One gear has gone 14 of 14 this year on the PGA Tour, including back-to-back victories for Rory McIlroy at the 2026 Masters. Every single winner opted for a pair of interchangeable, spiked shoes.
Here are three reasons why many pros choose spiked shoes over spikeless shoes, as well as two secrets from the PGA Tour that you may not know about golf spikes.
What you need to know:
The obvious advantages of pulling:
Spiked shoes provide more traction for players in all conditions. Think beyond just debris, mud or wet conditions to uneven lies, dangerous ground conditions and the perfect turf base. Barefoot shoes may be fine on a dry day with low lying, but spikes will always be high where traction is an important part of success. Standing on the side of a hill, stepping up to half a baby box, or even Rory’s dangerous approach this year on the 18th at Augusta are all times when spikes just aren’t the best option; they are mandatory.
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The next generation of traction technology is here. Three degrees of traction, ten points of contact, designed to deliver incredible control and unmatched stability. Featuring a special center post, the Tour Flex Pro is the perfect combination of traction, comfort and performance – specially designed to meet the needs of the world’s best players.
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Dress up and change ’em:
A very understated benefit of spiked shoes is the ability to change traction whenever you need to. As spikes or spikeless shoes are worn and used the spikes will be lowered. Swing after swing you run out of energy. With a pair of spikeless shoes you have no choice but to spend hundreds of dollars on new shoes. With spikes, you simply pay for what you made for lunch today and get new, fresh moves in minutes.
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In collaboration with Jason Day our new model has arrived, the Eighty Seven SC! CLARINO Trivela™️ microfiber upper delivers lightweight support and flexibility WATERPROOF+ breathable full membrane integrated in membrane and sealed with lower gasket. ARIAPRENE® tongue and bootie provide superior foot lock to provide maximum stability and lightweight, breathable support. The TPU Outsole, with the Fast Twist installation system, brings traction in three dimensions of the shoe’s life. The PMXNitro+ Footbed delivers lightweight responsive cushioning for the life of the shoe. PMXNitro+ Midsole provides maximum energy return and ultimate support underfoot. The CARBITEX GearFlex™️ propulsion plate allows golfers to effectively utilize low reaction forces. It’s almost gone! Watch Match Day SC for a similar model.
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Traction is not the only benefit:
Wearing spiked shoes isn’t just about creating more stability, it’s about creating more consistency. According to third-party testing conducted by Softspikes, a manufacturer of replacement spikes, players saw a 46% increase in impact on the club face resulting in 60% better distance dispersion and a 5-yard increase in distance. Not because the stability of the spikes allowed them to turn quickly, which they did, but because they were able to find the center of the face consistently, leading to higher averages across the board. I even tested this indoors and sure enough, it worked too.
Travel Secrets:
Metal spikes are still available:
Most people don’t know that iron pins are still very popular on the PGA Tour. Their use has decreased in recent years since the release of the Tour Flex Pro spikes, but they still see a lot of use on Tour each week. Steel bars offer the lowest drag, and the best chance of getting through any debris. This can include pine grass, like Rory and others faced in Augusta, mud, fall leaves, or other conditions that may require pushing past debris to get in the best shape. Just ask Hoatong Li. He certainly used his spikes at Augusta.
;)
Combo sets of spikes:
The worst thing I had heard about the use of spikes in the Tour sent me into a spiral that I still think about often. Of all the professionals who use spiked shoes on the PGA Tour, about half of them use more than one type of spike on their feet. This adjustment is made using average stress removal during the golf swing, field testing, and trial and error by the player. Some players will take a single metal spike and place it in the “last ditch effort” area of their trail foot. Some players, such as McIlroy will use a combination of pins to make sure they get the most out of their unique swing and use of the ground. Your feet and the shoes you choose to wear are the only connection you have to the ground you stand on. Treating them like any other piece of equipment in your bag is one of the best things you can do for your game.
Are you willing to put your scorecard on the line?
Confidence in traction is up to you. Are you willing to take the risk?
I’ll be honest, the first time the Softspikes people approached me about wearing spikes versus continuing to wear spikeless shoes that I fell in love with, I thought they were crazy. How can a simple shoe change really help me play better golf? However, as it turns out, all the allegations they made have come true for me. So much so that I refuse to play golf if I’m not on spikes.
It has become a major problem with confidence if nothing else. I’m not a big golfer, but I have a lot of ground control and generate more power than my 5’7 frame”. A lot of that is helped by my ability to trust my shoes to keep me strong and swinging as hard as I need to gain an edge in my biggest tournament. I’ve even turned Johnny Wunder into a soft spiked user chat behind full tour shoes. rep Charles Woodward Remember, every singles winner this season has gone home traction instead of their feet.
