No, a beginner can survive and play without golf shoes, but as they advance, a pair of golf shoes will help in numerous ways. Ultimately, the golfer wants to perform at his or her highest level and keep their feet comfortable and goes shoes help accomplish both of these items.
Are Golf Shoes Necessary? You may have asked this question at one time or another. We provide a complete overview on your different options for footwear when playing golf.
You have several different options with the most important factors being that you are comfortable and can perform at the level of your expectations. At the end of the round, you want your shoes to have provided the support and performance to leave the course healthy, comfortable and having performed at your highest potential level.
Are Golf Shoes Necessary?
Top 4 reasons to wear golf shoes:
- Performance
- Comfort
- Waterproof
- Style
Here are the Top 4 Reasons to Wear Golf Shoes
1 – Overall Performance
If you are someone that takes the game even somewhat serious, I would highly recommend golf shoes from a performance angle. The last thing you should have to worry about is the footing in your golf swing. If there is even one thought that you might slip, then there is potential to disrupt your swing and have it be a distraction to your performance.
The instruction in the game has shifted to encouraging golfers to use ground forces in their swing. You must be able to utilize the ground to maximize the speed in your swing.
If your feet aren’t able to grip the ground properly, you won’t reach your peak performance and speed. In addition, as you play in different conditions, such as dew in the early mornings or rain at any point, you want that extra level of grip that golf spikes can provide.
2 – Comfortable Footwear
The average round of golf takes at least 4 hours. This is a long time to be in any pair of shoes. Spending the money on something comfortable is vital. Once you factor in that you could walk anywhere between 6-8 miles during the average 18 hole round of golf, you can see why you might want a quality pair of golf shoes.
When you leave the golf course at the end of the round, you don’t want sore or wet feet. The golf shoes provide a solid base and allows you to perform at a level. If your feet are getting sore by the back nine, you are in for a long day and game will be impacted.
3 – Waterproof Golf Shoes
Many of the best golf shoes are waterproof and are great at keeping your feet dry. Often times, you could run into dew in your morning round of golf and without the right type of golf shoes, your feet could quickly become wet, making your round miserable.
The average pair of tennis shoes or general athletic shoes might not be waterproof and you can quickly become uncomfortable. Also many courses water at various times of the day and the ground could be wet as well. If you are someone that wants to golf in early spring or late fall in many parts of the world you could run into conditions that vary from round to round.
If you are someone that lives in Arizona and only play in the middle part of the day, this might not be as important to you. In many parts of the United States, the conditions could change during your typical 4 hour round of golf.
4 – Style
Let’s face it, many of us want to look good while playing golf. The styles of golf shoes are pretty awesome nowadays and it helps you look like a golfer. Gone are the days of the ugly golf shoes of the 1990s and we now have so many great options.
The golf shoes have come a long way not only in performance and waterproofing, but in the styles that are available. Not only do you get great performance and dry feet, but you can look good doing so.
There are different styles available, but the overall style has shifted more to athletic look versus a dress style look. The colors vary and you have so many options now.
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Who Doesn’t Need Golf Shoes?
The person who is new to the game and just wants to explore the game. Pick a time on a sunny afternoon and go out and play. You can start in athletic shoes until you are sure you are going to stick with the game.
If you don’t care about looking stylish and simply want to see if the game of golf is for you, then don’t worry about it. Go out and have a good time. Once you are sure you enjoy the game, then it is time to add a pair of golf shoes to your options. However, you should find a comfortable pair of shoes that are easy to move around in and will provide the proper support during the golf swing.
Who Should Wear Spikeless Golf Shoes?
I would highly recommend spiked golf shoes for the serious golfer or for anyone that plays golf in wet conditions. The spiked golf shoe is going to provide better traction, allowing you to maximize swing speed and ultimately your performance. Spikeless golf shoes are for the person that wants to go right from the 18th hole onto the next activity without worrying about changing the shoes.
They are also great for the person working at a golf course thats wants a certain look or style without the spikes on the bottom.
Should I Wear Golf Spikes to the Driving Range?
Great question! I would say if you are going to hit from grass tees, then yes. If you are going to hit from mats, an athletic pair of shoes or golf shoes will work just fine.
I prefer to wear my golf shoes as they provide the proper support and even the mats can be wet sometime depending on when it rained last. Plus if you hit enough balls at the range, the mat could start wearing out the toe on your back foot as you finish your swing.
I ultimately like to replicate the conditions at the driving range as much as possible when practicing
Should I Spend Money and Buy the Higher End Golf Shoes?
I have had the cheaper pair of golf shoes and the more expensive pair of golf shoes. I will tell you that spending the money is worth it. If you are someone that golfs often enough, you want the most comfortable pair of shoes you can find.
Also, the more money you spend, typically the more waterproof the shoes are. You end up spending a lot of money to play golf, you should not try to save money at the expense of comfort or performance. Plus the added bonus is that the more expensive pair of shoes often have some awesome style as well.
How Often Will I Need To Replace My Shoes?
I would say that most golf shoes will last you at least two seasons. The better golf shoes typically have a two year warranty on waterproofing. If you care for your shoes and wipe down after each round, they can last you 2-3 years.
Now some of us love to get a new pair at the beginning of every year as that new pair looks so nice and new and just look and feel perfect! We all want to look good and play great. Golf shoes go a long way in making that possible!
What Is the Best Brand for Golf Shoes?
You really can’t go wrong. I have owned Nike, FootJoy, Adidas and Under Armour. All of these brands have provided great comfort, performance and style. Typically, they all carry a lower level golf shoe, a mid level and high level golf shoe.
The quality of the waterproofing and style range from the low level to the high level. Make sure you are aware of the outer material of the shoe you are buying, many of the shoes have gone to a more cloth like material on the top part of the shoe, which can cause some issues if you play a lot of morning rounds or rounds in wet conditions.
What Features Should Consider For Golf Shoes?
- Do you need waterproof shoes? Even if you don’t play in the rain, if you play morning rounds with lots of dew, then waterproofing or resistance is important.
- Do you want spikes or the spikeless? I would recommend spikes unless you are playing a lot of golf on dry turf.
- What is more important – comfort or looks?
- Do you walk or ride most of your rounds of golf?
- Do you like a more athletic fitting shoe or a more solid fitting shoe? I prefer the athletic feel, as I walk a lot of my rounds and want the comfort of an athletic shoe.
Any Finally…
Check out the different shoes that we recommend. We make recommendations for both the mid level price point and the high level price point. We stay away from the lowest level, as we think you sacrifice too much in performance and comfort.