ABOUT
SPIKES:
Spikes were created to improve a golfer's traction on wet or sloped grassy
surfaces. Traditional spikes are metal or very hard ceramic tips, and beginning
in 1994 have been banned from most US golf courses. Many golf shoe
manufacturers no longer offer traditional hard spikes. Alternative, or
"soft" spikes are the most common golf shoes on the market.
Alternative spike manufacturer SoftSpikes™ has a 70% market share. In 1997
SoftSpikes™ formed a strategic alliance with FootJoy™, and the
FastTwist™ system was introduced in 1999. Since 2001, SoftSpike's Black
Widow spikes are the leading spike on the US tour.
Spikeless golf shoes are also gaining in popularity, as new design technology
and materials make it possible to build a stable, high-traction sole for golf
course wear.
