This past review period for the adidas Sambas has been about as fun as one could imagine. I first put them into play on my favorite course in the world, Black Mesa. I beat them up right out of the box, climbing like a mountain goat on the New Mexico sand hills and plateaus looking for great photo opportunities. Then there was the round yesterday, my best ever, here at home.
adidas Samba Golf Shoes – click to zoom
Samba Overview
The Samba shoe was originally a soccer shoe. The golf version seems to be a cross between the soccer shoe, a golf shoe and the new street shoe styles which are hot right now. The platform of the shoe isn’t like a standard golf shoe with the big heel and thick sole. It seems to get the player closer to the ground as a result of the “THINTECH” low-profile design.
The shoe is made from water-resistant, synthetic leather.
adidas Samba Golf Shoes – click to magnify
The sole of the shoe has a six spike configuration.
Looks
I’ve got the black version of the Sambas which are very sharp looking. It was a shame when I got them so dirty walking around in New Mexico, but with a damp towel I was easily able to wipe them down and make them look just like new.
Feel
The Sambas are comfortable right out of the box. And right out of the box I played 36 holes in one day. No blisters. No uncomfortable areas. No problem.
The Sambas fit a little more snug on the sides of my feet than standard golf shoes. More of a sporty fit I’d call it. I actually like that because I feel like I have better traction and feel in my swing. More traction and stability means more control in the game and more power.
On The Course
After the 36 hole round my feet felt great. I was thrilled with the performance and the feel. Since then I’ve logged a few range sessions as well as a round yesterday with them where I shot my BEST round ever, a 68 (-4) on one of my favorite challenging courses. After that round I told my dad I’d probably wear the same outfit, shoes and even underwear every time I golf. You can’t be too superstitious in this game. Once you find something that works you have to stay with it.
Colors/Sizes/Pricing
The $100 (retail) adidas Sambas come in black, red, blue and white. Sizes range from men’s 7 to 15. There are two other versions of the Sambas, the limited edition “Majors Collection” and Jr. Samba. The Majors collection runs $120 and Jr. $60.
Conclusion
While some more casual “street” style golf shoes may look cool, they lack performance. The Sambas do not. The results speak for themselves. I’ve beat these shoes to death right out of the box and in return they have performed flawlessly and comfortably. I’ve even shot the lowest round in my humble amateur career with them. With Father’s Day coming up, I’ll be adding the Sambas to my Father’s Day golf gift guide without a doubt! Stay tuned.
Related
Hooked On Golf Blog adidas image gallery (more Samba photos)
HOGWire – Golf Industry News
