The best of the best! We roundup the best golf shoes in 2023
This year the NCG team have rigorously tested thirty-one different pairs of newly released shoes from eleven of golf’s most notable brands to put together our list of the best golf shoes that you can buy in 2023.
We’ve worn them in the sun, in the rain, in the sleet, on our home courses, on away courses, in the fairway, in the sand, in the rough, and sadly even in the heather to be able to create honest reviews you the club golfer can actually trust.
We’ve scoured through all the press releases and know all the technology, and left no stone unturned to be able to assemble our list of the best golf shoes 2023.
Best Golf Shoes 2023
FootJoy Premiere Series Tarlow golf shoes
These shoes have the wow factor. Just like the FootJoy Icons, and FootJoy Classics before them, the Premiere series golf shoe has picked up the mantle to lead the way in the traditional golf shoe market, and oh my, have FootJoy nailed it.
These FootJoy golf shoes feature FJs revolutionary versatrax outsole, which offers 360 degrees of grip and stability by angling what are essentially spikeless shoe nubs in different directions, which, combined with the actual soft spikes virtually guarantee that you are going to have no issue playing any shot from any lie during your round of golf.
I cannot believe how strong and stable I feel in the swing wearing them. I’d go so far as to say these shoes have managed to wake me up and help me escape the spikeless shoe cult and have opened the door of proper golf shoe performance.
I haven’t worn the shoes in the rain yet but I have no concerns about their waterproof capabilities. FootJoy offer a 1-year waterproof warranty on these shoes which is great, I just don’t think I would take them out in the rain so as to not ruin them!
I am not surprised there are so many tour players using the Premiere Series golf shoes. They look great, but not only that, they offer modern performance making them the ultimate shoe.
PROS
- Beautiful. Just look at them!
- Excellent traction.
- Really solid in the swing and underfoot
CONS
- Firm out of the box, will need wearing in!
- RELATED: Read our full FootJoy Premiere Series Tarlow golf shoes review
Sizes: UK 6-12 (inc. half sizes)
Colours: White/Multi or Black/White/Grey.
More info: FootJoy Website
Cuater The Legend golf shoes
Out of the box, this shoe presented an absolutely classic look. The clean lines, the stitching, the lacing system – it all looks just right. I tested the black model with a contrasting grey sole. There is also a version in white.
The upper is constructed from premium full-grade leather – it certainly looks and feels to be premium. The Cuater golf shoes classic looks are enhanced by very little in the way of branding, just a metallic ‘C’ to the side of the handsome lacing system and some subtle embossing on the tongue.
I found the shoe to be extremely comfortable from the outset. The leather upper felt supportive and flexed nicely in play – I put this down to the outsole design. There was a springy, cushioned feeling walking between shots. Cuater talk about their Sweet Spot technology Cushioning throughout the molded insole and I have to say that the shoe felt much more comfortable than I expected from the classic design.
I have to say that I think Cuater have produced another winner with this shoe. No, it’s not for the golfer who wants their shoes to look like a Formula 1 racing car. But if you value comfort, understated style and thoughtful technology, then I recommend that you give serious consideration to this brand and this model.
PROS
- Extremely comfortable out of the box.
- Classic and understated looks.
- Well constructed.
CONS
- Nothing!
- RELATED: Read our full Cuater The Legend golf shoes review
Sizes: UK 7-11 (inc. half sizes).
Colours: Black or White.
More information: Callaway Apparel website
FootJoy HyperFlex Carbon golf shoes
The big talking point on these shoes is the custom moulded carbon fibre plate that sits in the sole. As an avid runner, I’m aware shoe companies have been adding carbon sole plates to shoes for a few years now, and I’ve wondered why they haven’t appeared in golf shoes yet.
FootJoy reckons that the Hyperflex Carbon offers increased stability than any shoe on the market now due to the carbon power plate. With ortholite impression fitbed and optiflex zones, the FootJoy HyperFlex Carbon shoes should be stable and rigid in the golf swing but comfortable enough to wear all day.
They also feature a ‘coated knit bootie’, which basically means the top of the shoe around your ankle is a knitted fabric rather than the 100% waterproof mesh upper. Slipping them on they straight away feel molded to your foot.
I cannot believe how strong and stable I feel in the swing wearing them. I’d go so far as to say these shoes have managed to wake me up and help me escape the spikeless shoe cult and have opened the door of proper golf shoe performance.
The only issue with the ‘athletic’ shoe is that you probably dont want to wear them in the bar or off the course for very long. The FootJoy HyperFlex Carbon features spikes so you are probably not putting them on at home.
PROS
- Extremely comfortable out of the box.
- Excellent traction.
- Really solid in the swing and underfoot
CONS
- Slightly on the heavy side
- RELATED: Read our full FootJoy HyperFlex Carbon golf shoes review
Sizes: UK 6-12 (inc. half sizes).
Colours: White/Multi or Black/White/Grey.
More info:FootJoy Website
Puma Ignite Elevate golf shoes
I’ve been looking for a pair of golf shoes that a suitable for teaching in, playing in, practising in, walking the dog in, and going to the pub in, and I think I may have found them. The Puma Ignite Elevate shoes look and feel just like sports shoes, and straight away, I love the way they feel on my feet.
Unboxing them, these shoes straight away offer superior step-in comfort, eliminating the need to break shoes in, which feels so last decade now. The ignite foam offers a snug feel and cushion when walking and feels springy in the swing when pushing off your right side into the ball.
I received a black pair of Ignite Elevate shoes with a black Puma-engineered mesh upper and saddle. I really like how the grey logo and ‘sock’ design add some style and stop them from being just another bog-standard pair of black golf shoes.
I cannot believe how strong and stable I feel in the swing wearing them. I’ve loved wearing spiked shoes this winter as it’s helped me feel really grounded, but these shoes offer me the same ‘connected to the floor’ feeling I have grown accustomed to, and I feel like I have a really strong base to rotate hard from.
These are right up there as one of the best spikeless shoes on the market in 2023. If you can get your hands on some to try them on, I have no doubt you will make the purchase.
PROS
- Ridiculously comfy
- Smart in all colour options
- Traction is very good for a spikeless shoe
CONS
- Fabric tongue and ankle area are tough to clean
- RELATED: Read our full Puma Ignite Elevate shoes review
Sizes: UK 7-12 (inc. half sizes).
Colours: white/silver or black/silver shade/silver.
More information: Puma Website
Adidas ZG23 golf shoes
Ever since my junior days, I’ve always had at least one pair of Adidas golf shoes in my wardrobe. They are always comfortable and always great looking. My teenage years were spent wandering the fairways in a pair of the original 360s, and now I’m in my 40s I’ve been rocking the EQTs.
The ZG23s have what Adidas call “Lightstrike cushioning” and “Insite sockliner”, which is really just a technical way of saying they keep your feet snug. But don’t underestimate the importance of that, by any means. You’ll be surprised at how grateful you are when you’re 13 or 14 holes deep into your round.
On the outside, you can expect to find yourself telling your golfing pals about the “Sprintskin synthetic upper with 3D stability wing” and the “Thintech contruction with D-Traxion outsole”. This is what keeps you nice and sturdy through your swing.
The ZG23 is a spiked shoe that performs like a spiked shoe but feels like a spikeless.
As a spiked shoe, you can’t wear these in the clubhouse or drive home in them, of course, but I certainly wasn’t walking off 18 and gagging to get them off and would be absolutely fine if you were, say, hanging around on the patio for a post-round pint.
PROS
- Comfortable straight out of the box
- Sporty styling looks great
- Stable
- Five different colour options
- Fairly priced against competitors
CONS
- They get dirty
- RELATED: Read our full Adidas ZG23 golf shoes review
Sizes: UK 6.6-14.5
Colours: Cloud White/Dark Silver Metallic/Silver Metallic; Cloud White/Lucid Blue/Silver Metallic; Cloud White/Core Black/Semi Solar Red; Cloud White/Collegiate Navy/Solar Gold; Core Black/Dark Silver Metallic/Silver Metallic
More info: Adidas website
Under Armour Hovr Drive 2 Wide golf shoe
At first glance this shoe looks quietly efficient out of the box. The lightweight microfibre upper has a clean appearance with some interest added in the form of detailing over the inner aspect of the toe box.
The lacing system is rather prominent and adds a sporty element to the shoe. It also felt very lightweight, particularly for a spiked shoe. This was confirmed on the scales, coming in at 350 grams in size 7 (EU 41). This is one of the lightest shoes I have tested.
Testing was carried out over two rounds in rainy conditions on my home heathland course. I found the shoe to be extremely comfortable straight out of the box. As the name suggests, this shoe benefits from Hovr cushioning technology in the midsole, which was first seen in Under Armour running shoes. Hovr is a proprietary foam wrapped in a compression fabric designed to provide incredible cushioning and shock absorption with a claim of ‘endless energy return’.
And, as one would expect from UnderArmour, the performance was first class. The lower profile UnderArmour rotational resistance spikes, and assorted other traction points on the sole, ensured that there was no slipping and sliding in the wet conditions.
PROS
- Extremely comfortable.
- Excellent ankle support and grip.
- Lightweight.
CONS
- Not the strongest mid-foot support.
- RELATED: Read our full Under Armour Hovr Drive 2 Wide golf shoes review
Sizes: UK 7-12. (Half sizes to 11)
Colours: Black, White, Grey/black.
More info: Under Armour website
Best Golf Shoes 2023
How do we test golf shoes?
At National Club Golfer, we are passionate about producing accurate and thorough reviews and making sure our testing process is rigorous so we get a good understanding of how each pair of shoes performs.
Each shoe is worn out on the golf course whilst playing golf, so we can get an idea of overall performance in terms of factors like comfort, grip, stability in the golf swing, waterproof protection and how they actually look on the golf course.
What is important when buying Golf shoes?
When buying new golf footwear its important to know what attributes or features you value the most before deciding on a brand or model to buy. For example, do you want spiked or spikeless shoes?
A lot of golfers think comfort is paramount when choosing a shoe, we are going to be standing in them for 3-5 hours right? Some golf shoes on the market have special insoles and cushioned mid-soles designed to keep your feet feeling fresh. Also it’s pretty common for golfers with wide feet to wear the wrong sized pair of golf shoes so its worth getting fit properly.
Grip is vital to good performance on the golf course as any foot slip in dry or wet conditions can not only cause the golf club to swing improperly but may also lead to an injury.
Nearly all golf shoes will either be fully waterproof or offer some kind of water resistance, and this is important as real die-hard golfers play in every weather condition. Having wet feet for 4 hours is not and will never be fun.
How good the shoe looks is of course subjective to personal style, but is important to any player. Do you prefer an athletic-looking shoe, or are you more traditional? Does your shoe offer on-course off-course style or do you want shoes purely for the course? Does the style of shoe you like have the best colour options for your golfing wardrobe?
Price is the last factor to consider. With the models above we have tried to find shoes at all different price points so if you want a shoe at a lower cost, you can get one. Or if you want to spend more, you can do that too. Importantly there is something for everyone.
What brands produce the best golf shoes?
All of the products in this best golf shoes 2023 article are picked from the brands that offer what we believe to be the best shoes on the market.
Do any pros wear spikeless golf shoes on tour?
As you will see on TV when watching the PGA, LPGA & DP World Tour, professionals wear both spiked and spikeless golf shoes, depending on their preference.
Some tour players are looking for extra stability and grip for maximum power creation that a spiked golf shoe might offer, and others are looking for the comfort and style that spikeless golf shoes offer. Some tour players prefer a running shoe style, and others a traditional classic leather shoe; there really isn’t a hard or fast rule as to what tour players wear.
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