Golf shoes have evolved considerably over the last decade or so. Today’s best sellers are lighter, more athletic, less rigid and friendlier for off-course use.
To most, that sounds like your regular sports shoe. So, what’s the difference between specialist golf footwear and ordinary trainers? Are golf shoes still relevant in 2026?
As is the case with most aspects of golf attire, there has been a modern styling tweak to the majority of golf specific shoes. They have come a long way from the heavy, leather designs that we traditionally associate with the game.
It has got to the point, that with running shoes, gym trainers and casual trainers becoming increasingly more versatile, it can be tempting to refrain from buying golf shoes altogether.
But, according to Chris Murtagh, Head of Footwear Optimisation at Under Armour, this isn’t an optimal approach. He believes different types of athletic footwear are designed for very different movements. As such, what you wear on your feet could be affecting your performance more than you realise.
“I would much prefer someone to play in the shoes that they wear,” he said.
“I think the problem with athletic shoes is there are so many different ones these days. If you’re using a genuine runner that is designed to propel you in a forward motion, that’s going to greatly inhibit the ability for you to coil properly.
“So, I think often practicing in shoes which are not golf shoes is very detrimental.”
