Under Armour’s golf department is flying under the radar as usual, and to be completely upfront with you, I don’t understand why. I just wrapped up my testing of the UA Phantom Fore, and (spoiler alert) it’s another great shoe from Under Armour. Before the Phantom Fore, I tested the UA Drive Pro and was thoroughly impressed.
Also, I don’t want to jinx it, but there’s a chance that WearTesters is responsible for the resurgence of Jordan Spieth. [Editor’s Note: If only we actually wielded this degree of power and influence…]
Since mentioning Spieth’s name in my article about the UA Drive Pro, he’s had two top-10 and five top-20 finishes. This has propelled him to 48th in the OWGR and 43rd in the FedEx Cup (*at the time of writing).
I’m rooting for you Jordan!
The Phantom Fore and the Drive Pro are fraternal twins. They don’t look exactly alike, but their makeup and performance is pretty darn similar. However, the Phantom Fore is a golf-itized version of UA Phantom 4 (previously reviewed here) and is almost identical to that shoe. But optimizing a shoe for golf can change the performance. So let’s head to hole one and see how the UA Phantom Fore performs.
UA Phantom Fore
Price: $130
Sizing: True-to-size
Fit
I wore my typical 11.5, and the fit was perfect.
The UA Phantom Fore allows you to wear your normal size AND have a nice spacious fit. The toebox is wider than the industry average which made my feet feel even better while playing golf. This extra room in the shoe might be the best part, and it makes the Phantom Fore one of the more wide-foot friendly options out there.
User reviews on Under Armour’s site indicate the same fit findings from other people who have worn the UA Phantom Fore.
The added room in the toebox wasn’t too much or too little. As Goldilocks once said, the Phantom Fore is “juuuuuuuust right.” [Editor’s Note: As we hear Goldilocks is quite litigious, I’d like to state that WearTesters hereby lays no official claim to knowledge of Goldilocks’ expressed opinions on or relating to the UA Phantom Fore golf shoe.]
Traction
The rubber traction pattern featured on the Phantom Fore is unique.
The pattern looks like repeating circles composed of little bean-shaped pieces. This probably sounds confusing, but you’ll know what I mean when you look at the included image of the tread.
The grip was impressive, and it will give you all you need in a dry climate without seeing a significant drop off in wet conditions. It performed admirably regardless. The only area that I noticed slight slippage was in the bunker. And it still wasn’t enough slip for me to hesitate in recommending the UA Phantom Fore.
If traction is a top priority for you, the Phantom Fore is great!
Cushion
HOVR was good. HOVR+ is just as good or better.
HOVR+ has been featured in a few of the more recent Under Armour running shoes with the overall sentiment being that the cushioning is squishy and bouncy. And my own experience with HOVR+ was nothing short of amazing after testing the UA Phantom Fore on the course, at work, and in many other situations that don’t typically warrant golf shoes.
One day during the test period, I was wearing another golf shoe before transitioning to the UA Phantom Fore midday. The cushion of the first shoe wasn’t bad by any means; but when I put on the Phantom Fore, I realized that this cushioning is on another level.
HOVR+ is on par with the greats in the golf world such as adidas’ Boost and Nike’s Zoom Air.
Support
HOVR+ obviously enhanced the cushion experience, but it also enhanced the support by providing an increase in shock absorption and controlled rebound.
The UA Phantom Fore is light but packs a punch by giving your feet additional support on the types of terrain that require more of you. I haven’t hit the ball well the last few weeks (that’s golf, right?), and I’ve spent more time than usual hitting from crappy lies. I especially noticed the supportive feel when climbing hills and traversing surfaces beyond the flat fairways and greens.
The UA Phantom Fore gave me everything I needed for that additional walking and exploring I had to do.
Price
While the Phantom Fore doesn’t necessarily match my personal golf shoe aesthetic, it’s well worth its price point of $130.
The UA Phantom Fore provides great value through its performance on the course; and its ability to be comfortably worn off the course to work, school, and any other casual events further adds to that value proposition. I listed the UA Drive Pro as one of the comfiest golf shoes that I’ve ever worn, and the Phantom Fore provides similar cushioning for an even more affordable price.
UA Phantom Fore Summary
There are pros and cons to Under Armour continuing to fly under the radar.
PRO: Prices should stay manageable and fair.
CON: You may not hear about UA models without doing your own proactive research.
THE BIGGEST CON: !!! DO NOT GET THE ALL BLACK COLORWAY !!!
The all black colorway felt like 1,000,000 degrees of molten lava being poured on my feet when it was hot outside. The shoe is darn near perfect, but I’m begging you to get yourself a lighter colorway. Begging. [Editor’s Note: It’s for your own safety, apparently.]
Personally, I don’t like the style quite as much as the golf shoes I typically wear. These are bulky though they don’t exactly feel bulky… It’s hard to explain… They look and seem bulky on foot but are also somehow lightweight enough to make you forget about the bulkier design and structure.
But the style and bulkier footprint are way easier to justify/forgive when the performance is this good.
All in all, this is a good deal for a shoe of this caliber and a great option for all types of golfers, regardless of where you are in your golf journey.
How the Author Golfs
Tyler Allred (19 handicap): Golfs 2-3 times a week spending the bulk of his time playing actual rounds. Mostly pushes himself to improve every part of his game, but also enjoys a casual round of golf every now and then.
Disclosure
While Under Armour did send a pair of the Phantom Fore to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.
