Spikeless face-off: adidas S2G SL vs FootJoy Pro SL

Both are superb spikeless shoes, and most golfers would be happy in either — so buy on feel and budget. The FootJoy Pro/SL wins on planted stability and tour pedigree (at around $200); the adidas S2G SL wins on comfort, a sporty feel and value (around $120). If you've accepted that spikeless has won, these two sit near the top of anyone's shortlist. They're aimed at different golfers despite landing in the same category, and once you see how, the choice usually makes itself. Here's how to split them, point by point.

FootJoy Pro/SL — the benchmark

The most-worn spikeless shoe on tour, rebuilt from the ground up for 2026 (our full review). It pairs an exceptionally stable, supportive platform with the new ARCTrax outsole — firm TPU blades that bite into soft turf, plus softer rubber nubs that grip hard ground — so traction is something you simply stop thinking about, even on a wet, sloping lie. It feels planted and 'golf-shoe' solid, the kind of base players who really load the ground into a shot appreciate. The 2026 version is a proper redesign: 29% lighter than the model it replaces, with a new ZTEC upper for lockdown, an OrthoLite X25 cushioned FitBed, and a roomier Vantage Last that finally suits wider feet. It also carries FootJoy's waterproof warranty. The trade-offs are two: at around $200 it sits firmly at the premium end of spikeless, and it's a deliberately conservative-looking shoe — reviewers note it lacks a bit of spice next to flashier rivals. Buy it if stability, weatherproofing, durability and pedigree matter and the budget allows.

adidas S2G SL — the value-and-comfort play

A sportier, more trainer-like feel built on a running-shoe last with adidas Lightstrike foam, lighter and softer underfoot, seriously comfortable for walking, and usually a meaningful chunk cheaper at around $120 — reviewers have flatly called it the best value shoe in golf. The fit runs noticeably wider and more relaxed than other adidas models and stays true to size, so it suits broader feet that find the brand's other shoes tight. The leather upper and modern-trainer styling mean it works as well grabbing a coffee as it does on the first tee, blurring the line between golf shoe and everyday sneaker in a way the FootJoy doesn't attempt. Grip is excellent for the vast majority of conditions; the honest caveat, which adidas effectively concede, is that the spikeless traction and water resistance are decent rather than premium-grade, so a proper downpour or saturated winter ground is where it cedes ground to the FootJoy. Buy it if you want outstanding comfort and grip for less, and like a sneaker-ish feel.

Head to head: grip, comfort, weather, value

On grip, the FootJoy's ARCTrax sole edges it, especially on wet, sloping lies and for aggressive swingers who want that last bit of planted lateral lock through impact — but for normal-to-damp golf the adidas is genuinely close, and most players wouldn't feel the gap. On comfort, it flips: the S2G SL's running-shoe build and Lightstrike foam feel softer and more trainer-like straight out of the box, while the Pro/SL is more structured and 'golf-shoe' firm, which some players actively prefer for the stability it brings. On weather, the FootJoy's waterproof warranty and blade-and-nub outsole pull clear — the adidas is fine for fair conditions but isn't a dedicated wet-weather shoe. On value, it's no contest: the adidas is around $120 to the FootJoy's $200, and delivers a large share of the performance for it.

Fit, sizing and durability

Fit may decide this more than any spec. The adidas runs noticeably wider and more relaxed than the brand's other shoes and stays true to size, so it's the easy call for broad or high-volume feet — the kind that find most golf shoes pinch across the forefoot. The Pro/SL's new Vantage Last has closed much of FootJoy's traditional narrowness, with a roomier toe box than before, so for the first time broad-footed players genuinely have two good options here rather than defaulting to the adidas by elimination. On durability, the FootJoy has the edge and it's part of what the premium buys: owner reports point to multiple seasons of dependable wear, where the softer, more trainer-like adidas is built more like the sneaker it resembles and will show its mileage a little sooner. Neither is fragile, but if you keep shoes for years rather than seasons, factor that in. The honest move with both is to try them on, ideally late in the day when your feet have spread, and walk a few minutes before deciding.

Which should you buy

Buy the Pro/SL if you want benchmark stability and tour pedigree, play in changeable or wet weather, swing hard enough to want maximum lateral lock, value long-term durability, and the price isn't a sticking point. Buy the S2G SL if you want most of that performance plus more out-of-the-box comfort, a wider sneaker-like fit, course-to-coffee versatility, and money left in your pocket — the right call for a lot of fair-weather golfers and easily our value pick. If you genuinely can't decide, default to the cheaper adidas and spend the difference on a waterproof shell or a fitting; the Pro/SL's advantages are real but they're refinements, not revelations, for the average swing. Both anchor our best golf shoes guide. And if winter bogs are your regular reality, remember spiked still has a place over either of these.