Product Review: adidas Golf Tour 360 4.0

Contributed by David Mihm / Epic Golf
December 2009

The adidas Golf Tour 360 4.0 is definitely a high-performance golf shoe and it boasts an impressive list of features on both the upper and outsole.

The most innovative and obvious improvement to the 4.0 versus the previous model is the advanced ThinTech low-profile technology which brings the golfer closer to the ground therefore improving stability, balance and footwork. adidas Golf worked with Pride Sports, who make their cleats, to create a Performance Insert System (PINS) that significantly decreases the necessary height of the cleat and locking mechanism. The ThinTech platform and cleat is a fantastic innovation that will be applied across the adi golf shoe line in the future.

The 4.0 has a full grain leather upper that is very comfortable. A unibody construction connects the heel counter and 360 Wrap to the outsole which results in a very solid hitting platform. There are X-Static silver filament fibers woven into the lining which helps regulate temperature and ClimaProof which guarantees 100% waterproof protection for 2 years. Finally, the respected Powerband Chassis now wraps up higher on the lateral forefoot to further increase stability.

I think the stylish Powerband Chassis helps create one of the most attractive shoes on the market and while there may appear to be a hint at form over function that is certainly not the case. Similarly styled shoes like the Puma Tour Saddle have caused physical problems for me in the past due to lack of arch support but the 4.0s shine here and there is plenty of support at all points of the sole for both walking and pivoting during the swing.

As soon as I put on the shoes for the first time, the first adjective that came to mind was “solid.” And my feet were exceptionally comfortable throughout each round I played with no fatigue afterwards. The foam padding on the inside of the shoes seemed to adjust to my feet almost immediately and provided a nice cushion. At least half of my rounds were played in fairly swampy conditions and casual water in the fairways was the norm, but the waterproofing held up exceptionally well, as did the traction on wet turf.

I have worn high end Foot-Joys in the past which I found heavy and that is the one issue that I had with the 4.0s – weight. These shoes were heavier than the adidas All-Tours that I am used to wearing and I wonder how the increased weight might impact my endurance if I played more than 18 holes during a single outing.

Aesthetic quality is a personal opinion and I have to admit that I am a shoe traditionalist, so it was not surprising that my playing partners were more impressed with the look of the 4.0s than me. For whatever reason I thought the asymmetric stitching and pointed nature of the toe was somewhat distracting in the address position. However, many of the other walkers who I played with commented on their clean and edgy style and thought that the toes looked quite simple and refined so I am fairly certain that the 4.0s will appeal to a wide audience.

Overall, I thought the adidas Golf Tour 360 4.0s were very solid at address, form fitting and provided fantastic traction. The ThinTech innovation is a noticeable improvement and I am excited to see it in other models in the adidas Golf footwear line. My preference would probably be for a less expensive, more traditional and lighter weight ThinTech model, because I tend to buy shoes at a lower price point, but I would certainly recommend giving the adidas Golf Tour 360 4.0s a try.

Pros:
Waterproofing, Form-fitting, Traction, ThinTech Innovation

Cons:
Weight

MSRP: $180

Review by David Mihm

Photos by David Mihm