It’s actually surprising how much of a disparity there is between retail shoe sales and what’s played on the PGA Tour.
Did you know that, at retail, 65 percent of golf shoe sales are spikeless? That’s a staggering number, especially when you consider that spiked shoes win the Tour by a landslide. More than 90 percent of tour pros wear spikes.
“Golf shoes are the only sport where the everyday player doesn’t necessarily wear what the pros wear,” said Jake Haley, Head of Golf Sales at Under Armour.
Walk into any local basketball court and you’ll see players of all ages wearing the same shoes as their NBA favorites.
The same goes for the net, the soccer field and even the tennis court.
But golf? Let me say it again.
More than 90 percent of Tour pros wear spiked golf shoes while 65 percent of shoes sold to everyday players are studless.
Why the inequality? It’s actually simpler than you might think.
Why “Big Spiked” Owns Pro Golf
“They’re playing for a living. We’re playing for fun,” Haley said.
When tour pros have millions of dollars hanging in the balance and one slip-up could cost them generations of fortune, it’s only natural that the vast majority choose the option that offers the best performance.
You and I, on the other hand, play for joy.
“Enjoyment” is not necessarily defined by performance when it comes to amateur golf. Of course, the 35 percent of you who choose tops probably care more about performance than most. But for the 65 percent of us who shop without spikes, it’s because things like comfort, versatility and even style are just as important to finding joy in the game.
“People want the versatility to get to and from the course, putting on a shoe as they walk out the door and into the club,” Haley said.
The technology gap is narrowing
The nice thing is that, as the game progresses, you’re starting to see less of a compromise when switching to spikeless, especially if you’re not moving a driver at 120 mph.
“You’ve seen, in the last five to 10 years, this dominance of the golf shoe in the lifestyle, and not to say it’s slowing down, but I think performance is balancing it out a little bit more,” Haley said.
Spikeless performance isn’t quite on par with the spiked point yet, but it’s getting there.
“One (reason) is the technology and R and D that went into making spikeless golf shoes that can give you the performance you need,” Haley continued.
“No rivets often outperforms plate strength testing.”
Because spikeless golf shoes are lower to the ground, they provide a better feel of the ground and thus, in some cases, can help you use the ground more effectively.
It’s nuanced, sure, but it’s not something that can simply be dismissed.
“For example, in our spikeless shoes, we’re doing everything we can to get as good traction as you have,” Haley said. “We use the hybrid of rubber and TPU compounds. So the rubber gives you good friction and comfort on the ground, but then the TPU acts more like a stud in that it can penetrate the ground where you need it.”
Which one is right for you?
It mostly depends on what you are looking for. If performance is your No. 1 priority. 1, spiked will serve you well. If you want something versatile? You will only find it in the category without spikes.
And if you want a bit of both? Why not play it by ear, round after round?
“I’m going to determine spikes and no spikes based on the elements, based on the course I’m playing, based on the conditions,” Haley concluded.
“I would say spiked is for the golfer who will handle any of the elements. Spikeless would definitely be the opposite of where one prioritizes versatility and comfort.”
