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Steve Carroll is pushing 50. Surely these very modern-looking ‘sneakers’ can’tpossibly be for him. Or can they?
Well, these look different. They’re more the sort of thing you’d expect to see on an NBA floor than criss-crossing a fairway.
And I’m approaching 50 for god’s sake. Surely I can’t get away with the J.Lindeberg Ace High Top golf sneakers? But I can’t with the one hand call for complete freedom for what I wear on the golf course and then turn my nose up with the other.
Do you know what that would make me? That’s right, a hypocrite. So let’s strap these on (I think that’s what you do with them) and get right out onto the course to undertake my J.Lindeberg Ace High Top golf sneaker review….
J.Lindeberg Ace High Top golf sneaker review: NCG Summary
NCG SUMMARY
A very modern golf shoe that’s heavier than some I would normally wear. Styling won’t be to all tastes – and probably isn’t meant to be – but these shoes are very comfortable, stable in the swing, and look like they’ll last forever.
PROS
These will last a long time
They are extremely comfortable
Very modern look will appeal to some
CONS
On the scale of classic to modern, these shoes are almost spaceship
There’s no dressing it up (boom, tisch). These are going to be far too much for some of you. But if you’re still reading, I like to think it’s because you’ve got an open mind and you’re open to new experiences.
So buckle up. You don’t actually need to do that. There are laces, these are not moonboots. But the Ace High Top golf shoes are very different to the sort of things you’d see anyone around my vintage and above toting on the course.
And given that many of us gathered here today have spent a similar number of days on this earth (don’t deny it, we’ve got the analytics to prove it), I think we’re going to have a similar view.
Can a middle-aged man get away with wearing high-tops? I’m here to say you can. It’s going to take a bit of swinging it (pun very much intended), but here’s what we’re going to do.
Yes, they look like very modern basketball sneakers. But think of that support! You’re not going to lose any traction in these. When you put your feet inside, they are very much staying there.
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They look very durable too. The leather upper and nylex lining just screams indestructible. They’ll get you through plenty of walking.
They do initially feel very comfortable – assisted by a padded tongue and a Vibram outsole. So while you might feel like Michael Jordan when initially slipping them on, you will soon be floating down the fairways. And you won’t be worrying about them falling apart after a season’s wear.
On Course Testing
Whether you’ll be showing off your high top to all and sundry rather depends on the kind of trousers you wear on the golf course. Anything with a straight hem and they’ll just disappear. The ones I tend to wear are tapered, though, and so they sit right on top of this model just above the ankle.
I’m not big fan of that but it’s hardly the fault of the shoes. It is something to bear in mind if it’s going to bother you.
I’m not used to swinging a club with something quite so high on the ankle and it initially feels very strange. I roll my left foot considerably during the downswing and expect a bit of give. But high tops all but stop that.
The J.Lindeberg Ace High Top shoes are also on the heavy side compared to the athletic runner-type golf shoes I’d normally wear.
Again, you’d expect that. The material is heavier. It’s sturdier. It feels designed to stabilise rather than flex.
It will be interesting to see if that changes through wear but you’re not going to be slipping and sliding around during the swing with these on your feet. They will remain where you want them to be.
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And stability doesn’t mean discomfort. There is incredible padding, to the point where you feel you’re cushioned in fabric. They are very comfortable to walk in and that’s always number one in my consideration when evaluating a golf shoe.
If they’re rubbing, chafing, bruising and you’re on a six-mile hike with them – you’ve got to take them back or bin them. The Ace High Tops do none of these in the early testing I’ve completed. They are a delight to wear from that point of view.
Although the model I tested is bright white, they clean quite easily too. These are a shoe I would consider taking out in inclement weather, confident they wouldn’t be forever spoiled by a sudden downpour and a bit of mud.
19th Hole – Final Verdict
On the scale of classic to modern, these golf shoes are almost spaceship. Some of you will take one look and never be convinced. Maybe we’re not who they are aimed at. Perhaps the younger crowd look at these with soft eyes and open wallets.
There are some very relevant reasons, though, for considering the J.Lindeberg Ace High Top golf shoes – even if your world view has barely extended beyond Stylo Matchmakers.
They are sturdy in the swing, very comfortable to wear, and look to be extremely durable. If the ankle support height isn’t quite your thing, hide them with a straight-legged trouser. If it is, show them off with pride. It’s not the 1890s after all.
But as a performing golf shoe goes, you discount these at your peril.
