If you're a keen golfer, you've probably struggled to decide between spiked or spikeless golf shoes.
Fortunately, we're here to help you come to an informed decision by comparing the pros and cons of both types, before giving our overall verdict on which we think are best.
Without further delay, let's kick things off with the price...
Price
One of the biggest factors you're probably taking into consideration is how much a pair of spiked or spikeless golf shoes will cost.
Generally speaking, a mid-range spiked pair, like the adidas ZG21's featured in our list of the best golf shoes, will roughly cost the same as a comparable pair of spikeless shoes like these Skechers Elite-Tour SL's.
What does need to be factored in though is how often you'll likely wear your golf shoes.
A spiked pair will most likely be worn exclusively for golf, and you can easily replace the spikes if they become worn.
By comparison, if you select a 'trainer-like' pair of spikeless golf shoes, you may find yourself wearing them away from the course which will, in turn, wear down the rubber sole, meaning they might need replacing much sooner than a spiked pair.
Performance
Another important factor when deciding between the two is how well they will perform on the course.
The reason why golf shoes traditionally come with spikes is to increase traction so you can fully commit to your swing knowing your feet will stay glued to the ground.
Therefore, it may seem like a no-brainer that spiked footwear will be better here, however, spikeless technology has come a long way since its inception, and spikeless shoes might come with more traction than you might think.
For example, FootJoy's Premiere Series Flint traditional-looking golf shoes are spikeless. Instead, they come with Versa-Trax technology which, FootJoy boasts, includes multiple 'traction zones' dedicated to the areas which require the most and least traction.
Where you might start to notice a difference though is when the weather starts to turn. Spiked golf shoes are said to provide far more grip on soggy ground so will likely be more suitable if you live in a wet climate.
In terms of course performance, Golf.com conducted a study comparing the two and found that, on average, spiked shoes averaged about 4 yards greater carry over spikeless footwear, with the participants expressing they felt they had better grip and traction in them.
Versatility
This is where spikeless shoes really come into their own.
You cannot wear spiked golf shoes away from the course as you run the risk of wearing down and damaging the spikes, even just during a five-minute walk home along a tarmac pavement.
On the other hand, spikeless shoes, like these Puma Golf Grip Fusion's featured in our list of the best golf shoes under 100, are essentially just trainers that you can wear every day if you choose to.
This is also beneficial when traveling to and from, and even sometimes around the golf course as you won't have to worry about damaging the spikes on harder surfaces.
Which Should You Go With?
The answer will ultimately come down to personal preference and what you're looking to get out of you're golf shoes.
If you're a serious golfer looking to maximise your performance, then spiked golf shoes should be more beneficial for you during a round.
However, if you play golf casually and are in need of something slightly more versatile, then a spikeless pair may be your answer.
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