There is a lot of cool gear in the golf equipment world that doesn’t always fit neatly into Most Wanted Tests or Buyer’s Guides. You still want to know how it performs. In our We Tried It series, we put gear to the test and let you know if it works as advertised.
What We Tried:
The Under Armour Curry 1 Golf. The latest co-branded UA and Stephen Curry basketball-turned golf shoe.
Who Tried It:
Connor. Director of Soft Goods Testing and resident sneakerhead. I’m running out of space for golf shoes. Nonetheless, I had to snag the Curry 1 Golf. For me, it goes beyond golf. The original Curry 1 basketball shoe (circa 2015) was the first basketball shoe I bought with my own money.
I’ve since sold the pair but still have a special place in my heart for the Curry 1. When I heard Under Armour was turning it into a golf shoe, I told my wife that I would do ANYTHING to get a pair. Guess who just spent the weekend building baby nursery furniture?
Nonetheless, the shoes are mine. Let’s talk about it.
The Tech Specs
Because I’m a basketball sneaker nerd at heart, we have to start by talking about the tech specs.
Like the original Curry 1, the slab of Under Armour’s Charged Cushioning provides the step-in comfort. A microfiber upper (buttery soft, I might add) and a waterproof membrane top it off. Working our way back down, the rotational resistance spikeless outsole aims to provide ample traction in any condition.
Enough about the specs, let’s get to the meat of the review.
Curry 1 Golf: My Experience
Nostalgia aside, the Curry 1 might just be my new go-to golf shoe. As someone likely to never play a competitive round of golf, the Curry 1 provides everything I need (and prefer) in a golf shoe.
Is it the best-performing golf shoe I’ve ever worn? Nope. But it’s not intended to be. Under Armour’s Drive Pro is suited for the better player. For the casual weekend warrior like myself, the Curry 1 flat-out gets the job done.
Let me explain.
Charged With Comfort
I’ll start with this: the Charged Cushion is immaculate. It’s just how I remember it. Bouncy and comfortable without too much give. Charged is on the firmer side of things as far as midsole foams are concerned but it’s still very comfortable.
I’d liken the feel to that of a firm memory foam mattress. Just enough support with the right amount of cushion. If you’re looking for a golf shoe that feels like you can wear it all day, you can’t go wrong with the Curry 1.
Besides the Charged midsole, the microfiber upper is also very comfortable. While I do wish it was a real full-grain leather, it provides a similar touch and feel I absolutely love. Microfiber is more economical than leather, anyway, so I won’t complain too much. If you like the look and feel of a leather golf shoe but don’t want to pay the leather tax, the Curry 1 has you covered.
It’s worth noting that because it’s a “basketball” shoe, the cut of the tongue is a little higher than you might be used to. Even still, it sits flush with the ankle and doesn’t cause any irritation.
Rotational Traction
I was pleasantly surprised by the traction of the Curry 1. It’s clear Under Armour made an effort here. It would have been much easier for UA to keep the OG Curry 1 outsole pattern and “beef’ it up a bit (think of how NIKE has tooled the Jordan 1 G). Instead, they gave it a dedicated spikeless outsole that was actually designed for golf.
Imagine that? It worked. I had no issues with the traction whatsoever. My only concern would be the longevity of the outsole. The rubber compound itself is fairly soft so I don’t foresee this one lasting more than a season or two of weekly play.
Luckily for me, I’ve got a shoe rotation so large I probably won’t play in this pair again for another year.
Support and Stability
If I were to give the Curry 1 a stability grade, it would probably be B-. Not great but not so bad that I was worried about rolling my cankles. The Charged midsole itself provides a decent amount of torsional rigidity but the actual stack height of said cushion is what makes the shoe feel a little unstable.
If you’re a fan of ground feel and low-profile shoes, this one probably isn’t right for you. The combination of the beefy midsole and long traction lugs make the Curry 1 feel pretty tall. This, along with no real lateral support, would probably be enough for someone with a lot of power to roll a little too much.
I found the stability and support appropriate for my swing.
The Final Verdict
The Curry 1 is up there on my list of favorite golf shoes. Note: this list is different from my “top-performing” golf shoes. The two often aren’t the same. For my game, I prefer something comfortable and cool. Things like great traction and stability are a bonus, in my opinion.
That’s why the Curry 1 checks all of my personal boxes. It was very comfortable, looks really good and has enough performance benefit to make it suitable for the course. As a casual complement to Under Armour’s Phantom Golf, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better tandem of lifestyle-centric golf shoes.
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