Athletic footwear performs all kinds of functions—from protecting your feet to improving your gait to boosting the energy you generate with the ground. Take HOKA running shoes, for example. Their marshmallow-soft midsole and propulsive sole designs have earned them a reputation for superb comfort and support. That makes them a great shoe for pounding the pavement and a terrible choice for golf. In fact, cloud-like footwear can actually hurt your game.
For the best results, you need golf footwear that strikes a delicate balance between long-lasting comfort and maximum performance. Here’s why SQAIRZ shoes are the right equipment for the job.
Why you need cushioning
When you walk, run, or jump, each foot strike against the ground triggers vibrations throughout your body. Cushioning in a shoe’s midsole absorbs some of the force of this impact, easing the stress and strain on your joints, bones, and muscles. Well-constructed midsoles also offer support along the foot arch and prevent overpronation (rolling your foot too far inward).
The downside of ultra-cushy shoes
Insufficient cushioning can lead to sore feet and increase your risk of injury, but it’s also possible—and common—to overdo it. “I think people confuse soft with stable,” says Terry Hashimoto, founder of Golf Rehab and co-developer of the BodiTrak pressure mapping system. “It’s difficult to play in very soft shoes because you don't have any stability. Just imagine standing on two pillows and trying to swing. The reality is that you’re going to be more comfortable in a stable shoe.”
For golfers who spend long hours on their feet, are prone to injuries, or just love a slightly softer shoe, Terry’s top choice is the ProS2. The ProS2—along with all new 2024 models—combines a responsive NRG-Foam midsole with a removable, dual-density, compression foam insole for all-day comfort. SQAIRZ’s integrated heel stabilizer enhances support for the heel, ankle, and arch, while the patented design of our famous SQAIRZ toe box allows toes to spread naturally, promoting balance.
Check the fit
If your feet are sore and tired at the end of every game, the midsole isn’t the only possible culprit. A common source of foot fatigue is tension in the foot created from wearing shoes that are ill-fitted or badly designed. “I would say that with 80% of golfers, the first thing they want to do when they’re done playing is get their shoes off,” says SQAIRZ founder and CEO Robert Winskowicz. “You might not notice it, but your foot’s probably been moving around inside your shoe all day—back and forth, left and right. That’s creating fatigue, particularly when you're on an uneven surface.”
Like all SQAIRZ shoes, the SPEED2 was designed on a custom “last”—three-dimensional model—that accurately simulates a natural foot shape and function. Patented Sta-Put laces gently secure the 100% waterproof upper and breathable, textured tongue to the foot—no slipping, sliding, or toe-clenching. External TPU carbon film offers heel to arch stability, preventing wobbling and rolling, and over 290 points of penetrating ground contact on the outsole for all-terrain traction.
360-degree structure
Advanced players, power hitters, and pros need to pay particular attention to the overall structural integrity of their shoes if they want to maximize the force driven into the ball. Sneaker-like shoes won’t cut it. “The mindset is that they’ll be better for you because they’re lightweight,” Bob says, “but that kind of shoe isn’t providing enough structure for a powerful swing, so it actually works against you.”
SQAIRZ’s VELO pairs a dual-density compression midsole under the foot with breakthrough SQAIRZ NRG-Direct Technology in the upper shoe. This sturdy, hot-melt adhesion spans the top and sides of the midfoot and is locked in place with a supplemental LaceLock system. Studies demonstrate this winning combination generates an average increase of 12 yards of distance and 3.9 miles per hour in swing speed and tightens dispersion by 30%.
Which pair of SQAIRZ will become your essential equipment? Check out our 2024 line to find your new favorite shoes.