Puma IGNITE Articulate Performance Review

The Puma IGNITE Articulate is the new kid on the block in the world of spiked golf shoes. It’s been spotted on the feet of some of golf’s best including Bryson DeChambeau, but that alone doesn’t can’t make it a top-tier performer. The technology is compelling…could this be Puma’s best golf shoe ever?

Pros

IGNITE Cushion

The last Puma golf shoe I reviewed, the PROADAPT Delta, featured ADAPT foam cushion. The Puma IGNITE Articulate opts for IGNITE foam, which Puma says provides both energy return and step-in comfort.

There is nothing about the IGNITE foam cushion setup that I would change. Puma absolutely nailed the cushion on the Puma IGNITE Articulate. I noticed the step-in comfort immediately upon the first wear, but the fact that they still felt insanely good after my round was impressive.

Not to mention the energy return, which I definitely felt as I bounced around the golf course looking for lost balls and errant tee shots. The IGNITE Foam on the Puma IGNITE Articulate was at its best when in the actual swinging motion, where it felt both stable and responsive like I was pushing off the ground with more power.

You’re definitely going to want to give these some run for the cushion alone.

Traction

I say it every time, but spiked traction on the golf shoe is pretty hard to mess up. The Puma IGNITE Articulate is a great example of sticking with something that just works. There’s no need to mess with something that isn’t broke!

The eight traction cleats of the Puma IGNITE Articulate provided me with ample traction even when I was hitting out of some pretty dodgy lies. Puma mentions that the traction has been redesigned, which I didn’t really notice. So I can’t speak to whether or not the change in the pattern affected grip, all I can say is that it worked.

Also, bonus points for the bright-colored traction cleats. I love that Puma sticks with the “business in the front, party in the back approach” with most of their golf shoes. It’s fun to have a hit of fun colors on the bottom of an otherwise pretty plain-looking shoe!

Comfort

In the case of the Puma IGNITE Articulate, comfort is an all-around effort. The Puma IGNITE Articulate upper is a one-piece construction and almost entirely engineered mesh. Immediately upon slipping these on the upper felt comfortable as it hugged my foot ever so softly.

Then we have the PWRCAGE or the TPU panel on the sides of the shoe. The purpose of the PWRCAGE is to act as lateral support, as well as enhance the lockdown of the shoe. I found that this struck the perfect balance between keeping me in place, while also maintaining the overall comfort of the fit. Lateral support and lockdown are important especially as the weight shifts towards your lead foot. All of that momentum moves towards the outside of your foot as you finish through your swing, so the extra material in this area really helps contain the foot without compromising the fit and comfort of the upper.

Cons

Materials

If my only gripe about a shoe is the materials, you know it’s a great performer. The only reason I’m knocking the Puma IGNITE Articulate for this is the fact that for $180 you’re getting a shoe that’s made primarily of mesh. For example, the Nike Zoom Infinity Tour Nxt% that I tested carried the same $180 price tag, but my pair featured some leather and suede overlays.

The performance itself is worth the $180, I just think the shoe deserved some upgraded materials at this price point. Maybe I’m a little too spoiled, but golf is often thought of as a luxury game. I want my expensive golf shoes to have that luxurious look.

Puma IGNITE Articulate Summary

At the start of this performance review, I questioned whether this was Puma’s best golf shoe ever. The answer? A resounding YES. Now, I’ve not tested every single Puma golf shoe to ever exist, but based on the fact that most companies try to put out better and better products with each release and each iteration, I have no reason to believe that anything else is coming close to the Puma IGNITE Articulate.

It’s by far and away the best Puma golf shoe out right now, and well worth picking up if you’re in the market for an all-around stellar performer. Don’t let the mesh construction stop you from playing in this joy of a golf shoe.