Shoe bee, do we do?

July 6, 2009 9:53 PM

Do golf shoes really make a difference for a 21 handicapper?

I'm a bit of a hacker... breaking 100 from the white tees makes me happy. Oobgolf.com says my handicap is about 21. My buddy was ecstatic our last time out because he had a whole round of avoiding double-digit holes. (he has the max men's handicap.)

We go out mostly to have fun, hang out, spend some time outside, and relax a bit. Lately, we've both been golfing quite a bit more than normal, and have been getting noticeably better (him more than me), and we're starting to enjoy the game even more to the point of maybe investing a little more into the game - I've been surviving on my circa 1980 irons and fairway woods, and a $30 driver from Wal-Mart.

New clubs aside, the less obvious addition to our equipment would be golf shoes. We've both been in our tennies all this time. Would an investment in golf shoes really have that much of an impact on our game? Would they realistically shave a couple strokes off our game, or should we save our money?

Obviously, this summer has proved to us that going at this regularly is the largest key to improvement - but pros don't walk around in sneakers. We're just curious if golf shoes will help at this stage, or if they won't do any good until we improve some more. If you made the shoe plunge, we'd love to hear what it did to your game.

posted by SquidLips to sports, hobbies, & recreation (11 comments total)

OK, I'm Ms Golf Widow: my DH says you have to have golf shoes to get onto a decent course. Don't know it that's right, but I believe him. What did his game the most good was new clubs. Someone stole his left handed clubs (surprise) and he was forced to buy new ones. The new drivers and putters are amazing!
posted by x46 at 10:35 PM on July 6

As a fellow hacker, I can't say whether golf shoes would improve your scores immediately, but I can say that the improved traction of cleated shoes will most likely add some consistency to your game, and once you start wearing them you won't feel comfortable playing without them. On the few occasions when I've absentmindedly left my golf shoes at home and played in my sneakers I noticed the difference the most in the tee boxes trying to hit long drives, and also on lies that aren't on flat ground. Not wearing golf shoes usually results in at least a few extra strokes for me (at least I'd like to think that some of those balls wouldn't have ended up in the trees if I'd been wearing the proper shoes). I'd recommend getting the shoes, even if it means skipping a round and putting the $40 towards a pair from the markdown bin.

There's also a greater sense of accomplishment when you've successfully cleaned them with the compressed air after your round is done.
posted by Balonious Assault at 10:37 PM on July 6

Spikes do make a difference. Your feet shouldn't be slipping around, especially on drives, where torque and stability really matter. Keep in mind that you'll be walking a few miles in them if you play 18 holes, so comfort is key. (And for godsakes, don't buy golf sandals.)
posted by turducken at 11:36 PM on July 6

Golf shoes definitely matter. A stable base for a golf swing is essential. While you probably haven't really been aware if it, your feet are most likely moving around during the swing.

Also, some style trainers can damage greens, and that's not a nice thing to your fellow happy hackers.
posted by michswiss at 12:35 AM on July 7

Agree that golf shoes (1) keep your feet from slipping around during the swing and (2) are sometimes required by golf courses because they do less damage to greens. I know that last one seems illogical but people in running or walking shoes don't realize how easy it is to twist in place as they are guiding a putt toward the hold. Sometimes that twisting tears the sod on the green, which is often just a thin layer of grass. Take a look at where your feet are pointing after a swing to see what difference cleats would have made to your shot. If they are pointing down the line of flight, you probably opened your stance and sliced the ball. That could be prevented by keeping your feet pointed at the divot.
posted by birdwatcher at 2:44 AM on July 7 [1 favorite]

Definitely, a well-fitting, comfortable pair of shoes can help your game. Doubly-so, if you walk the course. And, you needn't spend a bundle on them...which is a rare thing to say about any golf equipment.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:49 AM on July 7

I know nothing about golf, but I do know that shoes wear out -- much faster than you might think in the case of athletic shoes, which might still look fine on top, long after they've lost the support you bought them for and the soles have compressed all to hell. So buying a pair of golf shoes to wear on the course should delay the day you have to replace your other shoes, especially if you're golfing a lot, and don't otherwise wear your sneakers all day every day. You might think of them in that term and then, unless they are substantially more expensive than your sneakers, or you wear your sneakers well past the point when they're still good for your feat, you're not really spending that much extra money on them anyway -- just front loading your shoe purchases a little by buying more than one pair concurrently instead of consecutively.
posted by jacquilynne at 6:22 AM on July 7

Golf shoes matter. I am happy to break 100. I purchased a pair of shoes. I have much more consistency on my swing as my feet do not move as much. Also, most golf shoes are waterproof. Keeps the feet dry when playing on a wet course. I occasionally wear them doing yard work when it is wet or to one of my kid's soccer games when they are playing on a muddy field.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 6:43 AM on July 7

A word of dissent: Spikes do make it easier to overswing; see the 2nd video here, where Sam Snead recommends swinging barefoot to avoid overswinging:
http://3jack.blogspot.com/2009/04/look-into-poll-question-sam-snead.html
posted by at at 7:27 AM on July 7

To me (I'm a TERRIBLE golfer) golf shoes matter because they're the correct thing to wear. Golf is a game where etiquette and doing things right is a big part of the game. If you play a round the right way, which includes having the required gear (having your own clubs, tees, pencil, etc. as well) you'll be invited back no matter how crummy you might be. Golf rules are meant to be followed, from hackers to scratch players to pros.
posted by vito90 at 8:17 AM on July 7 [1 favorite]

I'll nth it: the shoes will make a difference. They'll help protect you from injury (grip, no slip) they'll add the consistency talked about already and probably most important, they're almost all waterproof these days, so if you're going out in the mornings you'll just be more comfortable with dry feet. I'm due for a new pair of shoes myself, come to think of it...

But yes, if you have the opportunity to get a pair, please do. You'll thank yourself for it. and if you're not into the whole "formality" thing, you can even get sandals for golfing these days.
posted by indiebass at 12:37 PM on July 7