Golfers will spend hours debating shafts, grips, even golf ball compression. Golf shoes usually don’t get that same level of attention.

Maybe they should.

With several adidas Golf athletes gathered in California this week, I had the chance to sit down with LPGA Tour players Linn Grant, Patty Tavatanakit and Grace Kim to talk specifically about footwear.

Grant wears the Adizero ZG. Tavatanakit also uses the Adizero ZG and mixes in shoes like the S2G. Kim gravitates toward the TOUR360.

The models were interesting. The reasons behind them were more useful. Here are the things that stood out from those conversations.

1. There is no single type of golf shoe that Tour players prefer

If three LPGA players from the same footwear company can’t agree on exactly what they want from a shoe, recreational golfers probably shouldn’t expect one model to work for everyone, either.

Grant summed up her priorities simply. “Performance, comfort and looks. Probably in that order as well.”

For Grant, performance starts with traction but weight is a big part of the equation. She likes the Adizero ZG because she can get the grip and stability she needs without feeling like she has a heavy shoe on her foot.

Kim leans more toward the stable and planted feeling of the TOUR360. She uses the ground extensively in her swing and wants to feel secure through that movement.

Tavatanakit has another preference. She likes a lower-profile shoe and the feeling of being closer to the ground.

Three players. Three slightly different priorities.

That’s probably the first lesson for amateurs. Don’t shop for the shoe a Tour player wears. Figure out why that player wears it and whether the same benefit makes sense for you.

2. How high you sit off the ground is something these players notice

This was one of the more interesting details because it’s something most amateur golfers probably never consider.

Golf shoes don’t all put your feet at exactly the same height from the turf. Cushioning, midsole construction and outsole design can create a different sensation at address.

Tavatanakit talked about liking a low-profile feel. For a player who is very aware of how her feet interact with the ground, that makes sense.

It also helps explain why footwear consistency matters to Tour players. If you practice in a thick, highly cushioned shoe and then compete in something that feels much lower to the ground, you’ve changed part of your setup.

The difference may be small but Tour players spend a lot of time eliminating small variables.

3. Traction does not necessarily mean traditional spikes

This may have been the biggest misconception these conversations challenged. Grant plays in the spikeless Adizero ZG yet traction was the first thing she mentioned when we talked about performance.

Her reasoning went beyond simply losing her footing. “Having the thought also in your mind that you could potentially slip is just the worst because then you won’t swing freely.”

Traction isn’t just about whether you physically slip. It’s about having enough confidence in the shoe that you can make an aggressive swing without thinking about your feet.

The Adizero ZG uses a spikeless outsole designed to provide lateral stability and adaptive traction. Tavatanakit also spends time in spikeless options including the S2G.

Kim is more comfortable with the traditional traction and stability she gets from the TOUR360.

The question for golfers isn’t necessarily “spiked or spikeless?” It’s whether your shoe provides enough traction for your swing, the conditions in which you normally play and the amount of stability you want.

4. Weight can matter over the course of a tournament

Grant was especially sensitive to shoe weight.

She said she has played in heavier shoes in the past and could feel the difference in fatigue after 18 holes. Now think about the schedule of a Tour player. Practice rounds, range sessions and potentially four tournament rounds all add up.

For Grant, a heavier shoe isn’t worth the extra support if she can get enough stability from a lighter design.

5. Practice and tournament shoes aren’t always treated the same

I expected Tour players to practice in exactly what they compete in. Some do.

Tavatanakit generally wants to practice in what she plans to play in. Kim has a similar preference for keeping the feeling consistent.

Grant is a little different.

Most of the time, she’ll keep things consistent but during more casual practice at home, she likes changing into golf versions of shoes such as the Samba, Gazelle or Stan Smith.

Part of the reason is simply giving her feet a break.

If you’re preparing for an important event, spending some practice time in the shoes you plan to wear makes sense. If you’re hitting balls for an hour or playing a casual nine, there’s nothing wrong with choosing something more comfortable or versatile.

6. Tour players go through golf shoes much faster than you do

This one needs some perspective.

Tavatanakit indicated she may get into a fresh pair after about three tournaments. Kim talked about changing shoes somewhere around the monthly range.

That’s not a replacement schedule I’m suggesting recreational golfers follow.

Sponsored professional golfers have access to footwear that the rest of us don’t. There is very little reason for them to keep pushing an older pair when fresh shoes are readily available. The takeaway is at the other end of the spectrum.

If your golf shoes have hundreds of rounds on them, the outsole is worn smooth and you’re starting to lose traction, you probably shouldn’t be surprised.

Look at the bottom of your shoes. Pay attention to whether the heel still holds your foot securely and whether the cushioning feels anything like it did when the shoes were new.

7. Looks matter but performance still wins

None of these players pretended looks were irrelevant.

Grant likes a sporty shoe that works with the rest of what she wears. Kim gravitates toward a clean look, often something simple like white.

But there was a pretty clear hierarchy.

Grant literally ranked performance ahead of comfort and looks. Tavatanakit’s preferences kept coming back to ground feel and function. Kim wants the stability that allows her to use her feet the way she wants in the swing.

They want shoes that look good.

They just don’t want good-looking shoes badly enough to give up what they need to play.

What should you take from this?

The most interesting part of these conversations wasn’t learning which adidas model each LPGA player wears.

It was learning that three players at the same level, working with the same footwear company, can want different things.

Before your buy your next pair of shoes, think about things like:

• Do you want to feel as close to the ground as possible?
• Do you need maximum stability?
• Are you walking enough that weight matters?
• Do you play in wet conditions where traction becomes the priority?
• Do you want one shoe for practice, tournament rounds and everything in between?