With the golf equipment industry always evolving and coming out with new technology, one thing that sometimes goes overlooked is footwear. The shoes that you wear on the golf course should not be ignored. I was asked a question about this very topic on the blog and whether or not wearing tennis shoes or other kinds of sports shoes can hinder our performance. I think the answer depends on what kind of movement is possible in whatever shoes you're wearing.
For instance, DJ sometimes will practice in sandals or "flip-flops." The reason he can get away with this is because the sandals don't resist his ability to roll his front foot slightly, which is a key element in the Peak Performance Golf Swing. We roll the front foot slightly instead of locking and straightening our front leg, which can cause chronic knee problems over time (i.e. Tiger Woods). I like to wear golf shoes whenever I practice or play, but they must allow for this rolling of the front foot. Some shoes, like tennis shoes or basketball shoes, are made so that your ankles are protected from being rolled so you shouldn't be wearing them. You should always wear what is most comfortable, however if you're having some problems with your golf swing, check out your footwear.
Footwork is very important in any golf swing, so our shoes should be the last thing that we have to worry about. As long as you have the proper footwear which allows for proper footwork, then you're already a "step" ahead of the competition!
Keep it vertical,
The Surge!
If you can't view the YouTube video above try CLICKING HERE. You must allow popups from this site for the link to work.