Coaches Corner: Why The Right Golf Shoes Matter

Golfers often overlook the importance of footwear, but having the right shoes is crucial for performance, comfort, and safety—especially in winter conditions.

Your feet are the foundation of your swing. Like tires on a car, the grip, stability, and support your shoes provide directly impact how well you strike the ball. Without proper traction, especially in wet conditions, it’s easy to slip—affecting not just your stance but your confidence.

Spikes Matter in Winter
This time of year, spiked shoes are essential. They help prevent slipping on wet grass and steep slopes but, more importantly, keep you grounded during your swing. Staying connected to the ground through your backswing and into impact is key to generating power and maintaining balance.

Stance and Stability
In colder or wetter conditions, players often widen their stance for more stability. While this can help, going too wide can restrict your ability to shift weight from your trail foot in the backswing, to your lead foot through impact. You need confidence in your footing to push off the ground effectively and rotate through the shot.

A balanced follow-through, where your weight finishes on the front foot (with a slight roll to the outside of your lead shoe) is a good sign of a controlled, smooth swing.

Why Trainers Don’t Work
Running or gym shoes give support , but these aren’t designed for golf. Their support is often in the heel, which pushes your weight forward into your toes. This throws off your balance and can cause you to fall forward during the swing. Golf shoes are flatter and provide a more even distribution of weight between the heel and toes, helping you stay stable.

Fit and Lacing
Proper fit is essential. Your shoes should feel snug around the laces but not tight. Laces loosen as you walk and swing, so check and tighten them during the round. The BOA lacing system is great for maintaining consistent tension without needing to stop and retie.

Final Tip
If you can hold your finish for 1–2 seconds after a swing, you’ve likely stayed balanced and hit a better shot. That level of control starts with your shoes.