Opinion & Analysis

A brilliant trick for golfers who also love Air Jordan sneakers

Published

9 years ago

Jan 17, 2017

There are two types of people in this world; those who understand why someone would use a size 5.5 youth Jordan sneaker as a putter cover and those who do not. As a member of the former, let me try to explain.

While some people wear sneakers (or any shoes for that matter) purely for function and comfort, others wear them as an expression of style, fashion and for the nostalgia of that particular shoe. Specifically for fans of Michael Jordan, there are certain Air Jordan shoes that he wore during particular accomplishments or to commemorate landmark moments in his career. And for those who grew up idolizing MJ, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, owning and wearing a particular shoe just MEANS something.

For instance, Jordan was a member of the USA basketball team at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona; a team known as the “Dream Team” because of its collection of dominant players including Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and others. Jordan wore No. 9 — instead of 23 or 45 — on his jersey en route to an Olympic Gold Medal that year, and the special Air Jordan 7 Olympic shoe pictured below commemorates that.

OF COURSE Ray Allen has a Jumpman putter head cover! I am SO jealous right now. https://t.co/0sOP5761XA pic.twitter.com/rjoeHqlyxd

— Michael Collins (@ESPNCaddie) January 13, 2017

Former NBA basketball player and recreational golfer Ray Allen, who reportedly carries a 0.8-handicap index, is on Team Jordan and is by all accounts a sneakerhead. He wears, collects and is knowledgable about exclusive sneakers… and apparently uses them as putter covers. You can watch him talk about his sneaker collection here.

He’s not the only one who has thought of using a children’s sneaker as a putter cover, however; there’s an entire thread in our forums devoted to this discussion where golfers show off their “Jordan headcovers.”

If you love Jordans and can get a hold of your favorite in a youth size 5 or 5.5 (the sizes GolfWRXers say work the best), it’s a brilliant way to both express your love of sneakers and style (while also protecting your putter). Fathers might have a leg up in the game. Wait until your child grows out of their size, then use the leftover shoes. It shows you care about your kids AND sneakers. Two birds, one shoe.

Warning: This tactic is best suited for those with blade-style putters, as mallet putters may simply not fit into the shoe.

Opinion & Analysis

AVL: My U.S. Amateur local qualifying experience

Published

6 days ago

Jun 5, 2026

Andrew Von Lossow

This past Monday, I played in the U.S. Amateur local qualifier at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon. A full tee sheet from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., the top 11 scores would make it to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying.

I teed off at 10:48 a.m.. With the 7:30 am tee time, you can get a feel for the leaders’ pace, and they were off and running on the challenging setup at Rock Creek.

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Getting to the highlight of the round on the par five 17th, a drive up the left side and 212 yards left to the front hole location. I took out a 5-iron with plans of middle of the green. The ball ended up 8 feet left of the hole, pin high. A slight downhill putt dropped in for an eagle 3 on the 17th. With the cut line looking to be anywhere from -2 to even par. This was the boost I had been waiting for all day.

With making par from the trees on 18, it was time to wait for a potential playoff with a posted score of one under par 71.

Three hours later, it was playoff time. 8 players for 6 spots. I made par on the playoff hole, which was good enough to advance to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying in July. USGA qualifiers sure deliver on all of the emotions in golf!

Club Junkie

Building my 2026 gamer WITB: Ranking the contenders and new putter projects – Club Junkie Podcast

Published

1 week ago

Jun 4, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

The annual What’s In The Bag build is underway, and on this episode of Club Junkie, Brian breaks down the clubs currently leading the race for a spot in his 2026 gamer setup. From drivers and fairway woods to irons, wedges, and shafts, he ranks the equipment that’s performing best and explains what’s separating the front runners from the rest of the field.

Brian also heads into the workshop to discuss several putter projects currently on the bench. From head options and shaft choices to build ideas and testing plans, he shares what he’s working on and which putters could become serious contenders for the bag this season.

If you’re a gear junkie who loves equipment testing, club building, and the never-ending pursuit of the perfect setup, this episode is for you.

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Club Junkie

Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie

Published

2 weeks ago

May 28, 2026

Brian Knudson

On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.

I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.