We tested more than 50 pairs of golf shoes in 2024. One of our primary ranking factors for determining the best golf shoes is traction. To evaluate this, we tested indoors and outdoors. While spiked golf shoes generally offer superior grip, we’ve included a few top spikeless choices for those who prefer them. Below are the 20 golf shoes with the best traction in our tests.
Top 10 best spikeless golf shoes for traction
The best spikeless golf shoes for traction were the PAYNTR X 002 LE and the PAYNTR X 001 FF. They both finished in the top five overall in the test. The best spikeless golf shoe of 2024 was the ECCO LT-1, which ranked fifth for traction.
The PAYNTR X 002 LE stands out for its traction and comfort. Testers loved the full-grain leather upper but felt it wasn’t the most stable shoe on the market.
| Shoe | Traction Ranking | Overall 2024 Best Spikeless Finish |
|---|---|---|
| PAYNTR X 002 LE | 1 | T2 |
| PAYNTR X 001 FF | 2 | T4 |
| Skechers Go Golf Max 3 | 3 | 6 |
| PAYNTR X 005 FF | 4 | 15 |
| ECCO LT-1 | 5 | 1 |
| Under Armour Drive Pro | 6 | T2 |
| FootJoy Pro SLX Carbon | 7 | T4 |
| Puma Avant | 8 | T7 |
| Under Armour Drive Fade SL | 9 | T7 |
| FootJoy Fuel Sport | 10 | 9 |
Top 10 best spiked golf shoes for traction
The adidas TOUR360 ’24 is the best spiked golf shoe for traction and also the best spiked shoe of 2024. If you are serious about finding traction in a golf shoe, you’ll want something spiked. The spiked shoes’ cleats improve traction but are not all created equal. Not every spiked shoe is great for traction.
Most cleats work well but the backup or secondary traction separates the standout spiked golf shoes from the rest. Shoes like the FootJoy Tour Alpha are great because of their secondary traction lugs.
Testers loved the BOOST in the heel and the leather upper. The TOUR360 ranked well for comfort, stability and traction. It’s just an all-around great golf shoe.
| Shoe | Traction Ranking | Overall 2024 Best Spiked Finish |
|---|---|---|
| adidas Tour360 ’24 | 1 | 1 |
| FootJoy HyperFlex Carbon | 2 | T4 |
| FootJoy Tour Alpha | 3 | T7 |
| FootJoy Premiere Field LX | 4 | T13 |
| PAYNTR Tour Proto RS | 5 | T2 |
| Under Armour Drive Pro | 6 | T2 |
| PAYNTR X004 Luxe | 7 | T7 |
| PAYNTR X006 | 8 | T7 |
| SQAIRZ Velo | 9 | 11 |
| SQAIRZ Speed 2 | 10 | 12 |
Who needs more traction in their golf shoes?
Golfers who need more traction in their shoes typically have higher swing speeds or play in wet or uneven conditions. The added grip helps prevent slipping during powerful transitions. If you are working on turning more or increasing your speed through the ball, the extra traction in the shoe can help you maintain lower body control. For golfers who really struggle with slipping, spiked shoes are the way to go.
If you already have spiked shoes, make sure you stay up to date with replacing the spikes. Sometimes you don’t need to upgrade the entire shoe.
Gary p
1 year ago
I love your reviews but you lose something when you never cover G4 shoes. I wore Footjoy for 40 years but they’re all junk compared to G4.