GOLF INFORMATION ARTICLES

Golf Shoes - Features

Golf Shoes play an important role in your Stance and your overall balance and grip during your Golf Swing. On first sight Golf Shoes may look very much like normal shoes and you might wonder why you would even need a pair of special Golf Shoes. In this section we will take a look at what makes Golf Shoes different from normal Shoes.

Golf Shoe Spikes

These are the different Golf Shoe Spike types:

Metal Spikes
Spikes that are made of metal provide more grip on wet ground. However, this type of spike leaves little holes on the ground that is why most Golf Clubs do not encourage the use of metal spiked Golf Shoes.
Soft Spikes
Softspikes are plastic of hard rubber nipples or swirls that screw into the same standard threads as the metal spikes. It is more comfortable to walk in and they do not leave holes in the ground that is why most clubs require the use of softspikes. Since softspikes are made of plastic, they wear off easier than metal spikes and they do not grip as much on wet surfaces.
Plastic Nubs
Some Golf Shoes have plastic nubs instead of spikes. These kinds of Shoes are usually used by people with knee injuries and require their feet to stand less constrained.

Support & Comfort

Besides the added grip provided by the spikes or nubs, your Golf Shoes should also provide your feet with the support needed as you perform a swing. Especially in powerfull swings there is a considerable weight shift and your shoes need to be able to support you in these movements. Furthermore Golf is a game of walking and you will want to have comfortable shoes that have good padding and support to prevent blisters and other foot discomfort. For much more information on shoe construction and comfort enhancing mechanisms visit our Hiking site which has a big section on Hiking Shoes Features.

Waterproof / Breathable
Especially in moist conditions your feet can get wet causing discomfort and possibly blisters. Many golf shoes are either waterproof or water resistant. Moist is not only caused by outside water, your feet sweat and unless your shoes are breathable you could soon have your socks wet. For much more information on the combination of shoes being waterproof and breathable at the same time visit our Hiking Website and read our section on Hiking Boots.

Leather or Sneaker Type

Older Golf Shoes were mostly made of stiff leather and they provided a lot less comfort than running shoes or other sporting shoes. Nowadays, a lot of manufacturers try to make Golf Shoes as comfortable as possible and they made the sneaker-type Golf Shoes which are a lot more comfortable than old-style leather Golf Shoes. People who like the look of leather golf shoes now have a choice of many golf shoes that combine the interior comfort of sports shoes with the outer look of leather shoes. Choosing a golf shoe style has thus become a pure fashion choice instead of a choice between comfort and good looks.

Special Women's Shoes
Golf Shoes tailored for women's feet are now available in the market so you won't need to stick with small-sized men's Shoes. Golf Shoes for women not only look more femanin they also take the proportions of a woman's foot into consideration.

Golf Shoe Spikes are the most important feature of a Golf Shoe. Spikes keep your feet anchored on the ground so you will not have to worry about slipping and losing balance when you put power into your golf swing. Golf Shoes usually have four spikes on the heel and seven or eight spikes arranged around the toe and ball of the shoe. Golf Shoe Spikes come in some variations but mostly measure about one and a half inches.

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