After over 100 years of producing sporting footwear, New Balance has entered the golfing world. The Ladies Fresh Foam Links SL v2 Waterproof Spikeless shoes are one of two pairs that they have released. Let’s put them to the test to see how they perform.
New Balance Ladies Fresh Foam LinksSL v2 golf shoes: NCG Summary
NCG SUMMARY
From a primarily trainer-based company, there was nothing more to expect than a casual trainer like golf shoes. The New Balance Fresh Foam LinksSL v2 provides a comfortable padded experience needed for those many hours walking around a golf course. The rubber texture on the bottom of the shoe creates a nice amount of grip without needing spikes.
The low cut of the shoe around the ankle and heel and the soft material does mean that there is a lack of ankle support provided.
PROS
- Cushion the feet
- Look good
- Lightweight
CONS
- Lack of ankle support
First Impressions
New Balance is relatively new to the golfing world, so I was excited to see what they have to offer. At a glance, these shoes look very similar to an ordinary pair of New Balance trainers. The Fresh Foam Links SL v2 is one of a few of the company’s female spikeless shoe options. It comes in two different colourways, grey and white/rose gold. The grey as shown actually features a mixture of colours, including holographic panels that glisten in the light.
Taking the shoes out of the box I was surprised by how lightweight they are. The upper part of the shoe is made from waterproof microfibre leather and performance mesh. The lower part of the shoe is a combination of Fresh Foam and rubber on the sole.
On Course Testing
In terms of size, I am a UK 7.5, and these shoes are a UK 7. At first, I wasn’t sure if they actually did fit but like most shoes, with a foam insole once you have a walk around and bed them in the foam moulds to your foot.
I would say that looking down they aren’t the most appealing. The front part of the shoe looks fairly narrow and the middle section looks much wider. I’m not sure if this is down to the fact that the laces are quite straggly and long so its difficult to pull them tight enough. Nonetheless, the shoe felt tight enough to play in comfortably.
Out on the course, I found these shoes enjoyable to walk in. The cush insole provides some nice comfort and support to my foot. However, as you can see in the image above, the shoe dips and sits quite low around the ankle, meaning there isn’t a great amount of support given there. This is the same at the heel, with the shoe sitting lower. This does mean the shoe didn’t rub at all though.
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For a spikeless golf shoe, I felt the rubber outsole of the Fresh Foam LinksSL v2 provided a good amount of traction when walking and during the swing. The Smart Rubber sole has been constructed using coloured zones that highlight key support areas in the foot. These areas mimic where spikes would be, and so the rubber is more risen in those places.
Mesh golf shoes don’t always have great water resistance, yet New Balance has used a combination of waterproof microfiber leather and performance mesh upper to create a waterproof outer shell. The leather has been brought around the shoe above the soles to create a waterproof guard. These shoes also come with a one-year waterproof guarantee, which is great.
The 19th hole
With the looks of a standard pair of New Balance trainers and the performance of golf shoes, they really are a two-in-one pair of golf shoes. However, if that’s not what you’re after then, they’re a fairly pricey option (at full RRP) in comparison to similar products. Discounts, though, are available.
Fit: True to Size/Small/Large/Wide/Narrow
Style: Athletic/Traditional/Off Course Friendly/All Weather/Casual
Out of Box Comfort: 7/10
Stability: 7/10
Value for Money: 6.5/10
The Details
Available: Now
RRP: £109.99
Sizes: UK 4-8
Colours: Grey, White/Rose Gold.
More info: Amazon
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