From: kim@guppy.uucp (Isaac Kim)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.golf
Subject: Re: golf shoes
Date: 21 Dec 1992 06:31:23 GMT
Organization: UC San Diego
NNTP-Posting-Host: guppy.ucsd.edu

In article <2933867890.0.p00168@psilink.com> "James F. Tims" <p00168@psilink.com> writes:>>DATE:   Fri, 18 Dec 1992 05:00:26 GMT
>>FROM:   Daniel M Racicot <dmr@apmaths.uwo.ca>
>>
>>I have a few questions about shoes. I'm a beginner but would like to get 
>>some for Xmas but don't have a clue what to look for.  
>>
>>I'm a pretty bad player (110-115) so is it even worth getting them?
>>What are the good brands? I really want something waterproof.
>>
>>Any help would be appreciated.
>>Dan
>>dmr@apmaths.uwo.ca
>
>Do you need golf shoes?  Absolutely, positively, without a doubt, yes 
>you do.  Even if they don't help your game, they could save you a broken 
>leg the next time you try hitting off a sidehill lie in the rain.  
>Simply walking the course becomes easier -- no sliding up or downhill --

Golf shoes are only useful when it is wet outside.  I really believe
that they become a crutch when the ground is dry and the traction is
good with just a pair of tennis shoes.  Golf shoes allow you to get
away with an unbalanced golf swing, which if not corrected will lead
to serious fundamental weight shift problems like swaying too much.
If you play in an area where it rains alot, I would recommend a pair
of waterproof golf shoes.  But here in San Diego, I have played golf
for 6 years in Nike cross-trainer athetic shoes and have had no
problems with traction.  I used to play with Footjoy Classics, but 
found them to be a pain because they were not as comfortable as my
tennis shoes.  They also seemed like a high maintenance item because 
you always seem to be cleaning or polishing them, or replacing
spikes. etc.  After I wore out the Footjoys in 4 years, I switched to 
just wearing my cross-trainers and did not notice any performance 
difference.  I have managed to maintain a single digit handicap 
after the switch from spikes to tennis shoes.  I even remember a Golf 
Digest tip that some PGA pros practice in tennis shoes if they are having
balance and weight shift problems.  If you can hit them just as well
with tennis shoes on the range, why not wear them on the course?  

>good golf shoes are made for walking.  There is also a stigma attached 
>to golfers who don't wear golf shoes, just for a cultural motivation.  

This alledged STIGMA is pure BULLSHIT and is what gives golf a bad 
name as an elitest sport among the non-golfers.  Part of what drives 
potential new golfers away from the sport is this IMAGE thing that 
you have to buy all of these things to look like a golfer before you
can try the sport.  Nothing gives me more pleasure than joining up 
with some guy who thinks he is a good golfer because he dresses like 
a PGA golf professional.  This "neat guy" is usually wearing his nice 
FootJoy Classic golf shoes, his polyester Hagger golf slacks which are
a little too high and tight around the waist, and some golf shirt with
a PGA West or Pebble Beach crest.  He also usually has a huge tour leather
bag which he pulls or has mounted in the golf cart, which are filled 
with graphite shafted Ping Zings and Big Bertha woods.  I guess I normally
look like that kid in the Top Flite commercials (only 20 years older and
I don't have a band-aid holding the whipping down on my driver).  I
sometimes get that disapproving "you have a stigma attached to you
since you aren't wearin golf shoes" look.  I just laugh at him and 
usually go on to whip his butt on the golf course.

When I went home to Calgary last summer, I played a few rounds in the 
rain and found that slipage was not that much of a problem in my tennis
shoes.  I really think that after playing in tennis shoes for so long, 
I do have better balance in my swing.  As well, your tempo is a little
better because if you swing too hard, you end up slipping away.  The 
only problem was that my feet were soaked.  Waterproof shoes would have
been nice. 

>As for your 110-115, I think a good pair of shoes could actually trim a 
>few shots off that, since a just a few slips could account for quite a 
>few shots during the course of a round.  

If you are shooting 110-115, that $100 spent on golf shoes
would be much better spent on some good golf lessons.

>  ,...,.,,
> /666;    ',    jim tims
>////;    _~ -   p00168@psilink.com

Isaac (kim@bull.ucsd.edu)