Matsuyama and the rest of his tour.
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Welcome to another edition of the Fully Equipped Mailbag, sponsored by Cleveland / Srixon Golf, the interactive GOLF.com series in which you field your hard-hitting gear questions.
Wearing golf shoes while you practice is a no-brainer. In most situations, you can get a better grip with golf shoes than with most casual or street shoes. But, is that really all there is to it? Do you think that you have to grip the turf (or range mat for the matter) better than your regular shoes do?
It’s not uncommon to find GOLF.com staffers wearing golf shoes as their daily drivers here in the office. It’s easy to see why with so many golf shoe styles mimicking the look and feel of a street and / or athletic shoes. And I don’t know if you’ve been there, but it’s a nice feeling to wear the same shoes to the course and out to dinner afterward. So for those who want to wear golf shoes practically every day, this question doesn’t really apply.
But if you do not, you should always consider golfing shoes whenever you practice. Let’s look at a handful of reasons why:
You’ll grip the ground better and have more stability
Again, wearing golf shoes when you practice means you have a better grip on the turf, and also on those darn range mats that can sometimes be forced to use. A better grip ensures less twisting and sliding as you swing, helping you properly feel the feet and lower body as well. If you’re practicing and your feet are sliding around, you run the risk of making your swing worse, not better.
You’ll slide less in the shoe
Golf shoes, especially modern day shoes that have athletic shoe profiles, are designed to provide only traction and stability on the outside of the shoe, but inside the shoe as well. The Srixon / ASICS GEL-ACE Pro M Standard golf shoe is a prime example of this, built with a rigid X-shape TPU Trusstic midsole that cradles the middle of the foot for a snug fit. Additionally, the GEL-ACE Pro has added ankle padding for less lifting and sliding of the foot as you swing. Which by the way, when you practice you are likely to make a bucket of 90 golf balls than you would play a round of golf. That’s a lot of wear and tear on your feet, and if they’re not well anchored in a golf shoe when you practice, you’ll pay for it sooner or later.
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You’ll have a familiar amount of toe drop
Toe drop refers to the angle from the heel of the shoe towards the toe. And you have to get a bucket of balls wearing those?) heel to the forefront of the shoe. There are, in general, most running shoes with raised heels to lessen the shock of the striking heel while running. The point being, it is likely that your golf shoes have more than one to go and your golf shoes, which can lead to a significant difference you play. Yeah, more toe drop can lead to less weight placed over the heels in your stance, causing your weight to shift differently than it usually does when wearing your golf shoes.
You’ll have more lateral support as you practice
Golf shoes aren’t just designed for comfort while walking and helping to grip the turf better, they’re also designed to provide lateral support as well. This means they have uppers that cradle the foot on the outside and inside the foot, and they also come with wider soles and aggressive traction patterns for the side-to-side momentum that takes place in the golf swing. If you swing with running shoes, casual shoes or even street shoes, you are likely to have the lateral support you need, causing you to swing less efficiently and in some cases, which could actually lead to injury or at best, sore feet and ankles . This is especially true when hitting balls off hard range mats. Trust us, who rolled an ankle on a range mat is a terrible thing.
Bonus reason: Golf shoes can actually help you hit it further
We checked, and it’s true. Golf Shoes like the Srixon / ASICS GEL-ACE Pro M Standard golf swing. If you are still not convinced, please consider what you are doing. Knowing what you now know, you will be able to swing with more confidence and hope, with a boost of power knowing you have a firm and secure foot as you swing.
Want to overhaul your bag for 2022? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf. For more on the latest Fully Equipped podcast below.
