The Importance of Good Golf Shoes

Have you taken a look at your golf shoes lately? Not the quick look when you bend your head down prior to swinging, but have you given a thorough analysis of your shoes recently? My shoes are in terrible condition. That’s tough to admit because I would list golf shoes at the top of my list in the order of importance when it comes to executing a comfortable golf swing. Hitting a golf ball flush depends on the swing path, foot stability and balance. The club is low on the list. Seriously, pro golfers change sponsors with the seasons. However, the golf shoe is one of the least appreciated pieces of equipment that we use every round, and it’s one of the pieces of equipment we are loyal to when it come to branding. We love them not only because they look good but because they feel good. The golf shoe is involved in every single shot. Appearance isn’t everything when it comes to the golf shoe.

Balance is the main reason I make a poor golf shot. I either fall backward, fall forward, or simply slip when I swing the golf club. After a bad swing we’re usually blaming it on the club or practicing a perfect golf swing that we wish we could execute when actually hitting a shot.

Some of our swing faults are either associated with trying to look for the shot before we hit it, or bad simply ball positioning. Slipping out of our shot on the other hand is something that we can easily fix. It doesn’t take a swing coach to fix a worn set of golf shoes or golf spikes. Moreover, I have a phobia of sports injuries so when I start slipping in my golf swing and my joints are moving to positions that I didn’t choose, I begin to evaluate my shoes.

Golf shoes are the last piece of “golf apparel” that I want to replace. A good pair of shoes can run north of $150 at times. One can argue that they are worth the price since a really good pair of golf shoes can survive at least four or five sets of golf spikes before you replace the shoe. That’s a really good deal if you think about it.

Who’s going to spend $150 anyway? We are budget golfers right? Swallow your pride and buy the Tiger Woods three years prior to the current year. Some of us wait in line for the new iPhone, or the latest pair of Air Jordans. Why shouldn’t we get the latest pair of Tiger Woods golf shoes, right?

Wrong. Don’t forget the iPhone lasts to your next contract and Jordans will make it until the next pair come out. Golf shoes won’t be the last item you buy during the year when it comes to golf products. We have golf balls buy. We have a new glove to buy. We have to refurbish our clubs. Oh yeah.. we have to pay for that round of golf as well every week (sometimes twice a week).

Golf shoes are produced by a number of brands. We probably won’t be able try them all in our lifetime so I would say that it’s OK to develop brand loyalty with golf shoes. Personally, I’m partial to Adidas. They fit like a glove, and they are very stable. Every pair that I’ve gotten have felt that way. One of my biggest pieces of advice is to not be a brand loyalist, but I stand by their product from the clubs to the shoes. Not quite the balls and as you are I’m a deal hunter on clubs, but I got a great pair of Adidas that I searched around and found a good deal on after I tried them on at the PGA superstore. I have the black version of these and they feel like walking shoes.

However, before you go out and fork over whatever is in your budget on a new pair of golf shoes, consider all options first.

If your current pair of shoes don’t have holes in them and aren’t stretched like those old pair of running shoes that need replacing, then buy you a set of spikes and keep them in your golf bag. If you’ve never replaced them on your own, here is a list of things you will need:

spikes

spike replacement tool

five minutes

A fresh set of spikes will make your shoes feel just as new as a brand new pair at times, but like any pair of athletic shoes, replacing them is inevitable. If you find that your shoes are stretched, dirty, and just won’t fall back into form (because we have to outdress those in our foursome, if they ask where you got that shirt don’t tell), a new pair of shoes should be your next. It doesn’t have to be expensive though.

The Deal

Visit your local golf stores and try on as many premium shoes as you can to find the pair that fits you. Take advantage of the store. Try them on and go hit a few balls. Don’t forget… you are the consumer. You have to feel the shoes in action! Once you’ve done that, don’t hesitate to whip out the phone or tablet and search for the best deal possible on the shoe you’ve found fits you. We can buy somethings online, but shoes we have to try first. From my research I’ve found a ton of shoes that I like at a low price on GolfEtail.com.

However I’m partial to Adidas. I’ve found a couple of pairs on this website that I really like and they are at a very reasonable price.

You may want the brand new set of Adidas. You probably want the soft Tiger Woods shoes of 2013. But we also have to pay to play. If you’re like me you also like to look good when I play. Tough predicament huh. Not really.

In any event, keeping a fresh set of spikes on your golf shoes will not only help you maintain your balance through the golf swing, but it will also lower the chance of a golf injury. Slipping during the swing is something that we all as golfers want to avoid. We strive to shoot lower scores, and we only want focus on the swing to fix our faults. Golf shoes should be the least of our worries.

Now that’s budget golfing.

Good ball!

TBG

As always, what are your thoughts? Feel free to share with us on steals that you’ve found on golf equipment.