New spikes damage greens

[Donovan Childers]

I just read a story, talking about the newer aggressive spikes being more harmful to greens even over metal spikes. I know many people have no idea how to walk, but I would really like the have the chance to play in metal spikes again. I'm not sure if I would like them more than the newer shoes, but I would love to find out.

Any thoughts, would hit really hurt that bad to let metal spikes come back.

[Joe Bausch]

I played a course in central NJ recently with bent grass greens.  I was in I think the 4th group off that morning after the greens had been cut and rolled.  I'm very confident one player in the first three groups was wearing those newfangled Adidas.  The damage done to the greens was remarkable.

[Kevin_Reilly]

The culprits are Adidas spikes, I believe.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php?topic=57499.0

[Joe Bausch]

The culprits are Adidas spikes, I believe.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php?topic=57499.0

You are correct, Kevin.  My brain and fingers were not in concert!  Correction made above.

[Mike Bowen]

It's amazing how quickly bad publicity can affect a product.  Last season the Adizero was the hottest selling shoe, this season it was discounted $40 before the season even got started.  They also mention more green friendly spikes on this years shoe.

I guess you can chalk up a win for the good guys over marketing. 

[MClutterbuck]

I have always thought that for golfers than know how to walk, metal spike shoes with a flat sole are much better for greens than the modern shoe. The problem is the person that does not know how to walk. How do you discriminate between one and the other? Impossible.

[Adrian_Stiff]

I have always thought that for golfers than know how to walk, metal spike shoes with a flat sole are much better for greens than the modern shoe. The problem is the person that does not know how to walk. How do you discriminate between one and the other? Impossible.

Hardly anyone wears metal spikes these days, we get about 1 a month, but you can see every mark for the once a monther. Pro's are more likely to use them, they don't like getting drawn behind Phil Mickleson.

[Jim Sherma]

As far as damage to the rgeens go I always felt that it depended on how dense the root base was and how sandy the top layer of the greens are kept. I play in the PA and greens that have a looser sandy top surface seem to get cut-up by the newer spikes quite markedly. Greens that are kept drier and with a less obvious layer of top dressing seem to hold up to all types of spikes better.

I am not sold that the move away from metal spikes was ever really about the quality of the putting surfaces. The reduced expenses around the clubhouses had to play the primary role in eliminating them.

[Thomas Dai]

A trend in the UK seems to be covering wooden steps with astroturf. Is this so those wearing 'softies' and 'bubble-soles' will get a bit of grip and not slide arse-over-tit down damp wooden steps, or, a bit like more handrails appearing, is it a general H&S thing?

As to the recent trend for 'bubble' soled golf shoes, I remember them being available in the mid 1980's in the UK. Made by Stubert. Maybe they weren't sufficiently internationally available to be a success and so didn't seem to be available for more than a year or so. "Too slippery" was the standard comment at the time.

Didn't Footjoy used to make Classics with a flat ribbed sole?

Something nice though, traditional, about the crunch of a spiked shoe on a firm surface, and when you'd just put some new spikes in a pair of shoes you could really feel the difference in grip, both while walking and shotmaking. "Crunch, crunch..."

atb

[Brent Hutto]

Thomas,

I have three pairs of golf shoes in my current rotation and they all have the little tiny rubber nubs (they're Ecco Tour Hybrid and Ecco Biom Hybrid models). They don't lack for any traction on wooden steps so I don't think that would be the target of the Astroturf treatment. When I used to have Softspikes shoes, they could be treacherous on wet wood surfaces but not the nubbies. They seem to grip fine on anything except maybe wet tile or stone.

If nothing else, the Astroturf is easier to replace than the wooden stairs so maybe it's just a maintenance expense thing...

[Steve Okula]

Error, see next post down.

[Steve Okula]

I am not sold that the move away from metal spikes was ever really about the quality of the putting surfaces. The reduced expenses around the clubhouses had to play the primary role in eliminating them.

I've always harbored the same suspicion, and I've been a golf course superintendent since the 1970's. I never noticed a big difference to the greens with the advent of soft spikes, but I know many of my colleagues will say the opposite.

Four years ago, my club hosted a European Tour event. One of our greens has such slope in it that the Tour officials decided that there was only one fair pin position on the entire green. The hole sat in exactly the same place from the Pro-Am on Wednesday until the final round on Sunday. There were 120 pros with metal spikes playing onf Thursday, and Friday, plus 60+ each day Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, so about 420 rounds with metals around that one spot. It was fine. Two days after the event and the hole was finally moved there was no damage whatsoever. it's incidental evidence from a healthy green perhaps, but to me compelling nonetheless.

I have noticed more people slipping and falling on wet surfaces, especially wood and grass slopes, since soft spikes have come on.

[Rick Shefchik]

Why are these hideous spikes necessary?



I wear Trues most of the time, or Ashworth, and the small numbs work just fine. I have never slipped wearing either pair:



As an addendum to this topic, I played in a member-guest this weekend and can't remember the last time I saw so many spike marks on my putting line.