We Tried It: PUMA IGNITE Articulate Golf Shoe

There may be plenty of cool gear within the golf tools world that doesn’t all the time match neatly into Most Wanted Tests or Buyer’s Guides. You continue to need to know the way it performs. In our We Tried It collection, we put gear to the take a look at and allow you to know if it really works as marketed.

What We Tried

PUMA IGNITE Articulate — the laced model of PUMA Golf’s latest high-performance golf shoe.

Your PUMA IGNITE Articulate Tester

Tony Covey. Yeah, that’s proper, the #LacesAreForSuckers man is biting the bullet and stepping right into a pair of BOA- (and Disc-) free golf footwear.

Concerning the PUMA IGNITE Articulate

PUMA Golf calls the IGNITE Articulate the most versatile performance shoe it has ever made. I can’t swear to the accuracy of that assertion however, talking as a man who has tried nearly each golf shoe PUMA has made within the final decade, I believe there’s something to it.

For certain, PUMA has made some closely structured designs and it has undoubtedly dabbled within the light-weight, versatile mesh-y, rubber, unconventional design area as nicely, however the Articulate is completely different solely and that’s a very good factor.

I do know what you’re considering. “Hey, BOA Boy, I believed laces had been for suckers? Are you a liar or only a hypocrite, you jackass?”

Hey, man, that hurts however solely since you’re not solely fallacious. Ugh.

Right here’s the deal. PUMA affords the IGNITE Articulate in a Disc (PUMA’s non-lace-based click-y shoe-tightening system) however solely in commonplace sizes.

So, yeah, whereas I’m nonetheless firmly within the laces are for suckers camp, I’m not solely “experience or die” on that. I’m definitely not going to put on a shoe that doesn’t match due to some misguided precept (see: laces are for suckers) and since PUMA Golf simply began providing huge sizes like yesterday, I’m going to let the shortage of huge sizes in Disc variations go … for now.

Contemplate your self on the clock, PUMA.

IGNITE Articulate Options

Engineered Articulation – PUMA-speak for grooves everywhere in the shoe—I’m speaking outsole, midsole and higher—that permit it to maneuver with you whereas nonetheless offering assist.
8-Cleat Traction Sample (with HEX Traction Lugs) – Who’s counting, proper? Anyway, the IGNITE Articulte options eight Twister cleats which by the way is identical variety of cleats as my favourite golf shoe ever. Extra on that in a bit.
Articulating PWRCAGE – PUMA’s strategic use of vowels and capitalization is usually baffling however the level is that the PWRCAGE construction offers a safer match. To a level, it mimics what you get with BOA and Disc methods.
IGNITE Foam– Revolutionary or not, IGNITE is PUMA’s tackle a responsive (and foam-cushioning) midsole materials. It’s all a part of what PUMA calls “Consolation Building.”

You additionally get a PRO-Match Insole and the industry-standard one-year waterproof guarantee.

Customary sizes can be found in six colorways whereas huge sizes are restricted to simply 4. The Disc model is on the market in six colorways as nicely however huge sizes usually are not out there.

It doesn’t matter should you select lace or Disc—retail worth is $180.

A Fast Observe About Model

Model is inherently subjective however there’s nothing inherently off-putting in regards to the PUMA IGNITE Articulate. For these of you who’ve bemoaned the fashionable fashion of the 2 BOA footwear I’ve reviewed up to now, the comparatively typical design ought to enable you to sleep simpler tonight.

Having stated that, judging by the images, a few of the colorways do look a bit higher than others. At a look, the black mannequin appears to be like a little bit chunky whereas the all-whites I attempted look just about like every other shoe.

I’m high quality with it however I’m easy-going type of man anyway.

Slipping them on

The PUMA IGNITE Articulate is a kind of sock-liner fashion footwear the place it might probably take a little bit little bit of effort (grease and a shoehorn) to get your foot inside. With the primary pair I attempted (commonplace dimension), it took some work. With the huge dimension, it’s definitely not a real step-in consolation scenario however it’s not that unhealthy.

The lesson right here is barely to purchase footwear that really match. It appears apparent, however, nicely, golfers …

PUMA IGNITE Articulate Consolation and Match

I began with the standard-size model of the IGNITE Articulate. The plan was to slide them on, toss a backup pair of footwear within the bag and run over to the golf course and check out my hill take a look at. If you happen to’re new to the hill take a look at, it’s my actually easy manner of checking the preliminary consolation of a pair of golf footwear.

It includes … nicely … actually simply strolling up a hill.

If there’s any discomfort throughout this exhaustive take a look at, it’s a secure guess I’ll have issues on the course. If not, we’re all clear to play golf.

Suffice it to say, the usual dimension didn’t cross the door take a look at. Right here’s how that take a look at works:

I slipped them on and was uncomfortable strolling to the door. Not good.

Fortuitously, PUMA offers wide sizes. FINALLY!

The huge model handed the hill take a look at with flying colours. No points, no considerations, no backup footwear. What can I say? I’m getting reckless.

So far as huge golf footwear go, the IGNITE Articulate isn’t as huge as some others. It’s undoubtedly not FootJoy Tour Alpha BOA huge, for instance. It’s high quality for me however should you want a extremely huge shoe, the Articulate may not get it achieved.

Strolling the golf course within the PUMA IGNITE Articulate

I’m going to degree with you. My hope was that the IGNITE Articulate would conjure recollections of the Titan Tour golf shoe. The Titan Tour was our 2015 Editors’ Choice for Best Golf shoe. It stays my favourite PUMA shoe.

Not that it’s alleged to be, however the IGNITE Articulate undoubtedly isn’t the Titan Tour. Initially, that was the unhealthy information. What I discovered on the course is that the PUMA IGNITE Articulate is the closest thing I’ve found to my favorite golf shoe – the FootJoy FJ Freestyle.

Rating one for completely happy surprises.

In my estimation, the Freestyle is likely one of the most unstructured spiked golf footwear ever made and, whereas which may sound like a foul factor (and for some it’s a unhealthy factor), there’s a “freedom of motion, let your toes discover the bottom” type of feeling. It’s supreme for golfers who need extra traction than many spikeless golf footwear ship however nonetheless need some stability with out feeling like they’re standing on a platform anchored to the bottom.

I don’t have what you would possibly name “quiet toes” within the golf swing so a shoe that wishes to work with my toes as a substitute of in opposition to them is right.

After re-spiking my Freestyles and going forwards and backwards a bit between the 2, I’d say the IGNITE Articulate has an identical really feel with respect to how your foot strikes with the shoe however it’s maybe a bit extra secure total which, once more, I believe a few of you’ll actually take pleasure in.

Backside line: Even crippled by laces, the PUMA IGNITE Articulate has made it into the rotation.

PUMA IGNITE Articulate- Takeaway

For golfers who recognize a little bit freedom of motion, there’s lots to like in regards to the PUMA IGNITE Articulate. When the sizing is true, it’s extraordinarily comfy proper out of the field. There’s loads of traction, your toes have some alternative to discover and stability remains to be fairly damned good contemplating the character of the design.

I haven’t determined if I prefer it greater than the Titan Tour (I simply re-spiked these, too) however it’s completely my favourite PUMA shoe since the Titan Tour.

That stated, I’d be remiss to not level out a couple of small negatives.

The primary is, as I discussed, the huge model isn’t as huge as another huge footwear. My toes are solely kinda fats, so I’m good, however the width might be problematic for guys with actually fats toes. I’m taking a look at you, Dave Wolfe.

The second is filed underneath issues I don’t care about. The higher and, in truth, a lot of the shoe, is constituted of fashionable artificial materials. It feels a bit plasticky however that’s an FYI type of factor. It doesn’t trouble me within the least.

The final one is type of bizarre.

The PUMA IGNITE Articulate squeaks. Critically, it squeaks.

Not on a regular basis, thoughts you, however often it appears like a well-worn innerspring mattress throughout playtime.

The flexibleness of the shoe is an effective little bit of what I like in regards to the design however with all of that bending and flexing comes some squeaking. It appears to originate the place the higher overlaps with the PWRCAGE construction. I solely discover it occasionally (normally after I’m strolling round and on the point of blow an eight-foot putt six toes previous the cup) however it’s there.

I do know a few of you obsess over such issues, so it’s my job to let you realize, however it’s not a deal-breaker for me. I’m truly making an attempt to determine use it to my benefit on the golf course.

Squeak my opponents into submission and whatnot.

Simply don’t say I didn’t warn you.