Under Armour launches Nationwide DRIVE PRO Demo Days

Following the huge success of regional Drive Pro Demo Days in the South, Under Armour is rolling out a nationwide Demo Day programme to support demand from Drive Pro stockists to elevate the shoe fitting experience for their customers.

With testers at both the PGA Show Demo Day and Regional UK events already seeing consistent gains across ball speed, club speed and carry distance, the UK & Ireland Drive Pro Demo Day programme will consist of UA’s full data validation testing protocol and analysis of the data output from any tester’s current footwear versus both Drive Pro and Drive Pro SL.

Retailers that have already hosted Drive Pro Demo Days have witnessed performance gains across the board as well as consistent sales through the till from golfers attending the events.

Andy Kirk, Head Professional at Guildford Golf Club said: “I have been in the industry for 40 years and was sceptical about UA claims on the Pro Drive shoe. Now, having experienced the Drive Pro Demo Day first-hand and seen gains in distance from my members of anywhere between four to twenty yards, it has been incredible to witness. I still don’t know how it works but it works.”

On hand to dive into the data, the Under Armour Demo Day Technician will be able clearly illustrate the benefits golfers will see by switching into the Drive Pro and Drive Pro SL, thanks to the new S3 Swing Support System.

Mike Yorke, General Manager & Head PGA Professional, Horsham Golf Club, said: “The launch of the new Under Armour Drive Pro shoe range is a great opportunity to generate interest and sales in this new innovative product. Running the Drive Pro Demo Day really brought the product to life, creating a real buzz of interest within the club and a great talking point. The product lived up to the hype on the day with some fantastic speed and distance gains. 80% of those who came purchased shoes on the day, and in some cases, they bought 2 pairs! The event has created a real knock-on effect of interest too and if we get the opportunity, we will certainly host another event!’

What makes the Drive Pro Series completely unique from other golf shoes is Under Armour’s innovative Swing Support System  ^TM . Developed with world-leading Bio-mechanist, Jean-Jacques Rivet, this revolutionary 3-layer system supports the natural movement of the golf swing, delivering comfort and traction all in one.

Layer 1: Smarter Traction – new custom S3 Spikes provide game-changing directional traction, making it easier to generate more power.

Layer 2: Dual Foam Cushioning – the unique dual-foam midsole features both Under Armour’s HOVR  ^TM  foam and more supportive Charged Cushioning  ^TM  to support and guide the natural motion of the foot whilst executing the golf swing.

Layer 3: Lockdown Lacing – the Swing Support Strap features reinforcement in the upper to provide optimised 360-degree lock-in from lateral ball to medial arch.

Shaun Hall, Head Professional at Boundary Lakes GC, admitted to being sceptical of the performance claims before hosting a Drive Pro Demo Day and went through the testing protocol himself. Having seen his own test results he said: “Having been a little sceptical about how shoe technology can increase clubhead speed and ball speed I was pleasantly surprised to see both, when wearing the new Drive Pro SL.

“What struck me the most when wearing the product was the stability and performance, never have I had a shoe where I can rotate as much and hard as possible in my downswing yet keep my right foot more planted through impact allowing me to compress the ball better using speed, rotation and stability. Overall, with quicker Club Head Speed and Ball Speed my average 7 iron distance increased by 6 yards and my ball flight dispersion decreased considerably.”

At the recent PGA Show Demo Day, from a data sample of over 50 testers across the day, UA was able to show average increases of:-

• Total Carry: 11 Yards
• Club Head Speed: 2.5 MPH
• Ball Speed: 4 MPH

The UA Drive Pro (RRP £150) and UA Drive Pro SL (RRP £130) carry a full 1-year waterproof warranty.

Retailers and stockists interested in hosting a Drive Pro Demo Day at their facility should contact their UA Golf Area Sales Manager without delay to arrange booking.