The crossover market between golf trainers and traditional golf shoes – Golf News

In most cases, golfers can be divided into two distinct categories:

• Those who prefer traditional leather golf shoes, and…
• They are the most valued by modern golf coaches

Both ideas are valid. After all, even though golf trainers seem to be all the rage on courses around the world, there is a reason that some “old” golf shoes are still being produced today.

But there is undoubtedly a new market emerging, which falls neither to the right nor to the left of this argument, instead staying squarely in the middle.

Players who enjoy shoes that offer the best of both worlds. Not exactly a golf trainer, or a traditional shoe. Instead, these golf shoes incorporate elements of both offerings, hoping to please players of all tastes and styles.

Nike, FootJoy and other big brands have all thrown their hat in the ring to create such shoes, many of which are proving to be very popular (more on that in a second).

So what features do many of these golf shoes share – or combine – that make them so attractive? Also, is it better to pick a side, or stick with the tried and tested?

Features available in crossover golf shoes

Full grain leather upper

Leather has been used to produce golf shoes for decades, and for good reason. Not only is it incredibly durable, but it also offers excellent waterproofing qualities; one of the grounds used to build a dwelling in many cultures over the centuries.

While it’s often a feature of traditional style golf shoes, you’d be forgiven for assuming it wouldn’t be present in any trainer style golf shoes. Trainers, after all, are designed to weigh less and offer less resistance to movement.

However, there are a lot of golf shoes on the market today that you can properly read as golf trainers, in fact, they feature full grain leather uppers.

The Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 3 Golf Shoes, for example, have an undeniable trainer aesthetic, with the iconic Nike swoosh carefully stitched into the striking side profile area.

But, upon closer inspection, it’s clear to see that these shoes are arguably more similar to their golf shoe ancestors than most modern trainers, despite their “trendy” and sporty, versatile look.

Shiny leather covers most of the shoe, with a slightly wrinkled leather that you wouldn’t normally see on early twentieth century courses.

So if you’re after eye-catching designs that Nike has become synonymous with, without sacrificing the features that make traditional golf shoes so revered, the Air Zoom Victory Tour 3 is an excellent choice.

Traditional designs combined with new ones

On the other side of the spectrum of most of Nike’s offerings, there are still those golf shoe manufacturers who want to maintain a strong understanding of the past decades, without sacrificing the progress made in golf shoe technology in the last few years.

Some looks never go out of style, right? That’s why many avid golfers and golf historians don’t want these classic shoes to disappear forever – so the best way to keep them around is to make the style visible to a modern audience.

The FootJoy Premiere Series is a perfect example. Designed to resemble the golf shoes worn by the greats in the early days of the game, while offering all the technical benefits of the latest golf trainers, players can truly enjoy the best of both worlds with this set.

The latest FootJoy Premiere Series Field LX fits into this category. Again, the timeless full-grain leather layers are there (notice the emerging trend?) but there’s also plenty to keep those looking for more features satisfied.

The OrthoLite EcoPlush Fit-Bed® offers the kind of long-lasting cushioning you’d expect from a golf trainer or running shoe. On top of this, the VersaTrax+ outsole works to deliver incredible performance and traction on a variety of terrains, unlike your most versatile trainers.

Choose a golf shoe that offers the best of both worlds today

If you’re looking to try something new in your golf shoes, one of the shoes listed above – or a similar shoe type that combines old and new – is a smart move. And you’ll find lots of great deals on golf shoes like these at GolfShoes.co.uk.

With a huge selection of golf shoes of all kinds, from the best manufacturers in the world, you will be completely spoiled for choice.