Equipment
Is the CAGE ECCO’s next big golf shoe?
Let’s say you’re in the midst of a remarkable run as a leader in the golf shoe industry, based in part due to your ability to own and manage every aspect of its leather and shoe production, as well as retail sales. And let’s further hypothesize that your bullpen of world-renowned playing professionals wearing your shoes across the globe includes the likes of Fred Couples, Ernie Els and Graeme McDowell, among others.
And finally, imagine you have a long line of loyal customers dedicated to your products because of the consistent quality of those same products. What’s next for a company like that?
ECCO CAGE in White/Black/Red ($200)
For ECCO, it’s the CAGE golf shoes, a cleated model designed to be every bit as comfortable as your favorite pair of footwear. Aiming for the sweet spot of classic styling, comfort and stability, ECCO employed its state-of-the-art direct injection wrap system (DiP) to give the shoe a “cage,” which looks a lot like webbing. It works its way from the heel to the midsole and ultimately to the toe box of the shoe, and allows the upper and outsole portions of the shoe to bond without the use of glue or stitching of any kind. The one-piece construction allows for increased swing stability, flexibility when walking, and less movement overall when shifting your weight during the golf swing, according to ECCO, as well as increased memory and a water-tight seal.
There are two different CAGE models, the CAGE CAGE EVO (pictured below, and soon-to-be tested by GolfWRX Members), which uses a textile, or multi-material upper. It’s otherwise identical to the CAGE, which has a calderra leather upper that offers a broken-in feel and toughness.
ECCO CAGE EVO in Bermuda Blue ($190).
Rounding out its features, the CAGE is anatomically designed to provide an outsole that aligns and moves with your foot. There’s no glue, no “cement,” and nothing piecemeal about the CAGE’s one-piece design, which ECCO says helps the shoes move “in unison with the foot’s essential ligaments and muscles.” The CAGE may not improve your footwork, but it can’t hurt.
For some golfers, the CAGE’s traction elements could be the most important part of the discussion. The company has made itself synonymous with top-of-the-line spikeless golf shoes, but the CAGE is unapologetically a cleated golf shoe, using Champ’s Slim-Lok soft spikes to appeal to golfers seeking maximum traction on the course. The shoes also employ ECCO’s HYDROMAX leather treatment, which will keep your feet dry in the heaviest dew.
ECCO CAGE in Black ($200)
Unlike other golf shoe companies, ECCO isn’t driven to get its stable of players to only wear its newest product. Instead, the company leaves that decision to the individual to determine what best fits their game. For example, Graeme McDowell has historically been loyal to the World Class line, given his sense of style. Ernie Els, on the other hand, has shown broad allegiance to various types of shoes found in the Hybrid line.
As a result, the CAGE has yet to be worn by anyone other than PGA Tour member Will Wilcox, but don’t be surprised to see any number of ECCO’s tour stars wearing them soon.
Tour Edge Golf has today introduced the all-new Exotics mini driver, engineered to deliver a powerful combination of speed, control, and versatility in the long game.
The Exotics Mini combines a titanium face with a stainless-steel body in design to balance ball speed with stability and control, creating a versatile option at the top end of the bag.
At the core of the design is Tour Edge’s proprietary Combo Brazing technology, a high-precision thermal bonding process that seamlessly fuses a titanium cup face to a stainless-steel body into a single, continuous structure. By eliminating energy loss found in traditional multi-piece constructions, Combo Brazing is designed to deliver faster face response, more efficient energy transfer, and a uniquely powerful yet controlled feel.
The multi-material construction also allows mass to be positioned lower and deeper in the head in a bid to increase stability, while the thin titanium face is engineered to maintain ball speed across a wider impact area.
“While the initial goal was to enhance control and versatility in the long game, Combo Brazing ultimately drove measurable gains in ball speed and distance within the mini driver category. In robot testing, we’ve documented higher ball speeds, higher launch, reduced spin, and increased carry and total distance compared to leading models.” – Vice President of R&D Matt Neeley
In addition to distance performance, the Exotics mini emphasizes forgiveness through a heavier stainless-steel body that shifts mass toward the perimeter. This configuration increases MOI relative to traditional all-titanium mini drivers, helping preserve ball speed and directional stability on off-center strikes. Paired with Pyramid Face Technology from the Exotics metalwood line, the design is intended to support consistent speed across the face.
To further enhance MOI, a lightweight carbon fiber crown frees additional mass that is strategically repositioned low and deep in the head in design to improve stability and promote optimal launch with controlled spin.
“We designed the Mini to be about five millimeters shallower than other mini drivers on the market. That change improves playability off the deck. From a clean fairway lie, it can function as a strong 3-wood alternative while still providing control off the tee.” – Tour Edge CEO David Glod
An adjustable hosel system allows for loft and lie tuning to dial in trajectory and shot shape, while a fixed 13-gram rear weight helps stabilize the head through impact to improve dispersion consistency. The Exotics Mini Driver is available in 11.5 and 13.5-degree lofts in right-handed models.
Pricing & Availability
The Exotics Mini Driver is available for pre-order beginning today for $399.99 USD at touredge.com, and will be available for purchase at retail outlets worldwide on May 22, 2026.
In our forums, our members have been pitting a Srixon ZXi combo against a TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo. WRXer ‘edutch22’ is on the hunt for a new set of irons and kicks off the thread saying:
“Looking at picking up a new set of irons and think I’ve narrowed it down to Srixon ZXi combo or Taylormade P7CB/770 combo. I am currently a 5 cap and allbeit I feel irons are my weakness. My miss is a little to the toe side. I am decently steep at 4-5 down. Always thought I am high spin but recently on trackman my 7 was spinning at 5800 roughly.
My question or looking for thoughts on which one would benefit me more from a forgiveness standpoint? Or is there another iron is should be looking at entirely? I only get to play about once or twice a week, if I am not playing a 2-3 day event. Thanks in advance.”
And our members have been sharing their thoughts and suggestions in response.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- manima1: “You just can’t go wrong with Srixon ZXi7.”
- MattM97: “You have to hit them to know, the V-Sole on the Srixon can be make or break for many.”
- dmeeksDC: “P7CB is more forgiving for me than ZXi7 because my main miss is low middle and the P7CB still flies and spins great on that miss. These are both really nice irons but I like the P7CB more than the Zxi7 and the P770 (or P790) more than the Zxi5. The Srixons are larger so if that gives you confidence that is the way to go. I don’t feel like I get any benefit from the V-sole and the P7CBs live up to their high Maltby forgiveness rating so the TaylorMades have been great for me.”
Entire Thread: “Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @pianoman0123 has a 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo up for grabs.
From the listing: “2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade Combo. 4-8 irons are CB’s and the 9,PW are Blades. 5-PW have Project X 6.0 Shafts and the 4 Iron has a Steelfiber CW110 Stiff Shaft. Standard Length, Lie and Lofts. These are in very good condition the shafts just don’t work for me. Like new Lamkin Grips on the 5-PW and a stock Golf Pride on the 4 Iron. $525 OBO.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
RBC Heritage Tour Report: More minis, course-specific setups, Spider & GTS launches
Justin Rose WITB 2026 (April): Full WITB breakdown with new McLaren irons
Best fairway woods of 2026: The most versatile fairway woods + the most forgiving fairway woods
Gary Woodland’s winning WITB: 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open
What’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
Cadillac Championship Tour Report: Spieth’s sizable changes, McLaren Golf launches, and more
The 24 players who can win the Masters
Rory McIlroy’s winning WITB: 2026 Masters
Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
J.J. Spaun’s winning WITB: 2026 Valero Texas Open
Alex Fitzpatrick WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus...
Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
Driver: Ping G440 Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft:...
WITB Time Machine: Rory McIlroy’s winning WITB, 2021 Truist Championship
Rory McIlroy’s victory at the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship 2021 (now the Truist Championship) marked a significant return to form,...
Collin Morikawa WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D LS (8 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade SIM Tour (14 degrees) Shaft:...
-
Equipment2 weeks agoJustin Rose WITB 2026 (April): Full WITB breakdown with new McLaren irons
-
Equipment1 week agoWhat’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
-
Equipment2 weeks agoCadillac Championship Tour Report: Spieth’s sizable changes, McLaren Golf launches, and more
-
Whats in the Bag3 days ago
Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
-
Whats in the Bag1 week agoCameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
-
Whats in the Bag3 weeks agoNelly Korda WITB 2026 (April)
-
Equipment2 weeks agoJustin Rose on the switch to McLaren Golf, learnings from previous equipment moves
-
Tour Photo Galleries2 weeks agoPhotos from the 2026 Cadillac Championship
Josh
May 23, 2016 at 5:51 pm
These look how I imagine golf shoes made by Crocs would look
j
May 19, 2016 at 8:33 am
So ugly would never buy
Dj
May 19, 2016 at 12:03 am
Some of the ugliest I’ve seen.
Joey5Picks
May 18, 2016 at 9:18 pm
“Is the CAGE ECCO’s next big golf shoe?”
No.
MP-4
May 18, 2016 at 5:43 pm
CAGE ECCO a.k.a. the CROCK ECCO?
No they are too gimmicky looking.
Way too much form over function.
Although the top mesh on the CAGE EVO isn’t so bad.
On my second pair of BIOM Hybrids. Best shoe ever.
SB
May 18, 2016 at 3:31 pm
no
Jake
May 18, 2016 at 7:08 pm
No
CCShop
May 18, 2016 at 2:48 pm
EVO looks like a rip off the Hyperflex. The first gen Ecco is still the best
John Krug
May 18, 2016 at 1:23 pm
The article should have described the last of the shoe. For example wide in front, narrow at the back.
Bar
May 18, 2016 at 10:52 am
Are they going to make them in half sizes. Bought Bioms and nearly had my ankles amputated. Not for me until they show a bit more interest in their customers.
Desmond
May 18, 2016 at 3:49 pm
If you go from a 44 to 45 – it’s a half size for me.
Scott
May 19, 2016 at 12:12 pm
I love Ecco shoes. However, sizing can be trying. At one point I owed a 45, 46, and 47 for 3 different styles. It is hard to buy Ecco shoes on line.
Bar
May 18, 2016 at 10:49 am
Are they going to make them in half sizes. Bought Bioms and nearly had my heels amputated. No thanks.
Carlos Danger
May 18, 2016 at 9:16 am
Huge fan of the ECCOs. Have a pair of Hybrid and the Biom. They are as or more comfortable than any shoe I own including slippers etc…
The only down side to the pairs I have owned is that they are not necessarily a pair of shoes I would wear in wet conditions, even if its just a dewey morning. They seem to absorb moisture opposed to resisting it. My hybrids actually look like a stepped in a puddle if its super hot out and I am sweating alot.
Desmond
May 18, 2016 at 8:49 am
I find the BIOM line very comfortable – Hybrid 2 and BIOM Lace (cleated), and would tend not to deviate from BIOM, which does not have much cushion, which I like, because I use my feet to read the greens.
In the Cage, I think the white on Blue looks good, as does the Black. The gray Cage on white is not to my taste. I would think the Cage is very stable. My bet is the cushion here is still in the insole as it is in the Hybrid 2. At $190 (Evo) and $200, my first preference would be to find a Biom Lace on sale ($240 retail) if I wanted cleats – the Lace is very comfortable. If you do not want cleats, the Biom Hybrid 2 GTX with Goretex is the shoe.
KJ
May 18, 2016 at 8:41 am
Ecco makes great shoes…but for the most part they are just not very stylish.
Nath
May 18, 2016 at 8:23 am
Yea, i’ll give these a go.
Now where in aus can i find em?
Mikec
May 18, 2016 at 7:50 am
I tried these on and hated them. Big miss IMO for Ecco, just like their zero (or whatever they were called). Leather is too firm. Plus the overall look is just plain ugly. That being said, with the exception of the BIOM Hyrbrid, not a fan of the new BIOM cleated either. Still gaming the first generation BIOM cleated and hybrid as if you take care of them, the YAK leather lasts forever.
TCJ
May 18, 2016 at 10:02 am
Agreed, first gen bioms are awesome! I should of picked up some hybrids when I had the chance…