How to Take Cleats Off of Golf Shoes

Changing your golf cleats is one of the simplest, yet most overlooked, aspects of equipment maintenance that directly impacts your performance. Forget complicated swing theories for a moment, if your feet aren’t stable, nothing else matters. This guide will walk you through the entire process, from gathering the right tools to wrestling with that one impossibly stuck cleat, so you can restore your shoes to their full-traction glory.

Why Bother Changing Your Golf Cleats?

You might wonder if it’s really worth the effort. The answer is a resounding yes. Think of your golf cleats as the tires on a race car. You can have the most powerful engine in the world, but if the tires can’t grip the track, all that power is useless. The same principle applies to your golf swing.

A solid, stable base is the foundation of a powerful and consistent swing. When your cleats are fresh, they dig into the turf, giving you the traction needed to rotate your body aggressively without slipping. This stability allows you to leverage the ground for power, something all great players do. When cleats wear down, they become smooth and lose their sharp edges. This leads to subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) slipping, especially on sidehill lies or when you’re really trying to go after one.

This loss of traction forces you to make unconscious compensations. Your body, sensing the instability, might shorten your backswing, swing with less force, or stall its rotation through impact - all in an effort to stay balanced. These compensations rob you of distance and consistency. Beyond your own game, worn-out cleats are rough on putting greens, as the frayed plastic can scuff and damage the delicate surfaces. Replacing them is good for your scorecard and good for the golf course.

Getting Ready: What You’ll Need

Before you start pulling out cleats, take a few minutes to gather your supplies. Having the right tools makes the job go from a frustrating chore to a simple task. Here’s what you’ll want to have on hand:

• A Proper Cleat Wrench: This is non-negotiable. While you might be tempted to use a pair of pliers, a dedicated cleat wrench is designed to fit perfectly into the holes on the cleat, giving you maximum leverage without slipping and damaging the shoe’s receptacle. Most wrenches have a simple two-prong design and an T-handle that's easy to grip.
• Your Replacement Cleats: This is the most important part! Not all cleats are the same. Shoes use different locking systems, and you need to buy replacements that match your specific shoes. The most common systems today are Fast Twist 3.0, PINS (Performance Insert System), and Q-LOK. Check the manufacturer's website for your shoe model or examine the base of your existing cleats to identify the system. Mixing and matching will not work.
• A Stiff Brush: A simple wire brush or an old toothbrush with firm bristles is perfect for cleaning out the caked-on dirt, sand, and grass that builds up around and inside the cleats.
• A Towel or Rag: You'll need this for wiping down the soles and keeping your workspace clean. Golf shoes hold an surprising amount of dirt.
• Optional (But Highly Recommended):
  • A small bowl of warm, soapy water: For loosening really stubborn dirt and grime.
  • Penetrating Oil (like WD-40): Your secret weapon for cleats that refuse to budge.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Removing Golf Cleats

With your tools gathered, you’re ready to get to work. Find a spot outside or in the garage where you don’t mind a little bit of dirt making an appearance.

Step 1: Get the Gunk Out

The first and most important step is to clean the sole of your shoe thoroughly. Use your stiff brush to scrub away every bit of dried mud, grass, and debris from around the base of each cleat. Pay special attention to the little holes on the cleat where your wrench will go. If these ports are packed with dirt, the wrench won't seat properly, and you'll run the risk of stripping the cleat, making it much harder to remove. For really caked-on grime, you can dip the sole of the shoe in your bowl of warm, soapy water for a minute or two and then scrub again. Just be sure to dry the sole completely before moving on.

Step 2: Seat The Wrench Firmly

Take your cleat wrench and align its prongs with the corresponding holes on the golf cleat. Press down firmly to make sure the tips of the wrench are fully seated inside. You should feel a solid connection. If it feels wobbly, chances are there's still some debris in the way. Clean it out and try again. A secure fit is everything for the next step.

Step 3: Apply Steady Pressure to Remove

Holding the shoe firmly with one hand, use your other hand to turn the wrench counter-clockwise (to the left). Remember the old saying: "righty-tighty, lefty-loosey." Apply firm, steady, and consistent pressure. Avoid sharp, jerky motions, which can break the prongs on your tool or strip the plastic on the cleat. For most of the cleats, you should feel them pop loose after a quarter-turn or so. Once they break free, you can usually unscrew them the rest of the way with your fingers.

Step 4: Dealing with Impossibly Stuck Cleats

Every golfer doing this for the first time runs into at least one stubborn cleat that feels like it’s been welded to the shoe. Don’t panic, and definitely don’t start reaching for the pliers just yet. Here are a few techniques to try, in order of escalation.

Technique 1: A Little Leverage

Make sure the wrench is still seated securely, and try applying a bit more force. Sometimes just adding a slow, heavy lean into the turn is enough to break a stubborn cleat free.

Technique 2: The Warm Water Soak

If that doesn't work, it's time for the warm water trick again. This time, hold just the sole of your shoe in the warm, soapy water for 5-10 minutes. The warmth helps expand the plastic of the receptacle just slightly, breaking the seal that dirt and friction have created. After the soak, dry the shoe and immediately try the wrench again while everything is still warm.

Technique 3: Penetrating Oil is Your Best Friend

For the absolute most stubborn cleats, a spray of penetrating oil like WD-40 works wonders. T-shirt the nozzle as close to the seam between the cleat and the shoe as possible, and give it a quick spray. Let it sit for at least 10-15 minutes to seep into the threads and dissolve any rust or hardened grime. Wipe away the excess oil and give the wrench another go. This technique works over 90% of the time.

Technique 4: The Last Resort - Pliers

If a cleat is stripped or so damaged that the wrench can't get a grip, pliers are your last option. Be careful, as you can easily damage the threads on the shoe's receptacle. Use a pair of needle-nose or standard pliers to grip the cleat as low as possible, around its solid base rather than the flexible spikes. Get a firm grip and turn it counter-clockwise. Go slowly and be patient.

Installing Your New Cleats: Getting a Perfect Fit

Once you have all the old, worn-out cleats removed, the hard part is over. Installing the new ones is a quick and satisfying process.

1. Clean the Receptacles: Before installing the new cleat, take your brush and clean out the threaded housing on the shoe. Get rid of any old thread shavings, dirt, or leftover oil. A clean receptacle ensures a secure fit.
2. Hand-Tighten First: Place the new cleat into the receptacle and turn it clockwise with your fingers. It should thread in easily for the first couple of turns. If you feel any resistance, stop immediately. You've likely cross-threaded it. Back it out and try again.
3. Use the Wrench to Lock It In: Once the cleat is finger-tight, use your wrench to finish the job. Turn it clockwise until it's snug. Most modern cleat systems, like Fast Twist, are designed to give two audible "clicks" when they are fully tightened and locked. That's your signal to stop. Over-tightening can damage the cleat or the receptacle.
4. Final Check: Go over all the new cleats one last time, giving them a quick wiggle with your fingers to make sure they are all tight and secure.

When to Change Your Cleats: A Quick Checklist

So, how often should you do this? There’s no perfect answer, as it depends on how much you play, the courses you walk, and even whether you spend a lot of time on hard surfaces like cart paths or parking lots. However, a good rule of thumb is to change your cleats after every 15-20 rounds of golf.

More importantly, learn to recognize the signs of wear:

• Visible Wear: Look at the spikes themselves. Are the tips rounded and smooth instead of sharp and defined? That's a clear sign they've lost their bite.
• Cracked or Missing Pieces: If you see any cracks in the plastic or notice parts of a spike have broken off, it's time for a replacement.
• Feeling Slippery: The biggest indicator is how you feel on the course. If you notice your footing is less secure on shots or you slip, even slightly, during your swing, your cleats are likely the culprit.

Final Thoughts

Regularly replacing your golf cleats is a fundamental part of maintaining your gear and your game. It’s a simple process that directly translates to more stability, greater confidence, and unlocking the power in your swing by letting you use the ground effectively.

That same feeling of stability is something we believe in for your whole game. While fresh cleats anchor your feet to the turf, Caddie AI can anchor your mind by providing the expert strategy and real-time advice needed to feel confident about every shot. It’s like having solid footing for your decision-making, removing the guesswork so you can commit fully to your swing.