TRUE Linkswear Major Golf Shoe
Based on what I read from their website, the TRUE Linkswear Major is the pinnacle of years of work and player feedback. Consulting with their “Player Advisory Board,” TRUE Linkswear brought a tough, built-to-spec, Tour-grade shoe to the people! After a complete tear down of their 2017 Tour shoes, TRUE Linkswear found ways to improve their design and the end result is the TRUE Linkswear Major. After getting to try this shoe for myself, it’s easy to admit that the Major is pretty @#$%^&* cool.
The Looks
The TRUE Linkswear Major has somewhat of a utilitarian look of a sneaker golf shoe meets a hiking shoe. From the first sight of the “no-waste shoe bag” to the shoe itself, you can’t help but feel this is going to be a rugged shoe that’s durable and ready to stand up to the job at hand. The materials are completely waterproof which is somewhat unexpected from a shoe that is half nubuck suede!
At the time of release, the Major comes in an all black with slight red accents (pictured here), and a grey/black/white combo. Again, the muted, darker colors give the Major a “get to work” vibe right out of the bag. That’s exactly how TRUE Linkswear wants you to feel about the Major.
Comfort Level
Saying the TRUE Linkswear Major is a comfortable golf shoe is one of the great understatements of golf shoes. TRUE Linkswear has historically been known for their comfort, but they went all out to make sure the Major was their most comfortable to date. Right out of the box, the Major is flexible and easy to wear with zero break in required. The “Sock Fit Liner,” “Paracord Lacing System,” and “Forever Cushion Premium Inserts” combine for a supportive and lasting comfort level but doesn’t squeeze the life out of your foot. Additionally, the full-grain leather and nubuck are very breathable as well as waterproof so your feet will stay dry over a day at the course.
Oh, you want to wear your Majors off the course as well? This shoe is absolutely an “all-day wear” candidate. Sure, lots of spikeless golf shoes market themselves as great for on and off the course, but the TRUE Linkswear Major actually delivers. I’ve worn these for my daily “non-golf” routine (aka my job) and they’ve been as comfortable as can be. They’ve even held up to the gross wintertime Chicago commute. In fact, taking a tip from Brandon at TRUE Linkswear, I’ve adopted them as my “light snow/ice/slush” shoes because of the added grip and waterproofness (that’s a word now). So far, I’m all in on this life hack from Brandon.
Just to point out, the base of this shoe feels firm and more “natural.” This is a benefit we’ll discuss in “Performance” and does not take away from the comfort level.
On-Course Performance
All I’ve ever heard from TRUE Linkswear fans has been how great the ground response and “heel drop” is. As mentioned earlier, the TRUE Linkswear Major has a very natural feel on the foot. A major part of that is the firm sole. Yes, it doesn’t feel like you’re walking on a bed of clouds, but you’re able to get a perfect feel of all the contours on the ground. This gave me more confidence in my stance and made me feel a ton more stable. I’ll be honest, I don’t know how much scientific truth there is or if that was all in my head, but most of golf is between your ears so I’ll take every bit of confidence I can get.
Speaking of stability and ground interaction, let’s talk about traction. You may look at the sole of the Major above and think traction could be an issue. In my first run with the Major at The Belfry in England, I found myself all over the course so I certainly put the shoes to the test. The only lie I didn’t hit out of was the water (I could have). The Paracord Lacing System and sole grip make you feel very locked into the ground no matter the lie. Again, the natural feel with that traction makes for great performance.
I know a lot of the earlier TRUE shoes had significant heel drop, but the Major is a little more subtle. That said, it took a little time for me to notice its heel drop. In my first wear I didn’t feel much of a drop, but as the shoes shaped to my feet the drop was more noticeable. So if you’re a heel drop fan, rest assured, it’s still there!
Final Thoughts
So look, a lot of picking the right shoe for you comes down to personal preferences. If you’re a “bed of clouds” player, you may want to look elsewhere. If you’re a player that likes a lightweight shoe with a very natural feel and some of the best ground response you’ll find in golf, the TRUE Linkswear Major is as good as it gets. While there are a lot of great shoes in the golf world, I’ve never quite felt the level of feedback through the soles of my shoes that I got with the Major. Aside from the golf function, the Major has became a regular in my everyday shoe cycle as well. TRUE Linkswear has truly delivered a true multi-purpose shoe that’s worth every penny.
After the Review
It’s not often we toss on an “after the review,” but I thought it was worth it for the TRUE Linkswear Major. One thing I wanted to highlight is the “no waste” shoe bag that the Major comes in as opposed to a shoe box. Not only is the bag beneficial to the environment, but you get a sweet and extremely useful shoe bag as well. Just another cool touch that shows TRUE Linkswear is thinking on a different level than a lot of the industry right now.
I also wanted to point out that I genuinely wear these shoes off the course on a regular basis. There’s always the constant marketing “buzz” with just about every spikeless shoe on the market being great “from the parking lot to the first tee.” Frankly, I don’t usually find that to be the case, but so far the TRUE Linkswear Major has delivered this. This makes the Major a GREAT travel option as well, but we’ll save that for a post down the road.
