BOMB: Remember the other day when you were telling me about how the golf geeks at bombsquadgolf.com were yapping about how they wanted a return to metal spikes? Well, the more I thought about it, the more I have to wonder what these guys are smoking. What do they want, a return to putting on greens that look like minefields instead of billiard tables? And the “traction” argument is just plain ridiculous. I mean, have you ever seen a PGA Tour player slip when taking a cut at the ball? And if metal were so wonderful, then why has metal usage on the tour dropped faster than one of my current stock holdings? Fact is, metal-cleat usage on the PGA Tour is down to about 25 percent (continuing a trend that saw metal fall from 73 percent in 1997 to 40 percent in 2000 to 34 percent in 2002). But although the high majority of the tour has gravitated toward lighter, less-damaging plastic cleats (with those made by Softspikes and Champ accounting for nearly all of them), some players stay in metal simply because it's what they’re used to. And it isn’t just hard swingers such as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Players such as K.J. Choi, Todd Hamilton and Mike Weir—guys who swing easy enough to play in street shoes (maybe even flip flops) if they wanted to—also are in metal. Still, the numbers for metal gradually decline each year—kind of like a metal spike that eventually gets worn to the nub. And as older players leave the tour, the amount of steel on the soles will continue to drop. Combined with the fact that the majority of young players have used nothing but plastic (NCAA men’s and women’s golf rules prohibit the use of metal spikes), metal’s future would appear to be a short one.
GOUGE: But it won't be if guys keep mouthing off about wishing they could still wear them. Metal spikes should have been killed a long time ago. And those who wear them should be viewed as pure evil. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson don't need metal spikes if Vijay Singh doesn't need metal spikes and they sure as heck don't need metal spikes if Bubba Watson doesn't need metal spikes. Softspikes research says the metal spike is dead everywhere in America. Of course the exception is the PGA Tour. Certainly, the relentless pursuit of traction (all in the name of, some would say slighltyh self-absorbed elite players because most average players don't need it and don't care) has taken the plastic cleat too far on occasion. There are rumors that some of the sharper cleats have been selectively banned at the occasional club. In my opinion, traction is largely a function of a balanced swing. If you need stakes in the ground to enable you to make a golf swing, you have swing problems, not shoe problems. All I know is I have seen decent players shoot in the 60s in wet conditions with shoes that are completely free of metal. The best shoes solve traction issues while maintaining green friendliness. And expect more improved solutions to come from FootJoy, HiTec, Adidas, Nike and Etonic, to name a few. In truth, the PGA Tour should be embarassed that it still allows its players to wear metal spikes. At least the USGA stipulates that the spike policy of the host facility is maintained in local and sectional qualifying for all competitors. That includes you, Steve Elkington. (Seriously, dude, break down and buy another pair of shoes. The rules couldn't have been a shock to you.) There is clear evidence metal spikes harms the greens. As such, it is not a stretch to suggest that their continued use is unfair to fellow competitors. Lee Trevino once offered a solution to the metal spikes problem and tapping down spike marks. But that doesn't go far enough. There is clear evidence metal spikes are not a necessity for distance or control, otherwise players wouldn't be winning tournaments on the toughest tour in golf without any metal on the soles of their shoes. We don't allow smoking in public places anymore not because we're discriminating against smokers. It's bad for public health. Metal spikes are just about as damaging, equally unnecessary and infinitely more stupid.
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