IF THE SHOE FITS, IT JUST MAY IMPROVE YOUR GAME
By Bob Forman
Certified Golf Fitness Instructor
M.S. Exercise Physiology
When you think about how much body surface area we have, then realize how little of that is actually in contact with the ground, it’s amazing we can stand on our own two feet. Throw in the nature of golf, its explosive swings and delicate shots, performed on a variety of terrain, and you can really appreciate the need for good ground contact.
Shoes, therefore, play a huge role not only in comfort, but in the ability to hit a good golf shot. A proper shoe fit will offer a round of golf without any thought as to how your feet feel. It’ll also provide that good solid ground contact so essential for balance and stability during all types of golf shots.
A golfer’s gait or stride, similar to those of runners and walkers, should be considered and needs to be assessed. An improper gait can increase injury potential from the ankles to the knees and hips, and all the way up the chain. Even back and shoulder discomfort can be due to a faulty gait.
The most common gait issue is over pronation or an excessive turning in of the foot and ankle during the stride. This results in a wearing of the inner or medial aspect of the underside of the shoe. Less common is under pronation, otherwise known as supination. This is characterized by not enough rolling in of the ankle, and a wear pattern on the outer part of the sole.
The long term impact on the body from either gait pattern has been researched extensively. Running shoes, for years, have helped negate improper gait by providing motion control and additional lateral support for over pronators and more flexibility for supinators. Unfortunately, golf shoe manufacturers have not offered this component. . . until now.
The other issue is the impact a pronated/supinated foot or feet would have during the swing. A golfer whose foot or feet are rolled in during the golf swing will generate more force to the inner aspect of the ankle and knee, while more weight on the outside part of the feet may place additional stress to the outer knee and hip. Long term affect could be pain and discomfort or injury.
Either stance would more than likely also cause the golfer to be somewhat off balance while swinging a golf club. This may have deleterious effects on swing efficiency and desired outcome. This effect would be exacerbated by the lie, which in most cases is uneven, and the ground and gravitational forces placed on the body during the swing.
A golf shoe line that would provide motion control and stability to those golfers who over-pronate and flexibility to those who under-pronate, would “level the playing field.” Not only would this improve comfort and reduce the potential from improper gait injuries, it could enhance balance, swing efficiency, and performance.
Callaway, in 2010, will be introducing just a line of shoes. Long overdue, these shoes may revolutionize the golf shoe industry and the way golfers play the game. Click here to see the new line.
