Golf Shoes for Every Season, Style and Swing
Golf shoes provide stability through the swing, grip on grass and comfort across eighteen holes. The right pair changes with the season, with waterproof models for winter and lightweight ones for summer. This guide covers the best golf shoes for men and women, spiked and spikeless, plus how to choose and care for yours.
What to look for in a golf shoe
A golf shoe is built around three things: stability, grip and comfort. Stability comes from a structured midsole that supports your foot through the swing. Grip is delivered by either spikes or a textured spikeless outsole. Comfort comes from cushioning, fit and breathable upper materials.
So, do golf shoes make a difference? Yes, particularly compared to standard trainers. Golf shoes are engineered for the lateral forces of a golf swing, which everyday trainers are not. The right pair gives you a more reliable stance, better traction in wet grass, and the support to walk for hours without fatigue.
The biggest decision for most golfers is spiked or spikeless. Spiked golf shoes use replaceable soft spike cleats for maximum traction, ideal for hilly courses, wet conditions and serious competitive play. Spikeless golf shoes use moulded outsole patterns instead, offering versatility you can wear from car park to clubhouse to course.
The best spiked golf shoes tend to prioritise traction and stability over off-course wearability. The best spikeless golf shoes balance grip with the comfort of a trainer-style fit. If you play in changeable UK conditions and want one pair for everything, spikeless is usually the better choice. If you play competitively or on undulating courses, spiked still has the edge.
How should your golf shoes fit? Snug at the heel and midfoot, with a thumb's width of space at the toe. A loose-fitting golf shoe will cost you stability through the swing. Most golfers find a slightly more secure fit than their everyday trainer size works best.
Best golf shoes for men
The right pair of men's golf shoes balances stability through the swing with all-day comfort across the course. The best golf shoes UK club golfers reach for tend to come from a handful of trusted ranges.
Skechers GO Golf shoes have become a go-to choice for UK club golfers, combining cushioned comfort with golf-specific stability features. The Slip-ins GO Golf Flight is a versatile starting point, while the Slip-ins Waterproof GO Golf Prestige adds a more performance-led upper for serious players.
For competitive play, the Slip-ins Golf Waterproof Blade Tour is the choice of Skechers Tour ambassador Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion and a multiple winner on the PGA and DP World Tours, most recently across the 2025 and 2026 seasons. It pairs a leather-like Clarino upper with a Softspikes Tour Flex Pro outsole, built for the demands of tournament play.
For wet conditions, men's waterproof golf shoes such as the Slip-ins Golf Waterproof Flow SI and Slip-ins Waterproof GO Golf Prestige SL are essential, with sealed uppers built for British weather. Across the Skechers golf shoes for men range, the priorities stay consistent: stability for the swing, grip for the surface, and cushioning that holds up across eighteen holes.
Best golf shoes for women
Women's golf shoes are designed around a female-specific last, with narrower heels and contoured midfoot support that men's golf shoes do not offer. Whether you are searching for ladies golf shoes for casual rounds or competitive play, fit and stability are the two non-negotiables.
The Skechers women's golf shoes range covers everything from everyday rounds to competitive play traction. Skechers ambassador and LPGA major champion Brooke Henderson leads the range on tour. For everyday rounds, the Waterproof GO Golf Jasmine 2 offers a supportive silhouette with EcoFlight cushioning and a spikeless outsole. For wet conditions, ladies waterproof golf shoes like the Slip-ins Golf Waterproof Flow SI keep feet dry without compromising on the lightweight feel many women golfers prefer.
For a sportier style, womens golf shoes such as the Slip-ins GO Golf Flight take cues from athletic trainers while delivering golf-specific traction. For a more elegant silhouette, the Waterproof Relaxed Fit GO Golf Drive 6 offers a full-grain leather upper that works on traditional courses.
Slip-in and slip-on golf shoes
Slip-in golf shoes use a hands-free entry system that lets you step into the shoe without bending down or using your hands. Skechers slip in golf shoes pioneered this format and remain the leading option in the UK for golfers who value convenience between rounds, on the practice ground or in changing rooms.
The Slip-ins Golf Waterproof Prestige for men features a Heel Pillow that springs back into place after entry, while the Slip-ins Golf Waterproof Flow SI Twist Fit for women offers the same hands-free system with a Twist Fit dial closure for precise fit adjustment.
Traditional slip on golf shoes, without the structured heel mechanism, are also worth considering for casual play or warm-up rounds.
Golf shoes for every season
The UK golf season runs year-round, and the best golf shoes change with the weather. Winter and autumn rounds call for waterproofing and warmth. Spring and summer rounds call for breathability and lightweight construction:
- Winter and autumn golf shoes: Waterproof golf shoes are essential for autumn and winter play, when morning dew, frost and unexpected rain are part of nearly every round. The best waterproof golf shoes pair a sealed membrane with a grippy outsole that holds firm in wet grass.
- Spring and summer golf shoes: Summer golf shoes prioritise breathability and weight. Lightweight materials, mesh panels and softer cushioning suit warm-weather play, where soggy fairways are rarer and overheating is the bigger risk. Spikeless designs work especially well in dry conditions, offering versatility from car park to clubhouse to course.
How to care for golf shoes
To keep golf shoes performing across multiple seasons, follow four basic steps:
- Brush off grass and mud after every round, before it dries into the outsole and upper.
- Wipe the upper with a damp cloth and let the shoes air-dry at room temperature. Avoid radiators and tumble dryers, as direct heat damages the membrane and adhesives.
- Use shoe trees or stuff with newspaper to hold the shape while drying, especially after wet rounds.
- Reapply a waterproofing spray to waterproof golf shoes every few months, as the factory water-repellent finish wears off over time.
Replace spikes on spiked golf shoes when the cleats show visible wear, typically every twenty to thirty rounds depending on conditions. Spikeless outsoles last longer but eventually lose grip, with most golfers replacing spikeless shoes after two to three full seasons. Stored properly and reproofed when needed, a good pair of golf shoes will see you through several seasons of British golf.
Yes. Golf shoes provide stability through the swing, grip on wet grass and support across four hours of walking, which standard trainers are not designed for.
Golf shoes have outsoles built for lateral stability and grass traction, often with spikes or moulded grip patterns. Trainers are designed for forward motion on hard surfaces. Wearing trainers to play golf compromises both your swing and your traction.
At most UK clubs, traditional trainers are not permitted on the course, though they are usually fine on the practice ground. Always check the dress code at your club.
Spikeless golf shoes can be worn casually, since they look like trainers and have no protruding spikes. Spiked golf shoes are not designed for everyday wear, as the cleats damage hard surfaces.
Neither is universally better. Spikeless golf shoes offer versatility and comfort, while spiked golf shoes offer maximum traction in wet conditions. Most casual golfers prefer spikeless. Many competitive golfers still prefer spiked.
Snug at the heel and midfoot, with around a thumb's width of space at the toe. A loose golf shoe loses stability through the swing.
A well-maintained pair of golf shoes lasts two to three full seasons, depending on how often you play and the conditions. Spikes can be replaced. Outsoles cannot.
Yes, particularly if you play more than a handful of rounds a year. The combination of stability, grip and walking comfort improves both performance and enjoyment of the game.
Yes, for any golfer playing year-round in the UK. Morning dew, frost and rain are common across most of the year, and waterproof golf shoes prevent the discomfort and distraction of wet feet across a four-hour round. Even fair-weather golfers benefit from water-resistant protection for damp grass.
Brush off grass and mud after each round, then wipe the upper with a damp cloth. Air-dry at room temperature, away from direct heat. Reapply a waterproofing spray every few months to maintain the water-repellent finish.
You have successfully logged in.