Shoes constantly clogged up!

[Fish]

I am finding my shoes are constantly getting clogged up within a few holes and I have to dig out the cr@p to get some grip before teeing off which is becoming a pain!

Sometimes they have become that smooth that I have almost done a 180 when having to dig a shot out.

Are these cleats all that!

Do they not, due to there design help to clog debris, cuttings etc?

I've never used spikes, would there be an advantage moving away from cleats to spikes?

I've got enough to think about at the minute without worrying or checking my shoes every few holes:angry:

 

[Foxholer]

Haven't seen/heard of this 'problem' before.

Unbalanced swing?

Worm casts on greens?

One to check with your Pro imo. If others are having the same problem, then he should know about it. If it's only you, then he should check out your swing - or shoes. Some shoes have fairly thin/soft soles, so you do get to feel the cleats somewhat - not my type of shoe I'm afraid.

 

[Fish]

I can't see what my swing would have to do with amount of cr@p my shoes are picking up around the course and having to constantly dig them out or they become that smooth I could go ten pin bowling in them!

 

[CMAC]

It's the mulch the greens staff are leaving on the fairway. I get it bad at some courses like yours, but my own course the staff have all mulch picked up, maybe down to their equipment.

 

[Foxholer]

I can't see what my swing would have to do with amount of cr@p my shoes are picking up around the course and having to constantly dig them out or they become that smooth I could go ten pin bowling in them!

I know a couple of very good golfers whose balance is such that they can/do play in quite smooth soled trainers. Balance is an issue with me, but I'm certainly happy playing in FJ Comforts - which are spikeless. Doing a 180 doesn't sound like something liable to happen with a balanced swing - except under exceptional circumstances.

 

[duncan mackie]

OK I've read the thread a few times in case I missed it but what shoes and what cleats?

There's no doubt in my mind that no only do different styles react differently to different conditions, but that the sole they are in can also have a significant impact on the performance of the overall shoe in terms of 'clogging'.

The corollary to this is that there is no one shoe/cleat pattern/combination that is best in all conditions either.

 

[MashieNiblick]

This is one of my pet hates with modern golf shoes.

I have 3 different types of FJs. Lovely shoes but the soles are deeply patterned with treads, ridges, pimples etc that in winter pick up mud and in summer pick up grass cuttings. This happens both with metal spikes and soft spikes. They end up giving you less grip as a result.

They are no problem on sandy heathland or links courses or when it's bone dry but if it is at all wet on my lush, clay based parkland course they get really clogged up.

In the old days the shoes had smooth soles with grip provided just by the spikes and this was less of a problem.

All the shoes seem to have this type of sole nowadays. In good conditions it probably does give some extra grip but I do feel they could be designed so they don't collect so much mud and debris.

 

[Evesdad]

My Nike lunars do this, if the grass has been cut they really clog up. Every few holes just have a tap with a club and scrap with pitch mark repairer.

 

[duncan mackie]

MN - an old rugby trick that works well with those soles in those conditions (well it does on my Synergy and DJ Tours) is to brush the sole with vaseline.

 

[Fish]

I also now have 2 pairs of FJ's and the latest AQL pair I got for Christmas have a lot of extra grooves and cut-outs all over the sole and as such attract mulch like no tomorrow!

I played a more sandy heathland course a week ago and I think I only had to look at my shoes and address them once and Saunton in April they were clean all the way around. Back to my course and I'm digging them out every 3-4 holes!

 

[tagnut69]

Get spikes, if your club allows. I had a similar problem at my place and changing to spikes made a hell of a differnce

 

[Fish]

MN - an old rugby trick that works well with those soles in those conditions (well it does on my Synergy and DJ Tours) is to brush the sole with vaseline.

I'm not getting a jar of vaseline out in the changing rooms at my club :0

But I take your point

 

[MashieNiblick]

MN - an old rugby trick that works well with those soles in those conditions (well it does on my Synergy and DJ Tours) is to brush the sole with vaseline.

Cheers, I'll give it try.

 

[Fish]

Get spikes, if your club allows. I had a similar problem at my place and changing to spikes made a hell of a differnce

I'll ask today, can you not wear them at some clubs then and why?

 

[Doon frae Troon]

My old Uncle used to say that a good golfer should be able to swing wearing dance shoes on a polished floor.

One word that seldom is used in modern golf coaching but IMO is key to playing well...........BALANCE.

 

[MegaSteve]

One word that seldom is used in modern golf coaching but IMO is key to playing well...........BALANCE.

I agree... So I am always even more amazed at a friend of mine who due to a disability has no balance whatsoever yet still manages to play comfortably to single figure golf [currently he's off 6]...

For what its worth he uses old fashioned spikes as he feels these give him a little more stability when using a full swing...

I'll often spray the soles of my golf shoes with WD40 or similiar as I feel it helps stopping them becoming 'clogged'...