Spiked vs Spikeless Shoes Equals More Distance?

[CardsChamps11]

Was made aware of a study today that showed that golfers who wore spiked shoes hit it further and straighter with their drivers versus golfers who wore spikeless. In some ways I can see this but I think the study is super vague and lacked clear parameters. I wish they would have defined what shoes they work as spiked and spikeless shoes can vary greatly. Also, five swings per person doesn't seem like enough but it's been a number of years since I wrote research papers so maybe I'm wrong.

They claim spiked shoes averaged 4 yards further which seems like a sizable jump.

Has anyone else tested this theory? I'm thinking about taking my FlightScope to the range soon and testing it out.

[Warrior42111]

Do you have a copy or link of the study? Would be an interesting read. As you stated or questioned 5 swings seems way to low I mean one outlier could ruin those averages significantly. Also what laying surface were they standing on...range mat, dry grass, wet grass?

[CardsChamps11]

I never found the actual study but saw it referenced in a few golf articles and mentioned in a podcast. I’d love to see the actual study too

[Hawkeye77]

You haven't read the study so why claim "I think the study is super vague and lacked clear parameters"?

All that's out there is basically one summary on golf.com, some other people quoting them. 28 golfers, 5 shots with each type of shoe and conclusions - really not much to go on.

Have to wait until they publish the actual study I guess.

[MonteScheinblum]

What are you talking about? It’s much easier to find these types of nuggets to improve than actually improve your swing and game management.

[CardsChamps11]

You’re right. Meant to say the article Was super vague.

[noodle3872]

The discussion occurred on a podcast from the guys that did the big ball test. Here’s a link from Golf.com. I’m not sure where the OP is getting his info because the finding aren’t vague in this article.

Spikes or spikeless?! New study explains which golf shoes you should buy

[Hawkeye77]

LOL!

[glk]

Heck they are talking soft spike versus no spike - I'm going for nails and bet I gain 10 yards. But digging a bit further looks like a company callled PrideSports may have sponsored this independent study - guess what PrideSports sells - yep replacement soft spikes - own Softspikes and Champ brands - release below comes from city that company is headquarterd. Interesting that the high cappers really inflated the average by gaining over 6 yards while the low caps only picked up 2. Study Finds Replaceable Cleats Improve Driving Distance - The Golf Wire

 

[Soloman1]

Give me some money, and I can give you any study you want...

[Orlok]

Statistics is the art of showing that if I have two cars and my neighbour has zero, we both have, on average, one car each.

[rich_s2]

I got $20, find out why Mountain goat is so grumpy

[jholz]

The standard deviation on this study was +/- 23 yards!

[GoGoErky]

Guessing it’s due to how high caps use their lower half compared to low caps. Spikeless with bad footwork and not being able to push off, back foot slipping, etc

[Krt22]

lol.

 

I really wanted the new Jordan XI golf shoes, but the bots keep winning. So I bought the Jordan XI football cleats for 1/3 of the price. Never driven the ball further

[skraly]

It’s really a moot point. I haven't played a course any where in the last 5 years that even allows metal spikes. I think they still allow them on tour. Besides the study doesn’t say anything about other positives of soft spikes. Such as how much fresher my legs feel after walking 18 with soft spikes vs. metal spikes. Also how much better condition the greens are in since not allowing metal spikes. Against positives such as these, the 4 yds more carry distance, if it exits ,which I doubt, means nothing.

[Soloman1]

Oh boy...

 

Uh, they're talking about the difference between softspikes and spikeless golf shoes.

[TexasTurf]

If you need spikes you're swinging wrong. That includes Hogan.

[Krt22]

Tiger must swing it really wrong with his metal spikes

[ballpilot]

There is always one in the crowd.

[braincramp52]

What a bunch of BS.

[braincramp52]

The crap I learn here you just can't learn anywhere else!

[Birdyjuice]

Way too many variables to make a conclusion plus that number of swings is statistically insignificant.

[mark m]

 

Checklist to hit it huge:

Wear spikes Narrow stance Shoes on opposite feet

[MtlJeff]

I use shoes with the screw on spikes, aswell as spikeless ones....pretty evenly I would say.

Honestly I've never noticed a difference or even stopped to consider there might be a difference

Seems a little crazy to me