<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-07-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000026820</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PHOENIX FOOTWEAR GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PXG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001121943</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GREENWOOD INVESTMENTS, INC.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>222 BERKELEY STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>17TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02116</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001121942</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TANNENBAUM STEVEN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>222 BERKELEY STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>17TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02116</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001476880</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Greenwood Investors Limited Partnership</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>222 BERKELEY STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>17TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02116</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001121944</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GREENWOOD CAPITAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>222 BERKELEY STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>17TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02116</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>1% Convertible Note due 2014</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.334</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-07-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionTotalValue>
                    <value>1000000</value>
                </transactionTotalValue>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1000000</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-07-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityValue>
                    <value>1000000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityValue>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000000</value>
                </valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The 1% Convertible Notes due 2014 are convertible into common stock at any time at the option of the holder.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This represents a $500,000 1% Convertible Note due 2014 held by Greenwood Capital Limited Partnership (&quot;Capital&quot;) and a $500,000 1% Convertible Note due 2014 held by Greenwood Investors Limited Partnership (&quot;Investors&quot;).  Greenwood Investments, Inc. (the &quot;General Partner&quot;) is the general partner of Capital and Investors, and Steven Tannenbaum is the President of the General Partner.  Each of the Reporting Persons disclaims his or its beneficial ownership of any shares of the above named Issuer reported herein, except to the extent of his or its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Steven Tannenbaum</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-07-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Steven Tannenbaum, President of Greenwood Investments, Inc.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-07-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Steven Tannenbaum, President of Greenwood Investments, Inc., the General Partner of Greenwood Capital Limited Partnership</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-07-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Steven Tannenbaum, President of Greenwood Investments, Inc., the General Partner of Greenwood Investors Limited Partnership</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-07-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
