FootJoy Premiere Series gets a performance upgrade – these are the three changes you’ll actually notice.
Some golf shoes try to reinvent the wheel every year. The FootJoy Premiere Series isn’t one of them.
This is widely considered one of the best golf shoes in the game, and it’s also one of the most dominant on Tour, accounting for around 40% of all footwear worn across the DP World Tour and PGA Tour.
Although the shoe is popular, FootJoy felt there were things they could improve. With feedback from Tour players and elite amateurs the brand have undertaken a big rebuild of several parts of the Premiere Series Packard.
The goal? Keep the iconic look golfers love, but sharpen up the performance where it matters.
Here are the standout upgrades.
This outsole means business
The biggest performance upgrade comes underfoot. FootJoy have introduced a new ARCTrax outsole technology designed to deliver more Tour-level traction and stability across different lies and conditions.
The outsole uses anti-channeling traction elements and concentric flex circles to optimize ground forces through the swing. In simple terms, it’s built to keep you planted when you need it most, while still allowing the shoe to move naturally as you walk.
It’s a big step forward for a shoe that already had a reputation for stability.
Your heels will thank you
Although it may not seem it at first glance, one of the Premiere Series’ biggest strengths is comfort. FootJoy have refined this even further with enhanced collar padding around the heel.
The new design improves heel stability and overall comfort, helping the shoe feel more secure without adding unnecessary weight.
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Combined with the Premiere EVA midsole and OrthoLite EcoPlush FitBed, the aim is to deliver a shoe that feels just as good walking the 18th as it did on the first tee.
Despite the added technology, FootJoy have reduced the shoe’s overall weight by 10% compared to previous versions.
A small tweak that makes a big difference
One of the key updates to the new Premiere Series is the addition of a molded OrthoLite TruFit tongue system.
It might sound like a small tweak, but it’s designed to make a noticeable difference to the way the shoe wraps around your foot. The padded tongue creates a more secure, contoured fit, helping to lock the foot in place through the swing without creating pressure points across the top of the foot.
It’s the sort of upgrade you feel immediately when you lace them up: a more dialed-in fit without sacrificing the soft, premium feel you expect from a traditional leather shoe.
The quick take
The Premiere Series have always been the shoe for golfers who want classic looks without sacrificing modern performance, and this latest update keeps that formula firmly intact.
The addition of the OrthoLite tongue, ARCTrax outsole, and collar padding gives the Packard a subtle but meaningful performance upgrade. They’ve managed to do this while keeping the premium leather construction and timeless styling that has made it such a staple on Tour.
Premiere Series is simply reminding everyone that it still owns this category. And judging by the Tour counts, plenty of golfers are still very happy even though the market is as competitive as ever.