Golfing Pro: The Best Golf Shoes for 2023
As of 2022, roughly one in seven Americans played golf, marking a massive increase in the golfing population. As the Beautiful Game continues to rocket in popularity, many people are curious about how to find the best golf accessories. What are the best golf shoes in 2023 for a beginner or advanced golfer?
Whether you're learning how to golf or have perfected your golf technique, we're here to help. Read on to learn about how to choose the best golfing shoes. Afterward, we'll look at a few recommendations that fit most needs.
Picking Your Best Golf Shoe
To start, let's look at some of the features that may affect your choice of golfing shoes. Here are some of the types of golfing shoes, as well as what factors should primarily inform your choice.
Spiked or Spikeless?
The first thing most people decide is between spiked golf shoes or spikeless golf shoes. While the names are self-explanatory to a degree, there are important differences to note.
Spiked golf shoes are a traditional, popular option that remains the staple in most Tour tournaments. Spiked golf shoes have notable cleats or spikes on the bottom. These cleats are most often made of hard plastic, but older models may have metal tips.
Spiked golf shoes provide greater stability, especially on uneven or wet ground. However, they can also be easily damaged by walking on hard surfaces like concrete or asphalt.
Spikeless golf shoes have a softer sole that typically has rubber domes or bumps to help with traction. They're often lower in cost, more versatile, and provide good traction in ideal conditions.
In comparison to spiked golf shoes, they offer much less grip, especially in wet or hilly conditions. In turn, they're able to fit into more situations. Many also consider them more comfortable.
Price
Golf accessories are rarely cheap, and the price may facilitate the necessity for your shoes. You should look into the price of shoes so that you can glean some aspects of what to focus on.
For example, if you're learning how to golf, you don't need the most expensive brand of shoes. Instead, consider looking for beginner-friendly shoes that will help you learn the game. As you improve over time, you can transition out of those shoes to something you may prefer.
It's a good idea to look into used shoes or discount shoe outlets. You can also look into older models that have dropped in price due to availability. Sometimes, the best golf shoes in 2023 came out years prior.
Comfort
Comfort is integral to your time on the course. Not only will comfort improve your mood and game, but it will also improve your health.
Uncomfortable shoes can cause health risks such as sore feet, bad ankles, sores on your feet, and more. Aside from the obvious pain and discomfort, these issues can distract you from playing the best game you can.
Find shoes that fit you properly and provide adequate breathing room. Many prefer spikeless shoes for enhanced comfort. Still, you can find countless spiked shoes that are as comfortable as any other style.
Durability
Durability is also crucial to your shoe's lifespan. Would you want to spend hundreds on a pair of golf shoes only to have them fall apart eighteen holes later?
You can gauge a shoe's durability mostly through online reviews. Look into the experiences others have had and see if there are any issues with the shoes falling apart.
You also should understand basic shoe maintenance, such as keeping them clean and dry. If you don't take care of your shoes, they'll inevitably fall apart.
Performance
Finally, performance is a measurement of how well your shoes do their job. Are the spikes on your shoes large enough to dig into the grass and give you a good grip? Does the ergonomic cushioning of your spikeless shoes keep your feet comfortable?
Look into the performance of the shoes to make sure you're getting what you paid for. There's nothing worse than realizing your shoes aren't cutting it by the time you hit the back nine.
Recommendations
Now that we better understand what makes shoes good, we can look into some recommendations. There are countless options for all sorts of golf players.
Think of what matters most to you to decide if these shoes fit your needs. Your desires for style, cleats, performance, and cost will all affect your choice.
Footjoy Pro SL
The Footjoy Pro is an old classic updated for 2022 and carried over into 2023. These shoes are renowned for providing fantastic stability for a spikeless shoe. They're also comfortable out of the box, with few players feeling the need to add insole cushioning.
However, these shoes are also extremely similar to their previous iteration. As a result, you can often find earlier models at a lower price without sacrificing performance.
Ecco Biom C4
Another great spikeless shoe, the Ecco Biom C4 fits feet of all sorts. The enhanced fit gives more width to players, helping them be one of the most comfortable shoes on the market. Soft leather and breathable material make these shoes ideal for any game of golf.
There are few cons to speak of other than a higher-than-average price. Some report that the front of the shoe often stains. Consider bringing supplies to clean them during breaks to prevent this.
Adidas ZG23 Golf Shoe
For a spiked option, a good suggestion is the Adidas ZG23 golf shoe. These shoes are lightweight and comfortable yet provide unmatched stability. The midsole and upper are soft, helping your feet breathe and relax on the course.
The only notable con is that many aren't fans of the style of the shoe. If they fit your preferred aesthetics, there are virtually no drawbacks to these shoes.
The Best Golf Shoes of 2023
Finding the best golf shoes of 2023 is a personal choice. Decide what sort of shoes you want, what budget you're aiming for, and what factors are most important to you. Don't be afraid to try out several pairs of shoes before deciding what best fits your needs.
For more informative reads on the game of golf, be sure to browse our extensive site. You can also contact us to learn more.