Sometimes, knowing what not to buy is just as important as knowing what to buy. In our golf shoe testing this year, we evaluated nearly 50 different pairs. While we found plenty of shoes worth recommending, there are always a few that aren’t worth your money. Here’s a quick look at three shoes we think are worth your money and two that you might want to skip. Just a heads up: these aren’t necessarily the absolute best or worst from our tests but they’re insights we noticed during the testing process.
✅ Skechers Go Golf Prestige SL (Spikeless)
The Skechers golf shoes did well in our 2025 testing. This Go Golf Prestige SL is a comfortable spikeless shoe with a more traditional look. There was a time when golf shoes with a traditional look screamed blisters and pain. That’s no longer the case.
The podiatrist-certified Arch Fit® insole and ECO FLIGHT™ cushioning prove Skechers spent some time developing this one. The Prestige SL didn’t win any traction or stability categories but earned a top five in both categories. This is the third-best spikeless shoe of 2025.
✅ Who Should Buy:
Golfers place comfort and convenience at the top of their list (slip-in shoes).
❌ Who Should Skip:
Golfers requiring maximum torsional stability other shoes offer better solutions for high swing speeds.
✅ FootJoy Hyperflex (Spiked)
The FootJoy HyperFlex is a performance-focused spiked shoe emphasizing exceptional stability. If you are sticking with spiked shoes because of your swing speed, you’ll like what this one has to offer. It’s not the most comfortable spiked shoe so it was fifth place overall.
The Pulsar LP cleats add plenty of traction. The shoe also comes with a two-year waterproof guarantee, making it easy to wear regardless of the weather.
✅ Who Should Buy:
Golfers who prioritize stability and power want a shoe that maximizes energy transfer.
❌ Who Should Skip:
Golfers who value flexibility and walking comfort over rigid stability.
✅ adidas Adizero ZG (Spikeless)
The adidas Adizero ZG is a lightweight, spikeless shoe designed with Lightstrike Pro cushioning. The cushioning works well but this wasn’t the most comfortable shoe of 2025. Where the Adizero ZG does thrive is in traction and stability. High scores in both categories helped push this to the fourth-best spikeless shoe this year.
✅ Who Should Buy:
Golfers who want a lightweight, highly comfortable shoe with exceptional traction and excellent stability.
❌ Who Should Skip:
Golfers frequently play in very wet conditions and prioritize maximum waterproof performance.
❌ TravisMathew Ringer 2 (Spiked)
The TravisMathew Ringer II positions itself as a premium “Tour-level” shoe with features like the SweetSpot Cushioning System for comfort. In testing, we found the Ringer II underperformed in comfort compared to other shoes. It also struggled with traction and finished in the middle of the pack for stability. For elements protection, the Ringer II was strong. With better-performing options at comparable prices, the Ringer II struggles to justify itself as a top choice.
✅ Who Should Buy:
Golfers loyal to TravisMathew’s brand who value style over top-tier performance.
❌ Who Should Skip:
Golfers seeking maximum stability, traction, high-end comfort.
❌ G/Fore G/18 (Spikeless)
The G/Fore G/18 advertises itself as technical and innovative. The wide base and cushioned foam interior are supposed to boost comfort but that’s not what we found in testing. It was one of the least comfortable shoes in the test. The traction and stability were better than the comfort but they still couldn’t compete with the top-level shoes. It’s also worth noting that the G/Fore G/18 is a narrow-fitting shoe that could create problems for golfers with wider feet.
✅ Who Should Buy:
Golfers who prioritize unique aesthetics and washable insoles.
❌ Who Should Skip:
Golfers demanding excellent comfort, especially players with wider feet.
Final thoughts
For complete results of our 2025 Best Golf Shoe testing, check out the following resources:
Gary P
1 year ago
I don’t know why you dump on G4…advertising? I don’t think any of their shoes have ever been rated well on MGS. I’ve owned piles of shoes and their Gallivanter shoes are the best, by far, that I’ve ever owned. I’ve never seen them in your highly rated group. FJ shoes that I’ve bought, prior to finding G4, have all been junk.