Why golf shoes are the most overlooked piece of equipment that can help your game

Equipment
Golf Shoes

There are only really two pieces of golfing equipment that are in play on every shot: your ball and your shoes.

Technically you could change your shoes and ball on every hole, but that would be classed as bizarre behaviour and would rightly earn you a ribbing from your playing partners.

Consistency is key when it comes to your base game and that is true of shoes as much as your ball.

Being at ease on the golf course is an important element of enjoying the game. Golfers who spend a lot of time crisscrossing the fairways can go over 10 km in a round.

A badly fitted or uncomfortable shoe can make it hard to walk the course while also impeding a swing, impairing the player’s game.

Every golfer can maximise their enjoyment of the game by wearing the appropriate footwear.

This can lead to lower scores and ultimately more enjoyable rounds.

Golfers’ shoe preferences are often affected by appearance and price, but there are other important factors to consider when selecting the ideal shoe for your ‘dogs’.

Choosing the appropriate golf shoe assists all golfers, whether they are professional, amateur, or novice.

Golf shoes are designed to provide a non-slip basis that remains stable in both dry and wet situations.

It should be obvious that not everyone has the same shape foot and thus trying to emulate someone else’s choices isn’t the way to go with footwear.

Spikes or spikeless golf shoes?

Some people assume that spikes provide better grip, yet spikeless golf shoes are not far behind. The difference in traction is especially obvious when playing in rainy conditions or on wet ground. Spiked golf shoes give superior traction on wet terrain where soft rubber spikes can feel like ice skates.

Spikeless shoes have become far more popular recently though as advances in technology close the gap to the spiked shoe.

Of course spikeless shoes are far more convenient given the number of areas that are off-limits to someone donning spikes.

Does cost make a difference?

Quality materials cost more and that should be something you bear in mind when choosing a shoe.

Apart from comfort, durability is the next most important feature of a good golf shoe.

Pay attention to the materials a shoe is made of and some of the features it offers.

Natural leather or microfibre leather shoes offer comfort, breathability and durability.

Waterproofing

Look into what kind of waterproofing the shoes you are scoping out offer.

A waterproof shoe membrane offers the wearer a barrier against moisture getting into the shoe while allowing water vapour to escape the shoe.

Wet conditions are an unavoidable reality for all golfers.

Whether you’re playing after it rains, it begins raining while you’re playing, or you slip into a puddle, having damp feet can cause more than pain.

Performance, comfort, and safety are all dependent on the material used to make your shoes.

Support and Stability

Another important feature is how stable the shoe is during your swing and what sort of extra support technologies it offers.

Golf shoes should be tighter in the midfoot to improve stability.

Your feet should not be able to move when wearing golf shoes, with the exception of a little wiggle room for your toes.

Your heel should also remain securely positioned.

Make sure there is plenty of lateral and arch support.

Latest