Are your golf shoes causing mis-hits? Watch for this, says top teacher

When it comes to diagnosing swing issues, your golf shoes are probably the last thing on your mind. But according to instructor Stefanie Shaw, a teaching professional at Ocean Reef Golf Club in Key Largo, Fla., golf shoes can be a hidden source of problems for some players.

The reason? Heel height.

“Something I’ve noticed that last couple of years is that some shoes tend to have large heels, then it tapers down into the toe,” Shaw said. “And I have a lot of students where I see too much weight is shifting forward when they’re swinging.”

Ideally, your weight should be centered in the middle of your feet throughout the swing. When your weight moves too far forward, you risk limiting your hip rotation, which affects your distance and leaves you open to poor contact.

Shaw suggests finding a shoe with a consistent sole thickness from heel to toe.

“If I’m picking a golf shoe, I’d prefer to keep something that is a little bit more uniform throughout the whole, instead of having a big back and then forward down towards the toe,” she said.

Running-shoe style shoes that offer extra padding around the heels can be a culprit here, Shaw says. So if you find yourself struggling with your weight distribution in the swing, make sure your shoe isn’t the problem.

When you’re picking a golf shoe, make sure you have the stability you need, as well as a feel of middle-balance in your feet when you take your stance.

For more tips from Shaw, click here.

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Golf.com Editor

As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of female varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everyone on the masthead. She can out-hustle them in the office, too, where she’s primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s inaugural Style Is­sue, which debuted in February 2018. Her origi­nal interview series, “A Round With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in both in the magazine and in video form on GOLF.com.