I’ve been waiting a long time for the opportunity to review golf shoes from New Balance. Finally that time came but the timing wasn’t great. Unfortunately I didn’t get as many rounds with these shoes as I normally would have prior to my review, due to my shoulder surgery. I only had a few weeks with them when I normally like to test golf shoes out for a few months.
New Balance Striker Golf Shoes
The Striker is a sharp looking golf shoe with a ton of great features. Here are a few:
- “CUSH” foam provides softness and comfort
- “REVlite” foam is lightweight and provides durability and support
- The outsole is designed to move naturally with the motion of the foot
- 2- year waterproof warranty
- Waterproof microfiber leather upper looks sharp and provides ultralight support and fit
- Champ Slim-Lok Zarma Tour cleats
Colors/Sizes
There are three color ways available in the Striker. Pictured is the Grey with Blue option. Rounding out the three are Black with Red and White with Grey. They all look very classy.
Sizes available run from 8 to 16. Width options, not normally available in most golf shoes, are standard, wide and extra-wide.
On The Course
As I expected the Striker was very comfortable and fit my feet well. I had no wearing or blister issues walking rounds straight off. It was like the shoes were already broken in. The CUSH and REVlite foams obviously did their job because walking felt soft and low impact.
Power, accuracy and distance start with the feet and a solid, dependable base. The sole design and Champ Slim-Lok Zarma Tour cleats did a fantastic job providing the stability and traction needed for that solid base. In varying conditions from very wet and muddy to super dry, traction was terrific.
Final Thoughts
The New Balance Striker is strikingly sharp looking and provides terrific performance. I look forward to picking up where I left off with my Strikers. I have some unfinished golf business as soon as the shoulder is ready. Unfortunately that’s looking like sometime in 2020.
A lot of HOG patrons have been asking me for my picks for the US OPEN, especially my “dark horse” pick. After a lot of thought and analysis, here it is.
As you can see this dark horse has experience in US OPEN rough. That was part of the decision making process.
I first showed off my new Puma Union Camo polo during the Masters Tournament a few weeks ago. Thus, the Masters color scheme. What an exciting Masters too. Tiger Woods showed the world he could win another major championship when many had written him off.
With FATHER’S DAY coming up this week I thought I’d post this review because this polo would make a fantastic gift for dad. I’ve put mine through the paces and it’s still super comfortable. Let’s take a look.
Union Camo Polo Features
- Made from 83% polyester, 13% cotton, 4% elastane
- Colors include Juniper green (pictured) and Iron Gate (gray)
- Lightweight and soft
- Provides moisture wicking to keep the wearer dry
- Helps you look as good as Rickie Fowler
The Experience
I can’t stress how soft and comfortable this polo is. It is so smooth. The flexible fabric makes the polo move with my body and never binds or pulls, or feels too tight anywhere. After two months of use my Camo is still as vibrant as when I got it. Since the polo is mostly not cotton, it hasn’t shrunk.
The non-cotton fabrics also help in terms of managing wrinkles. I take it out of the dryer and hang it up and I’m good to go next time. No ironing needed.
Final Thoughts
On or off the golf course the Puma Golf Union Camo is a fantastic choice. Dad would love to have one for Father’s Day. I need to get my offspring to get me the gray one. Pardon me…. “Iron Gate.”
I saw my shoulder surgeon for the final time yesterday; final check following my surgery for torn rotator cuff, torn labrum, torn bicep tendon, and bone spurs. It is now exactly 18 weeks since my surgery. I’ve spent many weeks on the physical therapy table below, looking at a great photo of Arnold Palmer. He looks so calm and his grip is very solid. His glove hand is perfectly perpendicular to the shaft, which is interesting.
In today’s report there’s some good news and bad news. Seems like there’s never just good news in these reports. Someday.
Good News
I’ve made some progress in the last 2-3 weeks, following a cortisone shot. In physical therapy my range of motion is increasing quicker now than it was. That’s probably thanks to the shot and simply time to heal. The doc said I can cut down my physical therapy sessions from twice a week to once a week, and he suggested that I only need to go about 4-6 more times. He said I have good strength in my arm.
Bad News
Though I’m only prescribed another 4-6 weeks of PT, that doesn’t mean I’ll be “done” by then. Not even close. Because of my frozen shoulder condition, the doc said it would probably be another year and a half before I have full motion in my right arm. He doesn’t see me playing golf at all in 2019.
What Now?
What am I to do now? I’ve been playing multiple rounds of golf per week for decades (when there’s no snow). I’ve built up a popular, one-man golf blog based on mostly on-course testing and evaluation of golf gear. I could cover golf apparel, travel, and maybe a few accessories here and there without actually playing I suppose. I can’t swing a damn club so there go any club reviews, grip reviews, ball reviews and so on. Where’s the motivation going to come from?
I’m not mad and I’m not sad about the situation. I guess I’m just accepting it. The odd thing is that I haven’t missed playing golf. Not at all. Perhaps knowing I can’t play is why. Honestly, my frustration level and my bank account haven’t missed playing.
Prior to the 2018 season I had struggled with my game the previous two years. I fantasized about quitting. When 2018 hit I made some gear changes which re-sparked my game and enjoyment a bit so I stuck with it. But now it is looking like I won’t play until perhaps late 2020, and I’ve already gone seven months without playing. I’ll be starting over completely. Golf is hard enough as it is, to have to start over. And how much power will I have when I come back?
I don’t have the answers to any of these questions/issues at this point. I’m just taking it one tight-shoulder day at a time.
I’ve officially watched two movies in the last three years now: Avengers End Game and LOOPERS – The Caddie’s Long Walk. I liked LOOPERS – The Caddie’s Long Walk much better. LOOPERS is a documentary on golf caddies. Note the spelling: caddie. Not caddy. Thanks.
LOOPERS tells many different stories of caddies. That story is narrated by one of golf’s most famous caddies, Bill Murray (a.k.a Carl Spackler from Caddyshack). It starts by giving us the history of caddies and how caddies began. It takes us through Irish and Scottish caddies, American caddies, and finally ends by covering many angles of the caddies on the PGA Tour.
My favorite part of the film of course is the Scottish caddies, particularly the cameo by my dear friend John Boyne. John is a caddie on the Old Course in St. Andrews. John has taken me through the Old Course many times and has greatly enhanced the experience for me, and reduced my score!
The PGA Tour caddies’ stories are quite interesting, including the caddie stories of Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo, Jordan Spieth and more.
Another interesting section of the film tells the story of caddies at Augusta National Golf Club, the home of the Masters Tournament.
Final Thoughts
There is no better way to experience golf than walking the course with a good caddie. LOOPERS tells that story well.
LOOPERS will start showing in theaters tomorrow, June 7th, 2019.
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