While you can wear regular running shoes to play golf, most amateur and professional golfers wear shoes with spikes attached to the soles. These spikes are designed to increase traction, which helps a player maintain balance during the swing, but also during wet or other hazardous conditions. Some golf clubs require players to wear golf shoes in order to play on their course.
Why They Help Performance
Golf shoes give you extra traction when walking on the course, which is important when you swing. If the ground is a bit wet, you could slip while you swing, causing you to hit a poor shot or, even worse, hurt yourself. The spikes on your shoes keep you in place, allowing you to hit the ball in almost any weather condition.
What are They Made of?
The spikes on golf shoes are usually made of either plastic or metal. Plastic spikes are referred to as “soft spikes”. Many golf courses have banned metal spikes in an attempt to minimize the impact of spike marks made on greens. Spikes are usually replaceable, and are attached by either a twist lock or a thread. The spikes are usually located on both the heel and sole of the shoe. The shoe itself is commonly made from leather.
Washing and Care Instructions
While golf is far from the dirtiest sport you might choose to play, your golf shoes can still get very dirty, especially if you play in poor weather conditions. Since most golf shoes are made from leather, they should be cleaned with a specific cleaner designed for leather products. Before you start, you should brush off all the loose dirt with a cloth or dry shoe brush. Place a small amount of shoe cleaner on an area of the shoe, and clean the area with a cloth. You may want to have a couple of clothes available in case the one you are using gets dirty. Clean the shoe in sections to assure a more thorough cleaning. Use a shoe whitener to cover any remaining stains while also giving your shoe a new, bright look. You should also buff the shoes lightly with a dry cloth. This will help work any remaining dye into the leather. You should let your shoes dry for at least a day or two before wearing them, especially if you live in an area with high humidity.
Who Makes Them?
There are many different manufacturers and brands of golf shoe. Some of the major brands of shoe are Adidas, Nike, and Reebok. Other popular brands include Allen Edmonds, Callaway, and Puma. One of the best reviewed models actually doesn’t come from any of those brands, however. The soft-spike Royal Albartross is the best reviewed 2014 golf shoe on the market. They come in six different color combinations, are extremely comfortable, and offer terrific performance. The best part is they look just like regular shoes.
Price Range
Depending on the make and model of the shoe you want, you can spend as little as $50 and as much as $300 on your golf shoes.
The previously mentioned Royal Albartross model sells for $295 USD. You can purchase a nice pair of Nike or Adidas golf shoes for around $100 from a golf retailer. Typically, you can find these shoes for cheaper online. The problem with buying them online is you won’t be able to try them on until you receive them. Ideally, you should try them on in the store and walk around with them. There is a lot of walking in golf, and you want to make sure you have shoes that are comfortable, so your feet don’t get blisters.
