New for 2026, Stromberg has released the Launchpad Pro golf shoe, which aims to bring golfers a high-performance golf shoe at a fraction of the price of the bigger brands. Packed with the latest technology to help golfers get the most from their swing, the shoe aims to usher in a new era of affordable performance wear.
Directional swing dams on the outsole combined with aggressive uphill and downhill lugs to provide confidence on any terrain. Combined with medial-roll lugs, the Launchpad Pro also aims to ensure smooth, natural movement through the swing. A Power Sole Channel enhances flex and energy transfer while a Stability Heel Clip and Carbon Shank lock in support at peak impact.
It’s a long list of new technologies, so to see what sort of benefits a high-performance golf shoe can give real golfers of all abilities, we took four Golf Monthly readers to Greater Manchester to examine the Launchpad Pro against a more casual style control golf shoe to see what gains could be made.
Running our experiment was Dr Paul Hurrion, who specialises in biomechanical analysis using high-speed cameras and force platforms and has worked with the likes of UK Athletics, the English Cricket Board, and some of the world's best golfers.
Each of our four golfers first hit six shots on the Trackman simulator wearing a control shoe before switching into the new Launchpad Pro to see what gains they could achieve with both their 7-iron and driver.
'Our test was to look at how the golfer’s feet were working through the swing. This was done by measuring the pressure and the force that are being attributed through the ground and then linking that through to high-speed video so we could map the various stages of the swing.'
'A golf shoe has so many facets that go into the design. Of course, it has to be comfortable to walk 18 holes in, but when golfers are creating four times their bodyweight in ground forces through a shoe during the driver swing, the shoe has to be able to cope with and support those forces too and maintain contact with the ground for as long as possible.'
'There are so many gains that can be made for the average golfer if they can actually utilise their body and the forces that are going through the ground more effectively.'
'I want amateurs to realise that the golf shoe is a piece of equipment and it’s not just a fashion accessory for the golf course. The right shoes can make a huge difference. Much like golf clubs, which we all get fitted for, I believe the shoe is the same. Don’t just buy a pair online you like the look of, get into stores and try shoes on to make sure they have the right fit and feel.'
7-iron +51% accuracy
Driver: +7.8 yards
'When I'm looking for a new golf shoe, the main factor for me is comfort. I'm out there for four plus hours, sometimes five, depending on how bad the day is. It needs to be comfortable and stable as well in the swing.'
'The main difference I saw in the Stromberg shoe versus the test shoe was the stability in it. When I'm putting the pressure on my right foot in the back swing, it was holding me in place and keeping me grounded. During the testing, my yardage went up by seven yards, which I was surprised at. The dispersion was a lot tighter as well with my driver.’
'I didn't think about shoes in a performance aspect like that. From now on, though, seeing the results I've got from today, it's definitely something I'd take forward and look into a bit more rather than looking at how nice they look or the price of it, for example.'
7-iron +51% accuracy
Driver: +7.8 yards
'If I'm buying a golf shoe, I'll probably look at three things: price, style, and comfort.’
'This experience has been an absolute eye-opener. Understanding more clearly how to transfer weight from one foot to the other, not actually realising that you're not loading your feet properly, which is not generating any power. It's just been an eye opener, and it's something that I'll have to look at when I'm actually hitting a shot on course.'
'I had one of the tendons snap on my outer left ankle. I had the operation, and I've had no problems with it since, but I'm still protecting it subconsciously. So I've got to get it planted more and start trusting it, which will help me to get power through my swing. The shoes help. They definitely help. They support the outer edge of your feet. So again, without being shown that beforehand, I’d never have considered it.'
7-iron +6.7 yards
Driver: +13 yards
'Immediately, the Launchpad Pro felt a lot more comfortable than the control shoe. They stay far more planted on the floor than the other ones. The other ones were very flat, whereas these do put you or feel like they put you in a more athletic position straight off the bat, which I thought was pretty cool.'
'Having tried an actual shoe that's built for performance, it has really opened my eyes because you could genuinely feel the difference, which is what you want to help you hit your best shots, right?'
'I would say more balance was the main thing because it's like if I'm swinging a bit quicker, you know, I felt like that was the main thing that helped. And looking back on the results after, that definitely showed.'
7-iron +9.3 yards
Driver +4.7 yards
'This was my first time using the pressure plates, and it was really interesting to see how my feet and weight transferred through the swing so clearly.
'The outsole of the shoe allowed me to have lots of contact on the ground with the outside half of my right foot as I loaded through the swing, much more than on the control shoe.'
'I’ve only ever really looked at the price and the looks of a shoe before, but this experiment today has proved to me that performance and comfort, of course, need to be taken into consideration as the top of my priorities going forward. That this shoe is also a much more competitive price than some is a bonus.'
-
3 Golf Habits That Can Slash Your Handicap In 2026 (Many Fail On The Range With No.3)Tour coach Nick Bradley, who has worked with Justin Rose and Sir Nick Faldo, shares three habits all amateur golfers should adopt to shoot lower scores
-
£3 vs £20: Does A Premium Golf Glove Help To Lower Your Scores?Carly Cummins puts a viral Amazon bargain to the test against a market leader
