Stepping Out in Comfort or the Agony of De-feet

By: Elle Brec on 04/22/09 02:53 AM

The Foundation of a great golf swing is quite simply your feet, what you are wearing for golf shoe will have some effect on your overall ability to perform. The best players in the game will tell you that walking a course gives you a much better feel for the layout and presents better opportunities for scoring. In order to play well you must feel well. No one thinks twice today about spending $500.00 on a new driver, but most cringe at spending more than $50.00 on a good pair of golf shoes. Your driver will not feel the pain but your back and feet may suffer along with your score.
If feet hurt even the slightest bit, it could take away from your balance, your swing, and your mental focus. The wrong shoes could cause blisters, sore hamstrings and back pain if they are not made properly. Thankfully, companies have invested in the technology to develop comfortable, performance focused, non-metal golf spikes.
Advancements in features include materials that are durable while at the same time comfortable, waterproof yet breathable; provide stability while allowing for flexibility, and spikes that absorb shock while delivering traction control. A common material used for waterproof soles and insoles is called thermal plastic urethane (TPU) which is very versatile, flexbile, and has superior bonding ability. Because of this material, the better shoes come with a two year waterproof warranty. Even if it hasn't rained, golf courses are usually wet from dew or irrigation so it's important to make sure your shoes are waterproof. Also, make sure the shoe you choose has ample support on the collar of the shoe to prevent blisters on the Achilles and the back of the heel.
These days, the purpose of golf shoes is more than just to make a fashion statement on the course. However, there are some styles out there that it may be wise to shy away from. For example, you don't want your golf cleats to match the nicest suit you own in your closet. Unless of course, you remove the Fast Twist spikes for work to portray a Clark Kent persona then twist the spikes back in at the course and turn into Superman. The increased athleticism incorporated into golf shoes is great but another style you may not want to consider is the sneaker look. They can be overkill if when you wear them you look like you could run the Boston Marathon. Many of the Adidas golf spikes look like soccer cleats so watch out for those too. It may be just that I am partial to the classic look of golf shoes. The soft leather provides beauty, fit, and durability FootJoy, Callaway, and Nike are the top of the line. Favorites include the FootJoy DryJoys and FootJoy Classics Dry. Their in-shoe Intellishield Extreme membrane provides breathable technology, when the temperature rises the pores of the membrane open to allow heat and moisture vapor out. When temperature falls, the pores close to insulate. The FootJoy Softspikes are the #1 selling spikes in golf and have superior qualities. Callaway Men's Chev LP shoe is one of the best looking golf shoes. They also are comprised of moisture wicking linings and breathable waterproofing systems. They have flexible Chevron spikes that provide shock absorption to reduce impact on your joints while improving traction no matter the surface. Their Xtra Width Technology (XWT) Chev can be adjusted from medium to wide to ensure an exact fit. Try the new Callaway Hyperbolic shoes for optimal traction and a little extra pizzazz in your step. The Nike Air Zoom, as worn by Tiger Woods, or Nike Air Tour Classic are both excellent choices as well. They encompass equal quality in their Phylon lining, Scorpion Stinger spikes, and two year waterproof warranty. The Adidas Golf Tour 360 is a nice shoe with a secure foundation and the Fast Twist spike system. Ecco also has a collection of decent golf shoes. Most are made from Gore-Tex which is a high quality waterproof material but make sure to note the difference between waterproof versus water-resistant. The Ecco World Class shoes are very stylish but a bit on the expensive side. It's also important to buy the proper socks to keep feet dry such as FootJoy moisture wicking socks.
There are pros and cons to shopping online and shopping in-store. There are so many products, advancements and features, it's hard to keep your online research straight by the time you arrive at the store. It's also hard to purchase a shoe online because you want to physically see it and try it on. Recommendations are to go to a pro-shop or sporting goods store and try on your favorite aesthetically pleasing shoe. While walking around, look up the shoe on your iPhone or Blackberry to read the online description. This way you're able to experience the best of both worlds while being absolutely certain the shoes are comfortable.
If golf shoes can be made with this much technology, it's a conundrum why they don't make all shoes this well. Rather than wearing uncomfortable shoes, maybe I'll remove the spikes and start wearing my golf shoes to work.