Golf Shoes Buying Guide – How to select the right Golf Shoes? A good pair of golf shoes is vital to allow you to enjoy your time and effort on the course.
The majority of golfers still walk around the golf course and golf shoe manufacturers have poured significant resources into research and development to ensure you can do that in comfort whilst also assisting you to play better golf.
Pushing the limits of sole, upper, spike and water-resistant technology, today’s shoes certainly are a key weapon in your armoury plus deserve to be labecomelled as ‘game-improvement’ tools.
The following information can help you understand what golf shoes can provide you and assist you in locating the pair for you personally:
Golf Shoes Buying Guide – How to select the right Golf Shoes?
Types Of Golf Shoe
Spiked or Cleated Golf Shoes
The classic spiked golf shoe offers comfort, breathability, water resistance, style and traction. Finding the right pair for you is founded on personal taste and what you would like the shoe to deliver.
You need to decide what it really is you want from your golf shoe; a waterproof shoe? A footwear to wear in every conditions? A lightweight shoe? Colour? Soft or Metal Spikes? Anything you need in your shoe, you will discover in today’s market.
A key advantage of spiked golf shoes is the stability that it can bring to your swing through better grip and because the upper of the shoe is likely to be more stable.
Modern technology has allowed traditional shoes to develop which are both lightweight and offer the stability demanded by serious players, however there may be a trade off so bear this at heart when you buy.
Spikeless Golf Shoes
The most recent development in shoes has been the introduction and success of the Spikeless or Street Shoe.
Essentially designed for comfort and style, these low-profile shoes are usually lightweight and flat soled. Most use rubber studs or dimpled soles instead of standard golf spikes, giving the benefit of being perfect for the 19th hole and firm surfaces just like the driving range.
Many professionals now wear street-style shoes, either for the look or the comfort that can aid back and foot pain, so that they are not just for the casual golfer.
The trade-off of a street shoe will be less stability, grip and waterproofing. The moulded soles will offer much less grip in longer and wet grass and typically they are not designed to provide waterproofing.
Initial concerns re the durability of the spikeless soles and the inability to replace worn spikes have already been eased by development of new rubber technologies that manufacturers claim will outlast the natural duration of these kinds of shoe.
Golf Boot
A rare version of golf shoe, the golf boot is golf’s defence to mother nature. Designed to look very similar to a hiking boot or wellington boot, the golf boot is really a very waterproof alternative to a shoe. Whilst they might be heavier and not allow as much freedom around the ankles during the swing, they offer great traction and warmth for all those winter months of golfing. Some models also offer gaitors for increased water protection. They could be just a little expensive because of the thick waterproof material used on the entire shoe, but they will keep all types of water and mud out.
Golf Sandal
Golfers in hot climates withinspired this type of golf shoe onto the market therefore shoe manufacturers came up with this sandal version of a golf shoe. The open, toeless design implies that are very breathable for summer wear. Great for buggy golf, they can prove uncomfortable for long walks with the straps causing a threat of a blister or two. Cheaper than most golf shoes, they offer a somewhat limited resistance to wet weather and less lateral support than a standard golf shoe, but at the very least your feet will be cool.
Golf Shoe Materials
Golf shoe materials have developed enormously over the past few years with a number of man-made products now utilised in both upper and outsole to supply a combination of comfort, stability and waterproofing.
Leather
Leather is by far the most popular choice for golf shoes across the market and rightfully so. The leather is processed and added to the exterior of the shoe creating a stretch-free, tight-fitting waterproof footwear. Usually it comes in a saddle for design to stabilize the top of shoe and is a good option for summer golf, as it will be more breathable than other materials. Top manufacturers may offer an one or two year waterproof guarantee, however the price of the leather and the manufacturing is reflected in the purchase price, so be prepared to purchase quality.
Waterproof Linings
The top material when it comes to a waterproof shoe is Goretex, but other manufacturers have their own versions. Extremely thick and very water resistant this is a popular choice for winter play. The materials is breathable and fully waterpoof and can feel considerably warmer than leather, this means it could not be the right shoe for hot summer golf or golf abroad.
Synthetic
The cheaper alternative to leather uses a man-made upper rather than a material to cover the shoe. It really is non-porous polyester that is spread over the shoe that protects the outer shell of the shoe. This kind of lining is lighter and thinner than leather-based, meaning the price tag on the shoe will be less but might not be as breathable. These footwears are undoubtedly less common as manufacturers can produce cheaper shoes with alternative man-made materials offering more comfort and breathability.
Golf Spikes
Good traction is essential for the golf swing just how your shoe will be anchored to the bottom is a key consideration.
Soft or Plastic
Plastic Spikes are by far the most popular kind of golf spike today on club golfer’s shoes. They tend to be more lightweight and are far less likely to tear up a green than metal spikes as the wider size of the spike spreads the weight of the ball player across a wider are usuallya.
Ideal for hard summer conditions, the technology of plastic spike design is advancing so that soft spikes offer the same or greater amounts of traction as more traditional metal spikes. They are also more comfortable because the legs or the spike will flex as you wlak in it. Easily changed, the plastic spike will be entirely on almost all new golf shoes on the market today and is really a safe choice.
Metal
Becoming less and less common, the metal spike is really a still used by many tour pros. Metal spikes have longer sharper spikes that provide more traction on the course than plastic. However, metal spikes are infamous for tearing up greens plus fairways worse than plastic. Beneath the rules of golf, players cannot repair spike marks on greens, so plastic spikes have become the common choice for club gamers in today’s game. Metallic spikes could also prove uncomfortable on hard ground and cause some discomfort.
Many golf courses ban the usage of metal spikes on their greens, so that it may be worth checking ahead if you will play another course or abroad to see whether a switch to plastic spikes can be a good idea.
Fitting New Spikes
Not all golf shoes have the same type of fastening system so when you are swapping spikes, make sure you have the right type of replacement spikes. Most brands have wear indicators such as a tyre to show when they should be replaced and it can often make an old pair of shoe feel like new when the grip is improved.
Lacing Systems
Traditional shoe laces remain by far the most common type of doing up your golf shoe however you ought to know of other alternatives.
As street and spikeless shoes have become increasingly popular some models have incorporated a more casual fastening approach, such as Velcro, to assist the ease of securing and removal of the shoe.
Some manufacturers have introduced proprietary lacing systems in some of their models that secure the shoe in the same way that ski-boots operate. These are mechanical lacing systems that try to provide consistent stability by avoiding the loosening throughout a round. These options are usually more expensive than the same style of shoe with traditional laces.
