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Golf Shoes are a very important part of your success as a golfer, we all spend hours choosing clubs, and five minutes choosing Golf Shoes.

This is just crazy when you consider you will walk somewhere over 4 miles every time you play, and you'll be on your feet for anything from 3 to 5 hours. Like me you probably haven't given much thought to the part that golf shoes play in reducing your handicap. It was only after I took expert advice and invested some money in a pair of Adidas Golf Shoes that my game improved by three or four shots. Coincidence ' No I don't think so!!

What follows are a few guidelines you should follow when choosing golf shoes

1. Always wear the same socks you golf in when trying on new golf shoes

2. Don't wear socks that are too tight or tend to scrunch up.

3. Check the fir of the shoes by standing on one foot. You should be able to wiggle your toes, and when you stand on tiptoe the shoes should bend where your foot bends.

4. The fit around the middle of the shoe should feel tighter than with ordinary shoes. This is where you get the most support when swinging the club. Don't overworry about the tightness because all shoes will stretch a little after you have worn them a few times.

5. There should be no more or less than about a half inch of space from your big toe to the end of the golf shoe.

6. It is important to make sure that the shoe and the widest part of your foot are a comfortable fit, without being too loose. Loose fitting shoes cause your feet to slide when you swing the club, and you lose stability, essential for good golf.

7. If the shoe fits all the above criteria, but is a little loose, then use an insole to make the fit a little tighter

It is no bad thing to get your feet measured professionally for width and length, once a year. This should be done at the end of the day, because your feet will be a little swollen at this time. Remembering we all have one foot larger than the other, so you need to pick the shoe size of your larger foot when trying on a golf shoe. Don't forget you can always use an insole to balance up your smaller foot.

You might care to consider one or two additional thoughts on buying your new golf shoes.

' Waterproof shoes are more expensive, but essential if you play in wet and muddy conditions.

' Leather uppers are great for keeping the wet out, and they also offer the best support.

' Synthetic leather golf shoes should be avoided if possible because they are not waterproof, and as they won't allow your feet to breathe, they quickly become smelly!!!

' Leather outsoles are found with more expensive shoes, and they do give a more supportive fit, because leather adjusts to the shape of your foot.

I can't overemphasise the need to choose a good, probably quite expensive golf shoe. It will repay you many times over.