BOA replaces laces with a dial, a thin steel cable and a set of guides. The reason it caught on in golf is not convenience - it is that a cable spreads tension evenly across the foot in a way a knot never does.
How it works
A dial on the side or the tongue of the shoe winds a coated stainless steel lace that runs through low-friction guides across the upper. Turning the dial tightens in small clicks; lifting or pulling the dial releases the tension completely.
Because the lace slides through the guides rather than being knotted at each eyelet, the pressure equalises along its whole length. That is why a BOA shoe rarely produces the hot spot over the instep that an over-tightened lace does.
Why golfers took to it
- Even pressure across the midfoot. The foot is held rather than clamped in two places.
- Micro-adjustment mid-round. Feet swell over 18 holes. One click on the 12th tee fixes it without stopping to re-lace.
- One-handed, with a glove on. No untying, no wet lace ends.
- Nothing to come undone. A lace that works loose in wet rough is a small but real annoyance that disappears entirely.
- Genuinely useful if your hands are stiff. Arthritis, cold mornings, winter mitts - a dial is far easier than a bow.
Dial types
| Dial | Tightening | Releasing | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| L6 | Click by click | Pull the dial to release fully | Lighter shoes, single-zone lacing |
| Li2 | Click by click | Micro-adjust looser as well as tighter, or pull to release | Performance models where you fine-tune mid-round |
Some shoes use one dial for the whole upper; others use two, so the forefoot and the ankle can be set independently. If you have a high instep or a narrow heel, the two-dial layout is worth looking for.
Single dial, double dial, or laces?
| BOA | Traditional laces | |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure distribution | Even across the guides | Concentrated at the eyelets you pulled hardest |
| Adjusting mid-round | One click, one hand | Stop, untie, retie |
| Zone control | Only where a second dial is fitted | Full - you can lace each section as you like |
| Repair | Replacement dial and lace kits | New laces from anywhere |
| Price | Usually a small premium | Standard |
Living with it
- Rinse sand and grit off the dial after a beach-like bunker day. Grit in the mechanism is the usual cause of a stiff dial.
- If the dial will not turn, do not force it - release fully, clean, and try again.
- The cable can fray where it crosses a sharp guide. Check it once a season, particularly on shoes older than two or three years.
- BOA supports the dial and lace with a replacement programme, and kits can be fitted by a competent workshop. Check the current terms for your model rather than assuming.
Who should pay the premium
Worth it: if you play in all weathers, if your feet swell noticeably during a round, if your instep is narrow and laces never hold you properly, or if your hands are not what they were.
Skip it: if you play a dozen summer rounds a year, have a standard foot shape and have never once thought about your laces. That money buys a better upper or a waterproof membrane instead, which will do more for you.
What to take away
- BOA spreads tension evenly, which is why it fits narrow and awkward feet better than laces.
- Li2 dials micro-adjust in both directions; L6 tightens by clicks and releases fully.
- Two dials give you separate forefoot and ankle control - useful with a high instep.
- Keep the dial clean and check the cable once a season.
BOA and lace models sit alongside each other in men's golf shoes and ladies golf shoes.