Golfers spend hours discussing shafts, grips, even golf ball compression. Golf shoes usually don’t get the same level of attention.
Maybe they should.
With many adidas Golf athletes gathering in California this week, I had the opportunity to sit down with LPGA Tour players Linn Grant, Patty Tavatanakit and Grace Kim to talk specifically about footwear.
Grant brings the Adizero ZG. Tavatanakit also uses the Adizero ZG and mixes in shoes like the S2G. Kim gravitates toward the 360 TOUR.
The patterns were interesting. The reasons behind them were more useful. Here are the things that stood out from those conversations.
1. There is no single type of golf shoe that Tour players prefer
If three LPGA players from the same shoe company can’t agree on exactly what they want from a shoe, recreational golfers don’t need to wait for one model to work for everyone.
Grant summed up his priorities simply. “Performance, comfort and looks. Probably in that order too.”
For Grant, performance starts with traction, but weight is a big part of the equation. He likes it Adizero ZG because it can get the grip and stability it needs without feeling that it has a heavy shoe on its foot.
Kim leans more towards the stable and planted sense of the 360 TOUR. She uses the ground extensively in her swing and wants to feel safe for that movement.
Tavatanakit has another preference. He likes a lower shoe and the feeling of being closer to the ground.
Three players. Three slightly different priorities.
It is probably the first lesson for amateurs. Don’t buy the shoe a Tour player wears. Find out why that player carries and if the same benefit makes sense for you.
2. How high you sit off the ground is something these players notice
This was one of the most interesting details because it is something that most amateur golfers never consider.
Golf shoes do not keep all of your feet at the same height from the turf. Cushioning, midsole construction and sole design can create a different feel at address.
Tavatanakit talked about liking a low-profile feeling. For a player who is very aware of how his feet interact with the ground, it makes sense.
It also helps explain why shoe consistency matters to Tour players. If you practice in a thick, heavily cushioned shoe and then compete in something that feels much lower to the ground, you’ve changed part of your setup.
The difference may be small, but Tour players spend a lot of time eliminating small variables.
3. Traction does not necessarily mean traditional spikes
This may be the biggest misconception that these conversations challenge. Grant plays in the without spike Adizero ZG yet traction was the first thing he said when we talked about performance.
His reasoning went beyond just losing his seat. “Having the thought even in your mind that you could potentially slip up is just the worst because then you won’t be able to move freely.”
Traction is not just about physically deviating. It’s about having enough confidence in the shoe that you can swing aggressively without thinking about your feet.
U Adizero ZG uses a non-spike sole designed to provide lateral stability and adaptive traction. Tavatanakit also spends time in spikeless options including i S2G.
Kim is more comfortable with the traditional traction and stability he gets from the 360 TOUR.
The question for golfers is not necessarily “spiked or spikeless?” is whether your shoe provides enough traction for your swing, the conditions you normally play in and the amount of stability you want.
4. Weight can be important over the course of a tournament
Grant was particularly sensitive to the weight of the shoes.
She said she has played in heavier shoes in the past and could feel the difference in fatigue after 18 holes. Now think about the schedule of a Tour player. Practice rounds, range sessions and potentially four tournament rounds all add up.
For Grant, a heavier shoe isn’t worth the extra support if you can get enough stability from a lighter design.
5. Practice and tournament shoes are not always treated equally
I expect Tour players to practice exactly what they compete for.
Tavatanakit usually wants to practice in what he plans to play. Kim has a similar preference for keeping the feel consistent.
Grant is a little different.
Most of the time, he keeps things consistent, but during the more casual practice at home, he likes to change into golf versions of shoes like Samba, Gazelle or Stan Smith.
Part of the reason is just to give his feet a break.
If you are preparing for an important event, spend some time practicing in the shoes you plan to wear it makes sense. If you’re hitting balls for an hour or playing a casual nine, there’s nothing wrong with choosing something more comfortable or versatile.
6. Tour players go through golf shoes much faster than you
This requires some perspective.
Tavatanakit indicated that he could enter a new pair after about three tournaments. Kim talked about changing shoes somewhere around the monthly range.
It is not a replacement schedule that I suggest recreational golfers follow.
Sponsored professional golfers have access to shoes that the rest of us don’t. There is very little reason for them to keep pushing an older pair when fresh shoes are readily available. The takeaway is at the other end of the spectrum.
If your golf shoes have hundreds of turns on them, the sole is worn smooth and you start to lose traction, you probably shouldn’t be surprised.
Look at the bottom of your shoes. Pay attention to whether the heel still holds your foot securely and whether the cushioning feels anything like it did when the shoes were new.
7. Looks matter but performance always wins
None of these players ended up looking irrelevant.
Grant likes a sneaker that works with the rest of what she wears. Kim gravitates towards a clean look, often something as simple as white.
But there was a pretty clear hierarchy.
Grant literally ranked performance ahead of comfort and looks. Tavatanakit’s preferences returned to the feel and function of the earth. Kim wants the stability that allows him to use his feet so that he flies in the swing.
They want shoes that look good.
They just don’t want the good shoes bad enough to give up what they need to play.
What should you take from this?
The most interesting part of these conversations was not knowing which adidas model each LPGA player wears.
It is learned that three players at the same level, working with the same shoe company, may want different things.
Before you buy yours next pair of shoesthink about things like:
- Do you want to feel as close to the ground as possible?
- Do you need maximum stability?
- Do you walk enough that weight matters?
- Do you play in wet conditions where traction becomes the priority?
- Want a shoe for practice, tournament rounds and everything in between?
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