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We got our hands on a pair of Under Armour HOVR Drive 2 Wide golf shoes to see if they should be on your radar
The Under Armour HOVR Drive 2 Wide golf shoes look to build upon their acclaimed predecessor and provide even more comfort and stability for players whatever the conditions. Concentrating on flexible support throughout the swing, combined with impressive traction, they also aim to be lightweight, breathable, and durable.
Under Armour have produced an exceptional golf shoe that’s comfortable, great looking, and goes above and beyond in providing great support for golfers.
PROS
CONS
I don’t think even Under Armour would mind me saying they endured some growing pains in the golf shoe market. But in the near decade since Jordan Spieth leapt onto the scene and catapulted the well-known NFL brand into our wardrobes, they’ve come on leaps and bounds.
The culmination of that, at least in my humble opinion, may well be distilled into the HOVR Drive 2 Wide golf shoe. The company have never been afraid to experiment when it comes to how their shoes look and these are the latest example.
The two-tone colour scheme, a fresh white that moves into a dark blue heel and cyan inner, is bold. And the technology that’s gone into them is evident from the second your feet slip in.
Under Armour say the moulded heel is ‘anatomically designed to improve support and fit’, while a similarly moulded EVA footbed ‘provides supportive step-in comfort’.
Let me be clear, these do not feel like conventional golf shoes. The ankle and heel support are something you’d expect from a running shoe and that gives you immediate confidence and an expectation of comfort.
The toe guard, a HVOR placement that supports your foot during a swing, and a good set of spikes (which UA say ‘lockdown horizontal traction and comfort as you swing’) only reinforces that feeling.
This particular model is designed for those of us with wider feet and they do a really admirable job. There is no crowding of toes, nor do they feel tight and uncomfortable across the top.
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I tested the Under Armour HOVR Drive 2 Wide golf shoes during a round at Alwoodley. Two things struck me when putting them on. The first was how soft the upper was, which was a little surprising given how sturdy it looks from the exterior. This is a huge positive for me as a rigid upper generally means discomfort.
That said, the toe guard still gives you a lot of protection – both if you slip during walking or, in my case, when a ball inadvertently came in my direction from a playing partner!
The second was the padded heel, which really does provide a lot of ankle support. I struggle with tendonitis in my Achilles and the HOVR Drive 2 Wide shoes were absolutely fantastic in cushioning that area. They did not rub either – a massive plus given how they hold your foot and ankle firmly in place. All of this just added to the general feeling that these were a very well fitted shoe.
With wide feet, and often restricted by what I can wear without going up in shoe sizes, I was intrigued to see if this model lived up its billing. They were fabulous – spreading across my toes without impinging on either the big toe or the tiniest digit.
Most modern golf shoes make you feel like you’re walking on padded cushions and these are no exception. But they also move through the swing. You don’t feel like your foot or ankle is being resisted by the shoe during the transition. It’s a flowing movement.
The spikes provided a good amount of traction and, given I was testing in some wetter conditions, there was never a hint that my footing might give way.
The only minor quibble – and it’s really minor – was that there wasn’t much of the laces left to tie. I could probably have adjusted the eyelets but I’m a bit compulsive about having them all filled and I didn’t want anything to interfere with the fit. As a result, I couldn’t really tie a bow.
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I’m a big fan of both the construction and colour scheme. They look both modern and fashionable and provide the comfort to match. You can have confidence slipping these on straight out of the box and they only seem to get better with each passing hole.
There are warmer days to come, of course, but my feet were cossetted at a good temperature and these golf shoes appear eminently breathable and able to cope in hot and cold conditions.
This shoe has a standard lace tie and comes with a one-year waterproof warranty. Though there was only a minor shower during my testing round, they remained resolutely dry.
Overall, the Under Armour HOVR Drive 2 Wide golf shoe is a fine product and just another example of the huge progress the company continue to make in the golf shoe arena.
Fit: True to Size/Small/Large/Wide/Narrow
Style: Athletic/Traditional/Off Course Friendly/All Weather/Casual
Out of Box Comfort: 9.5/10
Stability: 9.5/10
Value for Money: 9/10
Available: Now
RRP: £140
Sizes: UK 6-14
Colours: White, White (Metallic Silver), Black.
More info: Under Armour website.
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