After years of pain, I finally found a good golf shoe

At GOLF.com, we meet all kinds of great things. Here, we present some of our favorites from the past year.

Why these golf shoes were the best thing I could use in 2024

In happiness, it was painful.

Success. Smushiness. With the latter, I would bleed, although some of it was my own, as I should be a more careful nail cutter. Too much information, I know. But I want you to fully understand the situation I went through.

Which is to say, I didn’t like golf shoes.

I hate them, honestly.

Sure, there are bigger concerns, but Google tells me I’m not alone, because no amount of internet ink was left when I told you about the “Best Golf Shields.” In the game we all love, we want to go crazy with three putts and pars and the lack of good beer in the beer cart. Our feet should be an afterthought, mostly used to keep us upright during the cycle.

And then, kicking over the table on the 19th hole, that’s where the breakthrough came. I realized I was still wearing my “best thing to wear in 2024″ – what we call this end-of-the-year mini-series – and they weren’t immediately removed from my feet after cleaning the 18th hole, as usual.

I didn’t not just hate these Allbirds golf shoes — I felt like writing them this short ode too.

For me, colors are trendy (although full disclosure, I’m not trendy) — my go-to pair is tan and gray, although I also like the navy and tan combo, and the brown and white mix. The shoes also do their job – the rubber grip provides traction, and its fabric provides protection from the elements. And the price? It’s affordable, I think, at least compared to some of the competition. The two models currently go for $145; three of them are $87.

But most importantly here, they’re just as comfortable, which shouldn’t be too surprising, as wearers of other Allbirds shoes – myself included – swear by their pillow-like feel. Perhaps their greatest charm. Still, I hesitated. Years of physical scars can do that to you. Granted, I haven’t tried on every golf shoe yet – and I’m sure there are others that equal or surpass the Allbirds in feel – but I’d wear enough to temper my expectations.

But here I am creating a poem. And dressed. Right now actually.

To get into the mood, I chose to combine them as I write this story. That’s the picture of my happy feet (and my bed) at the top of this article.

Allbirds Golf Dashers

$87

Roomy forefoot meets full stability in this eco-friendly golf shoe. This lightweight style easily transitions from drink to drink and can help you get through any trickle (or sandtrap) that comes your way.

buy now

Before you go out, though, I want to tell you that I still have one great thing to do in 2024. I know, I know, it’s great to say one thing, but more than that, it’s a meeting, right? Anyway, the second “thing” is the Cobra Darkspeed 3-wood, and I actually wrote about it earlier this year. The link to that article is here, or you can quickly scroll down to the 3-wood specific text.

***

I don’t like 3 woods.

I feel like this is a safe, friendly, and understanding place to clean. I just don’t like 3 wood. Of course, this has nothing to do with the group itself. And when it comes to the 3 in other games – the 3-pointer, the triple – I’m actually a big fan.

No, no, it’s ‘me’. It burns to the right. The remaining hooks. And shining peaks. Have you ever wondered how some of those YouTube videos get thousands upon thousands of views? However, if you hit the label “How to properly contact fairway metal” on one, you will get 500k cool clicks from me, most of them while lying on the bed, before the birds chirped, searching for one, magic move.

So a good place to start is to explain myself. ‘I’m close,’ but there are loose ends. I play a good game, 230- 240 yards off the tee – but my ball sometimes bounces off the tee. I hit a good 155-, 160-yard 7-iron – but sometimes it’s a skull. I’m quite crafty around vegetables, I usually have one wedge – but I tend to be thin.

Then there’s the whole 3-wood thing. To be honest, I gave up on the club altogether. He went for the 7-wood. So to sum it all up, I’m in that weird, almost Goldilocks-like place where 14 disabled people like me live: not bad, not good – but also not good.

Then the GOLF gang asked if I could check out the latest and greatest in Cobra and I accepted.

Then Cobra shipped the goods, their Darkspeed 2024 line of woods, hybrids, and irons giving off a serious Batman vibe. They included a driver, 7-wood, 4- and 6-hybrids, 5-, 7-, 8- and 9-iron and pitching wedge, and two putters (blade and mallet).

And, I can’t forget, 3 woods, which I will talk about at the end.

…

And now 3-wood.

I putt my first one, on the par-5 2nd hole at Pelham Bay.

I dropped the second ball.

I hit it wide, about 10 yards to the right of the green, a 230-yard pop.

OK.

On the 4th hole, a sharp dogleg right, I teed off. It finished about 225 yards.

OK.

With No. 14, dogleg went, I stretched to the left to the long grass, and I punched out about 230 yards. The green was sitting in front of a beautiful, blue, late autumn sky. There was no sound. It was good.

Then I hit the 3 wood.

It rose. It hung. Go down. Pin up, just outside the green.

I stood there for a moment. I took it all in – I think I might like a 3-wood again, or at least my Darkspeed X 3-wood.

“>