FootJoy HyperFlex Carbon Golf Shoe Review
What’s new? How much do they cost? And how do they perform? Jack Backhouse brings you the low down on the new FootJoy HyperFlex Carbon golf shoes
FootJoy have been leading the charge in golf shoe technology for years now, and the new HyperFlex Carbon is the latest model to push the boat out even further.
So how did we find them? Find out in our FootJoy HyperFlex Carbon golf shoe review.
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FootJoy HyperFlex Carbon golf shoes review: NCG Summary
NCG SUMMARY
These shoes are bold. Expect to receive a lot of looks from other golfers in the car park, on the range and the golf course. Just slipping these on makes you feel like an athlete.
FootJoy have built in a custom molded carbon fibre plate into the sole of the HyperFlex shoes, which provides firm stability I’ve never felt in a pair of golf shoes before.
Expect out-of-the-box comfort and superb grip that will allow you to really torque the ground hard to get maximum clubhead speed.
PROS
- Extremely comfortable out of the box.
- Excellent traction.
- Really solid in the swing and underfoot
CONS
- Slightly on the heavy side
FootJoy HyperFlex Carbon golf shoes
Now: £189
Check out the best deals on the FootJoy HyperFlex Carbon golf shoes
First Impressions
I have never opted to wear ‘athletic’ golf shoes before. My personal on-course style (or lack of) has always jumped between the super traditional classic look or trainers you wouldn’t think are golf shoes at all.
Unboxing them, I was initially put off by the blue and pink trim, but the more I looked at the FJ HyperFlex Carbon shoes, the more I loved them. They’re bright and colourful without being too in your face, and give off a youthful player vibe that I like.
The big talking point on these shoes is the custom moulded carbon fibre plate that sits in the sole. As an avid runner, I’m aware shoe companies have been adding carbon sole plates to shoes for a few years now, and I’ve wondered why they haven’t appeared in golf shoes yet.
FootJoy reckons that the Hyperflex Carbon offers increased stability than any shoe on the market now due to the carbon power plate. With ortholite impression fitbed and optiflex zones, the FootJoy HyperFlex Carbon shoes should be stable and rigid in the golf swing but comfortable enough to wear all day.
A few years ago, I had a FootJoy shoe fitting where the shoe professional told me I had been wearing the wrong-sized shoes my whole golfing career, and he sized me down dramatically. I now wear a minuscule EU 39, which is a whole size smaller than I wear in other brands shoes, but they fit me perfectly.
They also feature a ‘coated knit bootie’, which basically means the top of the shoe around your ankle is a knitted fabric rather than the 100% waterproof mesh upper. Slipping them on they straight away feel molded to your foot.
On Course Testing
I’ve worn these shoes now for a few weeks so I’m fairly comfortable commenting on how the FootJoy HyperFlex Carbons are pretty much faultless. I’ve worn them on dry links turf at Furness golf club in Cumbria, and on my home course of Sand Moor in West Yorkshire and the performance has been excellent.
I cannot believe how strong and stable I feel in the swing wearing them. I’d go so far as to say these shoes have managed to wake me up and help me escape the spikeless shoe cult and have opened the door of proper golf shoe performance.
These shoes have complimented my recent pursuit of club head speed as I now feel like I’ve got hold of the ground and can use it to spin and turn off.
There were no issues with waterproofness or breathability during any of my rounds in them. They are firm underfoot but I do feel like I could happily play 36 holes in them on a firm course, no problem.
The 19th hole
The only issue with the ‘athletic’ shoe is that you probably dont want to wear them in the bar or off the course for very long. The FootJoy HyperFlex Carbon features spikes so you are probably not putting them on at home.
These shoes are absolutely first class and I’m not surprised to see them already on tour with Sahith Theegala choosing to put them in play straight away.
Most of the shoes will clean really easily with a damp towel, but you may find the knitted bootie tough to clean as it isn’t waterproof and will just absorb water and mud.
I think that the construction and performance of the shoe undoubtedly justifies the price, and with there being a black option, you could and I might have a white and a black pair for summer and winter and get the excellent performance all year round.
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: 10/10
Value for Money: 9.5/10
The Details
Available: Now
RRP: £189.99
Sizes: UK 6-12 (inc. half sizes).
Colours: White/Multi or Black/White/Grey.
More info: FootJoy Website
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Jack Backhouse
Jack is a PGA Golf Professional who specialises in coaching, teaching golf to beginners and top-level amateurs for 10+ years. He also loves his golf equipment and analysing the data of the latest clubs on the market using launch monitors, specialising in blade irons and low-spinning drivers despite having a chronically low ball flight.
Although Jack has no formal journalism training, He has been reading What's In The Bag articles since he started playing at 12 and studying golf swings since his dad first filmed his swing to reveal one of the worst over-the-top slice swings he reckons has ever been recorded, which set him off on the path to be a coach. His favourite club ever owned was a Ping G10 driver bought from a local top amateur with the hope that some of the quality golf shots would come with it (they didn't), and worst was a Nike SQ driver he only bought because Tiger was using it.
Jack is a member of Sand Moor Golf Club and regularly gets out on the golf course to prepare for tournaments. Jack uses a TaylorMade BRNR Mini driver, a half set of TaylorMade P7MB irons, MG4 wedges and a TaylorMade TP Reserve putter.
