Right shoes keep you good on the greens
It's been said that golf is a good walk spoiled. Playing 18 holes -- which typically takes four to six hours -- is roughly equivalent to walking four miles.
That's a lot of time on your feet, not to speak of the crucial role your feet play when teeing off or chipping. Try playing 18 holes in a pair of flip-flops, and you'll realize the importance of a good pair of golf shoes.
"Your feet are the foundation of a good swing," says Kevin Rhoads, certified PGA pro who teaches at Brookline Country Club and serves as the Harvard women's golf coach. "If your shoes are breaking down or flimsy while you're shifting your weight or rotating, the support that you need for a good foundation is gone."
The $260 million golf shoe industry has many players, but leading the pack are FootJoy, Adidas, Nike, and Calloway, along with such New England companies as Ecco USA, New Balance, and Etonic. Technological advancements in cushioning, traction, and moisture-management make footwear sound like rocket science. A catalog description of FootJoy's gel fusion shoes, for example, describes "tri-density outsole with a wishbone suspension and dual TPU torque rods."
But Daren MacKinnon, footwear buyer for Joe and Leigh's Discount Golf Pro Shop, located at Pine Oaks Golf Club in Easton, says no matter what the buzz, buying a good golf shoe is all about comfort, durability, flexibility, and performance. "With today's shoes, there is no break-in period, whether it's $30 or $300," says MacKinnon. "It's out-of-the-box comfort and also on the 20th round."
Although the black, brown, or white saddle or oxford-style golf shoe is still the classic standard, it's no longer considered a country club faux pas to wear golf shoes that look like gym shoes or even sandals or boots, say area golfers. Today's golf shoes feature colors typically reserved for the beach, such as Ecco Casual Cool's blazing orange stripes; the Adidas Driver shoe for women has hot pink stripes.
MacKinnon says the top components of a golf shoe, no matter what the style, should include: waterproof leather upper ; good arch support and cushioning; breathable and lightweight material for hot summer days; and good traction. Most courses have banned metal spikes, so replaceable plastic spikes (known as "soft spikes") help grip the ground. Small nubs or treads also provide solid footing.
Always try on a shoe, as sizes aren't standardized and different brands can fit differently. In his experience, says MacKinnon, Nikes tend to run half-size smaller and more narrow; Calloway shoes run wide. Adidas and FootJoy are standard dress shoe sizes. Avid golf players typically have two to three pairs.
"People don't realize how much abuse a golf shoe can go through," says Dan Ladd, vice president of sales for Etonic in Waltham. " It's better for foot and ankle health to change your shoes frequently rather than wearing a shoe over and over."
Can a shoe improve your game? Padraig Harrington, a top professional player from Ireland, claims that by wearing the High-Tec shoe company's CDT Power shoes, he increased his ball speed from 166 miles per hour to 173 miles per hour.
PGA pro Rhoads is skeptical, but he says a solid platform can definitely make a difference. "A good shoe can help set you up for success and help you in your swing. It's definitely one piece in the puzzle."
