Pros & Cons of Spikeless Golf Shoes

Yes, there are golf shoes with spikes and ones without spikes and both have their merits, but which ones are ideal for you? Many people love spikeless golf shoes, but are they all they are cracked up to be? Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of spikeless golf shoes right here and now.

Pros of Spikeless Golf Shoes

There are indeed quite a few advantages that come along with using spikeless golf shoes, some of which may be obvious, but others which you may have never really considered. Let’s go over some of the main benefits and pros that come with wearing spikeless golf shoes.

Look Better – For one, they do tend to just look a little better than golf shoes with spikes. Yes, while spiked golf shoes or golf cleats are indeed functional in their own way, functionality does not always translate to style, which is definitely the case here. Simply put, while spiked golf shoes do help in some regards, they definitely do not look all that nice. Spikeless golf shoes just look a bit better, more stylish, and more like normal shoes that can be worn anywhere, which brings us to our next point.

Wear Them Anywhere – One of the biggest advantages that come with wearing spikeless golf shoes is the fact that you can wear them anywhere. That is right folks, skechers golf shoes without spikes can be worn anywhere, or in other words, like normal shoes. The fact of the matter is that you cannot wear golf cleats or golf shoes with spikes anywhere but on the green.

Those spikes are super uncomfortable to walk in when you are not on soft terrain. If you are on a hard surface, it won’t take long until your feet are in severe pain, due to the hardness of those spikes. Moreover, those spikes are most likely going to damage whatever surface you are walking on, which is not going to go over well in most cases. The bottom line is that spikeless golf shoes can be used as normal shoes.

Easy to Walk In – Another benefit of wearing spikeless golf shoes is that they are a bit easier to walk in, and definitely way more comfortable too. For one, those spikes to add a bit of weight to the equation. Now, in some cases the amount of weight added by those spikes is going to be negligible, but in some cases, those spikes can actually weigh a good deal. In other words, having no spikes, as well as no spike receptacles, does remove a lot of weight from the equation.

Moreover, golf shoes with spikes are not very flexible, well cushioned or supportive. The fact of the matter is that they just are not built for comfort. Having spikes on the bottom of a shoe with a super rigid sole means that they do not bend and move with your foot, they don’t really absorb any impact created by walking, and they don’t provide great support for the feet either. Simply put, golf shoes with spikes just are not all that comfortable to wear, and that is true in most regards.

Won’t Damage the Course – The other thing to keep in mind here is that although golf shoes with spikes are intended for the green, it doesn’t mean that the green is all too happy about it. In other words, those spikes to damage the golf green. They put holes in it, they rip it up, and they drag grass around. You might not care about this all that much, but the good people who have to maintain the golf course certainly don’t appreciate it very much.

Cons of Spikeless Golf Shoes

Alright, so we have looked at why spikeless golf shoes might be something that you would want to look into. However, this is not to say that golf shoes with spikes don’t have their own specific advantages. Let’s take a look at the downsides of having spikeless golf shoes.

Less Traction – The main point of having spiked golf shoes or golf cleats is of course to provide you with traction and stability, which is key if you want to get the best swing and shot in. Those spikes on the bottom of spiked golf shoes help provide a lot of stability, so you can firmly plant your feet in the ground, get a good stance, aim, and swing, all with great precision and accuracy. If your golf shoes do not have spikes, this becomes a heck of a lot harder because your feet may move around on the green, even right in the middle of your swing, thus decreasing your accuracy.

On that same note, golf shoes with spikes definitely come in handy on slippery and wet terrain as well. Golf greens are often wet, especially in the morning, and we all know how slippery wet grass can be. If you are walking around on a slippery green, chances are you will slip and fall at least once during those 18 holes. Simply put, those spikes will help you stay upright and will keep you off your behind. Your nice golf clothes will probably appreciate this too.

Lower Lifespan – The other thing to note here is that golf shoes with spikes are often built better, or at least more durably than those without spikes. Spiked golf shoes are often seen as the true professional choice, and thus are usually built better and to last longer. Now, this is not always true, not by any means, but it is definitely something to consider.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are both pros and cons to wearing spikeless golf shoes. On one hand, spikeless golf shoes do look a bit better, and are certainly much easier to walk around in, not to mention more comfortable, and the fact that they can be used as normal shoes. On the other hand, if you are looking to really improve your game, have stable footing, and increase your traction, you do probably want to go for some golf shoes with spikes.