Minimalist golf shoes about to go global

We don't have many opinions regarding golf which are aligned, but I'm with you on this one.

He has been plagued with injury. No less than 4 operations on his left knee (3 seperate arthroscopies and an ACL reconstruction). Also a torn achilles tendon on the right side. And these are just the ones which have been reported. He may have got to the stage (not dissimilar to many runners) where he just wanted to try something different. Then (again as runners often do) convinced himself things are much better. I'm guessing it was all his decision, and maybe the sports scientists were a bit too timid to disagree with Tiger Woods?

He is not bored of playing golf. He is arguably the best golfer ever to set foot on this or any other planet, but he knows that until he has won more majors than Jack Nicklaus he won't be thought of as such, as ultimately these are what golfers are judged on. He is on 14, Jack has 18. If this fall from grace had happened when Tiger had won 19 majors maybe it would be a different story. But he wants to dominate the history books make no mistake.

I'm delighted he's back. Tournaments weren't the same without him. And I'm actually just about to nip to the bookies now to put a cheeky little wager on him for the Bridgestone Invitational. I'm not a gambling man, but Tiger Woods at 20/1 is worth a tenner of anyones money in my opinion.

 

P.S Did you keep this from me as you knew I'd hound you constantly on the blag for freebies???

 

Any freebies I get go to the Inlaws. They thought the sticky gloves were brilliant. Still haven't posted you're shoe... My bad.

 

Just had another thought as to why he may have been wearing them. He has recently changed his swing coach to Sean Foley, who is a known advocate of the 'stack and tilt' method which essentially relies upon a lot more weight staying on the front (left) foot during the whole swing, rather than the weight transfer form back to front (right to left) associated with a more traditional swing. Perhaps a more minimalist shoe gives him a greater appreciation of whether he has his weight distrubtion correct? Just guessin of course.

 

I get a blister on the left hand (like Griff) if I hit balls at the range without a glove. Probably because I am trying to hit everything to the moon!

Robert Rock is one of the few boys that doesn't wear a hat on tour. Everyone else wears them regardless of the weather to most likely please their sponsors? Maybe gloves are the same for some?

 

If I had a full head of luscious hair like Rock I'd probably go without too. Alas my transparent hairdo requires some coverage in anything in excess of 17 degrees celsius .

I agree it is probably all about money/sponsorship. In the same way Rory McIlroy has a pair of Oakleys on the back of his head everytime he plays golf but never actually wears them as sunglasses. Something to do with the millions of pounds they pay him one imagines.

 

Maybe you and Ian should use your left hand more, build up some harder skin stop the blisters.


Right Ill be off then....................... taxi

 

Great call on the Powerbands Ian, what a load of garbage!

However Tiger isn't the only player rocking the barefoot technology, England's Oliver Wilson wore the Vibram Five Fingers in the Dubai world champs last year. He claims he hits the ball more consistantly in bare feet due to increased proprioception (I'm paraphrasing here).

Other brands currently producing barefoot golf shoes are True LinksWear and Vibram are in the process of designing a specific barefoot golf shoe.

For those of you on Twitter "TheBarefootMD" has a bit of info on the whole barefoot golf phenomenon, however most tweets are just updates on how many miles he ran.

 

Simon obviously hasn't heard of Tommy "two gloves" Gainey!!

He's even got his own web site www.twogloves.com

Happy golfing:drinks

Neil.

 

I'm not. I think he's a cock

I think he's a cock but he is worth a tenner each way at 20/1 in any tournament. Obviously didn't do brilliantly in the Bridgestone Invitational but always worth a flutter

RP

 

In case you hadn't got the gist: Simon really doesn't care. Wow, he's wearing two gloves, what a rebel. What next? Odd socks with his plus fours? Golf's ****. Get over it. Rock n'roll is wear it's always been at. Golf ain't rock n' roll, no matter what Alice Coopers handicap is (Hint: he's a geriatric rock star who's voice has gone- that's why he plays golf rather than writing chounes). Here's my choune for the day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVA3V_kCkaM

Going to try to give up smoking again this week....

 

In 24 years, only 14 people have held the number 1 spot in golf.

In 1248 weeks(approx), Tiger has held the No 1 for 623 weeks.

That is, grudgingly, quite impressive.

 

He's the greatest golfer to have ever played the game in my opinion.

Doesn't mean I don't share your opinion of him RP. But cock or not, he's done more for the game of golf than any other player, and it's great to have him back.

 

I'd be hard pushed to disagree with you on that one

I'll email you my Tiger Woods picture from the stag do I was on this weekend

 

Simon,
Have got the gist

Just my attempt at a hint of irony!

It seems wearing 2 gloves is a bit "rock and roll" in the golf world!!!!

 

My first post from back in August:

And so it begins....

http://www.golfmagic.com/apparel/hybrid-golf-shoe-from-vivobarefoot/10210.html

 

Remember the saying Ian, " everybody's golf shot pleases someone"

I'll prepare for the influx of gullible golfers

Cheers mate
D

 

Time to order a batch of heel raises sir...

That said, as I mentioned with the Nike Free shoes, I'd love to try a pair of these on.

You still getting out for a knock or have you hibernated for the winter now Del?

 

Equipment suppliers love golfers like you buddy soooooooooooo gullible for the next gadget etc that will give you another 2 inches on your drive , sink every putt from 20 yards Guaranteed!!, float round a wet course without slipping or your feet getting wet.............

Me I let everyone try it out first and usually what works and is proven to work I will consider but I have to balance that with my age and flexibility as to whether I would get any benefit.

Ive hibernated from golf full stop mate sorry.

Didn't rejoin the club this year the circulatory problem I have with my left leg and the fixed ankle has got the better of me. Fed up with being in pain for days after every round = just lost the enjoyment factor so gone back to working most days now( but only gently) .

Perhaps I will have a re-think at some point and we can have another knock ( and no your not playing off 28.....I am )

We will see my friend...
Cheers
D

 

Above is my post from August last year.

10 months on and here we go:

Tiger’s new shoes are FREE at last!

 

Golf is fantastic!! Wont hear a word against it As for gloves..dont you guys get blisters? Maybe it women need them more - ouch! I would not like to be sludging around in my Frees on the golf course in winter...hope these are a more weather proof version. Spikes..can take em or leave em.
It must be nice to hate golf..Looking longingly out the work window on these beautiful autumn days waiting to knock off for a hit is torture for me.
Ps people who play golf also enjoy adrenaline filled sports

 

Is golf still considered a real sport?

 

Behave !!!

cheers
D

 

Golf Review - Speed XC Lite from Vibram

 

Oh dear.. so now we have a shoe that was designed for kayaking.. that became a marathon running shoe.... but injured people.. becoming a golf shoe... just a whiff of cynicism here from vibram???

 

Now New Balance have now come to the 'minimalist' golf shoe party:
http://sneakerreport.com/news/new-balance-minimus-sport-golf/

 

More on the New Balance Minimus Golf shoes:
http://sneakerreport.com/sports/golf/new-balance-launches-golf-footwear-collection-2014/

 

They look good.

 

i think they look completely pointless...

 

Let's see.. average age of average hack golfer.. hmm.. retiree or someone with less work and more time on hand.. let's say 55 upwards. Been busy working and paying the kid's school fees so unfortunately put on a bit of pork over the last few years and is now quite overweight. Quite likely to have been somewhat sedentary, and almost certainly has spent the last 50 of those 55 plus years in a shoe with a 1cm raise (or if I must, a 10 mm "drop"), and habituated to this position. Changes to the extracellular matrix because of age, and maybe even a bit of plantar fat pad atrophy.
The demographic for plantar heel pain? Sedentary, overweight men past the 5th decade.
The solution? Put them into a "minimalist' golf shoe with a design we know is going to increase loading about the ankle, Achilles tendon and plantar fascia. Genius.
Is it just me? time for all this nonsense to go away..

 

I didn't say I would recommend or use them; I just think they look good!

 

fashion police..... arrest that man!

 

Not minimalist, but new golf shoe:
The Running Shoe-Inspired New Balance Golf 2002

 

well that is definitely nothing new!