Soft Spikes
Soft spikes are the plastic or polymer cleats on the soles of most golf shoes. They grip the turf to keep a player stable through the swing, and they replaced the metal spikes that once chewed up putting greens.
What are soft spikes?
A soft spike is a small cleat made of flexible plastic or a tough polymer rather than steel. Each one screws into the sole of a golf shoe and spreads into several thin legs, usually six to eight of them, that splay outward like the spokes of a tiny wheel. When a golfer puts weight on the foot, those legs press down and bite into the grass for grip.
The name points to what sets them apart from the old standard. For most of golf’s history, traction came from metal spikes screwed straight into the sole, and soft spikes do the same job with a gentler material. That is where the “soft” comes from. They are sometimes called plastic cleats or non-metal spikes, and most golf shoes sold today arrive with them already fitted.
There is a naming quirk worth knowing. “Softspikes” is also a brand, the company that introduced the first plastic cleat in 1993 and still supplies a large share of the cleats worn on professional tours, according to the manufacturer. Over time, the brand name became shorthand for the whole category, much like Kleenex or Velcro, so “soft spikes” now describes any non-metal cleat, no matter who makes it.
How soft spikes work
Grip matters in golf because the swing is an athletic, rotational move. A player pushes against the ground and turns hard through the ball, and any slip underfoot bleeds away power and throws off contact. Soft spikes give the feet something to hold so that energy goes into the shot instead of into a stumble.
The flexible legs are what make this happen. As the foot loads, the legs splay and bite into the turf and soil, resisting the twisting force of the downswing. Because the material flexes rather than punching a rigid hole, it grips without anchoring the foot as harshly as steel did. When the legs eventually wear flat, the spike unscrews, and a fresh one goes in, which brings back the original grip without the cost of new shoes.
Why soft spikes replaced metal spikes
Golfers have worn something underfoot for grip for well over a century. An 1857 Scottish guide, The Golfer’s Manual, told beginners to roughen their boots with small nails so they would not slip on wet ground, and screw-in spikes became the standard around 1891, according to The Left Rough. Metal held that role for roughly a hundred years.
The trouble was the damage. Metal spikes left pockmarks and torn turf on putting greens, the most delicate surface on the course, and a single scuffed line could nudge a putt off line. They also scarred clubhouse floors and cart paths. By the early 1990s, this had grown into a “green-friendly” movement, and the first plastic cleats arrived in 1993. Confidence in them climbed fast once they proved themselves in competition: David Frost recorded the first PGA Tour win in soft spikes at the 1997 Colonial, and Davis Love III won the 1997 PGA Championship wearing them on a soaked Winged Foot course, per Golfing Focus. Within a few years, most courses had banned steel, and soft spikes became the default.
Soft spikes vs spikeless golf shoes
Newer golfers often mix up soft spikes with spikeless shoes, and the difference is simple once it is laid out. Soft spikes are removable cleats. Spikeless shoes have no cleats at all; their traction comes from molded rubber nubs or dimples built permanently into the sole.
| Feature | Soft spikes | Spikeless shoes |
|---|---|---|
| Traction parts | Replaceable plastic cleats | Fixed rubber nubs molded into the sole |
| Best conditions | Wet, dewy, hilly, or soft ground | Firm, dry ground |
| When grip fades | Unscrew and replace the cleats | Traction is gone once the sole wears down |
| Off-course use | Wears faster on pavement | Comfortable to wear like normal sneakers |
| Feel | Locked-in and stable | Lighter, closer to a trainer |
Neither type is the better choice on its own. Soft spikes give more bite in wet or sloped conditions and suit players with faster, more aggressive swings, while spikeless shoes trade a little grip for comfort and the freedom to wear them anywhere. Many golfers keep a pair of each and pick based on the forecast.
Are metal spikes still allowed?
This surprises a lot of golfers: metal spikes are not actually banned by the sport’s rule books. The USGA and the R&A leave the decision to individual courses and competition committees, who can adopt a local rule prohibiting them. In practice, almost every course has done exactly that, which is why “soft spikes only” signs are a common sight at the pro shop.
The professional game is the exception. Tour players are usually free to choose, and an estimated 15 to 20 percent still wear metal, including big hitters such as Bryson DeChambeau, who want maximum grip, per Golf Digest and The Left Rough. The USGA requires soft spikes at its amateur championships even though it allows steel at some of its professional events, according to Cybergolf. One related point on the rules: since the 2019 overhaul of the Rules of Golf, players may repair spike marks and other shoe damage on the green before putting, which the old rules did not allow.
Common soft spike systems
Soft spikes are not all interchangeable. Each cleat locks into a small receptacle set into the shoe’s sole, and different brands use slightly different locking designs, so a replacement has to match the shoe’s system. The easiest way to find out which one a shoe uses is to flip it over and read the name printed on the old cleat.
| System | What to know |
|---|---|
| Fast Twist 3.0 / Tour Lock | One of the most common today; low profile, locks with a simple turn of a cleat wrench |
| PINS (Performance Insert System) | Low-profile and light; used by FootJoy and others, now being phased out of newer models |
| Q-LOK | Pops in and locks with a quarter turn |
Most replacement packs say which system they fit, and a basic two-pronged cleat wrench handles the swap.
Related Golf Terms
- Ladies flex — The most flexible standard shaft option, designed for slower swing speeds.
- Regular flex — A standard shaft flex suited to moderate swing speeds.
- Senior flex — A softer, more flexible shaft designed for slower swing speeds.
- Stiff flex — A firmer shaft flex suited to faster swing speeds.
- Draw bias — A clubhead design that helps counter a slice by promoting a draw.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are soft spikes made of?
Flexible plastic or a durable polymer, shaped into a central post with several thin legs that grip the turf. They contain no metal, which is what keeps them gentle on greens.
How often should soft spikes be replaced?
A common guideline is every 15 to 20 rounds, or sooner if the legs look worn flat or the feet start slipping during the swing, per Caddie HQ.
Are soft spikes the same as spikeless shoes?
No, though the two are easy to confuse. Soft spikes are removable cleats that screw into the sole, while spikeless shoes rely on permanent rubber nubs with nothing to swap out.
Can soft spikes be worn off the course?
They can, but walking on pavement and hard floors wears the legs down faster, so most golfers save them for the course.
Do any professionals still wear metal spikes?
Yes. Roughly 15 to 20 percent of tour pros still choose metal for the extra grip, though that share keeps shrinking.
Sources
- Softspikes / Monark Golf. “About Softspikes Golf Cleats.”
https://www.monarkgolf.com/soft-spikes-cleats.html. Accessed June 2026. - Caddie HQ. “What Are Soft Spikes in Golf?”
https://www.caddiehq.com/resources/what-are-soft-spikes-in-golf. Accessed June 2026. - Golf Digest. “You Might Be Surprised What Some Pros Have on the Bottom of Their Shoes.”
https://www.golfdigest.com/story/metal-golf-spikes-tour-pro-equipment-questions. Accessed June 2026. - The Left Rough. “Metal Golf Spikes: Where Did You Go?”
https://theleftrough.com/metal-golf-spikes/. Accessed June 2026. - Golfing Focus. “Do Golf Pros Wear Metal Spikes? But They Are Banned!”
https://golfingfocus.com/do-golf-pros-wear-metal-spikes-but-they-are-banned/. Accessed June 2026. - Cybergolf / Golf News Stories. “Golf Spikes: Soft Gradually Replacing Steel.”
https://golfnewsstoriesonline.com/news/all/golf_news/golf_spikes_soft_gradually_replacing_steel_for_the_better.html. Accessed June 2026. - USGA. “Rules of Golf.”
https://www.usga.org/rules-hub.html. Accessed June 2026.
