We've fitted hundreds of golfers this season - here's what actually makes a golf shoe worth it

Every golfer asks us the same question at some point: spiked or spikeless? But after fitting golfers across our stores week in, week out, we've learned that's not actually the right first question. The real question is: what are you doing on the course, and what conditions are you playing in? Get that right, and the spiked-vs-spikeless decision answers itself.

Here's how our in-store fitting specialists actually think it through, and what we tell every customer who asks.

Start with where you play, not what looks good

Most golfers default to whatever shoe looks best on the wall. But the single biggest factor in shoe performance isn't style - it's the course conditions you're regularly playing in.

If you're regularly out early when the grass is still wet with dew, playing through winter, or tackling a hilly layout, traction is doing more work than you'd think. A loss of grip mid-swing doesn't just cost you a shot; it can throw off your whole swing path for the rest of the round.

When we point golfers toward spiked

We recommend spiked golf shoes to golfers who tick any of these boxes:

• You play early mornings or in wetter conditions more often than not;

• Your course has noticeable slopes or undulating fairways;

• You've got a faster, more aggressive swing and need your front foot to hold firm through impact;

• You don't mind a slightly firmer ride underfoot in exchange for maximum grip.

The other underrated advantage: most spiked shoes let you replace worn spikes rather than replacing the whole shoe. If you're playing multiple rounds a week, that's a real cost saving over a season or two, not just a marketing line.

When we point golfers toward spikeless

We recommend spikeless golf shoes to golfers who tick any of these boxes:

• You mostly play well-maintained, drier courses;

• You want one pair of shoes that works on the course and walking to the clubhouse afterwards;

• Comfort across 18 holes (or a long practice session) matters more to you than maximum grip;

• You're after something lower-maintenance - no spikes to check, tighten, or replace.

Spikeless has come a long way from the early "is this even a golf shoe" version. The better models in our range now hold up surprisingly well even on slightly damp fairways, which is part of why we've seen more golfers shift toward them over the past couple of seasons.

The factor most golfers forget: waterproofing

This is the part that often gets missed when people frame it purely as spiked vs spikeless — and it's arguably more important for most Australian golfers than the traction debate.

Spiked and spikeless both come in waterproof and non-waterproof builds. If you're playing through winter, in coastal humidity, or you're just someone who plays regardless of the forecast, a waterproof golf shoe will make a bigger difference to your comfort over 18 holes than the spike decision will. Wet socks by the 9th hole will ruin a round faster than anything else on this list.

If you only take one thing from this guide: check the waterproofing rating before you check the spike pattern.

Our actual in-store checklist

When someone comes in for a fitting, this is the order we talk through it:

1. How often do you play in wet or early-morning conditions?: leans spiked, and likely waterproof

2. Is comfort across a full day more important to you than maximum grip?: leans spikeless

3. Do you play year-round, including winter?: prioritise waterproofing regardless of spike choice

4. What's your swing like: smooth and controlled, or fast and aggressive?: faster swings benefit more from spikes

There's no universally "right" shoe; only the right shoe for how and where you actually play. If you want a proper fitting rather than guessing from a product page, our in-store team can walk you through it in a few minutes and have you trying shoes on rather than reading about them.

Browse our spiked, spikeless, and waterproof golf shoe ranges online, or drop into your nearest store for a fitting.