New Balance Men's 997 Waterproof Spiked Golf Shoes Review
New Balance is now kicking on in the golf shoe market, and its latest 997 shoes are available to purchase through American Golf.
New Balance Men's 997 Waterproof Spiked Golf Shoe - Key Features
- Microfiber Leather Upper: 100% waterproof protection
- Abzorb Midsole / CUSH+ Insole: provides a responsive feel and added comfort
- Flexible NDurance® Rubber Outsole / FastTwist 3.0 Pulsar Cleats: long-lasting, durable performance
New Balance might be more renowned in other sports in 2023, but the brand is now making giant strides in the golf footwear market.
So much so, its Men's 997 Waterproof Spiked Golf Shoe has gone straight into our latest Best Golf Shoes buyer guide for 2023.
The shoe is readily available to purchase over at American Golf for a reasonable price given a number of its key features, which will discuss in more detail in this review.
New Balance Men's 997 Waterproof Spiked Golf Shoe - Looks
Straight out the box, we were instantly impressed with the shoe's appearance, in particular its trainer-inspired design.
It's a very versatile golf shoe in the sense you could easily wear this around town and not look out of place.
The tongue of the shoe felt immediately snug against the top of the foot and the standard fit was right on the money.
It's not too wide, not too tight, so definitely select your standard shoe size if you decide to pick up a pair.
We must admit we have really enjoyed using golf shoes with BOA lacing in recent years, but the standard lacing here was absolutely fine.
New Balance does offer a BOA lacing system on a number of its other shoes in the range though, so if that is a necessity for you then you're in luck.
BOA just comes at a slight price increase, but as we have said for a while now, it's definitely worth the extra investment sometimes just to give your feet that extra bit of loving on the golf course.
We also liked the look of it under the bonnet with its strategically placed FastTwist 3.0 removable Pulsar cleats in a nice light brown colour.
Overall, a big tick for looks.
New Balance Men's 997 Waterproof Spiked Golf Shoe - Comfort and Performance
Just a really versatile golf shoe that is snug, comfortable and pleasingly 100% waterproof to ensure you can battle every type of weather condition.
Its Abzorb Midsole gives you a lovely cushioned feel on your walk around the course.
This piece of tech gives you a bed of foam cushioning that makes you feel like you are walking on clouds.
The shoe felt soft on the feet, testament to its athletic-looking trainer design.
You also have CUSH+ Insole packed into this shoe, which is equipped with a new foam compound to give you a nice responsive and bouncy feel that will keep you on your toes all the way to the 19th.
We also appreciated the shoe's NDuranace rubber outsole that is desgined for natural motion. We noted terrific stability on just about every shot, testament to its strategically placed FastTwist 3.0 removable Pulsar cleats.
You could probably argue there are better golf shoes out there that will keep you locked to the ground a bit more, especially on those delicate flop shots around the green or in the greenside bunker, but they did a good job.
All in all, great comfort and top performance.
Should you buy the New Balance 997 Waterproof Spiked Golf Shoes?
A real surprise to us in all honesty, as this is the first time we had worn New Balance golf shoes.
It's easy to see why these are already proving a popular selection among American Golf fans.
Fully waterproof, versatile, stable and really snug. You really can't go wrong for £140.
They're available in sizes 7-11, so some of you with bigger feet may be out of luck.
The shoe is also available in a green/white colour combination, perhaps a perfect shoe with The Masters around the corner.
The 997 shoes from New Balance are well worth a look this season.
