There’s plenty of choice in the golf shoes market, so we’ve looked at what’s available to help you choose the best golf shoe for you.

My number one pick is the Adidas Tech Response 4.0WD Golf Shoe – click here to see current deals on Amazon Here’s why:

• Cost – theses shoes are very reasonably priced. I’ve paid more than double this for similar shoes in the past
• Construction – lightweight with an upper mesh which means that your feet stay cooler and fresher
• Available in a range of sizes in both medium and wide fit. I have heard some people mention that this shoe is a narrow fit, so if you have wider feet, choose the wide fit.

Note – these golf shoes are not waterproof

My number one pick for extra wide golf shoes is the Footjoy Freestyle – click here to see current deals on Amazon

• They are the only golf shoe that I can find that are advertised as extra wide, though most manufacturers (and Footjoy in particular) do sell shoes in this size.
• They are waterproof (with a 2 year waterproof warranty) yet breathable so you don’t have to find another shoe for dry weather.
• They are fitted with spikes which for me, for a waterproof shoe is a necessity.

There does seem to be a lack of stock for the extra wide fit in some sizes when I looked, so check to see if they have your size.

My preference for spikeless golf shoes is the Ecco Biom Hybrid 2 – click here to see current deals on Amazon

• They are the most comfortable golf shoe that I’ve ever worn. That includes the very pricey Footjoy’s I had to buy when I played an away course and forgot my golf shoes.
• Ecco make their own leather and produce their shoes in their own factories and that make for very high quality footwear.
• They are a bit on the expensive side, but we’re back to the value for money argument and they win that.
• Great grip and although not specified as waterproof, my feet stay dry after walking in wet grass – I don’t wear these in winter though.

Spikes

Every golf shoe used to have spikes but now the market is separated into golf shoes with soft spikes and golf shoes with spikes. Shoes with spikes are the traditional model and as a golf shoes primary function is to give you a firm base to play your shots from, that makes sense. Also in wetter weather the course itself can become slippy in places. Every year someone at my club has a fall in winter and get’s carted off to hospital, so if you’re looking at a year round golf shoe, get spikes.

Spikeless
What are spikeless golf shoes? They are simply golf shoes where the grip on the sole is provided directly on the sole like any other sports shoe, rather than by spike inserts in the sole.

Golf shoes without spikes have become popular in recent years. I think there are two reasons for this: The first is comfort, a spikeless golf shoe is a bit more like your average training shoe in terms of fit and feel. The second is convenience, so the ability to walk straight into the clubhouse after a round rather than changing or using the spike bar.

Personally, I have three sets of golf shoes.

• One spikeless pair that are my summer golf shoes.
• One pair with spikes that are my winter golf shoes.
• One season old pair of either type that are probably ready for the bin, but are too comfortable to throw out.

Fit
Should your golf shoes be tight or loose?
Your golf shoes should fit as well as any other footwear that you have, so neither tight, nore loose, but comfortably snug. A tight shoe is going to hurt your foot and a loose shoe will allow your foot to move inside it, so affecting stability on your shots.

One complaint that I hear quite often is from people with broad feet who complain that the fit of golf shoes is too narrow. Here’s how to deal with that.

1) try your regular size but for different brands. There’s not much difference between them, but there it’s there. You might find for example that a Puma shoe is narrower than a Nike shoe. 2) Look for shoes/brands that sell extra wide golf shoes. Some companies specialise in the manufacture of wide fit golf shoes.

Convenience
If minimum effort is how you roll, you’re going to be looking for spikeless golf shoes with a velcro fastening and self tying laces. Personally, I like tying the laces my golf shoes (except in extremely cold weather when I can’t feel my fingers) because it’s just a grown up thing to do.

Comfort
What are the most comfortable golf shoes? That’s easy. The ones that fit you best will be the most comfortable. If for some reason you have problems wearing golf shoes, then look for golf shoes with arch support. Another option is to find a pair of orthopedic golf shoes, but be careful here as some shoes are labled orthopedic because they sell well. Finally, you can look into orthotics which are devices like ankle braces, insoles and footwear adaptations.
orthotic golf shoes.

Waterproof
If you play golf anywhere where it rains, you’re going to want to wear waterproof golf shoes when it’s damp underfoot. The main reason for this is that the grass and rough will be very wet and a summer golf shoe will quickly become soaked. Walking round the course with wet feet isn’t pleasurable, so you need a different pair of shoes to your summer golf shoes.

Price
What things cost is, for most of us, a consideration in the majority of purchases over a certain amount of dollars. There’s almost a default in human psyche that says “expensive = good” and whilst that’s sometimes the case, what we mainly want is value for money. That means something that works well or better than expected at a price point that we feel is worth it.

But there’s also another consideration and it’s this: If you buy something and it’s not quite what you wanted, you’re either going to have to bin it or put up with the inferior thing constantly (refunds aside). And if budget is a concern, not you really can’t afford the premium priced thing.

This applies to golf shoes too. So don’t buy cheap golf shoes, it’s a false economy. Equally though, unless spending a fortune is affordable and makes you feel go, don’t pay top dollar either.

Material
The standard materials for golf shoe construction are leather uppers and a rubber sole. Leather, because it breaths yet is waterproof and rubber for it’s grip and durability. Some summer golf shoes now have a synthetic upper, often with a mesh construction which makes them lightweight and helps moisture escape. Not surprisingly Gore-Tex is also used for uppers for winter golf shoes because of its waterproof and breathable fabric qualities.

One area where manufacturers tend to cut costs is the insole. That’s not just true of golf shoes, it’s a common theme across most sports footwear. I always buy a half size above my normal shoe size and fit custom insoles. That adds to the expense of course but for me it’s worth it for the extra comfort gained.

Care – how to clean golf shoes

When I was a kid, I got to clean my shoes every evening. Not through choice, but as my dad had those old fashioned values. And he had a point, particularly as he was paying for them.

I remember when most golf shoes used to be black, but the modern trend is for white golf shoes and they can look grubby very quickly. So here’s what I do:

Straight after my round I give them a blow with the air line if available. Then either in the locker room or at my car, I give them a quick wipe over with a baby wipe. I carry a small pack of these in my golf bag. That stops the dirt drying into the creases.

Later at home, if needed, I’ll just use soapy water and a cloth to remove the more stubborn dirt and leave them to dry naturally. Most golf shoe uppers are made out of leather, so don’t make the mistake of putting them on a radiator to quick dry them. You’ll just end up over drying the leather and it will crack.

It’s worth the effort to keep your shoes clean, they’ll last longer and you’ll look better, which means you’ll play better. And you know what? an immaculately turned out golfer with dirty shoes just looks wrong.

One final thing that I like to do is to remove the cleats once a month, clean the screw fitting and put the cleats back in. If you wait until they obviously need replacing, you’ll find them almost impossible to get out.