Effect of Ill-Fitting golf Shoes...

This happened to me sometime back however, I just wanna share with our good folks in GR.

About a month back I bought this new Oakley shoes at a massive discount. There weren't any that suits my size exactly so I ended up buying 0.5 size bigger, on top of that the width of the shoe is pretty wide and the sole is thick.

Thats where all the problem started, since its wide and a bit loose, I added an in-sole. This helped with the fitting however, made the sole much thicker.

During a game few days later, due to the ill fitting shoe as well as "BUGGY ON TRACK", I created a tendency to fall back during my swing (as no stable platform) as I couldn't feel the ground and since the shoe was kinda heavy, (had to walk a lot) I was getting tired easily.

I ended up topping the ball quite a fair bit due to this falling back effect and added at least 10 strokes to my game. That was an awakening. I didn't realise how bad the effect of a golf shoe can occur in a game.

I will now need a pair of golf shoes with a stable ground holding capability. If anyone could recommend one, let me know.

The following are my options:

1. Dryjoys,
2. Adidas Tour 360.
3.

Pls feel free to add on. Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Also, if you could also help advise the shop/location to purchase them without breaking the bank...

Thank you in advance.

Sometimes I blamed the tees, sometimes I think the ball is not perfectly round, sometimes I also blamed myself for wearing a too tight/loose bermudas, must have left my driver in the car and the heat caused the shaft to warp the minutest mm in straightness, eat too much or too little before the game, too hot, too windy...........too many to mention. It happens to me too bro so you are not the only one. Unless you are wearing a pair like those clowns does, I think half a size bigger does not really affect your overall game too much la. Just take it as having a bad day at the golf course. Give it a go another few games then decide. I am always wearing 0.5 or sometimes even 1 size bigger as my feet are smaller than everyone else. In bowling I can even squeezed a size 5, though a bit uncomfortable, when there are no correct size available at the centre. For golf, I can hardly find size 5 1/2 to 6. So it is always either 6 1/2 and even 7 at times if I really love the brand and style. I just pulled them tied. Thats all there is to it. Take it easy bro and you will enjoy the game much more. JMHO

titu

At the minimum, its the fitting...ie not too loose, not too tight etc etc.

once have that, then next will be comfort and look....


GreenJoy is to me, one of the better C&G ones

Yeah Begbie..

You've been playing golf for only 6 months.. I don't think it's safe for you to attribute your 'falling back on your swing' to a half size difference in your golf shoes. I've got 5 pairs of golf shoes (Adidas, of course) that are 11 and 11.5s. There are differences, but only in the weight and some more aesthetically pleasing than others...

As what Tituman said, focus on the joy of the game, and let the rest fall into place. Being a 6 month old golfer, there are more important things to worry about than your golf shoes.. Besides, if you really want to know how your swing holds up, remove your shoes and take a swing.. See what happens then I know I would probably embarrassingly fall on my bum..

Anyway, I going Laguna later with the wife... Join if you can..

To me, the 3 most important factors in selecting a golf shoe is Fit, Feel, and Comfort, which ultimately equals performance.

Fit - Others may feel different, but my preference is for a shoe that fits like a glove, front to back and side to side. My feet via my shoes are the only contact with the ground and since the golf swing starts from the ground up, a fitting shoe that moulds to my feet is like an extension of my feet, allowing weight transfer with minimal power leaks. I find looser fitting shoes may feel comfortable, but they allow the foot to slip within the shoe, which could wear my socks out faster, and throw my swing off. When I try on a golf shoe, I keep the laces loose to see the true fit front to back (my last finger is just able to slip in at the rear); the sides of the shoe contact both my arch and the outside of my foot so there is less lateral movement during the swing. Laced up, I want to feel like the shoe is moulded to the feet and that the rear of the shoe is cupping my heel so it does slip from side to side. It may look strange to some people, but I simulate a swing with the shoes on to get a gauge of how they may feel during an actual swing.

Feel - A thinner sole brings my feet closer to the ground for stability and allows flex across the ball of my feet, yet is stable enough for me to push against the ground. It also allows me to feel the ground like driving shoes allow pedal feel.

Comfort - Comfort right out of the box is important and many shoes have this nowadays, meaning there is no need to break in the shoe, ergo, no blisters or soreness from wearing a new shoe. Soft uppers are a factor too. Another reason why I prefer a more fitting shoe is that the leather will stretch over time ever so slightly, after which the shoes should settle in nicely to the shape of my feet. A lighter shoe is also a part of the comfort factor since there will be less fatigue from prolonged wear.

Hope this helps.

TFP, sorry la.... but there is a difference, especially with the Oakley golf shoes. Begbie is right.

To take it to extremes, you try swinging in Bata shoes and then army boots, and tell me if there is a difference between the two and your Adidas?

The shoes are important whether or not he's been playing for 6 months or 6 years.

OK, point taken... i never doubted shoes are important, but just feel that it's wayy too early in his golfing 'career' to worry about the differences that a $29 Gosen and a $400 Footjoy Icon can provide.

I guess moral of the story is 'Never compromise the Fit, Feel and Comfort of a shoe just because of an irresistable price'. I made that mistake once by buying a pair of Adidas's that were 70% off at the Expo Sale, and spent 16 holes playing without soles in Malacca.

I've just got myself a pair of dryjoys from vinc golf. WRT the fit and as what Birdman mentioned earlier, it's pretty snug and conforms to the feet well. Comfort wise I'll find it out in the green but I doubt it'll be too far off ESP since it's a pair of FJs.

Hope I made a good choice and appreciate the input from u guys:)

shoes are like mattresses...

good mattresses give u beauty sleep...

good shoes can make u walk for miles...

Dryjoys is an excellent selection, it will cost more but the comfort is unparallel....

sometimes it takes a $70 decision to realise the benefits of a good walking shoes....

Aiyo...... I learned my lesson with discount shoes more than once as well. Same thing happened to me in KL when I bought a pair of top end Nikes on sale, Wore it immediately and within 3 holes, i had two buayas on my feet. Thank goodness the pro-shop allowed me to change another pair that turned out fine eventually. The other time was with the first gen Dryjoys that had hard transparent plastic which cracked and fell off leaving no stabilising bars under my arch.

Gotta beware those sale shoes. Check with the sales staff and ask for how long the stock has been sitting in the warehouse. More than a year, I usually give them a pass, golf shoes are like athletic shoes, don't wear for a year, gone case oredi. If the shoes are outgoing with the new model having just arrived to market, then usually it's quite safe la...

No doubt Begbie don't have to go for the Icons, but he should get the right shoe for a reasonable price first la... If you try on the Oakleys, you will know what he is talking about. Damn heavy and leather is too thick, like army shoes. They may last, but I think they approached the design of the shoe from the wrong perspective. How many golfers you see wearing Oakley shoes right?

Had a friend years ago that preached 2 things:

1. Take care of your feet and your feet will take care of you.

2. You can always make more money.

Not sure about #2; but he was spot on with number 1.

Cheers, KT

Can't go far wrong with Dryjoys Begbie, very comfortable. Good buy.

I used to swear by them when they had a more traditional design. I couldn't quite take to their modern sleek look.

I personally prefer Adidas with their heelcup technology it feels like my feet are really planted on the backswing.

Still, different strokes for different folks.

Hope it works out better for you swingwise.

Do a comparison with the Oakleys la... so that we can learn from your experience between it and the Footjoys.

Could be invaluable information to fellow golfers here.

Hee Hee I posted this "shoes" reason ind the other thread bat reasons for a bad game. That's cos I wore my $50 callaways instead if my usual FJs. Double parred the first two holes. After that I went to get a pair of Adidas Tour 360 4.0. Song!

Birdman, u know what I'm talking any when it comes to these oakleys. They're built like a tank and no finesse abt these shoes just ala kings safety shoes with soft spikes. They really are a pain to walk on, and since it rained that day I ended up trudging away rather than walking. I believe I'm gonna like my dryjoys.

Just to side track as well I've ordered a pair of ecco street premieres from TGW. Should arrive in end oct. That is the ultimate golf shoe. All style and not much purpose.

Good on you Begbie! Now you can really begin to enjoy your golf.

Many years ago i bought my first pair of golf shoes.
They were Goosen. It was light, water tight, and lasted many many years. but the cushion had a draw back that tend to rub and tear off in little fabric rolls..

Paid less than $50 for them and if the soles didn't start to fall out, I'd still be using them!

Cornball wrote:

Hee Hee I posted this "shoes" reason ind the other thread bat reasons for a bad game. That's cos I wore my $50 callaways instead if my usual FJs. Double parred the first two holes. After that I went to get a pair of Adidas Tour 360 4.0. Song!

Adidas have really stepped up to the plate with their golf shoes. It's amazing how much they've invested in R & D with each season. Each new generation of their shoes brings some new or improved tech, and tons of designs. Some tech has been revolutionary, most evolutionary; all in all, they've really done a great job. Is it any wonder we see as many adidas golf shoes as another leading brand? Phenomenal when you consider how much of the market they've captured in the short years they have come to market.

mizzy wrote:

Many years ago i bought my first pair of golf shoes.
They were Goosen. It was light, water tight, and lasted many many years. but the cushion had a draw back that tend to rub and tear off in little fabric rolls..

Paid less than $50 for them and if the soles didn't start to fall out, I'd still be using them!

thats why u r old school

Birdman wrote:

Cornball wrote:

Hee Hee I posted this "shoes" reason ind the other thread bat reasons for a bad game. That's cos I wore my $50 callaways instead if my usual FJs. Double parred the first two holes. After that I went to get a pair of Adidas Tour 360 4.0. Song!

Adidas have really stepped up to the plate with their golf shoes. It's amazing how much they've invested in R & D with each season. Each new generation of their shoes brings some new or improved tech, and tons of designs. Some tech has been revolutionary, most evolutionary; all in all, they've really done a great job. Is it any wonder we see as many adidas golf shoes as another leading brand? Phenomenal when you consider how much of the market they've captured in the short years they have come to market.

Seems like great shoes = better golf.....

Time to go shopping!

@eiji, haha.. think i bought them in 2000 or 2001..

@birdman, what's your view comparing Adidas and FJ?
I have an adidas 360.. is that considered old? its a urethane sole.. none of the plasticky stuff all over the sole i see lately.. I prefer that than the hard sole stuff.. but what's your take on why its so popular? thanks

I'm a huge ecco golf shoes fan. Used to wear FJ, but just find ecco to have better support and comfort for me.

asahi wrote:

Seems like great shoes = better golf.....

Time to go shopping!

You just looking for a reason to buy something new!

But if you really are shopping, very good value for money is the Tour 360 Limited. They were the top of the line, but now got new model, the adi-pure, so the Tour 360 Limited is going for way below it's price of $300 plus. Very comfy pair of shoes made from one entire piece of very soft top grade leather. It starts from the front of the shoe where you see the seam, and goes all the way around the back and to the front again, including the tongue.

You miss out on Puma, their Cell Fusion range looks good and seems like a great stuff.

http://thehackersparadise.com/home/?p=6873


Mizuno also have great shoes, just not as popular locally, but its quite a big brand in Japan.

mizzy wrote:

@birdman, what's your view comparing Adidas and FJ?
I have an adidas 360.. is that considered old? its a urethane sole.. none of the plasticky stuff all over the sole i see lately.. I prefer that than the hard sole stuff.. but what's your take on why its so popular? thanks

360 which version? Now already 4.0 leh... But I think you may be talking about the first gen or the 2.0. The 3.0 went with a harder sole as you say, it's the powerband chassis which they incorporated from that version onwards.

Bro, both brands make great shoes. Some swear by FJs, and they are renowned for comfort and build. But my personal preference is for adidas. I find they have the best fit for me, the shoes just seem to mould around my feet, especially the heel. Personally, I think adidas has the edge for the reasons I mentioned earlier.

Some of the tech they've innovated over the years - powerband chassis, thin tech, 360 Wrap around the arch (which others have copied), Heel-Cup tech from cycling. They've really ported over what they've learned from other sports and adapted it to golf. And they probably have the widest number of designs and colours across their entire range and within a model's range as well.

These are just my own observations, some may beg to differ of course.

@birdman, cool thanks.. i think mine is 1st generation. I'll be on the look out for my next pair of addidas when this one goes..