New Balance Pace XT Golf Shoe Review: Dependable, Versatile And Affordable
Conor Keenan tests a bold new spikeless shoe design from New Balance to see how it stands up in a competitive arena
The New Balance Pace XT delivers dependable spikeless performance wrapped in a casual, retro sneaker silhouette. While its Fresh Foam comfort doesn't quite reach cloud-like levels like the marketing says and the waterproof mesh upper requires a brief break-in, the shoe provides solid wet-weather traction and a lightweight feel on the course.
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Refreshing design with some neat colorways
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Very lightweight
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Bold underfoot design for a pop of color
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Not as versatile to style off the course as other New Balance shoes
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The sneaker-style golf shoe trend continues to gain momentum, blending street-ready looks with genuine on-course performance. A decade ago, playing without spikes felt unthinkable; today, the best spikeless golf shoes make up a massive share of the market without forcing golfers to sacrifice significant grip underfoot. In fact, our top pick in our best golf shoes guide is a spikeless shoe.
The New Balance Pace XT is the brand’s latest contender in this crowded category. Aesthetically, it leans into the chunky "dad sneaker" look, a retro silhouette that has enjoyed a major fashion resurgence in recent years.
While it won't drop jaws straight out of the box, the understated styling is versatile enough for casual off-course wear, even if it lacks the effortless crossover appeal of New Balance's 574, 997, or 480 SL models.
Nonetheless, like the best New Balance golf shoes, you can certainly wear these shoes both on and off the golf course, but I'd argue the blue and white colorway I was sent are slightly more tricky to do so than some of the other colorways - the grey/yellow in particular would be easier to style and fit into the growing trend of sports-style sneakers we see today.
The boldest visual statement sits underfoot in the form of a claw-like spikeless tread on a Smart Rubber outsole, complete with color-coded pressure mapping across key performance zones. I felt like I had plenty of grip during testing on a damp fall afternoon at Royal County Down, with the traction holding up well on greasy turf.
Underfoot comfort is solid, backed by New Balance’s CUSH+ insole and a 10mm-drop Fresh Foam midsole. While it doesn't quite match the "cloud-like" marketing claims, and won't displace the category leaders in our guide to the most comfortable golf shoes, it still delivers a pleasant, fatigue-free walk.
Up top, the waterproof mesh upper incorporates lightweight FantomFit support. The shoes feel delightfully light in hand and on foot, though they did require a brief 20-minute break-in period after initially digging in slightly across the top of my foot.
The construction is backed by a one-year waterproof warranty for year-round peace of mind, though the mesh upper will inevitably pick up noticeable grime if you play through muddy winter conditions.
The Pace XT won't go down as the most groundbreaking release of 2026, but at around £100 / $130 (prices vary at the time of writing), it represents honest value.
It doesn't do quite enough to separate itself from fierce mid-tier competition unless you love the retro runner aesthetic, but for golfers seeking dependable wet-weather grip and casual comfort at a fair price, it easily gets the job done.
