This clever golf-shoe hack provides stability for Tour winner | Fully Equipped

When it comes to gear, everyone is looking for an edge, but it’s not often that golfers think about their footwear as a way to help them play better.

For recent Tour winner Lee Hodges, his shoes play an important role in not only playing his best but also feeling his best during and after a round thanks to the right fit and a little trick in the way he likes to set up the spikes on his shoes for extra traction.

During the latest episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped, Hodges told host Ryan Barath how his spike setup benefits his swing, and prevents slipping.

“Most golfers don’t really think about their shoes, and just kinda pick one, but it’s amazing what having the right shoes can do,” said Hodges, who picked up his first Tour win at the 3M Open last month. “For me, the FootJoy (Premier Model) are incredibly stable, and I never feel like I’m going to slip. I especially benefit from the stability in the heel.”

Hodges added some interesting details about the type of spikes he uses.

“I wear soft spikes on the back (in the heel) of the shoes and metal spikes on the toe area,” he said. “I get on my toes a little bit in my swing and this setup helps get me some extra stability so I don’t slip.”

Golfers may stand in one place over the ball, but they apply a lot of force to their feet during the swing, and Hodges is a shining example of how having the right shoes for the conditions you play in can have a huge impact on your swing — not to mention potential injury prevention.

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So next time you’re looking to gain a foot up (sorry), look at a wide variety of shoe options. Getting comfort and traction that best suit your swing and the conditions you play in can pay off in a big way.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2023? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

Golf.com Editor

Ryan Barath is GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com’s senior editor for equipment. He has an extensive club-fitting and -building background with more than 20 years of experience working with golfers of all skill levels, including PGA Tour players. Before joining the staff, he was the lead content strategist for Tour Experience Golf, in Toronto, Canada.