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Home  /  Footwear Priorities

Footwear Priorities

A few months ago Golfweek Magazine interviewed Doug Robinson, VP of shoe product and design for FootJoy.  Some of his points about shoe design and fit are worth recapping in this second Golf Talk article about shoes.

“Good golf shoes can enhance traction and stability, and what shoe engineers call ground reaction forces.” This is the response of the ground to the force that the golfer exerts on it during his swing.  The more leg power a golfer uses to generate club head speed the greater the ground reaction force the ground beneath his feet is likely to produce.

An increase in this force would theoretically increase the force in the direction of the ball flight.  There are quantifyable differences in the ground reaction forces between different brands and models of shoes.  This may be why you might play better in shoes that fully stabilize your legs and feet.

Golfers with a low handicap and high swing speed, as well as golfers who walk a lot of rounds, need a shoe with added stability and support.  Golfers who wear orthotics can get away with a lesser shoe as long as it’s deep enough to accomodate the orthotic.

Shoes that are cushioned or flexible are best suited for casual golfers who ride most of the time.  Orthotics often feel more comfortable in cushier shoes but the comfort is short lived if the shoe is too flexible.

Leather uppers and rubber or thermoplastic urethane (TPU) outersoles are essential for longer wear and air circulation for your feet.  Shoes leak where the upper connects to the outsoles, so well sealed seams insure your feet stay dry walking in dew, rain or puddles.  (The old FootJoy Classics had seams that were both stitched and glued for water-tight protection that lasted years).

Feet change with age and few people can wear the same shoe size at age 50 that they wore when they were 20.  Weight gain aggravates these changes, and conditions like bunions, hammer toes and corns make buying the right last (shoe fit) essential for comfort.

Even golfers who only play a few rounds a year should have more than one pair of golf shoes, and both pairs should provide equally good stability, support and be comfortable for walking.  According to Jim Flick, Jack Nicklaus’ long time teacher, Jack believed that his footwork was the heartbeat of his golf swing and that his feet cued his rhythm and tempo.  Make sure your golf shoes can enhance your swing rather than inhibit it.

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