Spikes; Soft or Metal?

[kpaulhus]

Rickie Fowler wears metal in his Pumas. I heard them at Transitions and Sawgrass. It kinda of blew my mind at first because I am so used to hearing that noise after football practice, not a golf course.

[Fourputt]

Metal spikes will be allowed this summer in all three of the remaining majors as they were at the Masters and every PGA stop this year. Phil Mickelson has always worn metal and I'm sure he will continue to do so.

Which has little bearing on this debate. The pros playing a course 4 days out of a year don't do enough damage to measure. It takes day after day of such abuse for it to show. That is why they get away with it. Many pros wear soft spikes anyway, despite the fact that they aren't required to. Steel spikes don't grip any better than soft spikes do... I used steel spikes back before they were banned, and I'm no more likely to slip now that I was then.

I really don't see why you are so adamantly defending a losing cause.

[sean_miller]

Which has little bearing on this debate. The pros playing a course 4 days out of a year don't do enough damage to measure. It takes day after day of such abuse for it to show. That is why they get away with it. Many pros wear soft spikes anyway, despite the fact that they aren't required to. Steel spikes don't grip any better than soft spikes do... I used steel spikes back before they were banned, and I'm no more likely to slip now that I was then.

People are allowed to voice their opinions even if they're misguided. BTW - did you check out his spikes image (thumbnail)? You could probably walk up a wall with those things.

[Shanks A Million]

I learned the game in the metal spike days, or at least the tail end of them. I can't say they're that much better, at least the ones I've used. They are hard as hell to walk with on concrete too.

[Greg]

I think every course around here only allows soft spikes, not sure why anyone would even want to wear metal spikes, I doubt they would perform better and would be much harder on greens. Ive never used metal spikes, just now started wearing golf shoes but i seem to get excellent footing with the soft spikes.

[GaijinGolfer]

All the courses around here dont allow metal spikes, so all Ive ever used are soft spikes.

[jamo]

Metal spikes will be allowed this summer in all three of the remaining majors as they were at the Masters and every PGA stop this year. Phil Mickelson has always worn metal and I'm sure he will continue to do so.

Have you seen what the PGA TOUR pros do to wooden bridges at the courses they play? Like swiss cheese time a million. The place that I saw the bridge was at TPC Boston, where the Deutsche Bank is played, and that course is very new. And that only 150ish people for 2 days and then under 100 for 2 more days, minus the PGA TOUR pros who use soft spikes. And it's only for 4 days. That is NOT good for the greens. I mean, why else was Tiger's putt on the 72nd hole at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines so bumpy?

[HoosierGolfer]

I thank everyone for sharing their thoughts on this topic. Like normal, a few of you found it hard to address the topic without making it personal but that is human nature in todays internet world. I have no problem whats so ever not wearing steel anywhere but at home but for now I will continue to wear them at my home course. I beleive that golf carts have done far more damage to the courses than spikes could ever do.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Ive never even seen a golf shoe that has metal spikes so i guess ignorance is bliss on my part. The plastic ones seem to work just fine.

[DavidFehertysBike]

. I beleive that golf carts have done far more damage to the courses than spikes could ever do.

I agree with that. If anything should be banned from the game it should be golf carts..

[andef]

I don't know of a place where I can get metal spikes so I'll keep on playing plastic ones. Plus, the greens at my course don't need any spike marks, there's enough pitchmarks from people who "forget" to fix theirs.

[Fourputt]

I think that the poll pretty much says all that needs to be said.

[Shankapotomus]

Every course here where I play mandates soft spikes, metals are a no-no.

[BonoVox]

One thing I know soft spikes they are better for is the club house and other parts of the property.

On my home course you can still see the damage to concrete steps from the metal spike era.

[IcemanYVR]

I voted wrong, I wear soft spikes, not metal as I voted in the poll... sorry about that.

I learned in metal spikes, and gave them up as they started getting banned. I think given a choice, I still prefer to wear metal spikes, but those days are long gone.

As for the damage to clubhouse and other non-course related areas, soft spikes have really come up big.

[kfowler]

I think it's been 10 years since I've worn spikes but I remember them well. I especially remember how if you slid your foot on a green how it left the trenches. Kind of like you're skidding.

One thing I really like about soft spikes is walking is a lot easier. Especially if you're on a cart path.

[Uncle Peter]

Interesting and funny story here.

Just yesterday at my local course a guy in front of me at the Pro Shop had metal spikes on his shoes. (Just a quick note, the floor in the Pro shop is hardwood.) As soon as the guy stepped off the entrance mat and stared to walk on the hardwood, he scraped the entire floor like a rasp. The Marshall inside the Pro Shop just gave him a look and the guy immediately said he'd switch back to his runners before he hit the course.

[jamo]

I beleive that golf carts have done far more damage to the courses than spikes could ever do.

That I will agree with, but that's mostly for my overall dislike of carts, rather for any reasons about spikes.