Every 2025 major champion used this $20 golf essential – and so should you
Last updated:
Responsible for over 90% of the prize money won at The Open, as well as winning all four major championships in 2025, Softspikes shows that stability with any swing is still essential for control
Despite the sometimes dangerous-looking footwork of Scottie Scheffler, there’s rarely a time when you don’t see him in full control of his golf ball. While his dancing feet can be a worry to watch, Scottie actually maintains a stable, connected base throughout his backswing and downswing, up until impact.
That stability has helped him achieve incredible feats in his golf career, as well as produce outstanding shots along the way, as he collects his major championships. With two of four majors this year, and three of the four needed for the Career Grand Slam, we’re all scrambling to learn as much as we can from his swing, setup, and his equipment.
While most of us might not benefit from using a set of his Tiger Woods-designed blades, what we can benefit from is the piece of kit that allows him to maintain the stability we’ve mentioned. It may sound simple, but the trust he can put into his unique lower-half movement is down to the most old-school thing about his equipment: his use of spikes in his golf shoes.
Scheffler chooses the Softspikes Tour Flex Pro to maximize his grip into the turf, and the spike of choice for our world number one isn’t unique to him or his swing. The Tour Flex Pro has been employed by all four of 2025’s major champions on their path to success, and countless other tour pros.
When you consider the differences in swing between our three 2025 major winners – with Rory McIlroy‘s raw power, JJ Spaun‘s more-planted stance, or xthe Scottie Scheffler Salsa – the fact that each of them can trust in the same design to give them that safety of balance says a lot.
Beyond just boasting the clean sweep of majors, Softspikes range is employed across a huge majority of tour professionals. 82% of players in PGA Tour events use Softspikes and 31 out of the last 35 PGA Tour winners wore them.
At the 2025 Open Championship in Portrush, more than 90% of the prize money was paid out to players wearing spiked golf shoes, with $14.4 million of the $15.9M being earned compared to just under $1.5M for spikeless footwear. The Tour Flex Pro model favored by Scheffler and co earned 52.6% of all the prize money that week – that’s $8,356,612.
So, why does wearing spiked shoes offer so much more of a benefit in comparison to the spikeless?
Spiked vs spikeless golf shoes
According to the experts over at Softspikes, modern spikes, in particular, are just much more versatile. The traction on offer helps golfers trust their swings in soft environments, but the research and development implemented now allows them to continue working well in even the firmest ground conditions.
The Tour Flex Pro, as an example, features a complex set of spikes that adapt to the ground underneath you. Each cleat has a Center Stinger which acts as an anchor point to allow for lock-in grip, a key starting point to stability, and is similar to the metal ones that were popular in the 1950s through to the 90s.
Surrounding that are nine traction spikes that offer additional support, which allow for a ten-point network to spread and control the player’s weight. Spacing out the contact points helps distribute mass across the cleat, and the shoe as a whole when fitted with a set of spikes, meaning weight is spread across the whole base.
To deal with those super firm, links-style fairways, Softspikes have also created a flexibility structure into those supporting spikes, which can move in either direction. So your spikes can spread wider in summer conditions, interacting with the ground without splitting, while still being able to dig deeper into the turf in softer conditions.
Softspikes recommends you change spikes every 15-20 rounds, so even if you’ve bought to a new pair of shoes this year, there’s a good chance you’ll already see the benefit from installing a new set of spikes.
If you want to know what footwear is best for wearing with Softspikes cleats for ultimate comfort, you can check out this year’s best spiked shoes, or you can follow the link below to pick up the Tour Flex Pro, the spikes used by the best players and biggest winners in golf.
Grip and control trusted by major winners and tour professionals
- Center Stinger provides an Anchoring Point for support and balance
- Traction Spikes offer Ultimate Stability and Control through an additional 9 Points of Contact
- Flexible Legs are made to expand and grip the Course
- Available in five different colors, to suit your Style
-
Scottie Scheffler plays the final hole of his 2025 Open Championship victory
-
Scottie Scheffler uses Softspikes Tour Flex Pro spikes to maintain his stability
-
Softspikes Tour Flex Pro have ten points of contact for ultimate control
-
Changing your spikes regularly will optimise your grip on the course
-
Softspike Tour Flex Pro spikes are available in five different color options
-
Spiked shoes offer balance support in any condition
-
Softspikes have been worn by 29 of the last 32 PGA Tour champions
-
Spiked shoes are trusted by the majority of PGA Tour pros
