Metal Spikes

[birdie seeker]

I noticed today that one of the Tour Pro's had metal spikes. I guess us amateurs are not skilled enough to use them!

[Double Mocha Man]

3 minutes ago, birdie seeker said:

I noticed today that one of the Tour Pro's had metal spikes. I guess us amateurs are not skilled enough to use them!

That should be grandfathered out... how long since soft spikes were introduced???

[saevel25]

12 hours ago, birdie seeker said:

I noticed today that one of the Tour Pro's had metal spikes. I guess us amateurs are not skilled enough to use them!

Most golf courses only allow non-metal spikes. They PGA Tour may get permission to allow them for tour events. 

[DaveP043]

13 hours ago, birdie seeker said:

I noticed today that one of the Tour Pro's had metal spikes. I guess us amateurs are not skilled enough to use them!

The metal spikes often tore up the green surface, so most golf courses have forbidden them.  As @saevel25 says, the PGA Tour must negotiate with the individual golf courses to allow their use, and quite possibly the other professional tours do the same.

[Club Rat]

I think other Countries may still allow them.
But to be honest, I would never use them again.

Todays products are much better in many ways.

[Typhoon92]

I don’t see any downside to soft spikes because there are so many variations.  I’m surprised the players on tour haven’t done something about players that use them.. you want to putt over their spikes marks when metal are not necessary.

 

The LD guys don’t wear metal so any PGA tour player that says he needs them for grip ... should “get a grip”

[Sandy Divot]

I used to love walking on a tile bathroom floor with metal spikes. I made going to the bathroom a thrill! 

[Yukari]

I don't like soft spikes on wet grass.  With metal spikes, I felt confident that my stance will not slip.  With soft spikes, unless you change them often so they are relatively new, when it wears down a little, I find I slip on my swings more often than when I played with metal spikes.

Full disclosure: I picked up playing golf just then they were transitioning into soft spikes.  I liked the clickity-clack of metal spikes walking through the parking lot.

[DaveP043]

22 hours ago, Typhoon92 said:

I don’t see any downside to soft spikes because there are so many variations.  I’m surprised the players on tour haven’t done something about players that use them.. you want to putt over their spikes marks when metal are not necessary.

The LD guys don’t wear metal so any PGA tour player that says he needs them for grip ... should “get a grip”

I know its just recent, but now you can fix any spike marks you find on your line, so there's not a real issue with that any more.

And generally, the Long Drive guys are teeing off from a pretty firm level surface.  On a real golf course, the footing can be a lot more variable and difficult, slopes, wet conditions, leaves and pine straw.  I'm not saying that I think real spikes are essential, but I can understand the preference that some pros have for them.

[chilepepper]

It’s all about how folks walk on the greens. I’ve seen plastic claw spikes really scuff up greens pretty horribly 

[DaveP043]

12 minutes ago, chilepepper said:

It’s all about how folks walk on the greens. I’ve seen plastic claw spikes really scuff up greens pretty horribly 

The design of the sole of the shoe also has an impact.  The FootJoy DNA shoes had their soft spikes centered in a kind of "pod", and the pod dented soft ground.  I believe Adidas sold a similar design.  When soft spikes are set in a flatter sole, I don't see the same issues.

[Osnola]

Only 2 types of people screw up the green when they walk on it...lazy ass people who shuffle and don’t pick up their feet and drunks who do not care. The same people that don’t repair their ball marks don’t repair their spike marks. 

[sjduffers]

Tiger uses metal spikes, to this day.

[308 Ragin Cajun]

On 1/20/2020 at 2:43 PM, Sandy Divot said:

I used to love walking on a tile bathroom floor with metal spikes. I made going to the bathroom a thrill! 

Yes. I miss the sound of metal spikes on the clubhouse floor or the cement walkways. i also miss "kilties"😁

[phan52]

19 hours ago, 308 Ragin Cajun said:

Yes. I miss the sound of metal spikes on the clubhouse floor or the cement walkways. i also miss "kilties"😁

In Myrtle Beach many years ago. I was the designated driver so, as soon as we finished our second round of the day (nevermore), we went looking for a restaurant for dinner and the rest of my foursome hit the beer cooler. One had been hitting it all day and failed to change his shoes. When we found a very nice restaurant, we went in and immediately heard the distinctive click, click of metal spikes on a hardwood floor. We were escorted out. 

[Rippy_72]

I remember the last amateur tournament that I played in that allowed metal spikes was in  about 1993 or 1994.  My first round of golf was in the 60's and to be frank, I never missed spikes and never needed them to generate power in my swing.  I think most clubs in the USA banned then around then.  I know for sure that any top course that I played in 1995 or later did not allow spikes, other than in Ireland or UK.

 

[Buckeyebowman]

On 1/20/2020 at 12:39 PM, Typhoon92 said:

I don’t see any downside to soft spikes because there are so many variations.  I’m surprised the players on tour haven’t done something about players that use them.. you want to putt over their spikes marks when metal are not necessary.

 

The LD guys don’t wear metal so any PGA tour player that says he needs them for grip ... should “get a grip”

The rules now allow you to tamp down spike marks. 

On 1/20/2020 at 3:43 PM, Sandy Divot said:

I used to love walking on a tile bathroom floor with metal spikes. I made going to the bathroom a thrill! 

I miss that sound too! Also metal spikes clacking on concrete or crunching in a gravel parking lot! One thing about metal spikes, if the clubhouse had wooden steps or a wooden porch, they would sure do a number on them! 

On 1/21/2020 at 12:14 PM, chilepepper said:

It’s all about how folks walk on the greens. I’ve seen plastic claw spikes really scuff up greens pretty horribly 

Absolutely! Played a course last year that had scuff marks on every green because of some slew-footed scumbag who couldn't pick up his feet!

[Double Mocha Man]

I love the sound of metal spikes but I also love that I can now go into the grill room, for food and/or an adult beverage wearing my golf shoes.