FJ Blog

FJ Product Developer Discusses Inspiration for SYNR-G

We recently exchanged emails about the new SYNR-G shoe with Doug Robinson, VP, Product Design and Development Worldwide for FootJoy.  Check out the chat below and then leave us a comment if you have any follow-up questions you would like answered.

Q. Explain your position with FootJoy.

DR: I am currently the VP Product Design and Development Worldwide. My primary role at FJ is leading a team of talented design and development professionals through the creative process as we engineer new golf shoes. Our team starts with a blank canvas and a simple mission . . . “to create golf shoes that enhance individual performance and enjoyment of the game.”

Q. What was your role in the development of SYNR-G?

DR: First and foremost it was defining what the goals were for the SYNR-G project. After defining the product parameters, the whole Design & Development Team embraced the challenge of creating the most stable golf shoe ever made. The key to success was staying focused on the goals and the end-user experience. Each design decision, technology and component had to complement the final desired outcome.

Q. What was the inspiration behind SYNR-G?

DR: The initial project started as a study in stability. How do we build the most stable golf shoe ever made? We took cues from our Classics and the great hitting platform provided by a Goodyear welt construction. We were also inspired by technologies outside of golf, particularly bedding. Slow recovery memory foams, like those used in Tempur-Pedic® beds, looked to be a great way to hold the foot while maintaining awesome comfort inside the shoe.

Q. Explain the importance of stability in the golf swing and how SYNR-G is able to improve stability.

DR: The golfer’s connection to the ground is the foundation for transferring energy from the swing to the ball. The golf shoe plays an important role in keeping the foot connected to the ground while allowing it to move naturally and athletically during the swing. SYNR-G has a number of technologies that combine to provide the greatest stability that we have yet quantified in the lab, and we tested a lot of shoes. The G-Force Outsole™ provides a wider base of tri-density TPU with flaired lateral heel for great stability. The Tri-Lateral Stability Frame™ and Perforated Alloy Stability Bridge™ maintain motion control during the swing and provide a firm platform to initiate the downswing. The Memory foam collar and tongue in combination with the HeelLoc™ feature on the footbed keep the foot from moving excessively in the shoe.

Q. What is the significance of the name SYNR-G?

DR: Synergy defined is:  a situation where the final outcome of a system is greater than the sum of its parts. SYNR-G shoes have a lot great technology that combine for greater stability than the individual components could provide alone. Hey, the name fits . . . and it sounds cool too.

Q. What type of golfer will benefit most from SYNR-G?

DR: Better players or those who generate high swing speeds, but really all golfers can benefit from the stability found in SYNR-G shoes.

Q. What has been some of the early feedback from players who have tested the shoes?

DR: We had some of the heavy hitters on the Pinnacle Distance Team test the shoes with great results. That’s about the toughest test we could imagine as the swing speeds for these guys are routinely in the 130 mph range. They go at the ball really hard and the SYNR-Gs provided a solid platform for launching those monstrous drives. The guys were really impressed with the performance of the new shoes and they loved the styles.

Q. Where does SYNR-G fit in the FootJoy “family” of golf shoes?

DR: SYNR-G is our premiere cement lasted product. It is priced above DryJoys, but below our Classics made in Brockton, MA.