Golf Shoes Should Match Your Personality

Footwear technology has become so uniformly excellent across golf shoe brands that, really, you'll get great performance and comfort in most any one you pick. Taking price out of the equation, choosing the right shoe for you is mainly a matter of style.

Before shopping, ask yourself: What golf shoe best suits my tastes and persona? If that sounds like a baffler, here's a quick guide to different types prevalent on Tour, and their footwear of choice.

The Traditionalist – Ernie Els (Callaway Tour Authentic Pinstripe Saddle)

Ernie stays true to himself with Callaway's conventional, saddle-style model, made from waterproof leather with the assortment of bells and whistles you expect in a top-line golf shoe.

This style suits you if: You play forged blades, carry a single-digit handicap, and know stuff like who designed Cypress Point. (It was Alister Mackenzie.)

The Head Turner – Rickie Fowler (Puma Cell Fusion)

Anyone who caught Fowler's all-orange ensemble during the final round of the Memorial knows this rookie likes to stand out. Fowler's check-ME-out fashion sense extends to his feet, outfitted with Puma's youth-skewing Cell Fusion golf shoes.

The Cell Fusion features dynamic colors like neptune green and snorkel blue, with designs like something you'd find on a basketball court circa, oh, 1976. We mean that in a good way.

This style suits you if: You think "traditional" is another word for "boring" and prefer to make an individual statement with your attire. Loudly

The Athlete – Tiger Woods (Nike Air Zoom TW)

Before Mr. Woods came along, golf was considered a game, not a sport, and golfers simply skilled, not athletic. Tiger blew that notion to smithereens with his ripped biceps and cat-like course stalking.

Tiger's Air Zoom shoes bear a sleek, aggressive look alternating "ballistic mesh" with strips of leather. If anything, they resemble football cleats, not surprising given Nike's deep connections with that pastime.

This style suits you if: Golf is just one of many sports you play, but one you take very, very seriously.

The Modern Classicist – Lee Westwood (FootJoy FJ Icon)

Westwood is young enough to pull off innovative styles, old enough to look at home in something more conventional. In other words, the poster child for FootJoy's flagship model.

Golf's most enduring shoe brand, FootJoy refuses to rely on shopworn standards. The FJ Icon, widely favored by the company's armada of tour pros, marries old-school materials like full-grain leather with 21st Century features and fashion.

This style suits you if: You appreciate a classic look but like to toss in a twist now and again. Being a good stick in the 30-45 demographic helps, too.

Mr. Laid-Back – Fred Couples (ECCO Street Premiere)

Act his age? Not Freddie, at least not when it comes to his shoes. Couples caused a ruckus at the Masters when he showed up on the leaderboard impersonating a skateboarder. Demand for ECCO's ultra-hip, supremely comfortable Street Premiere soon outstripped supply as young and, um, young at heart clamored for Couples' kicks.

Production has since caught up, so expect to see these all over a golf course – or a skate park – near you.

This style suits you if: You share Freddie's devil-may-care attitude and believe shirt-tucking is for attorneys and bankers.