What golf shoes do pros wear?

Amateur golfers and active professionals alike are required to wear golf shoes whenever in play.

Unlike some other sports, the variations in golf shoe style and technology are profound, with literally thousands of options players can take advantage of.

But golfers seeking to lower their score as much as possible often wonder which pair of golf shoes are worn by their low-handicap heroes – and whether they’re available to purchase.

Turns out, yes! For the most part, all the golf shoes worn by the world’s most famous players are available for anyone to buy – right here at GolfShoes.co.uk. 

With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at some of the commonalities between the golf footwear worn by the pros, so you can choose the right golf shoes for your game and emulate your golfing idols.

The types of golf shoes professionals wear during play

Spiked golf shoes

They might not be the best-selling type of golf shoe anymore, with many modern golf shoes now being made without spikes, but spiked golf shoes remain the gold standard during professional play.

In fact, according to Amateur Golf, over 80% of PGA professionals still stick with good old-fashioned spiked shoes every time they play.

But why? The answer is simple: stability and consistency.

Regardless of how much more convenient or comfortable spikeless golf shoes may be, there’s no denying that to achieve the best results, spiked golf shoes are the way to go.

Because the spikes grip the ground below more effectively than their spikeless counterparts, professional golfers can generate awesome power and accuracy in every strike.

By preventing minor movement mid-swing, the pros enjoy the accuracy and distance many amateurs only dream of.

If it's been a while since you wore spiked shoes, don't worry, the metal spikes are all gone and have been replaced with more malleable soft spikes, to the relief of greenkeepers everywhere.

Leather golf shoes

Another clear trait of the majority of golf shoes worn by pros is leather.

Leather has been used in golf shoe manufacture since the earliest days of the sport and, given its use in formal shoe production in general, it’s no wonder.

However, leather golf shoes offer golfers numerous advantages when trying to traverse tricky golf course terrain.

Durability is one. Full-grain leather is a particularly hardy material that will last for years if treated right, making it an easy choice when producing a premium golf shoe.

Another is waterproofing (more on this in a moment). Because leather is a naturally waterproof material, it has been used for hundreds of years to defend against the elements. For this reason, leather golf shoes are ideal when unexpected downpours come your way and you don’t want to be stuck with soggy socks for the rest of your round.

But beyond their practical uses, leather golf shoes simply look great, often carrying a timeless style that draws the eye and presents a formal, high-end appearance many professionals swear by. The FootJoy Premier Series is a prime example, still worn by many professionals to this day.

Waterproof golf shoes

As we just mentioned, an added benefit of leather golf shoes is that many of them are also waterproof.

But this waterproofing quality isn’t just a happy extra – it’s a necessity for professionals who don’t want their game to be negatively affected if the rain begins to fall.

The rain causes enough problems as it is, turning fairways into potentially sodden stretches that swallow golf balls whole and make it nearly impossible to hit a completely clean shot.

However, when it comes to your scores, dry feet could be the difference between having the focus you need to get the job done and being distracted to the point you start making silly mistakes. This is what makes waterproof golf shoes a must-have for many active pros.

Do professionals wear spikeless golf shoes?

While spiked golf shoes are more widely used by professionals, some do choose to use spikeless golf shoes.

PGA Tour player Max Homa, for instance, has been known to don spikeless shoes, rather than spiked alternatives.

This may be a little against the status quo but, for those players who wear spikeless shoes regularly, there’s no doubt the comfort and free-feeling they offer. If you’re willing to sacrifice a little control to achieve this, spikeless shoes might be the best option for you.

Explore the best golf shoes at GolfShoes.co.uk

If you’re ready to grab a pair of stylish golf shoes, just like the ones worn by the world’s best players, you’ll find plenty to choose from at GolfShoes.co.uk.

As an approved UK stockist of the leading brands in the sport, including FootJoy shoes, Nike shoes, adidas shoes, and more, we’ll always have the right golf shoe to take your game to the next level.

Take a look at our selection of high-quality golf shoes at the links above or get in touch with the Golf Shoes team if you have any burning questions we can help with.