How to Break in Golf Shoes Fast without Blisters: The Ultimate Guide

If you’re a golfer, then you know that having a good pair of golf shoes is important. You need shoes that will help you play your best game. 

But what if your new shoes are giving you blisters?

Or they’re just not comfortable? In this guide, we will teach you how to break in your golf shoes fast! We’ll give you some tips and tricks that will have you playing in your new shoes in no time!

What does breaking in golf shoes mean?

According to Wikipedia, “break-in” is a “is the procedure of conditioning a new piece of equipment by giving it an initial period of running”.

When it comes to shoes, it means wearing them for a period of time at the beginning to allow the material to stretch & feel more comfortable.

Why is it important to break in a new pair of golf shoes?

Every person’s foot is different, let’s imagine a scenario:

Two golfers go to a store, two golfers go to a shoe store, the first person tries a pair of shoes and feels it’s comfortable, the second person puts on the same shoe and it fits, but feels a little too tight. This is actually quite common and not only unique to golf. And the solution to this problem is by breaking in the shoe (wearing it for a day or weeks until it softens up).

How long do golf shoes take to break in?

Short answer:

The average break-in period of golf shoes is 3 to 4 weeks. However, there are a few things you can do to speed up the process which we will mention later in this post. 

Long answer:

When it comes to golf shoes, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of what’s the break-in period. 

The amount of time it takes depends on factors such as:

1. Brand
2. Model
3. Materials used (Real leather vs Synthetic vs Fabric). 

Are golf shoes supposed to be tight at first?

The answer to this question depends on the materials of the golf shoes.

However, not all shoes require a breaking-in period, some are comfortable from the start without needing to break in.

For example, shoes made with softer fabrics like mesh or knit upper will not require as much of a break-in period as those made with materials like leather which usually needs a longer period, but it’s generally the most durable material with the longest lifespan.

Benefits of breaking in golf shoes?

1. It helps to soften them up and take the correct shape of your feet, making them more comfortable to wear.
2. It can help to extend their lifespan by molding them to the shape of your foot.
3. It helps you avoid blisters & other friction-related foot problems. By taking the time to break in your new shoes, you can enjoy greater comfort & blister-free golf games. When you first start wearing new shoes, they can rub against your feet, causing friction and eventually leading to blisters. Blisters can ruin your game and be extremely painful!
4. It helps you play at your best. When you wear new shoes, they can feel stiff and uncomfortable. This can be a major distraction and lead to you losing your focus which will negatively affect your game.

By taking the time to break in your shoes, you can help to soften up the leather to take the shape of your feet and become comfortable, and allow you to focus on your game.

How to break in your shoes?

We’ve broken this into 3 answers,

1. The best way
2. The fast way
3. The cheap way

1. The Best way to break in your golf shoes

The best way is to just wear your shoes long enough until they soften it up and feel comfortable. Scroll below for ideas.

PS. If you are looking for the fastest way (not the best way) to break in, then skip ahead to the next section.

1. Be sure to wear them with socks, the thicker the better, as this will help them to stretch even more.
2. Wearing around the House. – The first step in breaking in your golf shoes is to wear them around the house.
3. Walking up & down the stairs. – Stepping on stairs puts extra pressure at different angles on the shoes which will speed up the process.
4. Wearing them at work. – If you work in an office 7 or 8 hours a day, it’ll be a great idea to use that time to your advantage (unless you have spiked shoes then it isn’t recommended).

Is there a fast way to break in golf shoes?

If you want to speed up the process or want to do it without wearing them during that period, then scroll below.

PS. You don’t have to do all of them, just take what you like & leave what you don’t.

A Shoe trees	Put it in and leave it until it’s semi broken-in.
A 2-way shoe stretcher	Similar to a shoe tree, but also pushes sideways.
A Ball & Ring Stretcher:	A manual tool that costs around $50
Thick socks	It helps put more pressure on the shoes to break-in faster
Heating with a hairdryer	NOT recommended – If not done carefully, it can cause damage.

The cheap way (slow & not very effective)

Stuffing with paper – Turning newspapers into balls & inserting them – Cheapest way.

The cheapest and most readily available option is to stuff your shoes with newspapers.

However, this method is not particularly effective, as it can take a long time for the paper to soften and mold to the shape of your foot, and sometimes it doesn’t work and will be a waste of time.

For this reason, it is generally not recommended to use this method to break in new shoes. However, this is an option if you want to try it.

How do you break in leather shoes without getting blisters?

The best way is to properly break the pain of leather shoes using the methods described above.

But during that period, you still have a risk of developing blisters. Here’s how to avoid blisters (especially

1. Anti blister balm
2. Anti blister socks
3. Anti blister tape
4. Anti blister padding
5. Anti blister patches

How can you tell if your golf shoes are properly broken in?

When you first get new shoes, they’ll feel tight around the toes and rub at heel. When they are successfully broken in, they will feel comfortable and softer, then they’re ready to wear on the golf course.

Why do New shoes give you blisters?

“Wear the right size shoes. Wearing shoes that are either too tight or too loose can cause rubbing and friction, leading to the formation of a blister. People with feet that are especially wide or narrow should pay close attention to the footwear they select.”

What to Do If You Get Blisters from Your New Golf Shoes?

Many golfers have experienced the painful and frustrating experience of getting blisters from new golf shoes. Follow these steps [aad]

1. Don’t Pop or drain it – It might be very tempting to pop it, I know. But it’s best to leave it in order to prevent infection which can make it even worse.
2. Cover the blister – make sure that you cover the blister with a bandage or tape. This will help to protect it from further irritation.
3. Use padding – Cut the padding into a circle and apply it on the blister, then wrap it with a bandage.
4. Avoid golfing & wearing that shoes until the blister is gone. Give it enough time to heal before playing golf.