New Generation of Golf Shoes Also Meant For Off The Course

The original spikeless golf shoe revolution actually happened in the early 1980s when some manufacturers began to make shoes with nubs instead of cleats on the bottom of the shoes. Many courses banned the shoes, erroneously thinking they would cause more damage to the greens than the traditional metal spikes.

In 1993, SoftSpikes introduced a plastic, swirled cleat as a replacement for the metal spike. Although the spike itself offered somewhat poorer traction than did a metal spike, it wasn’t long before golf courses started to ban metal spikes, all the better to leave greens spike-free and to not tear up clubhouse carpets. Today, plastic spike technology has evolved to the point where they offer better traction than the old metal spikes ever did.

Another revolution occurred in 2010 when Fred Couples showed up at The Masters wearing spikeless Ecco golf shoes without plastic cleats. Style-conscious golfers everywhere took notice, and a new trend was born. Today, every major golf shoe manufacturer offers a selection of shoes without plastic cleats. The stylishness of these shoes also means golfers can wear them easily off the course in casual settings. From a golf perspective, tests have shown that while they offer good traction for playing, it is still not quite as good as that offered by plastic cleats. But for many, the added comfort and ability to wear them seamlessly off the course outweighs that.

Whatever your choice, there have never been more options for golfers to find comfort, style and performance in their footwear.