How Should Golf Shoes Fit – It Depends on the Brand

Every aspect of your gear can impact your game, and one often-overlooked hero could be your golf shoes.

Imagine this – you step onto the tee box, ready to unleash your best swing, but your shoes feel off. Sound familiar?

Did you know that according to FootJoy’s research, a whopping 70% of golfers are actually in the wrong size shoe?

For many, it’s either too long, too wide, or a combination of both.

In today’s article, we’re going to be diving into the nitty-gritty of how your golf shoes should fit so you can focus on perfecting your swing without any distractions and be comfortable through all 18 holes.

Let’s dive right into it…

Related: If you’re thinking about getting some new boots, this is how boots should fit.

How Should Golf Shoes Fit

Many times, people with wide fit often get a bigger size to try to accommodate their wide feet but end up with shoes that are too long. Instead, if you have a wide foot, opt for the wider version in your actual size.

A good golf shoe is crafted to provide you with optimal comfort, support, and grip, especially considering the undulating terrain of the golf course.

Unlike your casual shoes, which can afford a slightly looser fit, your golf shoe should fit comfortably snug. It should hug your foot securely for that better performance on the course.

Having too much room in your golf shoe can lead to your foot moving around, potentially causing blisters. Conversely, if the shoe is too tight, it will be uncomfortable to wear.

When you slide your foot into your golf shoe and hear that satisfying “whoosh” noise, it indicates that you are properly squeezing out the excess air and that’s the sound of a good fit.

If you can pinch the leather on the top of the shoe, you’ll notice creasing and bunching, indicating that the shoe is too big. Excessive creasing across your shoes can lead to cracking and loss of support over time.

Keep in mind that most people have one foot that’s slightly bigger than the other. If this applies to you, it’s best to size your shoes based on the measurements of your larger foot.

Once you’ve measured your feet using a Brannock device, try on both shoes and give them a gentle twist. Pay attention to how they feel. Are they providing adequate support? Are they comfortable? Do they meet your expectations in terms of performance?

Related: Ever wonder how loafers should fit and feel?

FootJoy

When it comes to FootJoy golf shoes, one great aspect is that they typically fit true to size. Stick to your regular size for a secure fit as their shoes provide a secure fit. However, if you have wider feet, try out their wider models for added comfort.

Remember to use your size charts if you’re looking for what size you are, but again, FootJoy golf shoes run very true to size.

Footjoy Fuel

In terms of the fit of these shoes, I would say it’s quite sporty and just kind of feels like a pair of trainers. There’s enough room in the toe box area so you won’t really feel any rubbing on the sides.

They typically run true to size, but if you have narrow feet, you might need to go down a half size.

Footjoy Hyperflex Carbon

If you have narrow feet, you might notice that these shoes run about half a size big. In fact, you could even consider going down a full size for a snug fit, though going for a half size down can still offer some wiggle room.

On the flip side, if you have wider feet, going down half a size may not be necessary at all. Instead, you might want to see if you can get a wide version in these shoes.

Because the tongue is integrated into the upper and you’ve got this kind of sock-like collar, they’re not necessarily the easiest shoes to get on and off if you’ve got a wide foot.

Sqairz Arrow

The first thing that you notice with the Sqairz Arrow is how much room you’ve got in the toe box area.

Sqairz golf are designed with this square shape in mind to really give you as much room as you can possibly have in that toe box area and to let your feet sit naturally as they would.

I’ve got to say it is quite a weird sensation initially just because we’re so used to golf shoes being a little bit tighter in that toe box area.

In regards to fit and sizing, you can go true to size with these, but they just generally feel like there is quite a lot of bulkiness to them.

So, I think you should probably size down in Sqairz golf shoes, but if you’re between sizes, you should definitely go down a half size.

Sqairz Speed

I went down to 8.5 from the 9 and I can tell you I got a much better fit by going down that half a size.

The fit of these shoes is quite unique and that’s because you’ve got a lot of room in that toe box area because of this “square philosophy” that they’ve used in these shoes.

The team at Sqairz believe that golf shoes should not squash your feet up in the toe box. Instead, they should let you splay your toes out naturally.

The whole point of that is that if you can have a comfortable foot sitting naturally in the toe box area, then you’re going to have better balance as well as a better ability to really put as much force and power into your golf shots.

Rory McIlroy

I would say the Rory McIlroy are true to size although they are quite narrow. There’s not a huge amount of room above your toes; it’s quite a shallow toebox.

Callaway Nitro Pro

Callaway golf shoes feel pretty good and have plenty of width. It’s a good fit and it’s spot on. There’s not loads of room and I don’t think I would go half a size up, but if you’re between sizes, I would probably go half up with Callaway golf shoes.

Under Armour

Under Armour shoes are some of the most comfortable shoes you’ll wear. They generally have a good width to them as well and they’re not too narrow.

When it comes to the fit guide, Under Armour golf shoes are true to size and play out at the same size as whatever those standard brands of shoes. The fit feels super solid to swing in and fits absolutely spot on.

Puma Proadapt

The Puma Proadapt is nice and wide in the middle and I definitely wouldn’t go a size up. I would stay with my true size to the high street kind of sizing.

If anything, because of the width, if you are between sizes, I would go half a size down possibly, but for me, I would stay in my size.

Skechers Go Golf

The fitting is very good and it’s true to size. It fits nice and grabs the heel and toe area really well while giving you a little bit of width.

So, if you’re looking at some Skechers golf shoes, whatever you are in other brands of shoes, barring Adidas, I would say stay with the same size.

New Balance

If you’re thinking of treating yourself to some New Balance shoes, stay true to whatever size you are in your regular shoe.

What I love about them is they’ve got quite a broad middle part, giving them a super comfortable feel.

If you like the New Balance trainers and you like how comfortable they are, you’re probably going to love how comfortable their golf shoes are as well.

Adidas MC80

Adidas golf shoes are notorious for being a bit narrow.

You might need to go up half a size, which is what most golfers have to do with almost all Adidas golf shoes.

You can probably get away with going true to size, but having just a little more wiggle room in the toebox is a good thing.

If you have wide foot, I would certainly consider looking at another brand that offers a dedicated wide fit version such as the FootJoy Premier Range.

Adidas Ultraboost

In terms of fit, these are coming up pretty small. I would definitely go up half the size to get a better fit.

One thing to note in terms of the fit is because this is a one-piece upper construction and there’s no separate tongue, they can be a little bit narrow to get on.

Also, if you’ve got a higher arch, you might find it a little bit tricky to actually get your foot in these shoes to then wear them out on the course.

Nike Infinity Pro 2

What I can say is that the Infinity Pro 2 do seem to come up pretty small. You might need to go up half a size, but some might even want to consider going up a whole size.

If you have narrow feet, you’ll find these very close fitting. They feel not particularly wide and there’s not a huge amount of room above your toes on the toe box.

If you’ve got particularly wide feet, then you’re definitely going to want to try and get the wide version of these shoes.

Or, if you’re someone that just likes a lot of room in your toe box area and you don’t like your feet feeling particularly close to the upper, these probably aren’t going to be the shoes for you.

Next, why is golf shoe-fitting important?

Benefits of Correct Golf Shoe Fitting

To get the most out of your golf shoes, you really need to be the right size.

Performance

You need to have a real stable platform to hit from. So, if your golf shoe is too big, your foot will actually slide around in the shoe during the golf swing. When your foot slides around in the golf shoe, you actually lose traction with the ground.

This graph shows that a golf shoe which is correctly fitted can provide 6 – 21% increase in performance which can be generated during the swing.

Away from the performance side of things is that a correctly fitted golf shoe will actually last a lot longer.

Longevity

When your foot is sliding around and hitting against both sides of the shoe, it’s not just uncomfortable—it’s also putting a ton of stress on that leather. This constant pressure can cause the leather to separate from the sole unit, and over time, guess what? Your shoe starts stretching out, getting bigger and bigger.

You know, having shoes that are too wide isn’t just about the fit; it can also cause some real trouble with the leather. When your shoes are too roomy, the leather tends to bunch up, especially where your feet flex. And what happens next? Cracks start forming right at the front of your shoes.

Here’s the thing many golfers overlook: not everyone needs those extra-wide shoes they think they do. It’s a common misconception. In reality, most golfers are perfectly fine with medium to wide width shoes.

Thankfully, many golf companies are catching on to this and offering various widths for their shoe models. Take FootJoy’s Icon Black, for example, their top-of-the-line category. You can get it in narrow, medium, and wide widths, catering to different foot sizes.

Golf Shoe Sizing FAQs

Should your golf shoes be tight or loose?

Comfort is king! When you slip into a new pair of golf shoes, they should feel snug and secure without feeling like they’re squeezing the life out of your feet. A well-fitted golf shoe is gives you stability and control and prevents those pesky blisters. Tight shoes can turn your round of golf into a painful ordeal.

Where should your toes be in golf shoes?

You want to leave about half an inch of space between your longest toe and the end of your shoe. You don’t want them cramped up and feeling like they’re in a shoebox, right? That extra half-inch of space ensures that your toes have enough freedom without sliding around too much inside the shoe.

Should I half size up on golf shoes?

It depends. Every brand has its own sizing quirks, and your foot shape plays a part too. When you slip into a pair of golf shoes, it’s all about how they feel. If they’re a bit too tight, going a half size up can give your toes some breathing room. If they fit way too big, it’s time to downsize by half.

That pretty much wraps this article up! I hope now you’ve got a good grasp on how your golf shoes should fit. Remember, it’s all about finding that balance between comfort and performance.

So, take those sizing tips to heart, try on a few pairs, and let your feet guide you to the perfect fit.