Do Kids Need Golf Shoes? Sneakers, Spikeless and Spiked Compared

When sneakers are genuinely fine, when they stop being fine, and what to buy when you do move to golf shoes.

It's one of the most common questions from parents just starting out in junior golf: does my child actually need proper golf shoes, or will their regular sneakers do the job? The honest answer is that sneakers are a perfectly reasonable starting point for a beginner, with some genuine trade-offs worth knowing about as a junior golfer progresses.

What golf shoes are actually built for

Golf shoes are designed with a firm, stable sole (often using spikes, soft spike-style nubs, or specially patterned tread) to provide grip during the golf swing, particularly on grass that can be wet, sloped or uneven. That stability helps a golfer maintain balance and transfer weight properly through the swing, which becomes more important as swing speed and power increase.

Why sneakers work fine for beginners

For a young beginner just learning the game - especially one still working on basic swing mechanics at a slower pace - flat-soled sneakers with reasonable grip are a sensible, low-cost option. There's no need to invest in dedicated golf shoes before knowing whether your child will stick with the sport, and plenty of junior clinics and lessons are run entirely in regular sports shoes without any issue.

Where sneakers start to fall short

As a junior's swing develops more power and speed, or as they start playing on wetter or hillier courses, the limitations of a flat sneaker sole become more noticeable - reduced traction can lead to a foot slipping mid-swing, which affects both consistency and, in some conditions, safety underfoot. Sneakers also tend to soak up moisture more readily than golf-specific waterproof or water-resistant shoes, which matters for comfort on damp Australian mornings.

Course rules and etiquette to check

Some private clubs and more formal competitions have footwear policies, occasionally requiring soft-spike golf shoes or excluding certain sneaker types to protect the greens - it's worth checking a club's dress code before a junior's first visit, particularly for tournaments. Most public courses and junior programs, however, are relaxed about footwear for younger beginners.

If your junior is playing regularly enough that grip and comfort are starting to matter, our Equipment section and

Buying Guides cover what to look for in a first pair of junior golf shoes.

When is it worth upgrading to golf shoes?

A reasonable general guide is to consider dedicated golf shoes once a junior is playing regularly (say, weekly or more) and developing real swing speed, or once they're competing in club events with footwear expectations. Before that point, comfortable, grippy sneakers are a perfectly sensible way to start.

Spiked or spikeless, once you do buy golf shoes

Junior golf shoes come in two broad types. Spiked shoes take replaceable soft plastic cleats that screw into the sole. Spikeless shoes have a moulded pattern of rubber nubs instead, and look much more like an ordinary trainer.

• Spikeless: lighter, comfortable straight out of the box, fine to wear in the car and the clubhouse, and enough grip for a dry course. Nothing to replace, but the moulded sole wears smooth over time and cannot be renewed.
• Spiked: more grip on wet grass and slopes, which matters most for a player who has started swinging hard. The cleats are cheap and replaceable, so the shoe outlasts its sole.

For a junior who plays occasionally on a dry course, spikeless is usually the better buy - they get worn more often, which is worth more than the extra grip they give up. For a child playing through a wet winter season, or one whose feet are visibly slipping at the top of the backswing, spikes earn their place.

Check the club's own rule before buying either. Metal spikes are banned essentially everywhere in Australia and have been for years, so anything sold new is soft-spiked, but it is worth confirming if you are buying second hand.

How much should the fit matter on a growing foot?

More than for a sneaker, because a golf shoe is worn for four hours of walking and is resisting a twisting force at every swing. A shoe with room to grow slides at the heel, which is exactly where a golf shoe needs to hold.

That is the strongest argument for keeping a beginner in supportive sneakers for the first season. Buy the golf shoes when the golf, not the outfit, is asking for them - and expect to replace them roughly as often as school shoes.