Anatomy of a Golf Shoe

Parts of a Golf Shoe

1. Lining – Provides added comfort on the inside of the shoe in the form of a sock-like lining
2. Eyelets – Small holes in the eyestay guides the laces in place
3. Eyestays – Houses the eyelets and laces
4. Lacing – Traditional laces offer the most adjustability in tension although velcro can also be found
5. Toe – The end of a golf shoe, oftentimes clean and unembellished
6. Upper – Traditional golf shoes use real leather for the upper although modern golf shoes often feature synthetic leather, Gore-tex, mesh, or polyester
7. Heel panel – The piece of fabric that covers the heel of the shoe
8. Heel stabilizer – Keeps the heel stable and secure
9. Tongue – A padded tongue helps to improve comfort and fit
10. Insole – The footbed of a shoe that provides comfort and support, can sometimes be removed so you can add your own orthotic insoles. Many golf shoes use memory foam insoles
11. Last – The piece underneath the insole that a shoe is built around; largely affects the shape of the shoe
12. Midsole – Lies between the last and outsole, golf shoe midsoles resemble walking shoes in that they are thin in the forefoot and thicker in the heel area
13. Heel counter – The hard plastic insert located behind the heel that provides structural integrity for the heel
14. Collar – A padded collar helps to provide ankle support, comfort, and keeps your foot in place
15. Outsole – A durable rubber outsole can be found on the bottom of a golf shoe
16. Spikes/lugs – Golf shoes feature either plastic spikes or rubber lugs that help to provide traction on different lengths of grass, hills, and even sand

Learn how to choose golf shoes here