You know that feeling when everything just clicks?
We have all experienced it in one way or another. Maybe it was the first time you learned to ride a bike. Or maybe it was when you finally nailed every note of that piano solo you’ve been practicing. Surely, the first time you made hard contact with a driver, you felt a little uneasy.
That’s how I felt when I entered for the first time Eighty-seven SCJason Day’s new golf shoes with PAYNTR. I’ve worn hundreds of golf shoes and very rarely (if ever) had the same kind of initial reaction.
To quote Goldilocks: “All was ‘just right!’
Thankfully for PAYNTR, Day felt the same way the first time he tried on a pair of PAYNTR shoes.
In order to fully understand and appreciate the beast of a shoe that is the Eighty-Seven SC, you must first understand how the former world No. 1 became associated with the Portland-based performance shoe brand.
The story is no different from how PAYNTR managed to burst onto the scene to a commendable crowd Most wanted endings. No one saw that coming (well, no one except the brains behind PAYNTR Golf: Mike Forsey and Mike Glancy).
PAYNTR knew if they could get Day to try their stuff, he’d fall in love. It started as a 40 minute meeting that turned into an hour and 40 minute meeting. Then, a pair of PAYNTR insoles in Day’s “other” golf shoes.
Finally, on the recommendation of fellow international golfer Denny McCarthy, Day took the PAYNTR plunge. The rest, as they say, is history.
For months, PAYNTR and Day worked to design a golf shoe with modern performance and traditional appeal. They’ve kept the design under wraps (except for the occasional tease at major events).
The gold standard in golf shoes has arrived it is called SC Eighty-Seventh.
After the design
I was surprised to learn that the Eighty-Seven SC, while technically a Jason Day signature shoe, does not bear Day’s name nor the signature. Most signature shoes (think LeBron, Tiger or even Spieth) feature the athlete’s logo and/or signature.
But Day is different (and so is PAYNTR). Eighty-Seven SC doesn’t need the Name of the Day … PAYNTR wants the performance to do the talking. And so is Day. This is not about ego boosting or getting loans. It’s about putting out a product that golfers will gravitate towards and resonate with.
That’s not to say the shoes aren’t full of Day references. “Eight-Seven” refers to Day’s year of birth. You’ll find various Easter eggs throughout the shoe, including printed Roman numerals on the PAYNTR signature pushplate referencing this number.
It’s still a Jason Day shoe, even without his name plastered on it. This is evident when you realize how involved Day has been since the jump.
For many athletes, signing a signature shoe is just that. The design is very done and complete and all they do is give a sign of approval. No PAYNTR, no Day. When PAYNTR approached Day about a signature shoe, they worked hand-in-hand (often communicating daily) to build the shoe from the ground up.
And that’s exactly what the tandem did. Seemingly every tournament during the 2023-2024 season, Day wore a different iteration of the shoe. Often not visible to the naked eye, each pair introduced minor changes or design changes as the two worked together to create a golf shoe they could both be proud of.
The gold standard
Gold is the favorite color of the Day. It is also PAYNTR’s chosen color for their logo at Eighty-Seven SC. Why? Because every design choice is made with performance in mind. No corners cut, no shortcuts taken.
This is clear when looking at eight-seven SC. Clarino’s premium upper and laser-etched details are proof of that. But small design details, like the use of PAYNTR’s signature PMX Nitro+ foam in the midsole and footbed, make it really clear that PAYNTR is serious about performance.
How many golf shoes have a cheap paper-like foam bed or insole? PAYNTR could easily have done the same. Instead, they used their own foam core to raise their footbed, because that’s what a company whose sole mission is performance would do.
PAYNTR spent countless amounts of time and money finding the exact right angle to bend their Carbitex Omniflex Propulsion main plate. It would have been cheaper and easier to leave it flat, but it had to be bent to achieve the thrust and energy return that PAYNTR required.
No stone was left unturned during the design and execution of Eighty Seven SC. You don’t believe me? Just wear a pair. It’s easy to see why Day was so impressed by the dance.
When you’re wearing bad golf shoes, good ones stand out even more.
History of technology
If you’ve made it this far, congratulations. This is where the real shoe stuff begins. If you’re not interested in a deep dive into PAYNTR’s footwear technology, keep scrolling. For the five of you who, like me, can’t get enough, here’s what you need to know about the technology that makes up the Eighty-Seven SC.
Thrust plate
PAYNTR’s bread and butter is creating more power through a thrust plate. In this case, propulsion comes via a Carbitex Omniflex plate. This carbon fiber plate flexes in one direction for explosive energy return, but stays rigid in the other for stability.
This is not unlike what we’ve seen in the super shoes worn by the world’s best marathon runners. If it’s good enough for the world’s best athletes, surely a putter plate can provide some performance benefits for the golfer.
Speaking of super shoes, let’s talk about the cushion.
Know your gases
There has been a trend among running shoes to use nitrogen-infused foams. This promotes energy return and excellent comfort. PAYNTR is one of the few brands that uses a cushion-like approach to golf shoes. The Eighty-Seven SC features PMX Nitro+ foam, which is very plush without feeling unstable.
Nitrogen makes your typical foam lighter and more responsive. Would it have been easier to use a typical EVA and forget nitrogen? Maybe. But your typical EVA does not feel this well.
Attraction in 3D
For years, PAYNTR has had a monopoly on the attractive game. Their shoes are perennial top performers in this category during the most demanding testing for a reason. PAYNTR thinks about traction in three dimensions: rotational, vertical, horizontal.
PAYNTR doesn’t just rely on points to get the job done. Their withdrawal model is well thought out. It works together with the spikes to keep you grounded at all times.
The total package
If I had to recap PAYNTR Eighty-Seven SC? It’s the total package. There isn’t a detail, design element or performance attribute that PAYNTR hasn’t thought of. In my estimation, he has the potential to be a perennial winner for years to come (we’ll see about that).
In the meantime, you can catch the Eighty-Seven SC at Jason Day’s feet at golf’s greatest venues…. and in my ever-changing golf shoe rotation.
If you’re interested in picking up a pair, you can do so starting today at PAYNTR. The Eighty-Seven SC will come in white (for now) and retail for $220.
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