The Online Buyer’s Guide to Golf Shoes

All too often, golfers neglect one of the most important pieces of their apparel: their golf shoes. In fact, you should think of golf shoes as an integral part of not only your wardrobe but also your equipment. If you don’t have the proper traction profile for your swing and conditions, you’re likely to suffer the consequences without even knowing it.

Are your golf shoes a few years old? It’s time to freshen up your golf shoes. Having good golf shoes supports and balances your body by giving you a proper, stable base while providing the grip and traction necessary to avoid slipping; stability is what allows you to power your swing. The shoes should also be comfortable and protective from the elements so you can focus on your swing, not on your feet.

So, what is the best way to figure out which golf shoes are best for you and your game? With hundreds of models and styles on the market, how do you select the right pair? Do you like spikes or spikeless?

Pro Tip #44: When shopping for new golf shoes, consider these four factors: size, comfort, quality, and style.

Choosing the Correct Golf Shoe Size for Men and Women

While many newer golf shoes are more sneaker-like than traditional, your normal shoe size may not be your golf shoe size. If possible, you should have your feet measured for both length and width. Then, try on a pair from the brand you are most interested in to gain an understanding of that brand's particular fit.

Just like sneakers or dress shoes, some brands run large or small, wide or narrow. That old trick your parents used when you were a kid still works today: making sure you have a fingernail width between your big toe and the tip of the shoe is a good rule of, well, thumb.

Finding the Correct Size for Men

One of the most common questions when searching for golf shoes from men is, “Do these shoes come in ‘wide’?” Thankfully companies like FootJoy and New Balance hear this question and respond with a resounding “Yes.” For those golfers needing extra width in their shoes, we recommend starting with those two brands.

Finding the Correct Size for Women

Over the last few years, women’s golf shoes have nearly caught up with their male counterparts in terms of styles, sizes and widths. GlobalGolf has a wide selection of women’s golf shoes -- women can choose from traditional silhouettes and colors to more modern sneaker styles that are nearly identical to men’s versions. Generally speaking, the colors on women’s golf shoes feature more of a pastel color palette. But in terms of sizing, comfort and style, women’s golf shoes come in just about every variety.

Once you have a sense of your preferred brand’s sizing, you are ready to find your new favorite golf shoes.

How to Find the Balance Between Comfort and Performance in Your Golf Shoes

Nothing can be more distracting, irritating or painful than uncomfortable golf shoes. Gone are the days of extensive and (occasionally) painful break-in periods like dress shoes. Today, comfort is essential to selecting the proper pair of golf shoes. For many golfers, it’s a primary point of criteria.

However, choosing the right golf shoe will depend on how, where and when you play the game. More specifically, the appropriate shoe for a player who mainly rides is probably different from what is desired by a golfer who typically walks the course. Why is that?

Players who ride might put a premium on a stable and heavily-padded shoe with the highest level of softness and comfort in both the shoe's insert and cleats. This type of golf shoe tends to be heavier, which means spending extra energy if you are a walking golfer; however, this golf shoe could be perfect for a rider.

Top Choice For Comfort and Performance -- PUMA IGNITE PWRAdapt Caged

The PUMA IGNITE PWRAdapt Caged golf shoes continue to be popular with all types of golfers since they came out a couple years ago. This newest iteration combines great comfort, support and excellent grip. The PWRAdapt ‘pods’ (where the spikes are located on the sole) allow each of the spikes to move independently from each other, providing what PUMA calls “3-dimensional traction” and extreme comfort. This spike technology means the traction of the golf shoes will fit a wide range of swings and necessary grip profiles. Finally, they’re waterproof, so that should give golfers additional peace of mind when dewsweeping.

Players who walk should look for a lightweight, flexible shoe with waterproofing. Spikeless golf shoes are a great option as they provide exceptional flexibility and comfort since they are often designed similarly to tennis or sports shoes. Spikeless golf shoes also provide plenty of stability as the spikes or "nubs" are strong enough to keep you grounded during the swing, yet soft enough to flex while walking, enhancing endurance throughout your round.

Top Choice For Comfort and Casual Style -- ECCO Biom Hybrid 3 GTX

One of the most comfortable shoes is the ECCO Biom Hybrid 3 GTX. While these shoes are spikeless, they are slightly heavier. Made from premium materials like YAK leather, they also feature a breathable and waterproof GORE-TEX® construction to prevent rain, dew or standing water from getting in (while still letting the foot’s natural moisture escape). So, while these are comfortable enough for walking (like Freddie Couples at the Masters), if you’re looking to play more than 18 holes, you might consider a golf shoe that’s a little lighter to keep your legs fresh.

The type of spikes on the shoe can also affect the comfort of a pair of golf shoes. Spikes are wider and distribute your weight more evenly when you stand. Nubs like the ones found on spikeless golf shoes are best for people with knee problems since they create the least amount of pressure up the leg.

Golf Shoes That Combine High Quality With Reasonable Price

Now, if you play golf regularly throughout the year, you need a more durable shoe than the casual golfer. While leather shoes are typically more expensive than shoes made from synthetic materials, they often provide improved waterproof technologies. The price of a leather shoe can vary as well, depending on its type and quality.

One of the most well-known leather golf shoemakers is FootJoy. If you can afford them, they are a valuable investment. If you take care of them, they will last for years and golf season after golf season.

As golf shoes have evolved, so have FootJoy’s offerings. One of the most versatile and high-quality shoes you can buy today are the FootJoy Pro-SL, which come in a good variety of colors, sizes and widths to help you dial in your best fit. Made with ChromoSkin leather by Pittards, the Pro SL is comfortable, durable, easy to clean and waterproof. Basically everything you’d want in a golf shoe.

But how many pairs of golf shoes should you have? It's a good idea to have multiple pairs of shoes if you play more than once a week. By rotating which shoes you wear, you can extend the life of each pair of golf shoes as well as allow a wet pair ample time to dry. Each pair will also keep its original fit, comfort and traction longer. If you’d rather spend your golf budget elsewhere, remember you may find yourself buying a new pair (or more) every year if you play often but don’t invest in quality.

What Do Your Golf Shoes Say About You?

A perfect pair of golf shoes fits your personality as well as your feet. FootJoy is typically associated with more traditional saddle-style golf shoes (though they offer more modern styles, too). On the other end of the spectrum, brands like PUMA, Nike and Adidas are more commonly associated with sneakers and offer many hybrid designs (which mix traditional and sneaker-styles).

Today, golf shoes tend to be more sneaker-like but have a subtle style that can be worn in the car, onto the golf course and then onto a club’s patio, all while helping you minimize sweaty feet. Foremost among them, Nike has been a leader in taking some of their sneaker styles and putting golf traction soles on them.

For the Sneakerhead -- Nike Air Max 1 G

For example, the Nike Air Max 1 G was launched last year to critical acclaim for reviving one of their original sneakers and turning them into a golf shoe. The visible Max Air unit is uniquely Nike and gives off the impression of having serious sneakerhead style. While they are quite comfortable, they lack the traditional traction you need on days when the ground is a bit wet to keep your feet planted to the turf.

For Your Inner Street Footballer -- Adidas CodeChaos

New for 2020, the Adidas CodeChaos are some of the hottest selling golf shoes on the market. The CodeChaos marries sneaker styling with an innovative spineless traction pattern design to keep your feet grounded in all weather conditions. The lightweight stable feel includes Adidas BOOST technology for supreme walking comfort. And with a 2-year waterproof warranty, you can take these golf shoes through whatever wet elements you encounter on the golf course.

Conclusion

Unlike other pieces of golf equipment, your golf shoes are always with you on the course, so take the time to ensure you have found the right shoes for you. Consider the various factors listed above to figure out what is most important to you. Wherever you land, GlobalGolf will have a golf shoe that meets your needs.