It’s impossible to ignore the adidas Adizero these days. Because while fashion is busy arguing which one of retro Sambas, Gazelles or Spezials are currently in, the performance-inspired Adizero is taking off thanks to the proliferation of run clubs, marathons and collaborations with the likes of Bad Bunny and Pharrell Williams. Yet, even with all of the excitement around the Adizero franchise spilling over into the football, basketball, tennis and baseball categories, it remained absent from golf. But not anymore.

With the all new Adizero ZG, adidas Golf has officially left its mark on the franchise which first launched in 2008. Those familiar with the adidas Golf lineup will recognize the ZG tag from the line which was worn on tour most recently by Collin Morikawa. And given the lightweight nature of that model, adidas decided to merge it with Adizero, continuing the development it began in 2021 on the ZG line while building on the legacy of an adidas tentpole.

For Masun Denison, director of footwear at adidas Golf, introducing a new model was more than coming up with a catchy name though. It was about taking the best features from both and ensuring the final product was right for elite level athletes. adidas ambassador Ludvig Aberg, one of the fastest ascending golfers in the world, was a particular focus when it came to collecting feedback for the new model.

“I think the most important thing for us was that we couldn’t just build a really light shoe like a running shoe because then your foot’s not going to be stable for golf,” Denison told us. “It would be great running. But you also need waterproofing, you need traction, you need stability. So we had to be rooted in golf and do lightweight in a way that made sense for golf. So I like to say it’s light done right.”

And while Denison believes that golfers have a lot to gain from wearing a more lightweight shoe, traction is the most important feature for most when considering whether to go spikeless. The market is currently flooded with casual spikeless models inspired by heritage silhouettes, not least by adidas itself who continues to introduce new colorways of its Originals series. While these have a lot to offer when it comes to style, they’re not necessarily viable in competitive settings. This is where the brand sees the Adizero ZG fitting in. A performance spikeless shoe meant to be worn on tour.

“If you have less weight with every step and you get a little bit back from your shoe, it helps you play more rounds.”

“When I hear why people pick this shoe, it’s ‘I want something more athletic. I want something to feel like a running shoe. I want it to be springy on my foot and super comfortable,’” says Denison. The shoe is being rolled out initially in a hero white, black and red colorway in laced and BOA iterations for both men and women. The initial feedback the team has received revolves around the excellent traction thanks to the aggressive perimeter lugs which flex and bounce back for support when walking. Likewise with the responsive torsion bar.

All of this comes in a package that doesn’t weigh the golfer down over 18 holes. “One thing we hear in consumer research is when you walk off the golf course, you want your feet to feel fresh. And if you have less weight with every step and you get a little bit back from your shoe, it helps you play more rounds and feel better out there.”

The Adizero ZG will be available for purchase via adidas.com on January 31.