Gear Review: Adidas 360 and Footjoy's New Dryjoy

Gear Review: Adidas 360 (Adidas-TaylorMade) and Footjoy Dryjoy

What Adidas Says:

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• The highly anticipated, next generation Adidas Tour 360 II shoe pushes the performance envelope to its limits.
• 360WRAP+ for even greater stability and a new wider tour platform for a more stable base. The 360 Wrap, with its independent forefoot and heel, delivers exceptional support keeping your foot centered within the shoe, ensuring a solid hitting platform and enhanced stability.
• Z-Traxion gives you sure-footed control during your swing. Integrated Z-shaped lugs combine lateral and linear grip to distribute pressure evenly and eliminate any hotspots.
• The clear TPU outsole features improved spacing between the lugs, a smooth surface and no sharp angles, which work together to reduce the likelihood of grass and debris catching, clogging or sticking to the outsole – less clogging promotes better traction from shot to shot.
• No-Slip Tongue: An improved anti-slip pattern keeps the tongue centered on the top of the foot for increased comfort. 3D Fit Foam Three densities of foam adapt to the contours of your foot, creating the ultimate performance footbed.

What Acushnet says:

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• FootJoy, the #1 Shoe in Golf and the #1 Shoe on every tour Worldwide, announced today the introduction of the most comfortable, high performance DryJoys ever. The New DryJoys shoes feature Stability PODS outsole technology. These new DryJoys deliver FLEXTABILITY – stability achieved through maximum flexibility.
• The new DryJoys outsole showcases seven strategically placed TPU Stability PODS and the enhancement of the OptiFlex zone has resulted in ultimate comfort and a stable platform. The outsole has been developed so more of the shoe stays in contact with the ground throughout the golf swing.
• The DryJoys category will offer a range of styling in the super-category of twelve shoes. The uppers will have the ECL Leather system by Pittards of England, full leather linings and the Comfort Plus PU Fit-Bed.

What We Say: Never before have golf shoes been treated like a necessary part of the gear you take with you to the course. In the past, one just hoped the shoes left your socks dry and your feet feeling fine. Those days have departed thanks to the introduction late last year of Adidas’ 360 shoes and more recently (start of August) Footjoy’s new Dryjoy shoe.

The 360 hit the market first, with a distinctive athletic shoe look and feel and I spent much of the year so far wearing it. The 360 has all of the technology you’d expect from a company like Adidas. The shoes feel soft and springy, were easy to break in and I walked 18 right out of the box (at Pinehurst in the spring). I assumed the sporty look is going to be a bit much for those golfers who are anchored securely in the past, but I think the aesthetics of the shoes is part of their appeal.

One might not expect a lot of stability given the sole of is a “split wrap.” That means essentially their are two parts to the sole of the shoe and it is designed for better traction and stability. I like the feel, both while walking and while hitting balls, and the shoes seemed particularly suited to me while I was working through a recent swing change.

Similarly, Acushnet’s new Dryjoys are a delight right out of the box. Yes, Acushnet seems to have taken a page out of Adidas’ book, right down to the colours and styling on its new shoe. I guess Wilde was right — imitation is flattery.

Though my orthotics don’t fit with the extra cushioning added to the shoe (in either shoe, I’ll add — anybody have a similar problem), taking the insole out allowed me to walk unencumbered and without any pain. The foam used as an insole in both shoes is comfortable (I’ve worn both without my orthotics as a test), and is supposed to mould to your feet over time.

The main difference I find between the two shoes is the level of support in the Dryjoys. Whether it is just the fit of the shoe on my foot or something that is part of the manufacturing process, I feel my secure in hitting with the Dryjoys. A strong base is important, especially with higher swing speeds. I found the Dryjoys are a perfect complement to the way I play — and a touch better than the 360s.

The only downside I found to the 360 is they don’t seem to wear very well (note that I’ve only been wearing the Dryjoys for a few weeks, versus five months for the 360s). Now I play a lot of golf and am not easy on shoes. But twice I’ve had issues with the white covering on the toe portion of the shoes (see photo below). It appears to be more of an aesthetic issue, with the white colour bubbling and then flaking off. The first time this occured after I’d only worn the shoes a couple of times. The second time it happened a couple of months in. Once again, it doesn’t impact the performance of the shoe, but it is hard to pay $229 for a shoe that just doesn’t seem to hold up under the stress of regular golf.

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Interesting that in the era of cart golf, shoe makers are increasingly making product designed to allow you to walk more comfortably. Aesthetic issues aside, the 360 is a comfortable and sharp looking shoe. But with the new Dryjoy entering at the same price point, I’d give Footjoy the nod.

Ontgolfs Gear Head Rating:

“New” Dryjoy: $199 ****

Adidas 360: $229 ***

* Dont bother
** If you really need this, go ahead but we warned you
*** You will neither be disappointed or thrilled
****This should be one of your final choices and you will happy you spent the money
*****Buy this now!!!