Visit us at juniorgolfmag.net At the 2010 Masters Tournament, Fred Couples raised eye- brows, not because of a low round or hole-in-one, but because of his shoes. He was sporting the ECCO Golf Street, a spikeless shoe that looked more like a sneaker than a golf shoe. Since then, spikeless golf shoe sales have boomed, occupying almost 50 per- cent of the market. This year, ECCO has continued its innova- tive lead by introducing the Cage Pro. There is keen attention to functionality, with technology that has created the stability cage, which gives the Cage Pro its name. It wraps from the heel to the toe box, to ensure that your foot is grounded and stable through- out your swing. You can actually “see” the stability of the shoe. What also makes it so different from previous models is its new SPYDR-GRIP outsole, a unique design that is almost web-like. The “web” constitutes naturally placed pivot points engineered for optimal grip, traction and comfort, with strategic spacing be- tween each to reduce dirt clogging. The SPYDR-GRIP outsole, combined with a supple leather upper, makes for an exceptionally lightweight, comfortable shoe. Another new concept for ECCO this year is the BOA closure system on the fabric version of the Cage Pro. It’s an easy push- and-click feature that eliminates the need for laces, but most im- portantly allows for a custom fit. You can adjust the pressure to your liking, up to the exact millimeter. In addition to launching new technology this year, ECCO also signed a few new major brand ambassadors. You can see Smy- lie Kaufman and Lydia Ko sporting their ECCO shoes on Tour, alongside already entrenched ambassadors Fred Couples and Ernie Els. THATWALKTHEWALK THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOUR GAME. To many people, this means selecting the best clubs, finding the ball that plays to their strengths and even securing the glove that offers the most natural grip and fit. It’s sometimes easy to forget that shoes go beyond making a mere fashion statement on the golf course. They can play an important role inyourcomfort through fourhours ofplay, not to mentionyourball striking ability.With that in mind, we review here some ofthe leading names in golffootwear, to seewhat they’ve come upwith forthisyearand beyond. COOLLOOKS,HIGHTECH ECCO BY JUNIOR GOLF STAFF 16 | July 2017 ECCO's SPYDR-GRIP outsole maximizes grip and traction SHOES