TexasSR75070

I'd maybe consider knitted headcovers.

There seems to be a growing number of DTC options. There is New Level, Sub70, Ben Hogan, PXG (especially with their Heroes discount) and others that offer less expensive options. Nice to have choices!

Since 2009, I've been lucky enough to play every weekday for the most part, weather permitting. Right now, I have a 30-mile, 35-minute drive to the course I belong to. (I couldn't afford the course I used to belong to, just a 5-7 minute drive away, after they jacked the membership price up more than double since COVID!) Most of it is highway driving and even though I get over 30mpg on the highway I will probably cut my playing back by 1, maybe 2 rounds per week, especially as the price per gallon approaches $4.00.

Now that I've had an attitude adjustment (😥), let me see if I can't provide a reasonable and responsible response to your question. I don't think it is the spikes. They use six on each shoe supposedly placed in "pressure points" created before and during the swing. I can't say yay or nay in that regard, The Pivix spikes they use have prongs that don't seem to reach beyond the level of the nubs. I've worn down the spikes, had prongs break off and noticed no difference in traction. I had never heard of that brand, Pivix, previously. They say they patented the sole. I don't know what the patent covers but the pattern of the nubs is unlike anything I personally have seen, and they have a wider base than comparably sized shoes. As someone who has fallen wearing another brand of golf spikes while going down a steep slope and breaking my arm trying to catch my fall, I am very sensitive to "traction" in a golf shoe. I can say I have never had my right foot slip out from under me during a swing, and while others gingerly walk down steep slopes, I can confidently walk down them with little to no fear of falling, no matter the course conditions. The sole and nub pattern, as much as it seems to help with traction for me, is also something I dislike. I am a "dew sweeper" and, in addition, most days the course is being watered as we play. That pattern of nubs seems to collect grass and dirt/mud that can be difficult to dislodge with so many little valleys (for lack of a better description) running between the nubs in all sorts of directions. The thing I have found that is surprising, is that, given that, I have sensed no loss of grip/traction as the round progresses. As far as overall benefit from the shoe, in my case, I think it has to be a combination of many things, the width of the base, the traction provided by the soles pattern, the heavier more "structured" shoe that perhaps have had an impact on my balance during the swing. With better balance and more confidence that my rear foot won't slip out from under me, I can proceed to swing faster, adding distance to my drives. So, is the distance gain directly tied to the shoes alone? Depends on how one views it, I guess. I hope this answers your question. (I know, I'm wordy. I should have been a lawyer.) I don't doubt that at all. If I had to guess, it is because of their "gusseted" tongue, sown on each side, higher up than most golf shoes, making the shoes waterproof up to the last eyelet. Some people even have reported having difficulty getting the shoes on and off because of it. That's too bad. I think otherwise you might have enjoyed them.

Sorry, I originally missed this. I don't know enough about Arccos other than looking into it and deciding it wasn't for me.

Ouch! Hope you heal quickly! We all have those moments! I've suffered three fairly serious injuries on a golf course over the years. The first instance, I tried to walk down a steep slope to hit my next shot. It was dormant Bermuda grass and my foot slipped right out from under me even though I was wearing spikes. I fell back against the slope and tried to catch my fall with my right arm. In the process of doing so I fractured my forearm, just above the wrist. Ever since that incident I've become paranoid about traction in golf shoe. Another instance was when I was hitting a lay-up shot on a par 5. My cart partner had parked the cart on the other side of a poorly maintained drain in the middle of the fairway (the course was built in a flood plain), about 18 inches square and about a foot or more deep. I failed to look down as I turned to get back to the cart, following the flight of the ball instead, and I stepped in that drain, fracturing my right leg just above the ankle. I could actually hear the "crack" of the bone breaking. UGH! In both instances, I went to the same ortho, a fellow golfer whom I had played with on several occasions. He took x-rays and since there was no dislocation of any bones, nothing having to be "set", he gave me a brace for the arm and when it was my leg just a boot for it. I didn't even have to wear either 100% of the time. After taking x-rays for a couple of weeks, I was lucky in that there was no movement of any bones, so he cleared me for chipping and putting with the arm and for actually playing with that boot on my right foot. I played so well with the boot on that some of my friends were offering to buy it from me when I no longer needed it! LOL In the third case, I stuck a club in the ground, and thought I had sprained my wrist. Ultimately, it took a long while to get the correct diagnosis, but I had completely broken my hook-of-hamate bone and had to go to a hand specialist to have the bone surgically removed. That one took a good while to recover from. Don't beat yourself up over it! I hope you get out there soon with no lingering effects. Play well!

In my browser, in the upper right, there is a link that will take you to their fitting locations. Then, when on that page, click on the "View List" where they are all listed by state. They have and are continuing to open their own stores. There is one here in Dallas about 20-25 minutes from me. If you get fit and order then, or order by phone you can have the clubs delivered to one of their stores if you have one nearby. Saves from having to sign for them and there is no shipping charge that way, though their shipping charges have recently been drastically reduced. Hope this helps.

I have the MMT 60 in my PXG set and Recoils in my Apex irons. How do you think those two shafts compare?

Despite being a cast, not forged iron, I find contact just as pleasing as I do with my Apex 19s. I haven't seen the performance on the course that I saw in my fitting, yet. I may need time to adjust to the added length or offset, or, it could just be the cold weather and having to wear as many as 5 layers to stay warm! I think they are a great value for someone on a budget in particular and they really are a nice looking club.

I don't think it is exactly true that I "started it". I was basically called a shill for the company after my first post when I then responded that "it upsets me to see people knock a product without doing any research or trying the product themselves before doing so." That's just how I feel and that applies anywhere to any product. I didn't call out anyone in particular and certainly didn't "accuse" all of you. In fact, at least one of you had looked at the study, thought it had holes in it, and that the company should be sued. However, there was another post that seemed to imply that all of Sqairz distance claims are based solely on having a square toe box. That is totally false and would seem to indicate to me that there was no "research" into what besides the toe box may be contributing to performance enhancement besides the obvious. If the shoe fits..........pun intended. 😆 In regard to FJ/Titleist, I didn't communicate that very well, and I think I've already apologized for that. I was trying to understand if, not just the skepticism (which I agree is healthy), but some of the other comments were strictly because it was Sqairz making the claims, being relatively new to the market, and would they be directed at FJ if it were them making the claims. My comment about activity here was not intended as an insult. Sorry you took it that way. It was just a statement of fact in direct response to "I find it curious that you claim not to be affiliated with the company in any way yet this is the only topic you’ve posted in depth on since you’ve been a member here." I haven't come here that often and that is why I haven't, yet, run across the other topics that pique my interest (I mentioned what they are) and that I would certainly engage in. Perhaps that is why my perception, perhaps incorrectly, is of less activity. I also mentioned topics that I felt I had no business joining in on the discussion. I agree with all of you in regard to the guy whose handicap dropped so much. I, too, am skeptical that any drop like that over any period of time could be solely due to the shoes. I'm not sure; did Sqairz claim the handicap improvement was solely due to the shoes or just that this guy's handicap improved by that much since he started wearing them, letting others attach direct correlation which Sqairz never made, or did they? I can't find that particular claim at the moment. I don't know how bad this guy's swing was (though I heard "sway" had something to do with it) or how ill-suited his previous choice of golf shoes was. Maybe the shoes just sparked something, enabled him to make other adjustments he could not have maybe made otherwise and thus the improvement. You are a renowned instructor, highly recognized and with many awards. Is it true or not that sometimes just a relatively minor tweak can spark a major improvement in some people? Thanks for "putting up with me" and continuing the dialogue.

Sarcasm aside, maybe that's because I've basically been called full of s***, a liar and accused of being a shill for the company.

Why would you want my opinion on anything having to do with these shoes? I have no particular expertise or knowledge in this area, and no real data to back up my opinion were I to express it.

For that, I apologize. I was trying to make the point that there are studies out there, whether those here, including you, feel they are valid or not, that support distance claims made by Sqairz and others. I obviously went about it the wrong way. Yes, it's been very welcoming so far.

@iacasSorry, I had not looked at your signature until your last post. Undoubtedly, you are the expert and I yield to your superior knowledge. You have convinced me that my distance gains attributable to the Sqairz shoes are probably nothing more than a figment of my imagination and probably due to any number of factors but the shoes. I am also sorry to have "riled up" so many of the skeptics by joining in on this discussion. I'll bow out now, bruised and perhaps not as gracefully as I would like. 🤐

I don't know when I first joined this forum but it has been a while since I logged in. There is not the activity here that I see at other forums where I am a member which is why I rarely come here. There are certain topics that pique my interest when I run across them, areas where I have a degree of knowledge, perhaps have done research on, or where I can share my own experiences, especially when that may help others. The thread on Sqairz is one of those topics that I happened to see and it is one where I have engaged in discussions elsewhere. GPS devices and apps, GPS technology itself and its accuracy or inaccuracy, shot / data trackers like Game Golf, Shot Scope and Arccos also are of interest to me. The effects of old age on the game such as the need for joint replacements, or cataract surgery, selection of tees (moving up) are also topics I engage in but haven't come across here yet. I am no swing guru and wouldn't venture to offer swing advice to anyone. I know very little about shafts and shaft profiles, only what has worked for me. I am not an equipment junkie, either so those are some of the topics which I may peruse but not engage in. I'm not trying to convince anyone to buy Sqairz shoes. I just wanted to give a counterpoint based on my research and personal experience to those that are skeptical of the claims. I just think there must be something to the claims as Sqairz isn't the only manufacturer talking about performance enhancements that can be realized with the proper footwear (can be, not always). There was Footjoy who said it based on a study back in 2016. Athalonz says their shoes help you generate 9% more power. Paynter doesn't quantify the performance increase due to their shoes, just stating that they "allow golfers the capacity to leverage ground forces, control movement, and maximize speed at impact". Looks/fashion/fads tend to drive shoe sales, overlooking the benefits that proper footwear can provide. People are going to believe or not believe what they want. If every claim of increased distance for the latest driver or ball to come out were true, I'd be hitting the ball 400 yards off the tee! 😁 There is no single driver, shaft, ball, grip or any other piece of equipment, including shoes, that is right for everyone. As it is so often said, YMMV.

I provided a link to the article that talks about the results of the study that Footjoy did in 2016, indicating the right footwear can increase driver distance by 9 yards - their claim, not mine. Following is a link to another study, this on Sqairz shoes, that was done by the same lab, BodiTrak, that Footjoy used to come to their conclusion. TerryHashimotoCaseStudy (sqairz.com)

@iacas 1. I did not alternate with other golf shoes. I wouldn't be able to quantify any difference doing it that way as I cannot "pick and choose" specific rounds to look at in regard to accumulated data with my current shot tracking tool. I can only look at the accumulated difference in hundreds of rounds played before and almost 200 rounds since wearing starting to wear Sqairz. 2/3/4. Why do I have to explain GRF to you? You know very well. I defer to the experts. My only "proof" is in the data I have collected over time. 5. Again, yes, I personally attribute my difference in driving performance to the shoes. I've taken no lessons, made no swing changes, not changed equipment during the times referenced. 6. It is the combination of both. By being able to swing faster by making better use of GRF in a controlled, balanced manner, I am one of those who has seen a performance boost from the Sqairz shoes. You said no one here would accept Footjoy making the claim that their shoes can add 9 yards to one's drive. I said "they did", as in they made just that claim and I linked the to the article in which that claim was made. No one driver, no one ball and certainly no one shoe is for everyone. @vinsk As for losing distance, at my age of 74 I fully expect that any performance improvements I've seen as a result of technology, be it clubs, balls, shoes, will eventually erode, as it has been doing for years. Fortunately, technology has slowed down that erosion or enabled my to get back some of what I've lost. My "conclusion" might be that my loss of those 7 yards might have come sooner.

They did! They did a study back in 2016 with BodiTrak, the same BodiTrak and Terry Hashimoto that Sqairz used for testing, and came to that conclusion The Right Golf Shoe Could Grab You Nine More Yards Conventional wisdom says that the more rigid and stable your shoe is, the greater the "ground force" will be, and that this increased force will lead to a more explosive swing. Turns out, it's not that simple. I guess I'm in that third that benefits from a more structured golf shoe like Sqairz

In my case, yes, I do believe the distance increase I have realized is due to the shoes. 🙂 Are you saying, "Yes" you would believe Footjoy or are you saying that "Yes" Footjoy has said that, or "yes" you would question it? Did I say "friction". If I did, I meant "traction". The better connection I have with the ground, the more I am able to push into the ground with confidence, shifting my weight to my lead side, knowing my trail foot won't slip. At this point, I start losing my knee flex, straightening my legs, speeding up my turn and maximizing clubhead speed. Doing that with better "balance" also enables me to more often have center face contact. "Yes" you would believe Footjoy (but not Sqairz), or yes, Footjoy said that, or yes you would question it?

If you don't think shoes can make a difference, go try and play in leather soled dress shoes. Let me ask a question. If Footjoy were to come out and say that the right golf shoe could add 9 yards, would you question it?

I agree with you. Gains like mine can't be eyeballed, and, in a round or two on the course they could definitely be attributed to any number of factors. I don't think that even a session on a trackman would really prove things one way or another as I think you have to look at the impact over time. I use a shot tracking tool that records every shot in every round. Since starting to wear Sqairz, I have played over 170 rounds of golf, enough, I think, to even out the plus and minus factors that would increase or decrease distance. The data collected shows a 7-yard increase in average drive, that is every drive over those 170+ rounds, good, bad and indifferent. I attribute that to the shoes providing me with better balance, thus more consistent ball striking. That doesn't mean I hit my best drives 7 yards longer. If you knew anything about golf, you would know there is a lot more focus and study going on in the area of ground forces and how they impact the swing. I guess people like Philip Stotter, one of the world's top experts in the field of ground forces, and Terry Hashimoto, an industry leader in pressure mapping, just two examples, have it all wrong when they say the swing starts from the ground up and proper footwear can make a difference. If you can confidently push off the turf in the downswing due to more stability and better traction, you apply more vertical force and thus maximize driver swing speed. It is also possible to just view the Sqairz shoes like any other, not take advantage of the features that allow you to create greater swing speed and see no benefit. I am not an employee of Sqairz and really don't care if someone buys or doesn't buy Sqairz golf shoes, though I'd like to see the company succeed so I can buy more from them in the future. I am just trying to relay what I know and have personally experienced with the shoes directly and through research and pass that along to those who express skepticism.

From what I understand, the guy that improved so much had a really awful sway in his swing. The stability that the Sqairz shoes gave him due to the wider base improved his swing tremendously. He really did improve his handicap that much. I'm sure he was at the extreme in regard to any improvement and if it were me, I probably would not promote his improvement as much as has been done. Like I posted earlier, I've seen an increase of 7 yards in my average drives since starting to wear Sqairz, that's all drives, indicating perhaps more consistent ball striking. My best drives have only seen an increase of maybe 3-5 yards. The better golfer you are already, the less improvement you are going to see from and technology.

Nope. I just think these happen to be the best golf shoes I've worn in all the years (60+) that I've played golf. As a "grumpy old man", it upsets me to see people knock a product without doing any research or trying the product themselves before doing so.

Another vote for Sqairz, here. I own four pair. Very comfortable though some may not like the look of the square toe.