There is not a week that passes without a box arriving on my desk, with something shiny and new being launched into the golf world. Reviewing those items is a part of my job that I love. Going to product launches and getting to sit with clever people who are innovating in their product categories. They woo us media folk with their new inventions while planting the seed that this new product is unbelievably different from last year’s new product, and you have to try it.
This a rinse-and-repeat cycle I have been exposed to for over 20 years and it doesn’t always ring-true, but every so often, a product comes along that may well change the future of the category. Think of when titanium drivers made wood obsolete and how the Pro V changed the ball industry, both huge shifts in their respective categories. Well, I genuinely feel the new Under Armour Clone shoe will have the same impact on the golf shoe world.
I first laid eyes on the shoe in September when Under Armour invited me over to preview what they were doing. They were naturally giddy as they knew they had something unique. They unveiled Clone to a group of about 20 of us, and by the time they finished, everybody in the room was genuinely intrigued by what this new rippled silhouette was all about.
At the centre of the shoe’s innovation is the proprietary auxetic Clone upper, a rippled material that behaves less like static fabric and more like a dynamic surface. By expanding, contracting and shaping itself to the unique geometry of the foot, Clone creates an adaptive fit that remains consistent throughout a full round, regardless of fatigue, terrain or conditions.
It’s essentially a synthetic waterproof weave, it’s what’s known as an auxetic material, meaning that the parts of the upper that would normally tighten when the material is stretched actually expand instead. As a result, the upper wraps around your foot and moves to better support it, providing comfort and lockdown at the same time. When paired with Under Armour’s Swing Support System, Drive Pro Clone unlocks more repeatable power, giving golfers confidence on every swing.
“Traditional golf shoes create gaps, pressure points and lost power because they are built around a single, fixed shape,” Jake Haley, Senior Manager of Golf Footwear and Apparel at Under Armour, told Irish Golfer. “With the Drive Pro Clone, we set out to eliminate those compromises entirely. Every golfer deserves a shoe that adapts to them, not the other way around, and this design gives athletes a truly personalised fit that stays consistent from the first swing to the last. Because the material behaves like a dynamic surface rather than a traditional textile or leather, athletes get a more consistent fit, better energy transfer and a more stable platform throughout the entire round.”
The new shoe has already been put into play across numerous global Tours, helping to support two DP World Tour victories, with Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen claiming his maiden win at the Australian Open in December, and Patrick Reed putting his faith in the fit and performance levels of Clone during his recent victory at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
Overall, I think Under Armour has done an unbelievable job of designing a shoe that fits perfectly, looks different, but is still tasteful, stylish and extremely comfortable These are not only the best fitting golf shoes I’ve ever worn, they might be the most comfortable too. The most surprising part is that when you wear them for the first time, they feel like they’ve already been broken in. I can’t say I’ve ever had that happen with a spiked shoe before.
Aside from the comfort, I am completely satisfied with the grip these shoes offer as well. I’m not a golfer that needs deep spikes in my shoes. I actually prefer to be less connected to the ground. If you are looking for a more traditional shoe then you should give their Game Changer Pro model a look. There are so many products in the golf industry that never live up to the hype, and there’s nothing worse than wasting your hard-earned cash on false marketing claims.
With Clone, it’s clear that Under Armour has left no stone unturned, and for me, this is the shoe to beat in 2026. Since the launch, I have played about 20 rounds of golf, all with Clone. It just fits my foot like a glove.
The new Drive Pro Clone comes in both a spiked and spikeless model, and will be available at McGuirks Gole and Under Armour stockists on February 6. It will have an RRP of £160/€200 (spiked) and £140/€180 (spikeless). The shoe will also be available in four colourways: Black/Anthracite/Metallic Gold; Distant Grey/Midnight Navy/Metallic Silver; White/White/Metallic Gun Metal; Stone/Gridiron Brown/Metallic Gun Metal.
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