Golf Shoes have really gone out of control! With the boom of Sketchers, FootJoy, Nike and Under Armour shoes, there are PLENTY of different options us golfers can choose from. But the real question is, “do you really need golf spikes?” What about Spike-less?” Does this matter?
Both spike-less and spiked golf shoes help golfers maintain stability during the golf swing. Spiked shoes will dig in deeper to the ground than a spike-less golf shoe which uses small grooves instead of spikes to prevent slippage during a swing.
Golf Spikes
Golf spikes are ridged plastic inserts that are located on the bottom of golf shoes. As you already know (because you are smart) golf spikes help keep the golfer in good balance during the golf swing. There are generally 6- spikes on a golf shoe which are distributed around the shoe in key areas to keep the golfer stable.
The problem with golf spikes is that they get worn out and need to be replaced. On average it takes about 10-15 rounds before you will need to get new ones. Obviously, this depends on how you swing and how well you take care of your golf shoes but a good way to tell is if you see a spike start to become dull or faded… it’s time for new ones.
Each golf shoe company has a different style spike that they use for replacement
Here is a quick guide towards which spikes to grab:
- All Adidas Golf Shoes – PINS
- Callaway Shoes – PINS (Callaway Chev Aero II – Fast Twist)
- All Ecco Shoes – Q Lok
- FootJoy Shoes- Fast Twist (Footjoy M: Project, Footjoy DNA, Footjoy Superlites – PINS)
- Nike Shoes- Fast Twist
- Puma – PINS
- Sketchers – PINS
Spike-less Shoes
Spike-less golf shoes are becoming more popular over the past 5ish years with a lot of solid options to choose from. The benefit from spike-less is that they are…well spike-less! That means no need to have to worry about replacement or tracking around all the extra grass that gets stuck to those spikes.
Spike-less golf shoes have small indentations and ridges on the bottom of the shoe that help prevent slippage out on the course. They are formed in patterns across the sole of the shoe to best prevent sliding and to increase support during the swing. In my opinion, they do a very nice job keeping you in your golf stance.
The problem with spike-less shoes is that if you happen to play when it is very wet outside or on hilly golf courses, there is a “tiny” chance that the ridges don’t support your movement and cause you to slip playing in these environments.
Which is Best?
Well… both!
- Spiked golf shoes give golfers the ultimate support during their golf swing by require proper upkeep.
- Spiked-less shoes will provide golfers with convenience and lighter weight moment around the course but might not give you a perfect grip to the ground.
What Do We Use?
You probably don’t care but we are going to tell you anyway! We all play spike-less golf shoes because of how versatile they are. I personally like having shoes that don’t particularly look like the stereotypical golf shoe where I can keep them on before and after a round.
Also, going in and out of pro shops without tracking a ton of grass around is a nice benefit.
Related Questions
Do spike-less shoes cost more? – Spike-less shoes tend to be slightly less expensive than spiked shoes
What are the most popular golf shoe brands?– The most popular golf shoe brands are FootJoy, Nike, Sketchers, Puma and Under Armour.
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