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DO YOU REALLY NEED golf shoes to play golf? The decision of whether or not to invest in a pair of sport-specific shoes plagues the best of us, especially when you’re just starting out. Particularly for golf, where the idea of it being an older and slower-paced sport still persists. But golf shoes have come a long way since those dual-tone 1920s tappers that exist in the popular imagination.
Luckily in this current sneaker climate, brands like Nike, Adidas and New Balance have recognised that their basketball and tennis models also lend themselves well to golf. Designed for grip and lateral movement, these are qualities that carry well into the golf lexicon, only this time you can play all 18 holes with the appearance and style of your favourite Air Jordans or Stan Smiths.
What kind of shoes do you need for golf?
When it comes to buying golf shoes, there are a few key things to consider. Spiked shoes are your classic model that can be worn all throughout the year, particularly in winter when the grass is wet and slippery. They also provide excellent grip and anchoring. Spikeless shoes work in contrast: for conditions where less grip is required, and if you are looking for a pair that can be worn off the course as well.
Golf shoes are also rigid by design. In this instance, rigidity is a good thing because it gives way for your feet to flex and twist in all the right places, as well as adding torque when needed for a more powerful swing.
With this in mind, we’ve rounded up the best golf shoes that can blend seamlessly into your on and off the course rotation, what models you can wear to the gym, and what to look out for to level up your swings.
Nike Air Jordan 1 Low G Golf Shoes
When it comes to finding stylish footwear for the course, brands are catching on to the idea that wearers want the best of both sneakers and golf-appropriate shoes. The Air Jordans features an integrated traction pattern for mastering your swings with the look of one of Nike’s most iconic shoes.
Adidas Stan Smith Golf Shoes
Another pillar of the sneaker canon gets an adaptation for playing the 18 holes with style. The Golf Adidas Stan Smiths, which have their origins in tennis (named after the former American pro tennis player), are designed for a secured foothold for any course surface, fairway, green, bunker, and beyond. Also featuring the brand’s Adiwear outsole for optimised traction and ground anchoring for your strokes.
Puma Avant Wingtip Golf Shoes
Popularised in the sport in the 1920s, the decoration of wingtip shoes bolstered the leisure class feel for players becoming acquainted with the sport. For that Gatsby-esque feel, the Puma Avant features a full leather upper for their wet days on the course, and ridges and lugs for rotational traction in your swings.
New Balance Heritage Golf Shoes
The shelf life of the chunky grey dad sneaker is proving perennial. And there’s perhaps no better dad-sport than golf, which New Balance has jumped on with its Heritage shoes getting the golf treatment. Merging iconic silhouettes with sport-appropriate tech is the go for these brands, as the Heritage features replaceable cleats and the brand’s signature DynaSoft midsole for responsiveness and plush cushioning.
Asics Gel-Kayano Ace 2 Golf Shoes
Runners may recognise their favourite shoe being adapted for golf, transferring the comfort, stability and traction it’s known for to the course. With this in mind, these Gel-Kayanos are built with waterproof uppers (a hallmark of a good golf shoe, something to look out for), and a secured fit in the heels for better swings.
Ecco S-Three Golf Shoes
Coming from premium Danish shoemaker, known for its responsible comfort, Ecco’s S-Three model is that hybrid of golf technology and design. Its Gore-Tex (yes, the same material you may find in outdoor gear) uppers make it suitable for all terrains and weather, and BOA fit system for laces enable a customised and precise fit.
Asics Gel-Preshot Classic Golf Shoes
If you were looking for a pair of golf shoes that are also suitable for the gym, the Gel-Preshot Classics from Asics are our recommendation for their low-profile design and cushioning in the heel. An off-shoot of the brand’s It-sneaker that’s been just about everywhere, it does earn some style points if you were looking for a third reason to buy.
FootJoy Contour Casual Golf Shoes
Touted as the go-to brand for golf shoes that fit on and off the course, FootJoy’s Contour Casual model hides its sport-appropriate construction in plain sight. For one, its full grain leather construction makes it water-resistant yet appropriate for ‘smart-casual’ occasions. And designed to contour the natural shape of the foot, the shoe features a full rounded toe character and standard instep and heel.
Under Armour Drive Pro Golf Shoes
Designed for the serious golfers in mind, the Drive Pro from Under Armour features an upgrade in technology for the traction, and diagonal and lateral support of a natural swing. Cleats on the model use the brand’s UA S3 Softspikes, an innovation in directional traction.
Are there golf shoes also for the gym?
By virtue of their design for stability, comfort, and support, golf shoes can also be worn for the gym. Spike-less golf shoes, like some on this list, work best for these dual needs (plus, rocking spikes on the weights floor might look a little off). But like all great athletes at the top of their game, if you hit the fairway regularly, you should also consider getting a pair purely for golf.
Can you wear any shoes to golf?
Sneakers with good grip can be worn to golf. For example, Nike have adapted some of their popular basketball models into the golf shoe space, with their transferrable qualities of grip, flexibility, and material design suiting both sports well. But shoes with spikes and cleats are always preferable (though ideally not metal, but plastic or rubber so as not to tear up the course), as they provide the best grip and overall traction for nailing your swings.
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