adidas Men's Zg21 Golf Shoe

Product Information

The adidas ZG21 was easily one of my favorite spiked golf shoes when it was released in 2021. It was the shoe of choice for Collin Morikawa through his dominant performances in 2021 that included the Open Championship at Royal St George's. When the ZG23 was announced earlier this year, I was excited to try the new model for myself and, after two rounds of golf out in California, I was impressed with the developments adidas has made to one of its flagship golf shoes.

The ZG stands for Zero Gravity due to the feeling of weightlessness you have when you put them on. The shoe weighs only 13 ounces which is considerably lighter than most other spiked models and 20% lighter than anything else adidas have produced for golf. He also oversees all Tour player content as well so if you need to know what clubs Tiger or Rory has in play, Sam is the person to ask. Adidas say this is their most lightweight spiked golf shoe yet and that the primary focus was on comfort. It was designed for golfers like myself who prefer to walk the course and carry their bag so I was intrigued to see if they delivered the goods.

This product is made with Primegreen, a series of high-performance recycled materials. 50% of the upper is recycled content. No virgin polyester. The adidas ZG21 Golf Shoes are a lightweight, low profile, spiked golf shoe with a solid grip for every single swing. The iconic hybrid Lightstrike and Boost midsole is almost weightless but still charges every single step with energy and provides superior cushioned comfort. Completed with a waterproof upper, the ZG21 shoes also promise to keep your feet dry in wet conditions. Stability and consistent ball striking are achieved thanks to the six-spike Thintech TPU outsole. The overall result of adidas’ game-enhancing innovations is the confidence to line up your next shot with the power and stability to play your best. The is really lightweight but it is also very stable. Generally with a lightweight shoe you lose out on some stability when you’re swinging the club as they don’t have that stiffness to hold your feet securely in place. The Stability Fin did its job.

Unfortunately, Sam is not a member of any club at the moment but regularly gets out on the golf course to keep up the facade of having a handicap of five. There are four variations of the shoe; men’s laced, men’s and women’s BOA (a lace system that features a dial to tighten them) and a junior option. Company number: 1394141; Registered office: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing, The new outsole on the shoe has been inspired by heat-map studies and runs from heel to toe. In Adidas' research, they target these areas and place the maximum amount of traction where it’s needed most. The eye-catching outsole also features six strategically placed cleats and a new crescent moon-shaped lug to optimise grip and performance.Having tested a number of golf shoes from different categories over the last few years, I was intrigued to find out how Adidas had gone about creating a new one and whether that had any benefits for us golfers...

Then the combination of lightstrike cushioning and the boost midsole means that you really do have a great platform to swing the golf club from. Although the waterproof sprintskin synthetic upper wasn't entirely to my taste aesthetically, performance-wise it was great. The material is lightweight yet quite strong and durable. The sprintskin synthetic upper will also mean that the shoes are extremely easy to wipe down and keep clean after a round. Always a bonus for the avid golfer who is playing regularly. Another innovative feature is the ultra-light Stability Fin which is a lightweight and durable TPU insert in the lateral sidewall of the shoe that gives increased lateral stability during the swing.The two BOA models feature the new BOA Fit System, a ‘Y’-strap design that’s a first in the sport and provides an even higher level of performance. The ZG21s are a great pair of golf shoes. They're not my favourite and I don't think they'll go down in the golf shoe history books but in terms of a high-performing, modern-looking, waterproof, spiked golf shoe - you really can't go far wrong with them. They will fit the bill for a large amount of golfers and judging by the build quality, if looked after properly they will last you a few years too. Even though a spikeless shoe maybe slightly more comfortable, my preference is to wear spikes and given the choice between the ZG21s and a pair of spikeless shoes I’d go with the adidas on most occasions. The only exception would be on holiday when it’s just more convenient to have the more versatile option of a shoe without spikes that you can wear all day and not just on the course. The discomfort was more towards the side of my feet where the Stability Fin is located so maybe that did its job a little too well, but it's more likely that I just needed the wide fitting shoe. Having worn a number of adidas shoes in the past the waterproof guarantee really is a guarantee. The ZG21s are well sealed and well made meaning your feet will be kept dry on even the wettest of days. On the flipside, breathability wasn't an issue either. Adidas ZG21 Golf Shoe Verdict

This is a lightweight and waterproof (one-year warranty) four-layer upper that combines innovative textiles and polyurethane films said to give 'serious protection for your feet in any conditions'.I tested the shoes in the White/Grey/Lime Green colourway and to be honest didn't find them all too attractive to begin with, though I have to say they grew on me a little as testing went on. There's honestly nothing too fancy here to put golfers off. ZG21 features adidas' renowned Boost cushioning system, but then it is up to 20 per cent lighter than previous comparable spiked models in their range and significantly lighter than many of their competitor's shoes. And finally, have Adidas launched a new category in golf footwear? Sorry but, no. This is just another great spiked golf shoe like Adidas have been making for years. Would I Use It? The design concept for the ZG21 was weightlessness, hence zero gravity. Obviously an unattainable goal, but the ZG21 did end up 20% lighter than the popular adidas Tour 360 XT. Adidas achieved weight savings in almost every aspect of the shoe through the use of advanced materials like Boost and Lightstrike, which also add to the comfort. Whether walking or swinging, the ZG21 provided a wonderful blend of support and cushioning.