Steel spikes vs plastic spikes

[hbobbitt14]

As I'm playing golf last weekend I noticed the greens aren't in good shape with scuff marks on them, similar to the days of steel spikes. Of course we can't use the steel ones now and I believe the original reason for changing to plastic spikes was to reduce the damage on the greens. Presuming I am correct in my understanding while and staring at greens with drag marks why can't the USGA drop the plastic and go to the steel spikes once again?

[cnosil]

44 minutes ago, magician2 said:

why can't the USGA drop the plastic and go to the steel spikes once again?

It isn't the USGA and there is nothing in the rules of golf related to steel vs softspikes;   many professionals continue to wear steel spikes.  

[Hook DeLoft]

I sometimes see scuffs from people dragging their feet.  I think it is most often people with physical problems such as stroke survivors.

[Golf2Much]

I think a lot of the early discussions when the steel versus plastic spikes first was debated was less about the impacts on the greens and more about the impact steel spikes (and heavy feet) had on club houses, asphalt walkways, wooden bridges and other infrastructure elements.  Green spike mark will naturally and eventually repair themselves.  Damaged carpets, wood and stone will not, leading courses to reoccurring expenses to properly maintain.  

In the end, I believe clubs desire to move away from metal and to plastic spikes was more of an ongoing maintenance and financial decision than greens quality decision.

[GaDawg]

Back in the day, there is nothing like following a group of golfers that wore steel spikes. The majority could not pick their feet up when walking or were just clumsy.

[GolfSpy TCB]

There is a certain amount of nostalgia I have for the sound of steel spikes walking across the parking lot or cart path (probably from my days playing baseball with steel cleats and the reminders I have as scars on my lower legs and ankles) - but I don't really miss them on the course.  But then, I don't generate enough speed in my swing these days to fall off my spikeless shoes .  I agree with G2M above... the switch seems to have been driven by damage to infrastructure of the club, more than the spike marks on the greens.  

[Motoboss]

The elimination of steel spikes were at the discretion of the golf clubs which everyone gleefully jumped onboard with as well as shoe manufacturer’s. As stated it was due to turf, clubhouse and infrastructure damage. The cost of maintenance in and around clubhouse has been greatly reduced if not eliminated all together due to spike damage.
 

The idea of eliminating soft spikes won’t happen, at least in the next 25 years. Making everyone wear (worn down) spikeless or tennis shoes would result in ongoing never ending litigation due to personal injury. The first time someone falls down a dew covered tee box and breaks a wrist, dislocates an elbow or shreds a knee the clubs would forever be in court. Not to say the change can’t happen but it would be a slow, voluntary shift, as was the move to spikeless.

 

 I do miss the click clack of the steel spikes and never had a better “push” move with my back foot!

 

 

Now if they’d just outlaw those short, ankle hugging sweat pants Justin Thomas is wearing we would return to some sort of decorum. It’s embarrassing.

Edited May 12, 2022 by Motoboss

[goaliedad30]

1 hour ago, Riverboat said:

I have way less problem with the joggers than I do with the hoodies. Keep those things off the course.

[Motoboss]

 

[GolfSpy TCB]

15 hours ago, Motoboss said:

Now if they’d just outlaw those short, ankle hugging sweat pants Justin Thomas is wearing we would return to some sort of decorum. It’s embarrassing.

+1   

Arnie is rolling over in his grave.  While we are at it... when did a mock turtleneck become a collared shirt?  Oh yeah... when Tiger started wearing them. 

I operate under one word... Tradition.

[russtopherb]

Man there's a whole lotta this in here...

[bens197]

Hoodies are awesome. 
 

Joggers are comfy. 
 

Music on the course is fun. 
 

Wear what you want as long as you play quickly and replace your divots. 

[GolfSpy TCB]

4 minutes ago, russtopherb said:

Man there's a whole lotta this in here...

Touché .

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

I just look at steel spikes as helping aerate the greens, but hey I am no turf professional.

Add me to @bens197thought process, I don't wear some of that because I enjoy quarter zips, but not sure how you can be offended by clothes...Is it ok to piss by the tee box still?

[GolfSpy TCB]

1 minute ago, bens197 said:

Hoodies are awesome. 
 

Joggers are comfy. 
 

Music on the course is fun. 
 

Wear what you want as long as you play quickly and replace your divots. 

Fair comments.  My 13 year old son has a drawer full of them.  

I see your inflammatory comments and raise you....

I bet LIV Golf's dress code is shorts and tees.  

 

I digress.  I don't care what people wear on the course...One could say that Plus Fours are just really short joggers ;).  I choose to follow my own dress code which is rooted in traditional wear.  Same reason I don't own "athletic shoe" style golf shoes, and back on thread topic...  metal spikes cause unneeded damage... so I'm good with soft or spikeless on my traditional dress golf shoes.

[GrumpyGolf]

2 minutes ago, Lacassem said:

I just look at steel spikes as helping aerate the greens, but hey I am no turf professional.

Add me to @bens197thought process, I don't wear some of that because I enjoy quarter zips, but not sure how you can be offended by clothes...Is it ok to piss by the tee box still?

Clothes are clothes, as long as I am not seeing what you are packing, wear what you want.  AND in my opinion as an old man yelling at clouds - IT WAS NEVER OK TO PISS BY THE TEE BOX, GO FIND A TREE THAT IS OB

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

Just now, CWR said:

Clothes are clothes, as long as I am not seeing what you are packing, wear what you want.  AND in my opinion as an old man yelling at clouds - IT WAS NEVER OK TO PISS BY THE TEE BOX, GO FIND A TREE THAT IS OB

The tree is near the tee box*

I sometimes enjoy showing off what I got 

[GrumpyGolf]

1 minute ago, Lacassem said:

The tree is near the tee box*

I sometimes enjoy showing off what I got 

Yeah, just be careful where you point that thing, don't want any unwarranted divots near me.

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

1 minute ago, CWR said:

Yeah, just be careful where you point that thing, don't want any unwarranted divots near me.

I cant wear tight my thighs and rear are catcheresque.

[MattWillGolf]

10 minutes ago, CWR said:

Clothes are clothes, as long as I am not seeing what you are packing, wear what you want.  AND in my opinion as an old man yelling at clouds - IT WAS NEVER OK TO PISS BY THE TEE BOX, GO FIND A TREE THAT IS OB

As long as it’s OB on the left. I tend to find myself OB right.

[bens197]

44 minutes ago, Tiftaaft said:

Fair comments.  My 13 year old son has a drawer full of them.  

I see your inflammatory comments and raise you....

I bet LIV Golf's dress code is shorts and tees.  

 

I digress.  I don't care what people wear on the course...One could say that Plus Fours are just really short joggers ;).  I choose to follow my own dress code which is rooted in traditional wear.  Same reason I don't own "athletic shoe" style golf shoes, and back on thread topic...  metal spikes cause unneeded damage... so I'm good with soft or spikeless on my traditional dress golf shoes.

This one certainly has traditionalists vs progressives. 
 

I’m a subscriber to the world is changing and we should change with it. As far as LIV goes, I’m not sold either way because it’s super complicated. 
 

You may be onto something though…I could totally see shorts as a thing. 

[fixyurdivot]

I tried following this thread... without much success.   Regarding the spikes question, I just picked up a pair of these on clearance which will be my first experience with soft spikes.  My other shoes are all the non remove/replace nubby style. If I don't like theses plastic spikes, I might try removing them and just use the nubs.

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

22 minutes ago, Riverboat said:

I used to work at a course and our superintendent said metal spikes did a great job of spreading disease around the green and from green to green, but were way too shallow to do anything like aeration. He says the switch to plastic was the best thing that ever happened to those in his profession.

I was being sarcastic in that TBH. Plastic does 0 damage unless you drag your feet. Metal damages the root system.

[GrumpyGolf]

13 minutes ago, Lacassem said:

I was being sarcastic in that TBH. Plastic does 0 damage unless you drag your feet. Metal damages the root system.

Yah, and how many times in the metal spike days did you see spike drag marks near the hole from some one who decided they were too tired to pick up their feet or looked like they tried to kick the ball that just missed on the low side of the hole.

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

4 minutes ago, CWR said:

Yah, and how many times in the metal spike days did you see spike drag marks near the hole from some one who decided they were too tired to pick up their feet or looked like they tried to kick the ball that just missed on the low side of the hole.

Might be showing my age but metal was fairly out of the picture when I started to golf. I had a pair from my uncle (yes used shoes) and I wore those until the bottoms fell off (was on Admiral Baker Golf Course in San Diego) on the 16th hole. I played 3 holes with no shoes. Plastic is much better.

[GrumpyGolf]

2 minutes ago, Lacassem said:

Might be showing my age but metal was fairly out of the picture when I started to golf. I had a pair from my uncle (yes used shoes) and I wore those until the bottoms fell off (was on Admiral Baker Golf Course in San Diego) on the 16th hole. I played 3 holes with no shoes. Plastic is much better.

Dag nab it, these young uns and their new fangled thing-a-ma-hickeys.  I didn't realize metal spikes was showing age.  I feel old now, guess I better take a nap. 

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

1 minute ago, CWR said:

Dag nab it, these young uns and their new fangled thing-a-ma-hickeys.  I didn't realize metal spikes was showing age.  I feel old now, guess I better take a nap. 

Dont forget the loose pants!

[ParFore74x]

I have not been around golf long enough to have experienced the metal spikes first hand so I really cannot chime in on that. Plastic spikes work just fine for me. 

As for the attire, it’s not uncommon to see guys show up with basketball shorts and tank tops around here. I’m a golf shorts/pants with a polo or 1/4 zip so some days I’m the one that is sticking out like a sore thumb.  

[KC Golf]

I have to admit that I didn't realize you could still buy metal spikes.

Most courses seem to have outlawed metal spikes.  Do I missed it?  Not really.  

[GrumpyGolf]

I remember back about the big deal when Davis Love III won the PGA Championship in soft spikes and how before that tour players scoffed at them and thusly so did the amateurs. I got them as a replacement when my metal spikes had worn down from walking on concrete, pavement, flagstones, you name it. The looked alien on my smooth sole Foot Joys and I did miss the clickety clackety of the metal as I walked, but traction wise, I for one could not tell a big difference.