Long Term Review of the FootJoy HyperFlex Carbon Golf Shoes

FootJoy’s big footwear release this year was the new lineup of Hyperflex golf shoes that it aimed to bring to the widely competitive market. This year, I have been lucky enough to wear seven or eight different pairs of golf shoes from both FootJoy and Nike. While my initial thoughts on these were positive, I didn’t feel that a few rounds and a month of play in them was enough to write something that was insightful or thoughtful enough to give a genuine review.

During my time on the various golf groups I’m in on Facebook, I have seen a lot of people ask questions about these shoes in particular. What’s it like with the sock upper? Does it stay clean? Are these shoes bulky? And most importantly, are they worth the $200 price tag?

My answers to these questions obviously vary, but $200 is pretty run-of-the-mill for a nice pair of golf shoes, and these are definitely worth every penny.

FootJoy writes:

“HyperFlex Carbon golf shoes for men are specifically tuned for the modern golfer athlete. Hyper powered with a custom molded carbon fiber plate to stabilize your swing and maximize energy transfer. HyperFlex Carbon features tuned for walking cushioning, added ankle padding, and an innovative, breathable, waterproof performance knit upper for all-day comfort so you can play at the highest level. FJ, The #1 Shoe in Golf.”

First Impressions and Looks –9.1/10

For me, I’ve always been into flashy colors and unique designs. During my high school and college years, I played soccer competitively, and I never went with plain black and white shoes, I always went for color.

What was refreshing about these is FootJoy decided to offer something different that is not necessarily super routine for golf in terms of fashion. Golf is a gentleman’s game, and many traditionalists may frown upon these colors and maybe even this design. But the thing is, golf is becoming such a widespread and popular thing to do that companies are catering to new players and a younger generation. 

In a conversation with the Titleist gear team a month or so ago, they told me that each year, they go into a concerted effort to find trendy colors and patterns that might make a good fit for a new golf bag or hat. Seeing as FootJoy is operated by Acushnet, the parent company of Titleist, I’m sure there was no flip of a coin to determine the pink and blue colorway that is presented on these.

Out of the box, they looked great, and the colors won me over immediately. I definitely understand that this is something that is personal preference, but adding some unique colors to your lineup of golf shoes definitely keeps things fresh.

I wear a 9.5 and ordered these in a 9.5. I will say there is a lot of additional toe room, and I wondered whether I should have gone with a nine instead. This seemed to just be an early, out-of-the-box issue, as they definitely became more comfortable with time. However, I would not recommend walking right out into a round with these on.

I would instead give yourself a range session or just some short game practice to get a feel for them. They’re definitely a bulkier shoe, too. But the comfort provided by the sock upper is something that is really quite incredible. 

Back to my past life as a “footballer,” I started opting for boots that offered this sock upper. One of my favorites was the Nike Magista Obra from 2014. I wore these well into my college career, and they never were an uncomfortable option. That’s perhaps the reason for my gravitation toward the HyperFlex Carbon.

On the Course Performance – 9.3/10

When it comes to golf shoes nowadays, what you get is what you pay for. I’ve had cheaper shoes when I was basically scraping pennies together to play with my friends before I got out of college, and I’ve had $200+ pairs since I’ve been working full-time after I graduated.

These were pretty much what you’d expect from a name like FootJoy. Good traction in wet environments, good grab on harder clay courses, and not much slipping and sliding when you really need to put a little extra on that 5i into the green.

The best part is, even when they’re a little muddy, the dirt really wipes away from the body of the shoe. The upper is a different story, and you might deal with a little discoloration if you expose them to mud or dirt too often. But I really haven’t had much of an issue thus far. 

Part of the reason for that is because, if it’s raining or I’m going to play a less-than-premium course, I’ll throw a different pair of shoes on. For those who have that luxury, I suggest you do the same.

Comfort – 9.6/10

After you break out of the introductory phase with these, you’ll start to really fall in love with them. I like shoes like the FootJoy Traditions that are not necessarily geared toward comfort with the idea of packing as much padding in the sides as humanly possible, but I also like something that is going to hug my feet.

These are the latter. They are unbelievably comfortable and have just enough padding to offer stability, but also a supreme feel throughout your foot.

Durability – 8.9/10

Are they durable? Yes. Are they going to stay clean, for the most part, yes. Do I have concerns about these falling apart after a year? Absolutely not.

They feel solid in your hand and on your foot, and to feel that is something that not many shoes will offer unless you pay a premium. You will for these, but it’s worth it.

I’ve played at least 15 rounds on these in three months, and they’ve never done anything related to fraying or fracturing. Every part of the shoe is still solid and in one piece. It’s what you’d expect from FootJoy, and you’re going to get it.

Overall – 9.2/10

These are not my favorite shoe in my lineup, the Traditions will likely always reserve that spot. However, these are right up there in the realm of my favorite shoes I’ve had for golf. 

FootJoy has another winner with these, and I expect that, with the solid construction of the shoe’s outer and the still-in-one-piece upper, these will last me well into 2025, as I have four or five pairs in my rotation. These always are in my car, which is something no other shoe in my rotation can say. If a quick, spur-of-the-moment round drops upon me, these are going to serve any purpose and match any style out on the course.

Thank you, FootJoy, for this masterpiece.