When it comes to the world of golf equipment it seems like every year, there are more and more products promising to be the best, the fastest, or the most comfortable that a brand has ever made. This often just appears to be ‘marketing speak’ but every now and then you hear a brand talk about a product and you know that they are genuinely sincere in their claims. This definitely feels true when it comes to the new Under Armour Drive Pro Clone shoes.
That’s because they’ve been able to develop an all-new material to use in the shoe’s upper. The result is that it basically works as a ‘custom fit’ for your feet, giving you new levels of support and comfort.
Eagle-eyed fans may have seen these shoes have been used on Tour for a couple of months now. They’ve already picked up a couple of victories too most notably by Patrick Reed at the Dubai Desert Classic just last week.
Who Are They Aimed At?
If you want a performance golf shoe, this is the one for you. It’s been designed specifically to give you the best possible fit, offering comfort and stability whilst walking or swinging.
There are spiked and spikeless options available, which make them pretty flexible depending on if you want a summer shoe or something that is more suitable to year-round usage. I tested the shoes in an all-white colourway which might be tough to keep clean though!
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The Tech
The shoes have been designed with a key aim – to adapt to the shape and movement of the foot whilst playing golf.
To do this, the shoe features a new auxetic upper which looks like leather but performs more like fabric. It’s designed to get thicker when stretched and thinner when compressed, meaning that it perfectly moulds around the foot as it moves.
The material is able to do this over time as well, meaning that you get the same locked-in feel throughout a round. It also won’t deteriorate over time either, making these shoes a durable option even if you play a lot of golf.
Compared to the previous Drive Pro shoes, the Clone also features an improved S3 strap. This offers ‘lockdown lacing’ from the lateral ball to the medial arch in the foot, ensuring that you feel stable and supported.
You still also get HOVR foam on the midsole, providing extra cushioning, as well as Charged Cushioning and Under Armour’s existing traction system.
In the spiked model this includes the S3 spikes, offering directional traction to help you as you turn and move during the swing. In the spikeless shoes there’s a rubber outsole with TPU insert, adding stability in certain areas whilst retaining flexibility.
The shoes also come with a one-year waterproof warranty, and is available in four different colourways.
Under Armour Drive Pro Clone Golf Shoe Review
Looks And Feel
Technology is obviously very important in golf shoes. However, the overall look is arguably just as important. You can have the best performing golf shoes in the world, but if nobody wants to wear them then you aren’t going to sell many pairs.
Fortunately the Clone shoes look really great. In fact I’d probably go as far to say that they’re the best looking golf shoe that Under Armour have produced.
I tested the Clone in the all-white colourway, which looked fantastic in the Portuguese sunlight. They look really premium and retain a modern feel without being too chunky or having any garish added touches.
The branding is pretty subtle too, whilst the upper design itself is interesting without being too off-putting when you look down by the ball.
At first glance it’s hard to believe that this isn’t some type of leather material on the upper, as it feels so plush and premium.
I’ll get on to overall comfort in more detail during the performance section, but I would say that it is a slightly different fit to what you might have been used to previously.
They feel lightweight and supportive straight away, particularly in the spikeless model. This is almost like wearing a pair of running trainers, just with a bit of extra stability partocularly on the sole.
Performance
As Under Armour suggest, the shoe really does fit almost like a sock around the foot. It feels like there’s much more connection between the shoe and your foot, and this then makes it easier when walking and swinging.
As a result, I think it’s really important that you pick a size which fits snugly and properly to your foot. This can then pose issues if you’re someone who has two feet that are different sizes, or if you wanted to buy the shoes online without trying them first.
I tested the shoes out on-course at the excellent Palmares Resort, with some morning dew making conditions a bit damp early on before drying out into a pretty hot day.
Overall the Clone shoes performed really well. I played nine holes in the spiked shoe, before switching to the spikeless ones to complete the back nine.
Personally I preferred the spikeless shoes, as I felt that they were a bit lighter and more comfortable, particularly in those conditions.
If I wanted to use these shoes year-round in the UK though, or if I was someone with a higher swing speed, the spiked option may be better for stability.
I really seemed to see the shoes performing well when playing from different lies. You can really feel the shoe’s upper gripping to your foot, leaving no gaps where you’re going to feel slipping or lose power. The feel almost reminded me a bit of a wetsuit material, and combining this with the existing traction technologies is a really nice combination.
Having said that, I did expect them to be slightly more breathable given this material type. The shoes seemed to trap heat a little bit, leaving my feet pretty warm by the end of the round.
Under Armour Drive Pro Clone Golf Shoe Verdict
The new clone shoes offer some really interesting new technology, and they offer clear benefits too. If you get the right fit they are extremely comfortable and feel really natural around the foot. There were no tight or loose areas, which minimises rubbing and also translates to stability and a potential for more power.
The RRP is £160 for the spiked model, and £140 for the spikeless. I actually think this represents a pretty descent value for money especially considering that it is a brand new material and new technology.
For a tour-level golf shoe, it’s cheaper than the likes of the FootJoy Premiere or HyperFlex and the Nike Victory Tour models.
I think the use of auxetics is a really exciting development for Under Armour and I’m really looking forward to where the brand can take it when it comes to their golf shoe line moving forwards.
Would I Use Them?
Absolutely. I’m looking forward to getting back out on the course with them soon!
