FootJoy Fuel Performance Review

FootJoy is the biggest name in the golf shoe industry, so when they put out new stuff, I tend to pay attention. And when they announced the all-new FootJoy Fuel in early January, I knew I had to give this pair a go. 

I trend towards the more trainer/runner style golf shoes, so these bad boys caught my eye right away. They’re a far cry from the more traditional FootJoy silhouettes such as the Field Premiere Series, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If these have the performance to back up the sleek looks, then FootJoy has a winner on their hand. Let’s check it out! 

Pros

Power Stabilizer Outsole

The combination of FootJoy’s Power Stabilizer Outsole and Stability Bridge makes the FootJoy Fuel one of the absolute best spikeless golf shoes I’ve ever tested. The traction consists of what appears to be hard TPU nubs, and boy do they just dig and dig. The traction pattern is broken up in the middle by the Stability Bridge, which is made of what seems to be the same TPU. It provided excellent stability, and in combo with the traction nubs kept me firmly planted at all times. 

We finally got a little bit of rain down here in Phoenix when I was playing with these bad boys. Even in the wet grass, the nubs refused to let go of the turf. I’d say you’d be hard-pressed to find a lot of spiked golf shoes that feature as much grab and stick as these spikeless kicks do. 

The one knock I will give the outsole and traction is more of just a worry. Because the plastic nubs are rigid rather than flexible, I’m slightly worried about breaking a few of them. And with no way to replace them, that’s bad for business.

Let me be clear, I saw no signs of durability issues AT ALL with the traction, but it’s just something to note.

StratoLite Foam

FootJoy’s StratoLite Foam midsole is the star of the shoe. The proprietary foam compound is extremely lightweight (although I couldn’t find exact specs on weight), and provided excellent step-in comfort.

The StratoLite was plush enough to get me through my round without any discomfort and light enough that you forget you have them on. If I could find something to compare it to, I would say these feel like a less bouncy ZoomX….yes…that ZoomX. That’s the type of feel I got here, and I loved it

Whether you plan on walking or riding for your next round, the FootJoy Fuel provides all-day comfort. These are staying in my golf bag for a long time just based on comfort alone.

Fit

The FootJoy Fuel provided what I deem an excellent all-around fit. As you’ve probably read by now, I don’t like feeling constricted or crammed in my golf shoes. The FootJoy Fuel fit true to size and provided enough wiggle room that I felt comfortable. Plus, my pair is standard width, and they left me with plenty of room… FootJoy adding the option to go up to Wide or Extra Wide should provide a fit for all shapes and sizes of feet. 

In regards to lockdown, I would say that these kept me in place. I didn’t experience any sliding or slippage, which is good considering how roomy these felt to me. If you’re looking for a more snug fit, I would go down half a size, but for most people true to size is the way to go.

Cons

Materials

It’s not that the FootJoy Fuel is made of terrible materials or doesn’t feel good…it’s just slightly disappointing from a company whose flagship products generally feature buttery leathers and other premium materials. The FootJoy Fuel is fully synthetic. And while it’s not bad by any stretch of the imagination, the materials on the Field Premiere Series puts these to shame.

I guess that’s par for the course, though. You’d be hard-pressed to find any $130 shoe that features full-grain leather or suede. But still, I’d have liked to see even a little upgrade in materials.

FootJoy Fuel Summary

Comfortable. Lightweight. Stable. Sharp. The FootJoy Fuel has been given rave reviews by all of the big golf publications, and I now understand the hype. Now look, you’re not going to see this shoe on TOUR, that’s reserved for FJ’s more premiere models. But still, the everyday club golfer will have a hard time finding anything wrong with this shoe. 

The FootJoy Fuel is gonna be one of those shoes you see on golfer’s feet for a long time to come.