The player's shoe

Just when you think FootJoy can't go any farther with its Classics golf shoe line, the company ups the ante.

FootJoy will begin shipping its new Classics Tour line of golf shoes beginning July 1 with each pair carrying a suggested retail price of $300. The golf shoe giant has secretly been testing the Classics Tour on the PGA Tour for the past year and has recorded five victories -- the latest being Steve Flesch's win at the Colonial.

The basic idea behind the design of the Classics Tour shoe, according to Rob Kelley, Director of Footwear Marketing for FootJoy, is to give better players as solid a platform as possible for their higher swing speeds. To accomplish that, Kelley said, the Classics Tour line features a lightweight and cushioned EVA midsole and a stable, tri-density TPU outsole.

These outsoles, Kelley said, also feature FootJoy's proprietary OptiFlex technology to provide better forefoot flexibility while walking.

"Better players like to walk and tend to gravitate towards lighter-weight and more cushioned shoes," Kelley said. "Therefore those additional benefits had to be addressed."

The uppers of the Classics Tour line, according to Kelley, are constructed using the same processes dating back to early 20th century shoe-making. The Classics Tour line, in fact, is being produced at FootJoy's venerable, 100-year-old factory in Brockton, Mass., where FootJoy Classics have been made for more than 40 years.

Kelley said Classics Tour shoes will be offered in 18 different styles and a wide variety of sizes.

"Classics Tour are probably the biggest breakthrough we've had in Brockton-made shoes since we were able to make Classics waterproof," Kelley said.

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