Golf Shoe Review: FootJoy FreeStyle

By: Tony Covey

Product Highlights

Model: FootJoy FreeStyle
Upper Material: Performance Mesh
Sole Material: FootJoy SoftMax™
Colorways: 6 - (4 laces / 2 BOA)
Price: $159.99 /$179.99 BOA

The 2016 FreeStyle is FootJoy’s surprisingly fresh take on the idea that an extremely mobile and incredibly comfortable golf shoe doesn’t necessarily have to be spikeless.

Some of us still want spikes…always. Am I right?

The FreeStyle Design

FreeStyle’s design starts with a performance mesh upper, which helps to make the shoe lightweight, breathable, and waterproof. The upper is paired with the FreeStyle’s F.R.O.G.S. outsole. Described by the company as "a revolutionary outsole grip system", F.R.O.G.S. is built to be soft while providing traction in not only the conventional sense, but also in a let your foot move and interact with the ground naturally kind of way that is the signature of the FreeStyle design.

FreeStyle’s sole is outfitted with Pulsar spikes, which in addition to being less destructive than some soft cleats on the market, are also noticeably more pliable. Think of it like this: the sole of the shoe interacts with, and grips the turf without ripping it up.

FreeStyle Peformance

We can’t exactly put a shoe on a launch monitor, but we can give you an idea of how the FootJoy FreeStyle stacks up in those areas that matter most when it comes to your golf shoe.

Comfort

Footjoy offers Freestyle in 47 different size and width combinations, with both traditional (laces) and BOA styles available (not all sizes available in BOA).

A Quick Aside: For an extra $20, we can’t recommend the BOA option enough. Since trying it for the first time, I’m basically giving the stink-eye to any shoe without some sort of cable lace option. Tying shoes is for suckers. BOA is like Velcro for adults.

Given the abundance of options available, basic comfort – which starts with finding the right fit – shouldn’t be much of an issue for anyone. If you can’t find a pair of FootJoy FreeStyle in your size, it might be time to think about getting new feet.

From the family room (where I first slipped them on) to the golf course, the FJ FreeStyle is supremely comfortable from the get-go. It feels broken-in basically straight out of the box.

In my first test of the FreeStyle had no issues walking 18 holes over hilly terrain on consecutive days. Of equal importance, I’ve had no comfort issues since.

Our strong comfort recommendation comes with a couple of additional notes:

The soft sole is noticeably spongier (and bendier) than any other spiked shoe I’ve ever worn. The ground interaction one experiences while wearing FJ FreeStyle isn't dissimilar from what one gets while wearing FiveFingers toe shoes; albeit in a more conventional design.  What’s immediately apparent is the flexibility of the outsole. One can actually feel different parts of the shoe, and by extension – different parts of the foot - interacting with the ground with each step. For some that may be a bit unnerving as it does offer a bit of a cushioned barefoot sensation.

It’s definitely odd, but certainly helps to illustrate the basis for FootJoy's assertion that the FreeStyle was inspired, in part, by tree frogs.

The biomimicry stuff aside, the bottom line is that the FreeStyle is as comfortable as any golf shoe I’ve ever worn. That Superior comfort is a large part of the reason why it’s my most frequently worn shoe this season.

Traction

Traction, in a word, is good. I could also use adequate, but that reads like faint praise. For the most part FreeStyle’s traction is what it needs to be, without leaving one feeling bolted to the ground (the mobility thing), and subsequently ripping up greens.

The notorious adizero these are not.

FreeStyles’s Pulsar Spikes are designed to be soft (comfort) and green-friendly. With that comes a small traction penalty. Under normal conditions there are no issues whatsoever. In wet conditions, however, aggressive swingers (me) or those whose swings rely on significant ground interaction, may experience some minor slipping – especially out of taller grass.

I haven’t it found it to be a significant issue, and arguably it’s a minuscule price to play for increased comfort and decreased course damage.

Durability

With respect to durability there are 3 specific areas that we need to address:

Upper Separation

While the mesh upper itself appears to be nearly indestructible, with my initial sample, the rubber-like wrap that’s bonded to the upper exhibited some separation. As you might imagine, this isn’t the expected behavior, and FootJoy was happy to replace the damaged pair.

Thus far, I haven’t had any issues with the replacements, nor has the problem with the original pair, which I still wear in order to further test durability, progressed further.

Waterproofing has not been a concern.

Spike Shearing

A few of the spikes – notably those in areas where I personally put the most force on the shoe - show signs of shearing, and need to be replaced. This isn’t particularly surprising given that the Pulsar cleat is an extremely soft spike. Replacing a few spikes on each shoe after roughly 25 rounds seems reasonable-enough to me. If you want something firmer, or more durable, it's not an issue. FreeStyle is compatible with any spike designed for a TourLock receptacle.

Sole wear

The uniquely flexible sole design of the Freestyle results in more of the actual sole coming into contact with the ground. As a result, the sole shows a bit more signs of abrasion in the FlexZone’s between the spikes than we might see in a standard golf shoe.

That additional wear is likely attributable to the softness and pliability of the appropriately-named SoftMax material. It does appear to wear a bit more than the more commonly used TPU, however; that added wear hasn’t begun to approach failure levels, and ultimately, it serves as a testament to exactly how flexible (and comfortable) the Freestyle really is.

The Final Word

Priced at the leading edge of the premium range, the FJ FreeStyle offers adequate traction and outstanding comfort in waterproof shoe that largely lives up to its billing as the best-in-class for mobility footwear.

As we’ve discussed, as part of FootJoy’s mobility platform, the FootJoy FreeStyle is primarily designed for golfers with active feet, and is certainly an excellent choice for golfers within that market. Golfers who prefer (or are better suited to) a more traditionally stable golf shoe, however, should likely consider other options.

For more information, visit FootJoy.com

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