Poll: Spikes or Spikeless?

[Middler]

Just for fun, it seems spikeless continue to gain converts - me for one after decades spikes only. I only wear spikes (FJ DryJoys) if it’s sloppy wet AND I’m in a riding cart. Walking or not sloppy wet, I’m fully converted to spikeless (2 pairs Adidas CodeChaos) It’s amazing how good they’ve become!

I get those who’ve never tried spikeless, I wouldn’t consider it until I started walking 18 regularly again. I was wrong about todays spikeless golf shoes, more comfortable and surprising traction IME. I walk in my CodeChaos once or twice a week, there’s no way I could walk 18 in my DryJoys…

[Bosox04]

I have FJ HyperFlex and Adidas CodeChaos, and I split usage fairly evenly.

[cnosil]

Always had spiked shoes and have never tried spikeless.  Just keep buying what I know and am familiar with.   Spikeless could be fine but it will probably be another 5 years before I need another pair of golf shoes.  

[CarlH]

Most of my golf shoes are spike-less...two pair of Ecco Biom hybrid, a pair of True knit.  One pair of FJ Freestyle with spikes.  I recently ordered a pair of Squairz with spikes but returned them because of fit.  Considering adding a pair of FJ Hyperflex with spikes, instead of the Squairz.  

In general, I'm okay with spike-less golf shoes (as long as they're actually for golf) but recently thinking that I want to go back with spikes again -- without a real definite reason to do so.

[ParFore74x]

I’ve never used spikeless but I am in need of shoes for this year so I am looking at trying them out. It seems that more and more people keep talking about how great they are and I am definitely intrigued. 

[PhilM75072]

13 hours ago, Middler said:

Just for fun, it seems spikeless continue to gain converts - me for one after decades spikes only. I only wear spikes if it’s sloppy wet AND I’m in a riding cart. Walking or not sloppy wet, I’m fully converted to spikeless. It’s amazing how good they’ve become!

It doesn't have to be wet or sloppy to slip. I slipped, fell, and broke my arm walking down a steep slope in very dry conditions as the Bermuda grass was dormant. It was much like stepping on ice and I was even wearing spikes at the time.

[MattF]

I converted to spikeless close to 5 years ago and won't go back to spikes.

[Rchang]

I’m still spikes. But curious for the spikeless converters, what made you switch and stay switched? I don’t play if actively raining, but do walk almost all my rounds in the dewy morning 

[russtopherb]

I'm mostly spikes, I walk a number of courses that have some, shall we say, spotty drainage at points. I find the spikes to give me a much more reliable footing.

[LeftyMatt89]

I’ve tried spineless in the past but my foot had a tendency to slip every now and then. I don’t have have slipping issues with spikes. Also the hyperflex boas are as comfortable as any spineless I’ve ever worn. My course is pretty wet at my 2nd tee time off in the morning so I choose spikes 100% and rotate different pairs if I play consecutive days. 

[DiscipleofPenick]

I've gradually purchased more spikeless shoes, but I still have 2 pairs of spikes. Basically I buy a color/style I'm looking for that affordable, regardless of spike type. I play a lot of morning and it's wet, I've never had traction issues, and I am a bit of an aggressive swinger. If anything I've had an occasional issue in August/September when a course can get burnt out or hardpan. But doesn't happen enough for me to worry about it. 

[Stuka44]

Have never tried spikeless.  I'm just curious about the wear on the spikeless, "spikes".  I tend to keep my shoes for 5-7 years as long as they continue to be in average to good shape.   I find it necessary to change spikes almost every (1-1.5) years because of wear.   Would spikeless, "spikes" not wear down during that length of time.  I'm just not a buy a new pair of golf shoes every other year sort of guy, so I am concerned that spikeless would not last 5-7 or more years I wear my shoes.  

[CarlH]

4 minutes ago, stuka44 said:

Have never tried spikeless.  I'm just curious about the wear on the spikeless, "spikes".  I tend to keep my shoes for 5-7 years as long as they continue to be in average to good shape.   I find it necessary to change spikes almost every (1-1.5) years because of wear.   Would spikeless, "spikes" not wear down during that length of time.  I'm just not a buy a new pair of golf shoes every other year sort of guy, so I am concerned that spikeless would not last 5-7 or more years I wear my shoes.  

It depends.  They'll last far longer than several sets of spikes under the same walking conditions.  As with spikes, cement surfaces will increase the wear and tear on them, but at a far lesser rate of wear.

As far as traction, a good pair of golf spike-less shoes will provide good traction....non golf specific shoes, not so much.

[Kenny B]

I've moved on from spikes 7 years ago when I changed courses.  Spikeless are generally a little lighter in weight and much easier on my feet when I walk.  I still have a couple of spiked shoes that I would only wear when riding in a cart, but honestly I haven't worked them in years.  I very rarely have an issue with slipping, and more importantly... it's easier to get goose poop off the soles of spikeless shoes.

[chisag]

16 hours ago, CarlH said:

my golf shoes are spike-less...two pair of Ecco Biom hybrid

 

... Once I saw Freddie Couples playing Ecco Street spike-less shoes (he makes his living playing golf of course so traction is paramount) I switched and never went back. I have 5 pair of Ecco Boom's, 4 I rotate depending on my clothes in black, gray, brown, white and another new white pair in reserve. I never play in the mornings so dew isn't an issue and I wish it would rain here in the desert because it only happens a few times a year so wet ground isn't a problem either. 

[GolfSpy_BOS]

I play all of my rounds in my Adidas spiked shoes, but I do still use my old Foot Joy SLs at the range.  I think I prefer those spikeless ones off of mats, and they are still quite comfortable.  

[ejgaudette]

I also switched when ECCO started making there entry into spikeless and never went back. I found no loss in stability and way more comfortable. They have lasted a while too. I had my ECCOs for too many years (though I did play much). Then got some NB ones three years ago, and only changed because I was looking for something new and the upper was a bit rough, and I tend to play in the morning. So going with some new FJ this year and looking forward to it.

[chisag]

5 minutes ago, ejgaudette said:

They have lasted a while too. I had my ECCOs for too many years (though I did play much).

 

... I posted a picture before but my original white Ecco Bioms would not wear out! They were looking a little ratty but still just as comfortable and with conditioner they were holding up. I had 2 new white pair I picked up on sale but just couldn't get rid of perfectly good shoes, even though they looked past their prime. My save my cart accident back in January had me bleeding on those shoes and I could not get the blood off of them so I finally retired 'em but it took an unnatural act to do so. 

[bens197]

I wish the Nike zoom infinity tour had a spikeless option...they're so comfy but the spikes are super aggressive.  I love playing in a running shoe and I haven't found anything that fits or feels like these.

[ChuckZ]

Just depends on how I feel when I get up in the morning.  I am a FJ guy and the only brand I will wear.  This is based on over thirty five years of experience with great performance, fit, wear and customer service.  Still have a good collection of MyJoy DryJoy tours, MyJoy Icon, which are spiked shoes.  The new Premiere and Tradition shoes I have in my rotation are spiked are some of the best FJ has made in years.  Do play a lot of rounds in my many Pro/SLs.  Waiting on the new Fields in white/red to be released which are spikeless. Find all these styles grip well in all kinds of weather.  I have two pair of the Flex XP and five pair of the Flex but do not wear them to play golf in.  Some golfers do, but I wear them to work in, for casual wear and on the range.   They do have enough grip to play in on a dry sunny day, unless you are trying to swing out of your shoes. 

[mharr]

8 hours ago, Rchang said:

I’m still spikes. But curious for the spikeless converters, what made you switch and stay switched? I don’t play if actively raining, but do walk almost all my rounds in the dewy morning 

I originally switched because of back problems making it (a little) difficult to change shoes in the parking lot (I could swing ok, just problems bending over).  So I put my gold shoes on at home, and put on loafers after golf.  Then started wearing them in the clubhouse after golf, maybe restaurant or bar after that.  That just cemented me that was more comfortable and convenient to go spikeless.

Now, I also subscribe to Sam Snead's instruction on staying light on your feet, and in balance.  Snead would practice barefoot to make sure he stayed in balance, if his feet slipped, he was off-balance.  So, IMHO, if my feet slip, it's due to a bad swing, not bad shoes, and I need to stay in balance.   I see that the players that need spikes, also spray the ball all over the place, and I don't think that is a coincidence.

[HDTVMAN]

First, if it's sloppy and wet I'm home watching Judge Judy or at the store buying new golf stuff. I really love ECCO shoes with Gore-Tex lining, so they stay warm and no moisture. Today I played in ECCO tennis shoes on a very dry course, and they were great. Any shoes where you need to replace the soft spikes is a no go.

[Middler]

On 3/14/2022 at 7:34 AM, Rchang said:

I’m still spikes. But curious for the spikeless converters, what made you switch and stay switched? I don’t play if actively raining, but do walk almost all my rounds in the dewy morning 

I prefer to walk, and spikeless are more comfortable. I’ve found traction with spikeless is far better than I expected nowadays (probably not the case with older generations of spikeless shoes). I’m sure there are more comfortable spiked shoes nowadays too.

I was an FJ only guy for 40 years, until I bought a pair of Adidas CodeChaos.

[sirchunksalot]

I'm firmly a spikeless guy ever since I picked up a pair of Adidas CP Traxion about a year and a half ago. They're lightweight, comfortable, and give me plenty of traction even in the wettest conditions. 

I do have a pair of spiked FootJoy's I wore four years and loved, but the hassle of putting in fresh spikes is something that turns me off. I'll still wear them during those times in our in the yard SuperSpeed training. 

[drb1956]

Wear Footjoy Originals since last year, and before these, Footjoy Contours for over 10 years. So comfortable, waterproof, and stable footing. I like my spikes!!

[stevenbradley609]

On 3/13/2022 at 5:04 PM, Middler said:

Just for fun, it seems spikeless continue to gain converts - me for one after decades spikes only. I only wear spikes (FJ DryJoys) if it’s sloppy wet AND I’m in a riding cart. Walking or not sloppy wet, I’m fully converted to spikeless (2 pairs Adidas CodeChaos) It’s amazing how good they’ve become!

I went spikeless last year, I have a pair of callaway and a pair of puma.  They actually performed pretty well, although the white mesh callaways get dirty really easily and being mesh are impossible to clean.  I put them in the washer but only did a halfass job of cleaning them.

My biggest issue is the spikes wore almost completely off on the callaways and the puma's are about half worn down. I'm going back to spikes just because you can spend a couple hundred dollars on a quality spike shoe and use them for about 4 years, instead of buying a couple hundred dollars every year because you can't replace the spikes.

[MattWillGolf]

I mostly walk when I play and I also have feet that have been designed by a committee. So I have to wear a triple E width (Extra Wide) with a high instep. I’ve gone the spikeless. I live 3 minutes from my home course. I put on my golf shoes in the garage, hop in the car and off to the first tee. (My dream is to pull out of my driveway in a Finn Cycle. ) I have found Skechers to be the most comfortable. I wear Skechers Go Golf Elite Tour SL. 

[Tincuptim]

Love Footjoy spiked shoes. Traditionalist I guess but afraid to pull the trigger on spikeless. Some tour guys still using metal. Need to get a pair of spikeless and put them in the rotation to see how they work with my ugly swing. 

[John Bachman]

I decide on course and weather conditions or just how I feel on that day. 

[GaDawg]

2 hours ago, drb1956 said:

Wear Footjoy Originals since last year, and before these, Footjoy Contours for over 10 years. So comfortable, waterproof, and stable footing. I like my spikes!!