Golf is an amazing sport that not only engages your whole body but your mind as well. Since golf is a non-contact and low-impact sport, it can be practiced and enjoyed no matter the age. However, in order to be able to enjoy this sport to the fullest, you need to ensure that you have all the right gear and golf accessories.
With that said, it’s important to mention that golf shoes are one of the most important – yet most commonly overlooked – pieces of golfing equipment. Proper stance and posture play a huge role in golf, and since your feet are the base of your entire body, you need to make sure that your golfing shoes offer the right type of support. Therefore, let’s explore some of the ways you can choose the right type of golf shoes.
The comfort
Needless to say, the first thing you need to pay attention to when choosing golf shoes is the comfort they provide. Unless you find your shoes absolutely comfortable to wear, chances are you’re not making the right choice. Here aside from the length and the width of the shoe, you also need to pay attention to forefoot, midfoot, and arch support. The soles of the golf shoes also play an important role, as they need to be comfortable and soft but still offer proper support. The shoes that offer the right amount of comfort will easily help battle fatigue and make you ready and able to withstand a whole 18 holes round of golf.
The type
Now, when it comes to different types of golf shoes, you’ll most commonly get to choose between spiked or spikeless golf shoes. Traditional golf shoes used to feature screw-in metal spikes that provided great traction with the underfoot. Modern spiked golf shoes also feature spikes, but these are made of either synthetic rubber – soft spikes – or ceramic. Spikeless golf shoes don’t feature any spikes, which makes them suitable footwear options even off the course. While spiked shoes offer better traction and more lateral stability, spikeless shoes tend to be more comfortable and more flexible. So, the choice should only boil down to your personal preferences.
The style
When it comes to style, there are so many options available on the market that it can sometimes be quite difficult to choose. Some of the most common choices include traditional, modern spiked, modern spikeless, and sandals. However, each one of these comes with quite versatile subcategories. On top of that, you’ll also get the option of choosing whether you prefer a sleeker style or you’re more interested in something a bit more athletic. Also, you’ll get to choose between laced and laceless shoes, which only further expands your options. All of these options are suitable for playing golf, and all of them offer varying degrees of comfort and support, which is why the choice will – once more – fall onto your personal style and preferences.
The material
The material of which the golf shoes are made is also something you need to consider. The most common options include natural leather, synthetic leathers, breathable fabrics and a combination of all of them. Different types of materials offer different benefits and are more suitable for different weather conditions. For instance, while natural leather is significantly more expensive than synthetic leathers or breathable fabrics, it also significantly more durable and will – most commonly – mold to your feet. On the other hand, breathable fabrics tend to be more lightweight and are the perfect choice for warm and dry conditions. Synthetic leather options are more suitable for cold weather, are quite easy to clean and tend to cost way less than natural leather.
The fit
In the end, you also need to think about the fit of the golf shoes. Did you know that, on average, a round of golf (18 holes) can take anywhere between 3 to 5 hours? Since you’ll be spending most of that time on your feet, comfort needs to be your top priority. That’s why make sure that the fit of your golf shoes is just right. When trying the shoes on, always wear a pair of socks. Try a couple of different sizes and styles before you find the ones that fit best. Ideally, make sure you have at least ¼’’ of extra room in your forefoot, to secure the best fit. Hence, if you decide to surprise someone with a golf gift, avoid buying them golf shoes because you will make a bad impression.
So, when choosing a pair of golf shoes, keep all of these tips in mind. By remembering to tick all of these important factors off your list, you’ll ensure that you’ve found the best pair of golf shoes for you and thus made the right choice. If you are a beginner, you should start with indoor golf club membership and find out how other experienced players choose their gear.