PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS WILL take any equipment edge they can get. Even the smallest edge can make a difference at this level, when victory comes down to millimeters, fractions of a mile per hour, and a few blades of grass. So when 39-year-old PGA Tour player Ryan Fox put on a dominant weekend performance to win The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale this past weekend (the Tour’s last major tournament of the year), his golf shoes caught my attention: the Adidas Adizero ZG Spikeless Golf Shoes.
For some context, the majority of Tour players either wear metal spikes or the newer soft spikes. While most golf courses prohibit metal spikes for everyday play, PGA tournaments allow pros to wear them during competition.
Lots of pros have switched to the newer soft spikes in recent years, and that’s what you’ll mostly see players wearing during a tournament. This is because the grip, traction, and ground forces spikes create give the best players in the world that extra bit of edge (and don’t be confused, for a lot of regular golfers they can be a benefit as well).
But Tour players who go spikeless (shoes with molded rubber lugs similar to trail running shoes), are few and far between. There hasn’t been a major winner to wear spikeless shoes this decade (although Phil Mickelson has at times, for his final 2021 PGA Championship round he appears to have worn a soft spike G/Fore). Turns out though, Ryan Fox is a dedicated spikeless stan.
“I’ve worn spikeless shoes for as long as I can remember,” the 2026 Champion Golfer of the Year told Men’s Health over email. “I’ve never worn spikes and only dabbled in wearing soft spikes a couple of times.”
That right there is a huge feather in the cap of spikeless shoes, which are often built more like an athletic shoe (although these days, the soft spikes models are really making strides in doing the same). They tend to be a little more affordable, and allow you to walk in clubhouses, the parking lot, restaurants, etc. after your round without having to switch shoes.
The Adizero ZG Spikeless itself utilizes the much-loved Lightstrike Pro midsole foam for a comfy ride, even after walking 18 holes. Undercut blades and a Spikemore outsole help create great traction and grip, while a 3D torsion plate provides stability and dynamic movement. “I’’ve never felt any need for spikes as I have plenty of grip and stability in the Adizero,” Fox said. “I prefer an athletic style of shoe rather than traditional golf shoes. I’ve got flat feet and use orthotics and the Adizero ZG is perfect for me.”
Obviously Fox has found spikeless shoes work well for him. For a guy who just won his first major, you’d be wise to consider a pair of these for yourself.
SHOP THE ADIDAS ADIZERO ZG SPIKELESS
Ryan Brower is the Senior Gear and Reviews Editor at Men’s Health, where he tests the best products in outdoor gear, tech, running shoes, and more. He has written about the outdoors for nearly two decades and was previously the Managing Editor, Content Performance at Gear Patrol. He holds a B.A. in Sport Management and is a Certified Beer Server, having previously covered the craft beer industry. Ryan currently lives on the water in New Jersey with his wife and their dog.
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