Tour Flex Pro from Softspikes reinvigorates spiked shoe category

August 7, 2023 | by Todd Mrowice of AmateurGolf.com

Who knew that a golf spike would make such a drastic difference in your golf swing? Find out more with our review.

It wasn’t long ago that spiked golf shoes were the only option in our game. Just like every category in golf, though, shoes advanced and eventually the market reinvented itself. Spikeless shoes, among amateur players, have become more than commonplace as every main golf shoe brand has its own version.

Spikes still have a prominent place among pros and weekend warriors, but the accessory needed a jolt of energy to show why superior traction and performance come from a modern twist on a familiar foundation. Perhaps no other brand was cut out for the job as Softspikes, and earlier this year the company debuted its Tour Flex Pro to professional tours with immediate winning success.

I had the opportunity to try the Tour Flex Pro and see what all of the fuss was about. Much like the title, this spike has reinvigorated my love for spiked golf shoes and I’ll detail exactly why. Before I do, let’s get to know the company.

The Dawn of a New Era

The spikes have been familiar to you for years. Cyclone. Pulsar. Black Widow. The spikes that have been on the kicks of the world’s best players on all major tours. As the story goes, Softspikes co-founder, Faris McMullin, invented the category in 1993 due to a winter metal spike ban that was endorsed by several U.S. State Golf Associations. Unsatisfied with tennis shoes, McMullin wanted to offer golfers something better. He experimented with various "plug" designs to replace the old metal spikes and eventually designed a plastic spiral design which became the industry’s first patented non-metal spike. How’s that for reinventing a category and revolutionizing the game?

Today, approximately 80% of Tour players trust and rely on Softspikes.

Tour Flex Pro Science and Accolades

The Tour Flex Pro made its debut at this year’s Waste Management Phoenix Open where it captured 25% of the field’s spike usage. It also captured a trophy as the winner had them in play. The following week on the Genesis Invitational, 34% of the field and another win. At the Arnold Palmer Invitational, 37% of the field with 90% for Softspikes overall. Seeing the trend?

Tour Flex Pro didn’t take long to live up to its tagline: “Born in the lab. Proven on the course.”

Softspikes notes three impressive stats which came out of independent testing:

Dispersion decreased by 60%.
Distance increased by 5 yards.
Consistency increased by 46%.

My Review

Admittedly, I had become one of the trend followers that owned more spikeless golf shoes than spiked. However, I own a pair of FootJoy shoes that are in my regular rotation. As a midwestern golfer, spiked shoes are essential for me due to varying weather conditions throughout spring, summer and fall. On a side note, if you don’t know which spikes are compatible with your shoes, Softspikes has an easy Spike Selector option on their website which will quickly guide you to your correct model.

I was lucky enough to receive a set of the Tour Flex Pros as did all of the players that competed in the AmateurGolf.com 2023 Two Man Links and Father & Son at Bandon Dunes. We had a lot of players change their spikes out on the spot and we received overwhelmingly positive feedback from players of all handicap levels.

When I got back to Chicago, I popped my old spikes out and twisted the Tour Flex Pros in. I was quickly reminded of how oddly satisfying it is to install new spikes. Something I didn’t realize I missed doing.

I used the Tour Flex Pro spikes for five rounds in varying conditions and here are my highlights.

Traction

It only took me a few swings to realize I had something new and innovative on the course, and while it wasn’t a club or a GPS unit, it might be just as important. Zero slippage on tee boxes that were covered with early morning dew. Even with older spiked shoes I recall owning, that was never the case.

Tour Flex Pro

Over the five courses that I played, terrain varied greatly. Two of the courses were desert layouts while on a trip to Phoenix. Whether it was Kentucky Blue, Bent, or Bermuda, I was impressed with the consistent traction on all types of shots.

In addition, I mixed in riding and walking. Steep uphills, steep downhills, and the nerve-racking skirting of bunkers all had zero give. The Tour Flex Pro has a center that mimics the Stinger spike, so it provides a solid anchor. It also has flexible legs which expand and grab the Earth when you need it most. Lastly, it has traction spikes to complete its three degrees of traction.

I can’t say that I felt or saw statistical gains in my irons, but I will fully endorse the idea that you will hit your drives longer, or at the very least, feel infinitely more comfortable leaning into your tee shots a bit more. That goes hand-in-hand with fairway woods where I also noticed increased traction and less dispersion on those long shots.

Navigating the rough was never easier as was my 10-handicap swing finding some longer fescue along the way. Wet or dry, the Tour Flex Pro kept me grounded.

Comfort

One of the hesitations you may have about going full-time to spiked shoes is the comfort factor. Especially for walking, it’s hard to believe a spike will feel as good as some of the advanced spikeless technology on the market today.

Let me be the first to say that you won’t notice an iota of comfort differential from whatever shoe you currently sport on the course. Think of it like this: It’s not so much what the spike is made of, but what it’s doing as you walk and swing. The Tour Flex Pro is designed to expand and move with each step. It’s not something you simply “walk on.”

Need more proof? Do you honestly think the best players in the world would hoof it around 7,000 plus-yard courses for multiple rounds each and every week and not complain if a soft spike was hampering their chances of making millions of dollars?

Durability

Here’s where the plastic meets the road, and honestly, the part of my testing I was most looking forward to. How well did the Tour Flex Pro hold up and when was I going to need to swap them out?

Softspikes recommends changing your spikes every 15-20 rounds. I think that ultimately depends on the type of course you play and how much you walk on harder surfaces with them. I can say that after five rounds and prior to writing this, my Tour Flex Pros looked almost as good as when I installed them.

Dynamic Cleat Technology is a Softspikes development that allows the cleat to wear at the center instead of the legs. This allows each spike to last longer. Pretty smart.

Tour Flex Pro Side View

I did notice some spikes showed more wear than others, which is a natural occurrence based on the mechanics of a golf swing. Still, five rounds in and I couldn’t guess as to when I would truly have to replace them.

Pricing

For $19.99, you receive an 18-pack of the Tour Flex Pro which I find beyond reasonable. To put it in perspective, if you’re searching for a golf ball that will give you a few extra yards off the tee, you’re likely spending more than that. And if you’re looking at equipment, these spikes are a fraction of the cost. Even if you’re buying two sets in a single golf season, you’re still money (and distance) ahead.

For members of AmateurGolf.com, you can benefit from our partnership with Softspikes by receiving 20% off of your purchase. Wander over to our Member Benefits page to learn more!

Final Thought

I couldn’t have asked for more from testing golf spikes. I went into testing the Tour Flex Pro hoping for durability and comfort, and it has it in spades. The superior traction, however, blew me away and may have just converted me, full-time, into a spiked shoe guy.

For more information visit www.softspikes.com.

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