Question:
He’s a nut case. Is he not aware some female pros wear sneakers? Some male pros wear sandals? If you are slipping during your swing, then of course that’s a problem.
Jeff, you’re right about pros wearing such. However, I think those pros are being paid to sandals or sneakers. Sponsors have a certain number of pros they will pay to advertise their products. Once the more sought after product sponsors fill their pro roster, it doesn’t leave much in the way of sponsors for the rest of the players… Hence, when you’re seeking a sponsor, beggars can’t be choosers…and you wear sneakers or sandals. G
Response:
BTW, I’ve played golf in Georgia on many occasions barefoot, and the fire ants were never a problem. HTH, Mike Landofoz, Eh! So are you the tin man? ;^) Rob
Good one! Actually, I have been bitten by fire ants in Ga. but not on the golf course. Although the bottoms of my feet are pretty tough, the tops and between the toes are rather susceptible to their bites. Mike PS. I have used tinman as an alias in other groups.
Response:
Jeff, you’re right about pros wearing such. However, I think those pros are being paid to sandals or sneakers. Sponsors have a certain number of pros they will pay to advertise their products. Once the more sought after product sponsors fill their pro roster, it doesn’t leave much in the way of sponsors for the rest of the players… Hence, when you’re seeking a sponsor, beggars can’t be choosers…and you wear sneakers or sandals.
Good point. On the other hand, I think it would take an awful lot of sponsorship money for something that costs a player 5 strokes per round. Actually, this is an interesting topic – think I’ll start another thread 
Response:
Same here, but I know they don’t give me any strokes per round. It’s just an indulgence. Although, I buy blemishes so they are relatively very cheap.
Jeff, Thanks to Mother T’s reference to a website out of florida, I just bought a pair for $154. I couldn’t find the blem…<grin G
Response:
If your feet hurt then it will cost you at least 5 strokes. Wear comfortable shoes. If they happen to be "golf" shoes great. Only time it seems to matter is if the ground is wet.
True. On the other hand, I used to have a pair of golf shoes that really killed me. Switching to sneakers probably would have saved me a couple strokes.
Response:
I’m a high handicapper who’s been working on my game seriously for the last 2 months. I’m starting to hit the ball pretty consistently now. I have a friend who tells me golf shoes make a 5 shot difference in an 18 hole round (I wear tennies now). Do golf shoes really make a difference or is he pulling my chain? He’s a nut case. Is he not aware some female pros wear sneakers? Some male pros wear sandals? If you are slipping during your swing, then of course that’s a problem.
I wouldn’t be so quick to jump to that conclusion about shoes making a difference. Several years ago a friend and I went to play a local course. The first hole parallels the driver range with the tee box within ear shot of the tee line. Right as I started my swing I heard the loud talking weekend guru wannabe tell his student the reason he was slicing was because he was wearing the wrong color shoe strings. After I shanked the ball in the range and stopped rolling on the tee box holding by gut laughing I got up and hit a mulligan. I missed what color he suggested for hitting a draw. David Laville, G.S.E.M. The Golfing Machine Authorized Instructor Contributor Of Spam Free Golf Advice
Response:
I’m a high handicapper who’s been working on my game seriously for the last 2 months. I’m starting to hit the ball pretty consistently now. I have a friend who tells me golf shoes make a 5 shot difference in an 18 hole round (I wear tennies now). Do golf shoes really make a difference or is he pulling my chain?
5 strokes! Nah. I mostly play in my work boots. Doesn’t make any difference to me. Scott
Response:
I am typically barefoot when I’m not at work. I prefer to play golf barefoot, also. Many courses require footwear, and on those I’ve taken to wearing Merrill technical sandals. I’ve tried the Bite sandals, and looked at others. I also have golf shoes with Black Widow soft spikes. I’ve found no advantage in any of the footwear choices, except after playing barefoot, my feet aren’t sore or tired. I practice barefoot all the time, and I’m not what you’d call a easy swinger, but I’ve never fallen off balance or slipped. BTW, I’ve played golf in Georgia on many occasions barefoot, and the fire ants were never a problem. HTH, Mike
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Oddly enough I like sandals even when it’s wet. My feet dry out quickly in sandals. You must hail from the north, as the fire ants would show no mercy on your toes here in the south.
Response:
BTW, I’ve played golf in Georgia on many occasions barefoot, and the fire ants were never a problem. HTH, Mike
Landofoz, Eh! So are you the tin man? ;^) Rob — Service is the rent we pay for being RSG Masters 2002 ( http://home.att.net/~janellenrob/RSG-MS_02.html ) RSG Masters 2003 ( http://home.att.net/~janellenrob/RSG-MS-03P.html )
Response:
I’m a high handicapper who’s been working on my game seriously for the last 2 months. I’m starting to hit the ball pretty consistently now. I have a friend who tells me golf shoes make a 5 shot difference in an 18 hole round (I wear tennies now). Do golf shoes really make a difference or is he pulling my chain?
Jake, I believe quality shoes are important, providing comfort and stability for the long walk. But, I have never equated my shoes to strokes…. I am hard on shoes in general… I wear Footjoy Premium Classics and like the stable platform they offer me when trekking. I am also a mtn climbing person and quality shoes are very important for comfort, stability and supporting a pack… My pack equates to my golf bag. Al thought wearing comfortable tennies withouts spikes will keep you from swing out of your shoes, I don’t believe they cost you strokes. I forgot to put my wifes shoes in the car last wkend, she wore her tennis shoes to play and was very comfortable and played her normal game. Oh, because it was my fault of course 8-)…I bought her a new pair of footjoys; She was happy! G
Response:
I’m a high handicapper who’s been working on my game seriously for the last 2 months. I’m starting to hit the ball pretty consistently now. I have a friend who tells me golf shoes make a 5 shot difference in an 18 hole round (I wear tennies now). Do golf shoes really make a difference or is he pulling my chain?
He’s a nut case. Is he not aware some female pros wear sneakers? Some male pros wear sandals? If you are slipping during your swing, then of course that’s a problem.
Response:
Jake, I believe quality shoes are important, providing comfort and stability for the long walk. But, I have never equated my shoes to strokes…. I am hard on shoes in general… I wear Footjoy Premium Classics and like the stable platform they offer me when trekking.
Same here, but I know they don’t give me any strokes per round. It’s just an indulgence. Although, I buy blemishes so they are relatively very cheap.
Response:
I’m a high handicapper who’s been working on my game seriously for the last 2 months. I’m starting to hit the ball pretty consistently now. I have a friend who tells me golf shoes make a 5 shot difference in an 18 hole round (I wear tennies now). Do golf shoes really make a difference or is he pulling my chain?
Some people aren’t well balanced and their foot slip while swinging hard. Golf shoes (preferably with full spikes if you can find a course that allows them) can help. On the other hand, spikes lose traction on paved surfaces and tiled surfaces (slip and fall on a urinal). Spiked shoes can gather grass and leafs which can cost you traction. But to me the most important aspect is – do my feet hurt after walking 18 holes? If so, I’m wearing the wrong shoes. There are some compromises – I have some golf sandals that have rubber ridges but no spikes. Make sure you don’t use sneakers that are worn down.
Response:
I’m a high handicapper who’s been working on my game seriously for the last 2 months. I’m starting to hit the ball pretty consistently now. I have a friend who tells me golf shoes make a 5 shot difference in an 18 hole round (I wear tennies now). Do golf shoes really make a difference or is he pulling my chain?
Data point: My teaching pro plays in tennis shoes, and not ones with aggressive soles either. He shot a 63 at Muirfield last year (no, not in the Memorial Personally, I like to wear golf shoes when it is wet, but when dry, I mostly just wear tennis shoes. — — — David "Thor" Collard — http://ttsoft.com/thor
Response:
Personally, I like to wear golf shoes when it is wet, but when dry, I mostly just wear tennis shoes.
Oddly enough I like sandals even when it’s wet. My feet dry out quickly in sandals.
Response:
Oddly enough I like sandals even when it’s wet. My feet dry out quickly in sandals.
You must hail from the north, as the fire ants would show no mercy on your toes here in the south.
Response:
Oddly enough I like sandals even when it’s wet. My feet dry out quickly in sandals. You must hail from the north, as the fire ants would show no mercy on your toes here in the south.
Colorado. I also wear shorts and usually don’t need bug repellent. High altitude means I do get burned more easily though. The only time I lived in the South I was too busy learning to fly (Craig AFB), unless you count MD as south. I have lived in northern & southern CA, Mexico City, MD, northwest CT, growing up – went to college in IA where I played a few rounds of golf, lived a year in MO before I moved to CO. Boy do I appreciate the climate here – especially now that my kids are grown up and I can afford to golf & ski. (I met a guy here who golfed and skied on his 50th birthday).
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m a high handicapper who’s been working on my game seriously for the last 2 months. I’m starting to hit the ball pretty consistently now. I have a friend who tells me golf shoes make a 5 shot difference in an 18 hole round (I wear tennies now). Do golf shoes really make a difference or is he pulling my chain? Either pulling your chain, or just doesn’t know any better. I feel better in golf shoes, but there’s a player in our group who just switched to a cleatless shoe who has had no change in his scoring (mid 70s to mid 80s). IMHO, if your swing is good, going barefoot wouldn’t make a 5 stroke difference. ___ o ’ | / . "Someone likes every shot" bk Troll intolerant. I took the RSG 2002 Pledge. Ignore them and they’ll go away.
I switched to tennis shoes a few years ago. My feet feel better and my scores are the same. I feel the same way about golf gloves–I don’t wear these either, but then again my climate where I live is not humid. Brad
Response:
IMHO, if your swing is good, going barefoot wouldn’t make a 5 stroke difference.
I learned how to golf barefoot. Golfed barefoot until I was a senior in HS. Golfed alot better barefoot than I do now. Though, I did golf 27 holes a day back then too. Shoes do help, especially if its wet. Will it make you 5 strokes better? Hummm. Mike
Response:
I’m a high handicapper who’s been working on my game seriously for the last 2 months. I’m starting to hit the ball pretty consistently now. I have a friend who tells me golf shoes make a 5 shot difference in an 18 hole round (I wear tennies now). Do golf shoes really make a difference or is he pulling my chain?
Response:
I’m a high handicapper who’s been working on my game seriously for the last 2 months. I’m starting to hit the ball pretty consistently now. I have a friend who tells me golf shoes make a 5 shot difference in an 18 hole round (I wear tennies now). Do golf shoes really make a difference or is he pulling my chain?
Do your feet slip out from under you and you fall down while playing golf? Do you deliberately not swing the club like you want to because your feet are sliding? Do your feet hurt so bad you can’t finish a round of golf? If the answer to these is "No", then the shoes don’t make a difference. Brent Hutto
Response:
I’m a high handicapper who’s been working on my game seriously for the last 2 months. I’m starting to hit the ball pretty consistently now. I have a friend who tells me golf shoes make a 5 shot difference in an 18 hole round (I wear tennies now). Do golf shoes really make a difference or is he pulling my chain?
Either pulling your chain, or just doesn’t know any better. I feel better in golf shoes, but there’s a player in our group who just switched to a cleatless shoe who has had no change in his scoring (mid 70s to mid 80s). IMHO, if your swing is good, going barefoot wouldn’t make a 5 stroke difference. ___ o ’ | / . "Someone likes every shot" bk Troll intolerant. I took the RSG 2002 Pledge. Ignore them and they’ll go away.