How To Gain A Football Field On Your Drives Every Round

Last year Pinehurst Golf Academy performed a study to determine whether cleated or non-cleated golf shoes help you golf better. We are sharing details of that study to help you make the best decision for your golf game.
STUDY PARAMETERS in image above.

The study was performed by Dr. Bob Christina (Prof. of Kinesiology at the Univ. of NC Greensboro and Eric Alpenfels (Director of Instruction and Golf Academy at Pinehurst Resorts). 28 adult male golfers volunteered to be part of this study. They were divided into two groups: 14 low-handicap players (under 9/avg 3.52) and 14 high-handicap players (over 12/avg 15.26). No two golfers had the same handicap index.

Participants warmed up and stretched as they normally would and then hit 5 warm-up drives. Each golfer hit 10 measurable drives toward a target on a simulated 34-yard wide fairway. Each player hit 5 drives while wearing cleated golf shoes and 5 drives while wearing spikeless golf shoes. Each golfer was given a 2-minute break after the 5th drive, before changing shoes and hitting the next 5 drives. All testing was conducted at the Pinehurst Golf Academy Building.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1. Average Carry Gained with a Driver when using spiked golf shoes
   1. Low-handicap golfers gained 2.66 yards
   2. High-handicap golfers gained 6.04 yards
   3. The overall average was a gain of 4.35 yards per drive
2. Average Carry Gained with a 6 iron when using spiked golf shoes
   1. Low-handicap golfers gained 3.7 yards (flat) and 2.8 yards (10 deg. decline)
   2. High-handicap golfers gained 1.8 yards (flat) and 5.2 yards (10 deg. decline)
   3. The overall average was a gain of 2.75 yards (flat) and 4 yards (10 deg. decline) per 6 iron shot
3. High handicap golfers can gain over 100-yards (108.72 yards) per round by wearing shoes with removable cleats