When you’re first getting into golf, finding the right shoes may seem trivial compared to using the right club and ball. However, a good pair of golf shoes is more important than you think – it will help you stay planted throughout your swing and prevent late-round fatigue.
The golf shoe must be comfortable, especially if you’re walking instead of riding around the course. Waterproofing is essential as well, just in case you’re not playing on a clear day.
The last major consideration – and perhaps the most debated part about choosing golf shoes – is if they should be spiked or spikeless.
A National Club Golfer’s article notes that similar to design and comfort, it all comes down to preference. Both can be worn outside of the golf course as you can remove the spikes from the spiked shoes.
With all these in mind, if you’re looking for the right golf shoes for you, here are a few of the best options you can consider:
Best Golf Shoes to Get You Started (Right Away!)
Spikeless Golf Shoes
FootJoy Pro SL
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FootJoy is one of the best-known golf shoe brands, and the Pro SL is one of the best spikeless pairs out there. The ChromoSkin leather on the uppers provides flexibility and excellent waterproofing.
The leather is firm but not stiff, and the cushioning fits snugly around the foot while still maintaining its structure. The three-piece outsole provides cushioning that greatly reduces foot fatigue as it has an energy-returning bounce.
Meanwhile, the sole is actually a molded TPU that allows for a good grip on every swing, and also comes in handy on slippery surfaces outside of the golf course.
Nike Roshe G
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Nike’s Roshe G has a modern design that makes it look more like a running shoe than a traditional golf shoe. It has a pressure-mapped outsole, which is essentially clusters of traction nubs placed in high-pressure places, that gives it an excellent grip.
A Phylon midsole gives good cushioning. Because the Roshe G was designed with summer in mind, the upper is made of very flexible and breathable material. The breathability of this pair makes it almost feel like you’re just wearing socks.
Spiked Golf Shoes
Adidas ZG21
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The Adidas ZG21 are stylish golf shoes with the original being an all-black colorway, but there’s a fresh take on this pair.
Adidas has teamed up with Extra Butter for a special Happy Gilmore collection, resulting in a three-part collection inspired by the movie’s characters – namely Chubbs Peterson, Shooter McGavin, and Happy Gilmore himself.
But aside from great style, the ZG21 has excellent features as well.
The six-cleat TPU sole has a rotational grip, while the synthetic upper offers excellent waterproofing and flexibility. Despite the advanced features, the ZG21 is one of the most lightweight golf shoes on the market, weighing only 13 ounces.
Under Armour HOVR Drive
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Walk the 18 holes with these Under Armour golf shoes. They are equipped with HOVR energy-returning cushioning, the brand’s new footwear-cushioning technology. Specially-placed spikes prevent over-rotation when you swing.
The Clarino microfiber that makes up the upper gives it the flexibility of the level of mesh. Under Armour’s Storm technology makes the HOVR Drive impressively waterproof as the water simply beads up and rolls away.
This is a high-performance pair that will benefit golfers of all levels.
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Once you’ve chosen your pair of trusty golf shoes, it’s time to practice so you can get used to them. To learn, or relearn, some golf basics, we have a feature on how to putt.