After some further browsing on Ecco’s site (golf product porn), I discovered that one of the shoe styles I had my eye on has a spikeless sole. I don’t know how I feel about that.

Ecco uses Stinger spikes (I love that they match the color of the shoe) and I imagine they have a lot to do with the performance and feeling of stability.

What can the benefit be of a spikeless sole? How are they different from regular sneakers?

The spikeless sole pictured below is pretty, but how would it perform? It’s not completely flat – maybe those little protrusions act like spikes? Aren’t spikes a key element of a shoe being a golf shoe?

Next post.

Don’t worry – it’s a platonic love.

Ecco makes great shoes. I have always believed that, so when I took up golf and purchased my first pair of golf shoes, naturally I went with Ecco.

For me, comfort is paramount, but with Ecco I also get great performance and style. Over the summer I added another pair of Ecco’s to my golf shoe collection and they are easily my current favorite. I went with the Casual Ribbon series in orange and white. My first time out with them was at an SCGA affiliate club tournament. It was a team event and I played with the president of my club. It’s a competitive event and most players are men (including my partner). I usually play better under pressure but any added confidence is always a bonus.

I laced up my shiny new Ecco shoes and immediately felt that boost of confidence. Seriously. Each step I took – starting right there in the parking lot – felt deliberate and confident. I had to glance down a few times just to admire them but then needed to put them out of my mind. They were so comfortable it was easy to forget about my feet and just play. But I felt so stable and powerful in those shoes that they kept creeping into my thoughts. That must have helped, too, taking my mind off the unproductive swing thoughts that can mess with my game.

We played well as a team and I wore those shoes for both days of the event. I told the story of the tournament here, but the bottom line is that we would have tied for first place if not for a scoring error that put us in second. While I don’t attribute my performance and our team success entirely to Ecco, they certainly played a big part.

On the second day of the event, the twosome we were paired with were also sporting some great looking shoes (one of them was also in Ecco’s) and we had a mutual shoe admiration society going on. People who appreciate style appreciate Ecco. People who have worn Ecco understand the pleasure of the step. The company has a lot of information on the technology and the controlled manufacturing environment involved to achieve that feeling but for me, it’s all about results.

I think this in an interesting little side note: with all my other golf shoes, I invariably lose spikes and have to keep spares on hand. With these shoes, I haven’t lost a single one. Well, I did take a clumsy toe-step and one popped off but that was my fault, I felt it right away, retrieved the spike and popped it right back on.

Ecco just released a bunch of new styles and I have my eye on a few. The new ladies Casual Pitch Ribbon come in new colors that I like (pictured below in white/rose) and there’s a cute raspberry color in the Grip style (above). I like their men’s styles, too, but in the Casual Cool Hydromax style, they call that color “brick” (above). I guess it sounds more manly than raspberry, but the shades look pretty similar to me.

Next post.

If you have ever shopped for any kind of bag, you probably know Ogio. They make all kinds of bags, including golf bags and are well known for their attention to features and fabulosos (did I just make up another word?). I wrote a post that included a review of an Ogio golf bag that had many features I desired. As I described in that post, I made a lucrative trade for it which put me back in the market for a new cart bag. I’m still a Birdie Girl for my walking bag.

My new everyday cart bag

The most important feature I wanted in a cart bag was individual slots for each club. I like the organization, plus it helps when you’re driving around recklessly in a cart (not that I would do that) to keep your clubs steady and protected. I found that feature and much more on this affordable golf bag by Savvy Golfer:

This bag provides most of the bells and whistles you’d find on an Ogio, but at only $80, it’s less than half the price!

Features I like

• Lots of roomy pockets!
• External elastic tee holder (yes, I actually use it)
• Lined valuables pocket

Features I LOVE

• 14-way full length dividers for clubs
• Light weight for a cart bag
• The most comfortable carry I’ve experienced in a cart bag – not sure if that’s because of the padded shoulder strap or what, but it’s great

I only wish it came in colors I liked more. I have the pink/black combo which isn’t really “me” but it’s still an attractive bag and I get a lot of compliments on it.

So if you want the utility of an Ogio but your budget won’t allow it, I highly recommend this bag. It would also make a great gift for any female golfer in your life – except me, because I already have one. 🙂

Next post.