Spiked vs spikeless shoes

[Buffly 563]

@Tpoole22 Spiked definitely helps me transmit all my rotational force to the ball better than casual tennis shoes.

I am talking about soft spikes and not metal spikes that I think @cnosil might have mentioned with the cement clicking sound. I think metal spikes mess up the greens unnecessarily where soft spikes don't near as much. 

I have to replace the soft spikes after quite a few rounds. By the second time the soft spikes wear out, I have to replace my shoes entirely because I am fighting plantar fasciitis. 

So, due to my plantar fasciitis, caused by me wearing broken down golf shoes, I have actually been playing golf in casual tennis shoes. There is a difference which is amplified in wet conditions. 

Spikeless golf shoes are NOT casual tennis shoes because they do have more grip/nubs to help with traction. So, if you're keeping score, there are 5 levels of traction: 1-dress shoes=no traction, 2-casual tennis shoes & cross trainers=little/some traction, 3-spikeless golf shoes=moderate traction, 4-soft spiked golf shoes=good traction, 5-metal spikes=most traction but can damage greens. 

I see mostly golf shoes in the 3-4 categories on the course with a few tennis shoes in the mix. 

 

[DiscipleofPenick 3,797]

I have 7 pairs and only 1 is spiked now. I don't notice any difference. I'm not saying I won't buy spiked shoes in the future.

Take Dead Aim

[Hook DeLoft 702]

I almost always play in the morning with a lot of dew on the ground and have never noticed a lack of traction with spikeless shoes.  It probably depends on how hard the player swings the club and how well he maintains his balance.  Sam Snead used to win bets in practice rounds playing bare footed. The only time I have taken a fall on a golf course was when wearing shoes with metal spikes.  I was walking down a slope in wet conditions and my feet started sliding like I was on ice.  One advantage I've noticed with spikeless shoes is they are much easier to clean.  Dirt and grass clippings seem to stick to soft spikes and not to the nubs of spikeless shoes.

[Firebird 379]

I have FJ DNA Helix Spiked and FJ SL Pro Spikeless Shoes. Our course get really wet and muddy in winter and I have always worn spiked shoes as when I wind up tight I find that I need the extra grip otherwise my feet start to slide around on the downswing. The DNA's are comfy when the ground is wet they are not so great when the ground is rock hard. What surprised me was that the SL Pro's provided as good or even better grip in the wet and are so comfy in all conditions. I have a set of Callaway Spikeless that I wear as casuals and they do not offer any where near the same level of grip as the SL Pro's. They feel like they stick to the ground.

One of my playing partners also bought a set and he is also amazed at the level of grip.

 

[HardcoreLooper 5,533]

14 hours ago, Tpoole22 said:

Thats odd, are they the same brand as your spikeless shoes? 

I've tried virtually every brand of spiked shoes.

[Chizzle 82]

I think it boils down to comfort vs performance although both styles are getting closer to each other (spikless getting more traction and spiked getting more comfort).  Personally it feels like I am swinging harder with spiked shoes.  Perhaps subconsciously I think/know there is less traction so my body may not use my legs and ground forces as much with spikeless.  I have the adidas 360 xt and they are awesome.  There is a tiny break in period but they feel super comfy and I feel planted.  I heard footjoy did a case study that showed golfers with spiked shoes had a little more swing speed but I haven't found it so not sure about it.

[Hook DeLoft 702]

Tony Finau wears spikeless shoes, so I don't think swing speed is a deciding factor.

[Kaplack 85]

I need spikes that Grip; so I and Grip it and Rip It!

[ationgco 7]

Spiked or spikeless?

Recently been using spikeless (g/fore’s, adidas, fj) with almost 99% of my 1st tee rounds walking. It’s flexibility and softer cushion makes it more comfortable as you pile on the miles. However, I miss the stability, firm grip, slightly longer distance, and solid base of the “spiked” rounds with the adidas 360’s.

I suggest experimenting with bringing both types of golf shoes and splitting the front and back swapping shoes. You and only you can determine what will best fit your needs. Gotta test drive those shoes to get the right feedback. Bring a shoehorn and an extra new set of socks. Have a great round and keep us posted.


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[fozcycle 15,081]

I have always been a spiked guy. From the time I was 10 yrs old and got my first pair of clickety clack metal spikes I have always liked the sound when walking on concrete. Now, at 70, I wear soft spikes for traction and spikeless when there is no dew on the ground. I no longer get the clickety clack sound but enjoy wearing new spikes. Just replaced the soft spikes in a pair of FJ Dryjoys Tour yesterday and will enjoy wearing them today. This is my first time playing 8n the Saturday game since the middle of November and I want to be at my best.


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[tony@CIC 21,990]

I used to be adamant about using soft spokes and then I got a pair of Superlites xp. I'll gladly give up a couple of mph for the comfort of these shoes. So far I haven't had a grip issue but on the other hand I haven't had them on wet steep terrain yet. 

[HardcoreLooper 5,533]

On 1/2/2021 at 6:38 AM, fozcycle said:

I have always been a spiked guy. From the time I was 10 yrs old and got my first pair of clickety clack metal spikes I have always liked the sound when walking on concrete.

Metal spikes on concrete is the golfiest sound there is.  I really miss that sound, but I don't miss how walking in wet FJ Classics back in the day.  Those things weighed a ton.

I played in my Adipower 4orged S in the mud and the muck yesterday, and the traction was very good.  I'll probably pick up a pair of Codechaos this year.  Adidas may have cracked the code on spikeless shoes.

Edited January 5, 2021 by HardcoreLooper
Grammar

[Middler 3,444]

3 hours ago, HardcoreLooper said:

Metal spikes on concrete is the golfiest sound there is.  I really miss that sound, but I don't miss how my FJ Classics used to walking in wet FJ Classics back in the day.  Those things weighed a ton.

I played in my Adipower 4orged S in the mud and the muck yesterday, and the traction was very good.  I'll probably pick up a pair of Codechaos this year.  Adidas may have cracked the code on spikeless shoes.

I absolutely love my CodeChaos shoes, I've been wearing them since the beginning of the year. I'm buying another pair in another color OR I may try the Adidas TOUR360 XT-SL Spikeless Textile Golf Shoes instead. Wish I knew someone who had tried both, but the latter is pretty new I believe.

[HardcoreLooper 5,533]

44 minutes ago, Middler said:

I absolutely love my CodeChaos shoes, I've been wearing them since the beginning of the year. I'm buying another pair in another color OR I may try the Adidas TOUR360 XT-SL Spikeless Textile Golf Shoes instead. Wish I knew someone who had tried both, but the latter is pretty new I believe.

That's awesome to hear.  

How well do the Textiles clean up after getting muddy?  My usual course is either muddy, really muddy, or completely submerged.

 

[Middler 3,444]

2 hours ago, HardcoreLooper said:

That's awesome to hear.  

How well do the Textiles clean up after getting muddy?  My usual course is either muddy, really muddy, or completely submerged.

 

I don’t have Textiles, just considering. Read a few reviews since my earlier post and quite a few buyers said they’re not waterproof, get soaked easily. OTOH the CodeChaos keep your feet dry IME and according to online reviews. So I’ll probably buy CodeChaos in another color instead of Textiles.

[BKordon 307]

On 1/3/2021 at 10:37 AM, HardcoreLooper said:

Metal spikes on concrete is the golfiest sound there is.  I really miss that sound, but I don't miss how my FJ Classics used to walking in wet FJ Classics back in the day.  Those things weighed a ton.

I played in my Adipower 4orged S in the mud and the muck yesterday, and the traction was very good.  I'll probably pick up a pair of Codechaos this year.  Adidas may have cracked the code on spikeless shoes.

I really miss metal spikes. Growing up in the northwest, it was necessity. I tried to find some Champ Stingers a while back just to give them a try and impossible doesn't even scratch the surface. I don't know the right people.

[HardcoreLooper 5,533]

On 1/3/2021 at 7:17 PM, Middler said:

I don’t have Textiles, just considering. Read a few reviews since my earlier post and quite a few buyers said they’re not waterproof, get soaked easily. OTOH the CodeChaos keep your feet dry IME and according to online reviews. So I’ll probably buy CodeChaos in another color instead of Textiles.

Yeah, I wish we had enough dry days on my course that I could justify dropping $180 on shoes that you can't wear when it's wet, but that's just not a good investment for me.  CodeChaos it is!

[Larryd3 380]

Spiked only for me.  I've been testing the Sqairz shoes and they are very comfortable (and I have difficulty finding comfortable shoes) and they are extremely stable.  They are somewhat heavier than spikeless but it doesn't bother me in the least.  

[Lacassem 16,174]

Just happened to be in this thread and looking to replace my spikes (UA HOVR Goretex) because I had issues with the spikes I ordered on amazon and wanted to double verify I got the right ones and was pretty cool to see this:

Not sure how many companies toss that in there descriptions (I am sure majority do) but was cool to see online.