Golf Shoe Sizes: Better to be TIGHT, or LOOSE?

[CG031]

Obviously, you want to find the perfect size if possible. But I tried on 9.5 WIDE DryJoys the other day at Dick's, and they felt a little bit loose. It may be the sock I was wearing was pretty thin - I could get a thicker sock, always an option I guess. But the 9.5 medium seemed a little too tight. I ended up walking out of the store and not buying anything because I wasn't sure which to go with.

So if you had to pick one, would you rather your golf shoe be a little on the loose side, or tight side?

I'm going to tomorrow morning and make my decision since I really love the look/feel of the golf shoes, I'm just not sure if I rather have them real snug, or a little loose.

[La Costa Golfer]

My recommendation is to try a different brand.

If you are hard-headed and only will buy a particular brand, I will suggest go with the sung fit as the shoes will stretch out. All golf shoes do...even those that intially were a good fit as there is a lot of torque happening in a swing. And when they do get loose, that is time to retire the shoes. For me...it is about the time the 2nd set of replacement spikes are needed.

[CG031]

My recommendation is to try a different brand.

It's not that I won't budge, but recently playing in wet/rainy conditions and my shoes being pretty old, my current adidas ones (they are only 50$ shoes to begin with) are really getting beat up, and I have a golf tournament on Tuesday, so I need to get golf shoes tomorrow. Problem is, I dont have many golf shops in the area, and dick's is offering a great deal on DryJoy's, which I know has a good reputation and that's the budget I am on. So really I want to make them work as they felt good outside the fact that the 9.5M felt a little snug, and the 9.5W felt a little loose.

[MI Rob]

I dont like when any cleat or golf shoe feels loose. I like the snug feeling when im playing any sort of sport.

[Kingfisher]

Obviously, you want to find the perfect size if possible. But I tried on 9.5 WIDE DryJoys the other day at Dick's, and they felt a little bit loose. It may be the sock I was wearing was pretty thin - I could get a thicker sock, always an option I guess. But the 9.5 medium seemed a little too tight. I ended up walking out of the store and not buying anything because I wasn't sure which to go with.

Maybe you should go for a shoe that fits? I think in this wonderful sport of ours, too many folks worry about what looks good, rather than

what feels good . Obviously the dryjoys don't fit you, so try other brands (Adidas, Ecco etc) - you'll surely find one that fits you well.

[pherg]

Another option might be a 10.0 medium.

Golf shoes do stretch with time but if you're walking a lot you may never get to this stage if they're too uncomfortable. A mate of mine bought a pair of callaways once and wore them for 3 months and he was hobbling around like someone with two wooden legs the whole time. They never got any looser or more comfortable. It didn't help that they looked like women's bowling shoes either.

If you're someone who uses carts you might get away with the tighter ones. Otherwise I'd suggest going with thicker socks and wider shoe or a different brand.

[CG031]

Maybe you should go for a shoe that fits? I think in this wonderful sport of ours, too many folks worry about what looks good, rather than

Yeah but I'm on a low budget and I want to find something comparable in price and QUALITY as FJ DryJoys.

I didn't try the 10M. That's a good idea. I just figured it'd be bigger than the 9.5 wide.

[pittpanther]

My opinion - shoes never feel better than the first day you wear them. If they feel uncomfortable when you buy them, they're not going to improve over time.

Every shoe company, and even different lines within a company, use different "lasts". Some people don't like Nike, others don't like Adidas. You may not be right for Footjoy. Don't buy them just because of price, or style, if they don't fit.

Try another style, or another brand.

[wrx_junki]

You could try the 10.0 medium or the 9.0 wide if your set on that. I bought my DryJoy's in 9.0 M but wish I had gotten 8.5 W.

[Zeph]

My opinion - shoes never feel better than the first day you wear them. If they feel uncomfortable when you buy them, they're not going to improve over time.

I have to disagree there. Most shoes I buy (both golf and regular) will get more comfortable after using them for some time. It varies in which place, but normally around the heel.

I prefer a perfect fit from the start, but that doesn't always happen.

[jonnythan]

Go try the 9.5 wide with a slightly thicker sock. Socks really do make a big difference.

And the person who said that shoes are most comfortable the first day you wear them..... that's ridiculous. If that's the case, you are not buying the right shoes for you.

[pittpanther]

And the person who said that shoes are most comfortable the first day you wear them..... that's ridiculous. If that's the case, you are not buying the right shoes for you.

That was me. And I stand by my statement. When I buy shoes (dress, golf, sneakers, whatever), I buy shoes that feel good on day one. They then continue to feel good for their entire life.

What's ridiculous is this concept of having to "break in" shoes. They should feel good right from the beginning. If they don't, then YOU are buying the wrong shoe for you. My opinion - if you buy shoes that you have issues with, you will continue to have issues with those shoes.

[jonnythan]

That was me. And I stand by my statement. When I buy shoes (dress, golf, sneakers, whatever), I buy shoes that feel good on day one. They then continue to feel good for their entire life.

I guess all of the world's top performance footwear manufacturers don't really know anything about shoes, then. Oh well.

[RCF]

Based on my experience (with leather shoes) and as noted in another thread on the subject, when in between sizes, go larger.

[Leftygolfer]

My last pair of golf shoes were the tour 360 II and they were really tight around the toes. I mean, they hurt. But I spent so much on them I had no choice to wear them. But they then got really comfortable once the leather stretched. I was very happy I didn't buy a bigger size after they stretched. I don't want a shoe that is too big, too snug will stretch. They will not be confortable when you where them right away though.

[jonnythan]

My last pair of golf shoes were the tour 360 II and they were really tight around the toes. I mean, they hurt. But I spent so much on them I had no choice to wear them. But they then got really comfortable once the leather stretched. I was very happy I didn't buy a bigger size after they stretched. I don't want a shoe that is too big, too snug will stretch. They will not be confortable when you where them right away though.

They may and they may not stretch, depending on the construction and materials. Solid unstitched natural leather will to some degree but require break-in. Stitched leather, synthetic leather, and fabrics generally will not.

[Fourputt]

Go try the 9.5 wide with a slightly thicker sock. Socks really do make a big difference.

I guarantee that if they don't feel really good in the store they won't leave with me. It seems quite silly to me to buy something that doesn't feel good and just hope that they get better with time. I've done that in the past (with hiking shoes) and most often they never did feel that good. Now I don't buy if I don't like them straight away.

I have a pair of the Footjoy Contours... wonderfully comfortable shoe. I also wear Footjoy golf sandals... about the only thing I wear now that summer is fully here.

[DogbertBH]

I've been wearing Ecco shoes for the last 7 years. They were the first shoe I ever put on and walked out of the store because they were more comfortable than the sneakers I had on.

TODAY I'm wearing that same pair of dress shoes at work. They still look and feel as good as then.

I bought their golf shoes about 5 years ago then a 2nd pair 3 years ago. Not a replacement. A second pair to alternate.

I have friends who've spent $50 - $100 on footjoys 2 or 3 times over the last 7 years. I spent $235 once. (Well - twice)

There is NO substitute for a GOOD shoe.