Adicross: Full comfort, no spikes

• By Global Golf Post
• Nov 16, 2011 1:11 PM ET

Ever since Fred Couples competed in the 2010 Masters in a pair of spikeless golf shoes – and competed very well in them – players of all ages and abilities have been clamoring for that type of footwear. Which is why companies like adidas are rolling out versions of their own, the latest of which is dubbed adicross.

Based in many ways on the very popular Stan Smith tennis shoe, the adicross features a full-leather upper designed to be lightweight yet durable as well as a soft, spikeless outsole that company officials say provides optimal traction, thanks to 124 strategically placed traction lugs. They assert that the textured, synthetic toecap is resistant to abrasions and extol the fact that golfers can wear them both on and off the course.

“Comfort is a big factor, too, and being spikeless allows us to provide more flexibility for the foot and let it move as it needs to,” says Grant Knudson, global product marketing manager for adidas footwear. “The idea is to allow more natural flexion and torsion while cushioning every step.”

Adidas Golf tour staff professional Justin Rose liked the adicross enough to put them in play this fall – and to have worn them when he went wire-to-wire to win the BMW Championship in mid-September.

“Justin has foot issues, and he found these shoes put a lot less stress on them while he was walking and swinging,” Knudson adds.

According to Knudson, adidas has been making spikeless golf shoes for the past five years. But the vast majority of those were sold in Japan, with some limited quantities available in the U.S. The introduction of adicross, which became available in North America this month, represents its biggest foray in that market.       

The adicross shoe comes in five distinct colorways and includes two shoelace options (tonal and contrast).