So, you’re ready to hit the links and find yourself staring at your closet, wondering if your trusty tennis shoes will pass muster on the golf course. The simple answer is yes, you absolutely can golf in tennis shoes, especially if you’re new to the game, playing a casual round, or just visiting the driving range. This article will walk you through when it's okay, the real differences between your trainers and true golf shoes, and practical advice for making it work so you can swing with confidence.
For many golfers, the first few trips to a course happen on a bit of a whim. Maybe a friend invited you to a relaxed weekend round, or you’re taking your kids to a par-3 course for fun. In these situations, your tennis shoes are perfectly fine. No one at a local municipal course is likely to bat an eye if you show up in a comfortable pair of trainers for a twilight nine.
Think about these scenarios where trainers are a great choice:
However, there are two big "buts": the course's rules and the conditions. Some private clubs or higher-end public courses have strict dress codes that require proper golf shoes. And on a wet day, you'll quickly discover the primary shortcoming of your tennis shoes. While it’s possible to play in them, it's not always the best tool for the job.
To really understand the why behind golf footwear, you need to think about the golf swing itself. As a coach, I'm constantly reinforcing that the swing is a powerful rotational movement. You’re turning your body around your spine, creating torque to generate club head speed. All that force starts from the ground up. Your feet are the foundation of that entire motion, and this is where the design of the shoe becomes so important.
The single biggest difference between a tennis shoe and a golf shoe is the sole. Golf shoes, whether they have traditional plastic spikes or a modern spikeless design, are built with one primary goal: to grip the turf.
Imagine your backswing. As you rotate your hips and shoulders, your weight shifts to your back foot. During the downswing, there’s an explosive transfer of energy as you unwind your body toward the target. Throughout this sequence, your feet need to remain planted. If a foot slips, even a little, the entire chain of motion is disrupted. You lose power, you lose your balance, and the club face can arrive at the ball at the wrong angle, leading to hooks, slices, and poor contact.
Tennis shoes, on the other hand, are designed for the hard, flat surface of a tennis court. Their soles are typically flatter to maximize surface contact for quick lateral cuts and start-stop movements. On soft grass, especially if it’s moist from morning dew or recent rain, that flat sole just can’t bite into the ground in the same way. A simple swing on a slight hillside or a full-powered drive can be enough to make you lose your footing.
Beyond the tread, golf shoes are constructed differently. They generally have a wider base and more internal structure, especially around the middle and outer edges of the shoe. This greater lateral support is there to prevent your foot from sliding or rolling inside the shoe during the swing.
When you stand over the ball, you want a stable, athletic base. I often tell my students to imagine they are swinging inside a cylinder, you want to rotate inside this space without swaying side to side. A sturdy shoe helps you maintain that stability. Think about posting up on your lead leg through impact and into your finish. A golf shoe provides a solid platform to turn against, whereas a softer, more flexible tennis shoe might allow your foot to roll slightly, once again disrupting your balance and consistency.
This might seem like a small detail, but it has a huge impact on your comfort and enjoyment over a four-or-five-hour round. Golf courses are often wet. Even on a perfectly sunny day, morning rounds mean walking through dew-covered grass. The grounds crew waters the course regularly, so you’ll inevitably walk through damp areas in the fairway or thicker, wetter grass in the rough.
Most modern tennis shoes are designed for breathability, with lightweight mesh uppers. That’s great for the gym, but it means they will become saturated with water the moment you step into the first wet patch of rough. A dedicated golf shoe, even most entry-level models, will have some level of waterproofing. Playing a full-round with squishy, wet socks is no fun, and it can become a legitimate distraction. Staying dry and comfortable allows you to focus on your next shot, not your feet.
Okay, so you've decided to wear your tennis shoes. That's totally fine! Here's how you can make the best of it and set yourself up for success.
If you're playing anywhere other than your regular, laid-back local course, a quick phone call to the pro shop is a great idea. Just ask, "I'm playing today and was wondering if you have a dress code or if tennis shoes are okay?" It takes 30 seconds and saves any potential awkwardness when you arrive.
Not all trainers are created equal for the golf course. If you have a choice, opt for a pair with the most aggressive tread pattern you own. A cross-trainer or a trail running shoe is often a much better option than a smooth-soled court shoe or a lightweight runner meant for pavement. You’re looking for any type of lug or pattern that can offer a bit more bite on the grass.
Be conscious of your footing. You may not be able to swing with the same aggressive, lower-body drive you see from pros. Sometimes, the smart play is to dial it back to 80-90% effort to guarantee you stay balanced. Be especially careful on lies that are not perfectly flat - shots from hills (both uphill and downhill lies) put extra strain on your balance, and this is where a slip is most likely.
This is probably the most important tip. If you know the course is going to be wet, whether from recent rain or a heavy morning dew, it is not the ideal day to rely on your tennis shoes. Try to save them for dry, sunny afternoon rounds where the ground will be at its firmest and driest.
So, when should you finally make the leap and invest in a pair of actual golf shoes? There isn’t a magic number of rounds, but here are a few signs that it's probably time:
The great news is that the evolution of spikeless golf shoes means you don’t have to choose between performance and comfort. Many spikeless models look and feel just like stylish sneakers but an engineered with the specific taction, waterproofing, and support you need for golf.
Yes, you can absolutely get by on the golf course with tennis shoes, especially when you’re starting out or just having fun. But as you play more, you’ll recognize that dedicated golf shoes provide meaningful benefits in stability, support, and dryness that directly contribute to better balance and more consistent shots.
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