Written by Michael VanDerLaan
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Along with hats, golf shoes are an essential accessory for golfers everywhere. G Fore has taken the world by storm in recent years with their edgy designs, funny idioms, and high quality products. We put our experience testing and wearing these golf shoes behind our review of the G Fore MG4 shoe so that you can decide if they are right for you.
What We Tried
We got our hands on the G Fore MG4+ shoes. This style is the one that really helped G Fore to break into the shoe market. Those we spoke to raved about the golf shoe that massages your feet as you walk, while also providing the comfort of a wide toe box.
Who Tested the G/Fore MG4+?
Both our founder John, as well as Michael, our expert in all things equipment and instruction, tried the MG4+. John has gone through testing with a number of golf shoes as he is always looking for the most comfortable option to keep him walking the course well into his 50’s. Michael has worn a number of different brands of golf shoes during his young career, walking 36 holes in one day with everything from FootJoy to Adidas to Puma and beyond.
First Impressions Of The G/Fore MG4+
We’ve broken our initial reactions down into a few categories; look, feel, and of course, cost. We feel that these, along with performance, are the most important aspects of a golf shoe. When all is said and done, our goal is to make you feel like you already know what to expect before you ever put the MG4+ shoes on your feet.
How Do G/Fore Golf Shoes Look?
Upon opening the box, we felt that the G Fore golf shoes had a different look than a traditional golf shoe. They give the feel of a cross between a golf shoe and a street shoe, where the top sits high and the body of the shoe doesn’t taper into the toe near as much as other golf shoes.
The prominent G Fore logo sits noticeable but modest on the side of the shoe. We appreciate that the company doesn’t oversize their logo, deciding instead to go for a more classy appearance.
The bottom of the shoes look great. While they are a spikeless shoe, the MG4+ has loads of textured nubs facing in all different directions. These are designed to optimize your traction and prevent you from slipping, even on those dewy mornings.
The GFore logo on the bottom of the shoe is HUGE. We actually like the look of this on the part of the shoe that is almost never in view. It looks kind of cool when you stick your finish on a pure shot and everyone knows what kind of shoes you’re wearing!
How Do G/Fore Golf Shoes Feel?
Setting up to a driver with the GFore MG4+ golf shoes
One of the main draws to the G Fore MG4 golf shoes that we were curious about was the textured insole designed with the idea that your feet get massaged every time you take a step. We are here to tell you that it works. While the texture took a little bit of getting used to, there is no doubt that the bottom of your feet will thank you as the small bumps in the insole continually ease any discomfort in your feet.
Another feature of the MG4+ that we liked was the wide toe box. This is more important for some people than others, but if you don’t like your toes to feel crammed in to the end of your shoe then you will love this design. G Fore shoes stay wide almost all the way out to the end of the shoe to ensure that there is plenty of room for your toes to spread out and stay comfortable. This means less squeezing and less discomfort over longer periods of time.
One aspect of feel that is often overlooked is the height of the sole of a golf shoe. While this doesn’t matter with street shoes or even other athletic shoes, having a golf shoes that lifts you higher off the ground can have an adverse effect on your game. After all, the golf swing occurs from the ground, up. With that said, G Fore golf shoes sit higher than most of the other golf shoes that we have worn over the years. We believe this is caused by the combination of the traction controlling sole and the foot massaging insole.
As with the toe box, this may not make a difference to some players. However, if you are particular about feeling like your equipment and apparel stay consistent, the height of the shoe is going to bother you.
Are G/Fore Golf Shoes Worth The Money?
When you break it down, this is the question that most people really want an answer to, especially when we’re talking about golf shoes that cost over $200. Let us be blunt - at the price that G Fore asks for, there are better options out there.
While certain features of the MG4+ feel great on your foot and making walking the course a breeze, they simply feel too different to justify wearing them when the end goal is to play your best golf AND be comfortable.
Adding to the different feel of the MG4+, the quality of the shoe just doesn’t match up to the price. The materials feel a bit cheap and the shoes as a whole give the impression that they simply won’t hold up the the normal wear and tear that the game of golf creates.
G/Fore Golf Shoes Performance
Similar to our initial reactions, we broke down performance into a few different categories. First, traction. Then we looked at overall stability and the way the shoes felt during the golf swing. Finally, we reflected on how our feel felt at the end of a round of golf.
Staying Grounded
The G Fore MG4+ excel in the area of traction and keeping your feet in place during the golf swing, whether you use a wide stance or narrow stance. As we mentioned before, these are spikeless shoes, however they feature a heavily textured sole that is designed with traction in mind.
Even though the traction is good, it cannot match the traction of the Under Armour Drive Pro Shoes, with their aggressive spikes.
I was one of the guys that tested the MG4+ golf shoes, and I routinely swing my driver over 120 miles per hour. Combine the ground forces I produce with the wet grass the first morning I tried them, and I was surprised to not see the occasional foot slip. When I tell you I never slipped once, that is not an exaggeration.
One of the worst things in golf is slipping in the middle of your downswing, resulting in a poor shot and a helpless feeling. The G Fore MG4 golf shoe seems to be great at preventing this from happening.