Golf Shoes

Many players begin playing with borrowed clubs and second-hand balls out of economic necessity. The same tight budget constraint can extend to the footwear, and even several years after taking up the game many are still wearing the everyday training shoes that have served them well from the first day on the tee.

Spiked shoes designed to offer greater grip It is not uncommon for many players to wear the training shoes they use for other activities because, one, as mentioned above, it saves much needed cash to invest on other aspects of golfing kit, and, two, it is simply not essential when starting out to sport footwear specifically designed for playing golf. The spike shoes designed to offer greater grip may improve an already tutored swing, but for rookies they are not essential.

Those who head off to the local golf shop to buy their first pair of golf shoes will find themselves confronted with a whole wall of alternative makes and styles. In short, the same dazzling array of swooshes, stripes and other trademarks of the major manufacturers to be found in any of the high-street training shoe outlets.

Tried on for Size

In common with all aspects of golf equipment, the shoe has been subjected not only to the influences of sporting fashion but also the technical departments of the manufacturers, with each claiming particular performance characteristics that cannot fail to improve scorecards.

Even for those with the time, money and the inclination to spend hours trying on various shoes and pondering whether a particular style or colour will blend in with the rest of their ensemble, a few basics need to be understood in the footwear department. Principal among these is correct fit and absolute comfort. Playing a round of golf, on average, constitutes a distance of about five miles. There is nothing more painful, or indeed more undignified, than walking up the fairway on the 18th hole, perhaps in full view of the members' bar, sporting a grimace of pain and a matching and distinctive hobble, all of which is the result of blisters caused by ill-fitting shoes.

Removed for Cleaning Away the Turf

The second important point to look for when purchasing is the type of spike on the sole of the shoe. Traditionally, metal spikes were fitted by manufacturers, which would offer good grip on both tee, fairway and green, and which could be removed for cleaning away the turf that can cling to them, particularly on a rainy day. The downside of these metal spikes, in a similar manner to football boots, is that they can leave indentations or dig out small pieces of turf, to the detriment of surfaces such as the green. As a result a number of clubs have banned their use, preferring their members and guests to use the more modern rubber variety. These still offer the grip but without any resulting damage to the course. They're also easier to clean, which is always a bonus.

Vagaries of Golfing Fashion

So when you finally decide to buy a pair of shoes, don't have your head turned by the vagaries of golfing fashion or the cardboard cutout of the famous face endorsing a particular brand. Stick to the basics: a good fit and a good grip and you will putting your best foot forward.