Practice the Way You Play???

Follow Thread

By Gordon B

  • 0 Likes
  • 20 Replies
  1. Gordon B

    Gordon B
    Tucson, AZ

    We were having a discussion over lunch today about what shoes people wear when hitting balls/practicing.  There were some who said that when hitting balls on the range, chipping, etc you wear golf shoes because that is how you play on the course.  Others were of the opinion that tennis shoes were better for practice because it forces you to make a controlled swing.  Not talking about running shoes or flip-slops, but decent tennis shoes.  Also didn't count sand practice or putting.

    Probably one of those issues that ends with "so what" but was curious.  

    PS - no one advocated hitting balls/practicing in bare feet.

  2. Ski & Tee Dave

    Ski & Tee Dave
    Philadelphia, PA

    Great topic Gordon!  I am a big advocate of the "Practice How You Play" theory.  I always wear my golf shoes at the driving range as well as the clothes I would wear on the course.  One aspect I have started evaluating is any time I get a new golf shirt, I always wear it on the range to try it out before going on the course to make sure it is comfortable and not restrictive.

    The only time I practice in bare feet is hitting balls on the beach when on vacation.

  3. Bomber3

    Bomber3
    Lake St Louis, MO

    Military

    I always wear golf shoes when practicing (full shots, short pitches & chips and putting).  I guess this stems from years of working with military pilots while working for Boeing (train like you fight).

  4. Gordon B

    Gordon B
    Tucson, AZ

    Barry B said:

    I always wear golf shoes when practicing (full shots, short pitches & chips and putting).  I guess this stems from years of working with military pilots while working for Boeing (train like you fight).

    That term brings back so many memories. I almost used it in the original post. I was a 135 navigator for many, many years.
  5. Chris A

    Chris A
    Woodstock, GA

    FJ golf shoes at all time on the coarse. Practicing and playing. 

  6. Bob T

    Bob T
    East Otis, MA

    Different from when I'm golfing I wear sneakers, sandals or I'm barefooted while practicing.  On the coarse, of course, I wear golf shoes for the best traction.  Never gave it a thought, until now!!  Good discussion!!!!!

  7. John C

    John C
    Hopkins, MN

    Footjoy golf shoes, always.  With the Boa lacing system. I have some neuropathy in my left foot so stability is an issue and that lacing system permits me to get a more stable connection with the ground. 

  8. Todd T

    Todd T
    San Diego, CA

    Military

    Golf attire, changing clubs after every ball and constant.y changing targets..  Unless I'm working on a specific drill, then I'll stick with one club!

  9. Keith M

    Keith M
    Acworth, GA

    Great question.  Unless I forget to put my golf shoes in the car, I always wear golf shoes to practice.  I prefer their support, particularly in the toes for when I make the turn to finish.  I get stiffness in my right big toe if I don't wear more supportive golf shoes. 

  10. Hotsauce

    Hotsauce
    Georgetown MA

    I have a older pair of Icons that I use as range shoes.  Sometimes I'll wear my contour causals as well.  Not really a big deal, but I wouldn't wear anything other than some type of golf shoes if I'm practicing golf.

  11. Mike C

    Mike C
    Dallas, TX

    Interesting topic that I have never really thought of before. I never really considered wearing anything other than golf shoes to practice golf.  To me, you want your range conditions to be as close as possible to what you will encounter on the course.  if you wear golf shoes to play golf, then you should wear them to practice.

    The concept of wearing something with less traction in order to get a more balanced swing tempo is a good point, and it sounds like this may be a good alternative if you have a practice session aimed just on balance and tempo.  I guess this would be similar to somebody putting a towel under their arm when practicing to work on keeping their elbow in place.  However, for me I will stick to wearing golf shoes when I practice for the reasons mentioned above.

  12. andy r

    andy r
    Cheshire, CT

    I can see their point in that balance is extremely important but I rarely practice in anything other than golf shoes. However I focus greatly on tempo when I practice. I see a lot of people of the " grip it and rip it variety on the range who swing so hard that you know balance and tempo are not any of their swing keys.
  13. Steve H

    Steve H
    Clearfield, UT

    Okay...I won't advocate playing in bare feet.  But...if by chance you are have swing problems with balance, swing speed, control, take away etc.  Not a bad thing to swing a club and play a pratice round in bare feet.  Just saying that it works.

  14. Ben A

    Ben A
    Los Gatos, CA

    I practice either with golf shoes on, or barefoot... most often barefoot.

    ;-)

  15. NCBob

    NCBob
    Hampstead, NC

    I do a little of tennis shoes, golf shoes, and I will practice putting in dress shoes.  All depends on how much time I have.  Using the tennis shoes helps my balance.  I think wearing golf shoes is really the best.  My problem is I have so many types of FJ shoes and they all feel different, soft spikes or no spikes, casuals or Dry Joys Tour to M project.  I wear what I feel like that day.

  16. Spudstarch

    Spudstarch
    Walnut Creek, CA

    depends on the ground that I have to stand upon. For grass ranges and ranges-that-think-they-are grass-ranges-but-are-just-sand-because-you-are-standing-in-a-giant-divot,  I'll wear golf shoes. For rubber mats and some plastic covered foam mats, I will wear tennis shoes.

    My primary reason is that I don't want to hurt myself by slipping. 

  17. Eric

    Eric
    Eagan, MN

    Always an interesting  topic to discuss.  For me when I am outside I am always wearing golf shoes, because that is how I play.  During the winter, when I am indoors, I typically wear tennis shoes.  For me there is a different feel to wearing tennis shoes than golf shoes while hitting golf balls.

  18. Speedy

    Speedy
    East Coast, NH

    Great topic Gordon..  If I'm just hitting the range i'll wear a t-shirt and basketball short but I definitely wear my golf shoes, no doubt about that. 

    But i did learn one thing earlier this summer while attending a golf school in VT, the instructor told us that while we're on the range always aim for a target.  Don't just hit.   After warming up, you should play a "few holes" without the putting of course.  So if you're familiar with a course, play it out on the range.   He told us (may not have the right name) but Nick Faldo use to do this a lot.  He would play a whole 18 holes on the range before going out..  It's a good way to use a different club instead of hitting one club over and over and over...  

    Of course the range balls are always in tough shape so we need to keep that in mind.. 

    I don't get the bare feet thing but if it makes you happy, have at it.

     

  19. Dr. Kovatchian

    Dr. Kovatchian
    Carlsbad

    Always wear my FootJoys.

    I have a pair for practice and bad weather...a second pair for rounds and tournaments...a third pair in a box ready to put into the rotation.

    Dr. K

  20. Steve L

    Steve L
    Framingham, MA

    I try to practice in many different types of clothing and weather conditions.  I never like to feel uncomfortable with my swing because I am not used to the differences in clothing or layers etc.  Here in New England we have too many jokes about the weather and how quickly it can change but it does allow you to practice in all tempurtures and conditions.  

    As for footwear, I hardly ever play without my golf shoes , however I am confident that my score would vary very little if any.  I actually like to practice some of the time  barefoot as it allows me to feel my weight shift, ground force and balance easier than with shoes.  I'm surprised that more of you don't .  many great teachers including SF advocate it.  

  21. N Anthony S

    N Anthony S
    Virginia Beach, VA

    I always dress to play.  I try to stay as consistant as possible with playing conditions.  The only difference is that I may wear a different pair of golf shoes than the ones I usually play in.

Please login to post a comment.

Sign In

Haven't registered for Team Titleist yet?

Sign Up