Built to change the way you swing. The Air Jordan Rev Golf isn’t just another golf sneaker with spikes. It actually took Nike eight years of testing, tweaking, experimenting, and Michael Jordan’s approval, to create the sleek, dial-and-strap-clad sneaker. And now, it’s here in a Bred colorway for $255.
If you’ve been following Jordan Brand’s golf journey, you’ll know they’ve mostly stuck to retooling classics like the Air Jordan 1 Low and Air Jordan 14 for the green. The Air Rev is a different beast. It’s the first Jordan golf shoe to feature external Air, with a movable Air Zoom unit tucked into a pouch on the trail foot (the one you push off with during a swing). “You’re trying to create as much appropriate rotational velocity as you can in a golf swing,” explained Darren May, golf pro at The Grove XXIII and Michael Jordan’s own coach. “The key here is you’ve got a ballistic push off from your trail foot and a braking or slowing down and redirection of that energy on your lead foot which is essential.”
Jordan Brand named the shoe after “rotational energy velocity”. Air Rev, get it? The brand claims it’s been engineered to maximize torque and clubhead speed. That’s not marketing fluff. The lead foot is cushioned with Formula23 foam for controlled braking, and both inserts are swappable to suit left or right-handed golfers.
“Does it have to have a strap? It does,” said Matt Plumb, Nike Men’s Sport Footwear Director. “Michael said, ‘Well, then, let’s not be apologetic about the strap and let’s celebrate the strap.’” The strap anchors the Flight Lock lacing system, locking the Air bag as close to your foot as possible for energy return. If you’ve ever used a BOA system, it’s similar, but this one is proprietary to Jordan Brand.
Jordan tested every detail, even the traction. Pressure-mapping data determined the placement and shape of the integrated spikes, which keep the shoe lightweight while maintaining grip. And if you’re wondering how it feels to actually wear, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams summed it up: “This legit might be the most comfortable shoe I ever put on. The look, the feel, the stability that it gives—it’s comfortable.”
The Air Rev Golf first dropped on May 14 for $250 online and select North American retailers, debuting in white/university blue and white/metallic silver. The new “Bred” version features a black upper, Flint Grey midsole, and Infrared 23 accents because, as every Jordan fan knows, no Jumpman line feels complete without it.
Jordan Brand isn’t hiding its ambitions. “We do see this as an opportunity as a technology platform we can stand on for multiple years and there’s other versions that we could potentially work through,” said Plumb.
Personally, I don’t play golf. But if the Air Rev Golf came without the spikes, I’d totally rock it in Summer.
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