Sporting Goods Reviewed

Each year one of the biggest questions going into the baseball season is which cleat to go with. I mean you want the cleats to look good, you want them to perform well and most important you need comfort. Throughout my 20 years of playing baseball, 7 years professionally, I have found that a lot of cleats give you looks but don’t compare in comfort and performance, while others are great for performance and comfortable but look so bad you don’t even want to wear them.

Over the past few seasons the majority of players that I have played with or against all wear the Nike Zoom Clipper. I purchased a pair last season and was extremely pleased. This cleat gives you the comfort of a running shoe and the look of a professional. Another huge advantage to this cleat is the durability it gives you. I am a starting pitcher and have to take the mound every 5 days for a 100 game season, so I need a cleat that will not wear out after two starts. The Nike Zoom Clipper lasted an entire season and then some! Keep in mind that if you are a pitcher and you are looking for a cleat, it is always a good idea to add a pitching toe to any one that you choose.

I would say that the only downside to the cleat, if you want to call it a downside, is whether or not you want metal spikes or molded spikes. Most of the infielders that I have played with choose to go with the molded spikes, whereas most of the pitchers I have played with choose to go with the metal spikes. This simply comes down to personal preference. I chose metal because I need the most traction I can get, considering I am throwing off of a dirt mound most of the time.

I have found that having the right tools makes any job a little bit easier. Plus the saying is true - if you feel good, you will play good. The last thing you want to be worried about when you take the field is the equipment you have on.

For a closer look at the Nike Zoom Clipper as well as options for pitching toes check out Baseball Express.