Should you wear spiked or spikeless golf shoes when playing in the rain?

While poor weather may be offputting for some, there are still plenty of golfers who have no issue braving the elements and heading out onto a damp golf course to squeeze in a few holes where they can. The rain undoubtedly affects our golf game and can cause our scores to suffer as a result, though.

Luckily, golfers can implement tips and tricks they’ve picked up over the years to combat the rain’s effects, helping keep their game as on-point as possible. But beyond adapting the way you swing and strike the ball, can your golf shoes have a positive effect when playing in a downpour?

Golfers have two options - spiked golf shoes or spikeless golf shoes. Depending on whether you’re a traditionalist or prefer the more modern touch, you may enjoy playing in one or the other - but what advantages do they both offer when the rain begins to fall? If you’re fortunate enough to own a pair of both, the choice is yours! So let's help you make it.

At Clarkes Golf, we're an authorised stockist of men's spikeless golf shoes, women's spikeless shoes and spiked golf shoes, so you’ll always have your pick of the litter! With this in mind, here are a few benefits you can expect playing in both spiked and spikeless golf shoes during a drizzly spell.

The benefits of spiked golf shoes in the rain

Superior grip

A bit of an obvious point, but important nonetheless. The key selling point of spiked golf shoes over the decades is the excellent ground grip and support they offer players on the course. This assists in generating power from the ground up, so we can inject our shots with a little extra ferocity and, hopefully, hit longer strikes.

When playing in the rain, some of this support can be lost due to the ground slipping out from beneath our feet on occasion, which could spell disaster if you’re in the middle of a swing. Not only will you lose power, but you also have the potential to scuff your shot, with the ball winding up anywhere from right in front of you to the opposing fairway or worse.

But thanks to spiked golf shoes that feature prominent, rugged cleats, your feet should remain rock-steady at all times until you’ve followed through with your shot, despite slippery ground conditions. Speaking of stability…

Stability on inclines

Not all golf courses are easy to traverse, and some of them feature more awkward inclines and declines than you’d prefer. These difficult spots are made even more difficult when the ground is wet - you’ve definitely seen one of your friends take a tumble here, right?

However, thanks to spiked golf shoes, you’re able to dig your feet into the ground with more force than regular shoes like running shoes, helping you to climb (or descend) these slopes more easily as you look for your ball. Think of them as the spiked mountain climbing boots of the golf world.

The benefits of spikeless golf shoes in the rain

Easy walking

Spikeless shoes offer plenty of advantages when the ground is wetter than expected and the grass and mud beneath your feet begin to soften. But it’s this softening that can sometimes cause issues for spiked shoes. Rather than offering stability, the cleats can grip the grass so tightly that it drags it out from the soil beneath you, meaning you’ll need to give them a quick scrape down if you want your stance to go unaffected.

This isn’t the case with spikeless golf shoes in the rain, though. They may not offer quite the same stability as spiked shoes, but the freedom they present means you don’t need to worry about the soft ground clutching at your feet and following you everywhere you go. Walking around the damp course is a much more freeing, less intrusive feeling.

Easy cleaning

As we just mentioned, spiked shoes can have a tendency to snag the ground in wet conditions, leading to more in-depth cleaning post-game. But with spikeless golf shoes, you’ll likely find the cleaning process is far more relaxed, with fewer strands of grass and clumps of mud stuck to the bottom of your shoe. Ideal if you like to relax as quickly as possible after finishing your rainy game.

Grab a new pair of women's or men's spikeless golf shoes from Clarkes Golf

Whether you prefer playing in spiked golf shoes or spikeless golf shoes when the rain suddenly appears, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from at Clarkes Golf. We’re home to an extensive range of golf clubs, golf equipment and golf footwear from all the leading manufacturers you know and love, so you’ll always be able to find golf shoes you need to play your game your way.

Whatever your shoe size, we're certain we'll have the perfect pair to take your game to the next level.