What started as a headcover company in 2011 and evolved into golf apparel like polo shirts and mid layers now has a golf shoe. And like all its other products, the new Stitch Golf SL Pace golf shoes are a premium offering that’s a little bit different from other shoes in the market.
Just like Stitch golf bags, for example, the new SL Pace golf shoes are crafted with high-end materials that certainly reflects its $225 suggested retail price. They look good, and certainly seem like they will last. But how do they perform? Fortunately, I was able to play a half dozen rounds with them, both riding and walking, to give them a good evaluation.
These shoes were actually two years in the making. The Apex, N.C. company says it got into the shoe business because its customers were interested in what it might come up with and made a lot of inquiries. A representative from Stitch Golf also told me that the company thought this was a missing component to their business.
My first impressions right out of the box were positive, and they got noticed immediately by other golfers around me, for their looks and craftsmanship. When I first put them on and went out to the range, I immediately felt a lot of stability in these shoes, as well as a springy feel from the cushioning in the sole. Brand new, they did feel a bit rigid at first, which might be expected from the full-grain leather upper. But as I wore them, I definitely felt like I was starting to "break them in."
Since this is a spikeless shoe, it’s also designed to be worn off the course, so I did that, too. Going from the course directly to dinner was a natural transition.
Ultimately, though, testing the SL Pace was about putting it through its paces on the course, and this is where I thought it excelled and compared well with the best golf shoes on the market.
But first, here’s how the SL Pace is constructed. The top of the shoe, or upper, is a breathable leather that’s also waterproof. The inside of the shoe features full-grain leather lining, which is designed to provide a soft and plush feel as it regulates temperature and wicks away moisture. It has a padded tongue and padded collar.
The footbed is vented and soft, designed to absorb impact. And it also has a molded heel designed to provide a stable base and improve balance, control, and power in the golf swing. The sole and heel of the SL Pace is substantial, almost an inch and half thick in the heel. That’s where the springy effect comes in. I also felt a little taller, which is never a bad deal when you’re on the shorter side.
Also, I didn’t play with these in really wet conditions, but I did find that the spikeless outsole provided plenty of traction. The bottom line is that the SL Pace shoes from Stitch Golf are very stable.
My understanding is that it went through several iterations, and that it was thoroughly tested by golfers and refined. That certainly seems to be the case. The bottom line is that Stitch's new golf shoe is pretty much what I expected. It’s a high-quality product that seems to cover all the bases.
During the rounds I played with them while riding in a powered cart is when I found them to be the most comfortable. As a walking shoe, a little less so, but again, I think as they get broken in they will be more comfortable. As a walker, I didn’t find them as comfortable as the best Skechers shoes or True shoes, but the SL Pace shoes are certainly up to the task if you’re walking the course.
The Stitch SL Pace is offered in three colorways – all white with a yellow/orange outsole, white with blue accents and a blue outsole (Colorblock), and gray with a gray outsole (Fadeaway).
