{"id":138585,"date":"2025-09-12T21:08:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T21:08:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/138585\/"},"modified":"2025-09-12T21:08:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T21:08:11","slug":"jen-hanna-talks-evolution-of-the-golf-shoe-in-performance-footwear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/138585\/","title":{"rendered":"Jen Hanna Talks Evolution of the Golf Shoe in Performance Footwear"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tJen Hanna knows a lot about golf shoes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\tAs a former LPGA\u00a0professional golfer and an NCAA Division I golf coach, as well as a First-Team All-American and Southern Conference champion, Hanna\u2019s been playing golf since she was six. And she\u2019s been wearing one version or another of the golf shoe<\/a> for over 30 years. Plus, she has 12-plus years of materials innovation experience.<\/p>\n

\n\tHere, Footwear News caught up with the new vice president of sales at Carbitex \u2014 the firm is a flexible carbon fiber leader specializing in performance<\/a> footwear \u2014 to talk about the evolution of the golf shoe. The Carbitex composites are used in performance<\/a> footwear by FootJoy, The North Face, Saucony<\/a>, Adidas, among others.<\/p>\n

\n\tFootwear News: Tell me about your playing experience and the golf shoe options \u2014 pros and cons \u2014that were available at the time.<\/p>\n

\n\tJen Hanna: The evolution of the golf shoe over the past 30-plus years has been remarkable. When I first started playing at six years old, and even through college, FootJoy was the go-to brand. Back then it was all about the classic look, with metal spikes and a wooden sole. As the game evolved and players demanded more comfort to meet the physical demands of walking and playing, more brands rose to the challenge.<\/p>\n

\n\tWe saw the shift from metal to plastic spikes, which reduced spike marks on the greens, and at the same time styles moved toward a more athletic look. Comfort definitely improved, but performance didn\u2019t always keep pace \u2014 there were times when traction suffered, leading to more slipping and, in my opinion, the softer spikes could leave deeper indentations on greens that sometimes-affected putting.<\/p>\n

\n\tFinding the right balance between comfort and performance has always been the challenge. More cushioning makes shoes more comfortable for long days on the course, but it can also compromise performance when you consider the amount of downward force a golfer generates swinging a driver at over 100 miles per hour. That balance continues to be the defining test for golf footwear innovation.<\/p>\n

\n\tFN: What were the features that you wanted then in your shoes? And knowing what you know now from your experience as a golfer and coach, how would you describe what you think would be the perfect golf shoe? Does that shoe exist in the performance footwear<\/a> market now?\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tJH: It really depends on the individual. Golf brings together such a wide range of ages, body types, swing mechanics, capabilities, and limitations. That\u2019s the beauty of the game, and what challenges brands to keep innovating. For me, footwear is a critical part of the equipment equation. The right shoe has to provide comfort when walking the course, but also deliver stability on uneven lies and support the weight transfer and torque generated during the golf swing.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe good news is that golf footwear has come a long way. We\u2019re seeing better traction with the G\/Lock<\/a> cleat (removable spike), improved comfort, more adaptive fit with the BOA system (a dial on the shoe allowing for tightening or loosening laces), and enhanced performance through advanced materials, such as Carbitex flexible carbon plates.<\/p>\n

\n\tFN: You also have a degree in health and exercise science from Furman University. Tell me how the two, golf and your degree, sparked your curiosity in materials innovation in connection with product development and performance optimization?<\/p>\n

\n\tJH: As an athlete, I was always focused on performance optimization, and I think that mindset has carried over into everything I do. My background in health and exercise science gave me a deep appreciation for biomechanics, understanding how the body generates power and control, and recognizing both its limitations and capabilities.<\/p>\n

\n\tWhat I never expected was that this perspective would eventually lead me into the world of composites, textiles, and advanced materials. Early on, when I first stepped into the materials space, what fascinated me most was learning how sporting equipment was actually made. It felt like all of my past experiences were colliding, allowing me to draw from familiar areas while also being challenged to learn new materials and figure out how to apply them to product development. That combination of biomechanics, innovation, and performance has really shaped the way I approach my work today.<\/p>\n

\n\tFN: How can materials optimize performance? <\/p>\n

\n\tJH: One of the biggest shifts has been in engineered uppers. Instead of heavy panels and stitching, lightweight, one-piece constructions that flex naturally with the foot are changing the landscape.<\/p>\n

\n\tFoam technology has also come a long way. Traditional EVA used to compress pretty quickly, but now with supercritical foams, nitrogen-infused compounds, there is much higher energy return and cushioning that holds up much longer. That makes a huge difference in reducing fatigue and keeping athletes performing at a high level.<\/p>\n

\n\tAnother big change has been the introduction of carbon fiber plates or composite plates, such as Carbitex, that started in running and have moved into other categories like golf, basketball, and even work boots. They add structure and propulsion without adding weight, which is a big advantage.<\/p>\n

\n\t3D printing and lattice structures in midsoles allow brands to tune cushioning and support in a way that traditional foam molding can\u2019t. And materials offer better climate control textiles and waterproofing technologies that keep shoes lighter and more breathable in all conditions.<\/p>\n

\n\tAltogether, these innovations are making footwear lighter, more responsive, more durable, and more tailored to the movements of the athlete.<\/p>\n

\n\tFN: In June, you joined Carbitex in the newly created role of vice president of sales for the U.S. market. What attracted you to Carbitex?\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tJH: For me, the real opportunity lies in bringing together elements of my past experiences around a technology I truly believe can be at the forefront of innovation. I love the challenge of growing a business and taking products to market, especially when it involves reimagining the way we think about something today.<\/p>\n

\n\tWhat excites me most is building relationships and partnerships, getting others inspired about new materials and new possibilities, and being willing to take risks, pushing the limits of what\u2019s known into the space of the unknown. And when you pair that kind of innovation with something as universal as sports, activity, or even leisure, you have the chance to create a dynamic change in an area everyone can relate to, footwear.<\/p>\n

\n\tFN: Tell me more about Carbitex\u2019s three patented flexible carbon fiber composites. Are they all available for use in footwear? <\/p>\n

\n\tJH: Carbitex is a composites company with a focus on advancing footwear performance. We recognized an opportunity for our flexible carbon technology to make a real impact, helping optimize human movement without compromise.<\/p>\n

\n\tWe\u2019ve developed three core products: OmniFlex, MonoFlex, and GearFlex \u2014 all engineered specifically for footwear applications. OmniFlex is a strong, flexible carbon fiber textile used in uppers. It maximizes power transfer, adds lateral stability for the foot and ankle, and does so without restricting natural mobility.<\/p>\n

\n\tMonoFlex and GearFlex are plate technologies, each with a distinct approach to flex. At the highest level, our joints are asymmetric, and our bodies are dynamic. That is what enables us to perform such a wide range of movements. Traditional materials, whether carbon fiber or otherwise, do not adapt to those changing needs. Our plated technologies eliminate these long-standing compromises.<\/p>\n

\n\tOur feet also dynamically change stiffness as we move, even within a single step. As the foot bends, it is highly flexible at first, then progressively stiffens to create the structure needed to push-off. GearFlex mirrors this behavior. As your foot bends and stiffens, the GearFlex plate does the same. With traditional materials, you have to compromise: high flexibility with low propulsion, or high propulsion with low flexibility. GearFlex eliminates that tradeoff. That is why we call it GearFlex, because instead of having one gear like a single-speed bike, you now have multiple gears.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Jen Hanna knows a lot about golf shoes. As a former LPGA\u00a0professional golfer and an NCAA Division I…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":138586,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[566],"tags":[95102,64,63,755,54858,6342,85],"class_list":["post-138585","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-golf","tag-athletic-shoes","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-golf","tag-golf-shoes","tag-performance","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138585","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=138585"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138585\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/138586"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=138585"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=138585"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=138585"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}