[UPDATE: You can read my full review of the TRUE Tours here.]
TRUE linkswear is a new golf shoe company that will be releasing their first product line this fall. They’ve got a new shoe design that promises to be quite different from other golf shoes on the market. According to their website:
We believe that traditional golf shoes that try to “nail you to the ground” are severely over engineered with features that actually put you in a position to fail every time you swing a club. We want to change the way millions of golfers enjoy the game by giving them products that work naturally with their bodies and provide true technological benefits. No unnecessary features, added weight, false claims, or empty promises. Just the closest thing to a barefoot golfing experience as possible.
I’m very excited about these shoes. The mention of the word “barefoot” is was really caught my attention. I currently wear the Adidas Adipure, which is the most comfortable shoe I’ve ever worn. That said, the Adipure is still a traditional shoe that works to “support” and “protect” the foot, rather than letting it work as it was designed to naturally. Over the past 2 years, I’ve become a big proponent of barefoot or minimalist running. Here’s a link to a great video that explains the benefits.
Why wouldn’t the same reasoning apply to golf shoes? Traditional golf shoes definitely do “nail you to the ground”. In some cases, that may be a good thing. But in many instances, players could benefit from spending time hitting golf balls without shoes. I typically try to spend about 1 range session a month barefoot. Martin Kaymer occasionally practices just wearing socks. Sam Snead used to play in tournaments barefoot. I’m sure there are plenty of other examples. Swinging a golf club barefoot really forces you to swing with control and focus. When you’re not stuck to the ground, you can’t just flail away at the ball. You really have to focus on swinging “within yourself” and properly transferring your weight.
As you can see from this picture, there are no spikes or cleats on the bottom of these shoes. Obviously other manufacturers have released spikeless golf shoes before. However none of them have done so in a shoe design that is meant to get as close to barefoot as possible. The other benefit of the lack of spikes is that you can wear these shoes out to a meal or over to a friends house after a round of golf. Heck, if you really like them, these could become your “daily wear” shoes.
True Linkswear golf shoes are currently being worn on tour by Ryan Moore. They’re planning on opening up pre-orders in the next couple of weeks with delivery in October. The list price will be $159.
You can now buy a pair here. If you do, it helps keep the lights on around here.
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I never thought about trying to play barefoot before and the benefits it might have. Going to have to check it out the next time I’m at the range.
Excellent comment Morgan
I wear my Vibram Five Fingers (VFF) shoes for golf. I like the Bikila and trek sport models for golf. They have a couple of newer models, but I haven’t tried them yet. I wear VFF all the time and just couldn’t wear my regular golf shoes anymore without getting foot pain.
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/index.htm
I like the idea but I am concerned about my feet getting tired from a lack of support. Any thoughts about the support.
Dunno if you get an e-mail that I responded, but as a VFF fan, but new golfer, I might be able to give you some advice. If you’ve never worn minimalist shoes (VFF or otherwise) do not get these, and go play a full-on 18 hole round. You’ll get sore, and angry, and throw them far away. Traditonal shoes are made for heel first walking and running (heel striking). When you run barefoot, do you strike heel first? Hopefully not. Walking you probably do, because that’s what you’re used to, and the forces aren’t as great. But your foot was made to come down forefoot first. Your concern is very VERY valid, but that’s mainly because we have trained our feet to function with high tech support and cushioning, changing the way we walk.
Minimalist shoes use different muscles that traditional shoes have caused to weaken. So when you first get them, take short walks or runs. Short as in, around the block, or out to the grocery store. A day at the mall was too much for me at first. Gradually increase usage until your foot muscles have strengthened, and you’ll be MUCH better off.
My first (and so far only) round of golf was in my VFF KomodoSports, and I had a great time. Hence why I was poking around the topic of golf, shoes, and FiveFingers…hope that was helpful!
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