FootJoy has continued its commitment to supporting retailers with the launch of educational days focusing on the importance of correctly fitted golf shoes.
UK and Irish retailers were invited to Bearwood Lakes Golf Club in Berkshire where the FJ team focused on providing additional resources to help quantify the impact of wearing the right golf shoes with the help of biomechanics expert and Director of GASPS Systems, Steve Gould.
DP World Tour players, an elite amateur and a Professional World Long Driver were utilised for practical demonstrations. With the help of force plates, Gould was able to demonstrate the role footwear plays in the golf swing to help increase clubhead speed and improve delivery.
From the data generated on the day, Gould was also able to reinforce how important it is for golfers of all levels to wear a pair of correctly fitted golf shoes to enhance performance on the golf course.
From a retailer perspective too, getting golfers into a correctly fitted pair of golf shoes will help reduce shoe returns due to fewer players getting either blistering, swelling or just general foot pain/discomfort which can largely come from wearing a poorly fitted shoe.
“We looked at a variety of players, looking at how they all use the ground and what sort of golf shoe would best suit their games,” said Gould. “Certainly, at the performance end, you are looking to transfer as much energy from what you are producing in the lower body, into the ground and back into the body again, in which footwear plays an integral part in generating that power.”
Alongside the biomechanics workshop, FootJoy also put on some breakout sessions where retailers got an exclusive look at the FJ 2025 footwear line up, as well as also taking part in a shoe fitting masterclass with an FJ Product Specialist, utilising the state-of-the-art FJ Volumental fitting technology.
Gould added: “It has been great to hear from retailers saying how they are going to use what they have learned today to advise their customers on how they can gain free clubhead speed and make their golf games that bit more enjoyable.”
Sharing their experiences from the event, many retailers felt like they could now talk about footwear with their customers in a greater light, using elements of what they learned as key selling tools which will help drive more cash into the till.
“When Steve was talking about force plates, I knew how important they are when analysing the golf swing but wasn’t aware of the impact a pair of golf shoes could have in that relationship,” said, Tom Minshull, Head PGA Professsional at The Grove. “We were also taught about the impact of the sole of a golf shoe and the different thicknesses, really linking into what every type of golfer needs, so I will definitely be taking that away with me.”
Alex Beckett, a PGA Class AA Professional at Frilford Heath Golf Club, discussed how he leans on FootJoy’s large footwear catalogue, which offers the widest choice of half sizes and widths, when it comes to fitting golfers at his golf shop. He said: “It is extremely important to have the large footwear range FootJoy currently do. Being able to cater for every single golfer out there is so important. FootJoy is a performance golf shoe, not just a comfort shoe.”
FootJoy has since followed up with it second education event at Dumbarnie Links in Scotland with DP World Tour players Stephen Gallacher and Grant Forrest also in attendance.
To register your interest in future events and education workshops, please contact your regional FootJoy Area Sales Manager for more information.