G/LOCK or Skechers Go Glf Prestige shoes.

I think the area where there has been the biggest change from the 3’s to the 4’s is in the grip and stability. By no means did the 3 lack here, but the 4 does perform at a higher level for me. To start, the number of spikes has gone from seven to nine which certainly added to my peace of mind during the golf swing, when I was having to hit shots from uneven lies and wet or muddy areas in particular. The shoe was low enough to the ground that I didn’t feel like I was hitting shots on stilts, and the combination of the spikes and traction pattern gave me grip in every direction.

Additionally it was notable how the heel of the 4 seemed to be wider than the 3, which I think further added to my feeling of stability. Finally I should mention the shoes are 100% waterproof which is an absolute must for me these days, and the shoes retail at $190. This is a premium price but actually less than other competitor models out there and given the performance, I do think it is justified.

To conclude, I think the one word I would use to describe this shoe is refinement, especially in the looks, comfort and grip departments. Aesthetically in particular the shoe looks classy and more traditional than previous shoes in the line and despite me preferring the older shoe in this regard, this isn’t enough to not give this shoe five stars because the performance is up there with the best spiked golf shoes on the market.