Azinger - "You couldn't pay me a million dollars a day to wear soft spikes."

[15th Club]

I regard this as a "Tour Equpment" thread because the Tour seems to be the last refuge of metal spikes.

 

Many of you will have heard Paul Azinger watch Zach Johnson slip on his second shot at the Road Hole. Zach; wearing softspikes. Azinger commented that he couldn't be convinced to wear soft spikes even with "a million dollars a day." He went on; "I don't know how this new generation can do it."

 

If I were a tour player it would be a no-brainer for me. Leather-soled traditional shoes and metal spikes. Like Mickelson and I don't know who else. (About 25% to 35% of the field in any week.)

 

I wonder if someday soft-spiked (or unspiked) soles will become so common that courses and clubs will no longer feel the need to enforce a soft-spike-only rule. I'd go back to metal as fast as the wrench could turn.

[Arizonalefty59]

I wonder what changed because Zach Johnson has always worn metal spikes. Is there a rule at the Open where you can't wear metals?

And ps, Phil wears soft spikes.

EDIT: Zach IS wearing metal spikes right now.

[15th Club]

[quote name='Arizonalefty59' timestamp='1437409971' post='11984624']
I wonder what changed because Zach Johnson has always worn metal spikes. Is there a rule at the Open where you can't wear metals?

And ps, Phil wears soft spikes.
[/quote]

[url="http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/2012-04/gawr-johnson-equipment-0409"]http://www.golfdiges...-equipment-0409[/url]

[b][i][u]EDIT:[/u][/i][/b]
Now; a question. Were they wrong on the ESPN telecast?

I just watched Zach walk off the 18th green to the scorers shed in front of the R&A, and it sounded like he was wearing metal-tipped spikes...

[Arizonalefty59]

[quote name='15th Club' timestamp='1437410197' post='11984646']
[quote name='Arizonalefty59' timestamp='1437409971' post='11984624']
I wonder what changed because Zach Johnson has always worn metal spikes. Is there a rule at the Open where you can't wear metals?

And ps, Phil wears soft spikes.
[/quote]

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/2012-04/gawr-johnson-equipment-0409
[/quote]
That picture is from the 05' Masters and that article is from 2012. I can pretty much assure you that Phil wear soft spikes now. Gonna look through Gregs pics right now.

[proguy]

Stinger pro!

[Arizonalefty59]

[quote name='15th Club' timestamp='1437410197' post='11984646']
[quote name='Arizonalefty59' timestamp='1437409971' post='11984624']
I wonder what changed because Zach Johnson has always worn metal spikes. Is there a rule at the Open where you can't wear metals?

And ps, Phil wears soft spikes.
[/quote]

[url="http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/2012-04/gawr-johnson-equipment-0409"]http://www.golfdiges...-equipment-0409[/url]

[b][i][u]EDIT:[/u][/i][/b]
Now; a question. Were they wrong on the ESPN telecast?

I just watched Zach walk off the 18th green to the scorers shed in front of the R&A, and it sounded like he was wearing metal-tipped spikes...
[/quote]
Yea I think Azinger needed something to talk about to fill dead air. He was completely wrong.

[bu11dog]

[quote name='Arizonalefty59' timestamp='1437410759' post='11984752']
[quote name='15th Club' timestamp='1437410197' post='11984646']
[quote name='Arizonalefty59' timestamp='1437409971' post='11984624']
I wonder what changed because Zach Johnson has always worn metal spikes. Is there a rule at the Open where you can't wear metals?

And ps, Phil wears soft spikes.
[/quote]

[url="http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours-news/2012-04/gawr-johnson-equipment-0409"]http://www.golfdiges...-equipment-0409[/url]

[b][i][u]EDIT:[/u][/i][/b]
Now; a question. Were they wrong on the ESPN telecast?

I just watched Zach walk off the 18th green to the scorers shed in front of the R&A, and it sounded like he was wearing metal-tipped spikes...
[/quote]
Yea I think Azinger needed something to talk about to fill dead air. He was completely wrong.
[/quote]

Pretty sure it was one of the on course guys that said he was wearing soft spikes after Zinger said what he did.

[Doc420]

I would go back to metal in a heartbeat if given the chance.

[Beastmode Broker]

i grew up playing in metal and would never go back
hated them

and this should be in Golf Style/Fashion, not here - just sayin

[Harry Longshanks]

You could pay me a million dollars to wear SoftSpikes.



No, seriously. Anyone want to pay me a million dollars to wear SoftSpikes?

[MadGolfer76]

If you are in balance when you swing, it doesn't make a lick of difference whether the spikes are metal or rubber. I would rather see less wear and tear on the course with the softer spikes, but that is just my opinion.

[15th Club]

[quote name='Beastmode Broker' timestamp='1437411709' post='11984908']
i grew up playing in metal and would never go back
hated them

and this should be in Golf Style/Fashion, not here - just sayin
[/quote]

No. Just sayin'; spikes are so completely equipment and not fashion. Of course form follows function, and if nobody wears metal spikes, it naturally changes the way they might want to design golf shoes. And that part might be "fashion." Although it's still a serious equipment choice.

And as I led this off; it is now not just an equipment question but a peculiarly 'tour equipment' issue, given local rules all across North America that almost never apply on tour.

[ckay]

Let's see a soft spike company offer him $1MM/Day just to watch him eat crow.

[robbie91]

I'd prefer to wear metal spikes but I also understand the hazard of players ripping the crap out of a golf course. That said, if I was playing the British Open and I thought metal spikes would help -- I'm using metal spikes.

[Ping Zings]

I miss metal spikes.

[sverrehaug]

The norwegian commentator said it was because of back pains people changed away from them

[jetsetter808]

I grew up playing with metal spikes, I miss the sound of 'click clack' when walking..

[CHARGERS]

Would not have mattered what type of spikes, that swing was way quick, out of sequence and balance.

[LorenRobertsFan]

The change was because metal spikes spread turf diseases more than soft spikes.

[dlygrisse]

I miss the metal "click clack" as well.
I don't miss the sore feet, sore back, damage to clubhouse etc.

Plus I don't think they really offer that much more traction on most surfaces. And yet soft spikes can leave temporary imprints on greens but I truly believe metal causes more damage long run to the greens.

[YMark]

I'd play golf in ice skates for a million dollars.

[RookieBlue7]

[quote name='15th Club' timestamp='1437409828' post='11984604']
I regard this as a "Tour Equpment" thread because the Tour seems to be the last refuge of metal spikes.

Many of you will have heard Paul Azinger watch Zach Johnson slip on his second shot at the Road Hole. Zach; wearing softspikes. Azinger commented that he couldn't be convinced to wear soft spikes even with "a million dollars a day." He went on; "I don't know how this new generation can do it."

If I were a tour player it would be a no-brainer for me. Leather-soled traditional shoes and metal spikes. Like Mickelson and I don't know who else. (About 25% to 35% of the field in any week.)

I wonder if someday soft-spiked (or unspiked) soles will become so common that courses and clubs will no longer feel the need to enforce a soft-spike-only rule. I'd go back to metal as fast as the wrench could turn.
[/quote]

I wear metal now. I've got 4 or 5 packs of them in a cabinet currently and am about to order even more. Champs Pro Stinger.

[BlkNGld]

[quote name='ckay' timestamp='1437412921' post='11985152']
Let's see a soft spike company offer him $1MM/Day just to watch him eat crow.
[/quote]

With that kind of coin, I'll wager you could whip up some darn tasty crow.

[lumberman2462]

Uhh. Fellas......

We didn't go to soft spikes because of wear and tear on the course.

Everyone got tired of replacing the carpet in the Pro Shop, Men's Grill, Locker Room and other places in the club house.

[legitimategolf]

Modern softspikes look pretty grippy to me compared to the nails of yore. Would like to see some scientific comparisons of the two.

[NoTalentLefty]

At one time years ago a course near me wouldn't allow tennis shoes or the early pre-cursors of spikeless golf shoes. Now you can't play with metal. Did anyone remember the ceramic golf spikes ? Had a pair and they gripped about as good as metal.

[avrag]

[quote name='lumberman2462' timestamp='1437426162' post='11987336']
Uhh. Fellas......

We didn't go to soft spikes because of wear and tear on the course.

Everyone got tired of replacing the carpet in the Pro Shop, Men's Grill, Locker Room and other places in the club house.
[/quote]

...and the rubber on the pedals of carts. Metal spikes were also really dangerous on wet tarmac.

[NoTalentLefty]

[attachment=2864872:ImageUploadedByGolfWRX Mobile1437428412.838926.jpg]

[15th Club]

As for the comment about the real reason for softspikes being that they saved wear and tear on clubhouses, walking bridges, carts, etc.; I don't know if that is true, but I wouldn't argue the point.

Now; if I don't wear my metal spikes into the clubhouse, and walk the course carrying my own bag... can I please wear them?

As for the comment about spreading turf disease; I don't buy it. And I'd like to see some peer-reviewed scientific analysis.

Oh, and about the part about metal spikes being somehow slippy on certain surfaces. Nope; not buying that either. As a matter of fact, it was the dawn of the age of softspikes that saw such an uptick in slipping accidents that all kinds of legal and popular press articles were written about the legal climate and the wild increase in the number (and variety) of new lawsuits. To me, most of it was hysteria, but I'd be the first to say that there is almost nothing short of a sheet of glare ice that is as slippery as softspikes on wet railroad ties. In any event, the only time metal spikes were slippery is on the hardest and smoothest of surfaces; it almost has to be polished metal to be slippery. There's no slipping in metal spikes on normal pavement or asphalt or even wet surfaces. We had about 75 years of replaceable metal spikes with no great crisis in their being slippery.

[15th Club]

[quote name='RookieBlue7' timestamp='1437421180' post='11986608']
...
I wear metal now. I've got 4 or 5 packs of them in a cabinet currently and am about to order even more. Champs Pro Stinger.
[/quote]

Where are you allowed to play with those spikes? Or don't they know you do it?