Do Golf Shoes make much difference?

[mcecki]

I am new to the game, but really enjoying it.

I currently just use my nike shox running shoes when golfing which I;m fine with right now, and I was wondering if it is worth buying a pair of golf shoes right now.

Just wondering if golf shoes actually make a difference in performance when playing

thanks

[Franco!]

spikes will drop your score at least 5 strokes

[RunOfTheDill]

LOL to the above post. I sure didn't. Maye 1 but on rainy slippery days you would drop 5 strokes miminum cause you wont fall over on your drives.

[mcecki]

spikes will drop your score at least 5 strokes

im assuming thats a bit of a joke, but your saying they do help? haha

[jmurdock]

spikes will drop your score at least 5 strokes

While I do believe that golf shoes will help your game, (especially in wet weather) I dont think for one second that it will drop your score by 5 strokes. As long as you are swinging under control and not slipping when swinging, then I say your tennis shoes are fine.

[Franco!]

well, i used to wear vans before.

so i dropped my game 5 strokes.

but yeah, they help

[mcecki]

at my local shop they have footjoy softjoys for 50 bucks which is pretty good. Anybody worn these and found them comfortable?

[Franco!]

well maybe it was a combination of things, working on my swing and all. it was a while ago, so maybe im just delusional

[Silvertree]

On perfect in control fairway lies? Probably not that big of a deal if you swing under control. Anything with tricky footing? Yes you will notice.

[green6767]

The thing I have found with golf shoes...make sure they are comfortable. If you like golfing in your running shoes and they are comfortable and you DONT slip at all......why fix something that isn't broken. With golf shoes, most of the time you get what you pay for. I love mine. I have a faster tempo and swing speed, so that extra foot traction that comes with golf shoes really helps me. I dont know what it would be like to golf in regular shoes anymore.

All in all.....get a shoe that feels good!

[motius]

I didn't notice any improvement in my game going from runners (I wear a walking/hiking type runner with rough leather and mesh) to golf shoes, however if you live in a climate like I do (Vancouver) where it rains often and the courses can be soggy and muddy, it is *much* easier to clean off a my golf shoes than my runners !!

This of course leaves more time for apres-golf beverages !!

[Ben]

"Apres-golf beverages", I like that!

Motius made a good point about weather conditions too. I'm in L.A. Here it is hot, and hot and dry, and more hot. I haven't worn golf shoes to play in months. I have a couple pair of Adidas trainer shoes I rotate through (need to get some more actually). I also think playing in training shoes helps with balance.

[Ben]

at my local shop they have footjoy softjoys for 50 bucks which is pretty good. Anybody worn these and found them comfortable?

If it's golf shoes you want, try Adidas golf shoes. I don't have luck with Footjoy, I haven't really bought a pair of theirs in years. Adidas makes some ultra comfy shoes. The last pair I bought are these...

Paragons They are the least expensive shoes Adidas makes, feel great! I also have the Tour Metals the 3-Stripe which are very nice. I don't own, but have tried on a pair of the PowerBands. They are AWESOME! Everyone in my shop, besides me, has a pair of the Tour360, again, nothing but great reviews! on them.

[finalrequiem]

Whatever you do, just don't go from comfortable anythings to uncomfortable golf shoes just for the sake of wearing golf shoes. Wearing uncomfortable shoes (ESPECIALLY if you walk) will make you miserable and ruin your outing, and anyone that has had a crappy pair will tell you the same thing.

[beung]

They are better then no golf shoes and comfort is the most important part. Are they going to improve your game to a point where its going to shave strokes? Maybe 1 or 2 but in reality when you shoot 95 without golf shoes and then go out and buy a pair then all of a sudden you shoot 93 is that because of the shoes? What happens if you shoot higher after the shoes? Heck if they make golf sandals which provide less support then a street shoe and probably less traction (just because they have spikes on the sole may make the soles have more traction but not necessarily your foot) that alone tells you its more about comfort then traction - but again golf sandals probably give more traction then street sandals.

Personally for me I like the additional traction because helps me keep my feet where they started. One less thing to think/worry about in your swing. I like being able to take my hot golf shoes off and putting on sandal at the end of a round. Also if you walked through as much grass and junk as you do with street shoes I don't think they would hold up quite as well.

One additional word of advice, buy white golf shoes - your feet will thank you. They stay much cooler on sunny days.

[P3R3]

I cannot swing well in tennis shoes, I am slipping all over the place in wet conditions. Cleats are worth the $30 investment.

[TJDUDE]

i noticed to got rid of a silight slice i was haveing without them.

[Leek]

I would get something comfortable and waterproof. I think golf shoes make a big difference in odd lies, bunker shots, and from deeper rough. In the fairway, they make a small difference.

The spike's traction will help your balance. Balance and tempo will get you through when the swing takes a day off.