Fifteen years ago, Softspikes launched the first plastic golf cleats, changing the game forever, while saving golf greens and billions of dollars in golf course and clubhouse maintenance.
Ten years ago, Softspikes launched the Black Widow and redefined the plastic golf cleat category, forever.
Today, PrideSports, maker of Softspikes – the No.1 Cleat on TOUR, has once again revolutionised the golf cleat market with the launch of Black Widow Tour, golf’s first “self-adjusting” cleat, enabling golfers to custom match their golf cleats to their swing, balance and weight distribution.
In returning to its Black Widow roots, the Black Widow Tour cleats follow in the Softspikes heritage of providing extreme traction and comfort, combined with ultimate green-friendliness, by taking the Company’s proprietary technologies to the next level in offering golf’s first adjustable cleat.
“We are very excited to launch Black Widow Tour 10 years after its namesake was born, and on the 15-year anniversary of the Softspikes phenomenon; marking a milestone for one of golf’s most innovative brands ever,” said Joe Zeller, president, PrideSports. “In the history of golf, few products have been as instrumental to the game as Softspikes, and we believe that Black Widow Tour will only enhance the success of our Softspikes brand.”
Zeller adds, “As the number one selling cleat brand in the world, and as the cleat of choice for more than 70% of the field at PGA TOUR events for the past 13 years, I believe players of all levels will be very pleased with our new offering in the Softspikes family of cleats.”
Defining the innovation behind Black Widow Tour is self-adjusting traction technology and new Support Rings that enable golfers to customize the level of comfort in their cleats. Highlighted by 8 traction elements, including 4 large flexible legs that provide unmatched grip on any terrain/surface, the cleat is matched with 4 cushioning towers that absorb secondary loads and then distribute the golfer’s weight throughout the cleat. These features are then combined with proprietary “Support Rings” that allow golfers the option to select the comfort setting that best suits their game. Support Rings attached to each individual Black Widow Tour cleat can be positioned in two distinct settings:
• Tour-Comfort Setting: Provides maximum flex, ultimate comfort, and extreme traction.
• Tour-Firm Setting: Provides extreme traction through a firmer, spike-like feel, by providing more resistance at initial impact.
“Adjustability has become a big part of golf equipment today, as players strive to custom match their equipment to their golf swing,” said Zeller. “We have taken this same approach with Black Widow Tour and utilised our proprietary technology to enable golfers to customise their level of comfort, which positively impacts each individual player’s swing, balance and weight distribution.”
With Black Widow Tour, Softspikes expects to replicate the success of the original Black Widow, which was launched in 1999 as the most innovative golf cleat ever developed, offering unmatched traction, comfort and durability. Soon after its introduction, Foot Joy, the world’s leading golf shoe company, made Black Widow original equipment on all of its golf shoes. This, along with strong consumer appeal for the product, quickly made Black Widow the No. 1 selling cleat in the world – a distinction Softspikes maintains today. Equally important, Black Widow became the cleat of choice on TOUR, amassing more than 300 victories.
Black Widow Tour cleats, which are available in spring 2009, will be sold in individual kits and bulk quantities. Suggested Retail Price for individual kits is £9.99 per pack.
Softspikes www.softspikeseurope.com