The Quest For Traction
Today many different types of studded or spiked shoes are used to provide additional traction when participating in a sporting event.
Each sport has their own particular type of studded shoe that has been designed to provide the wearer with additional traction based upon the nature of the surface.
For example, shoes designed for baseball need to help the player running through the dirt track of the infield.
These are different than the spiked shoes worn by football players doing battle on the grassy "gridiron" field.
Participants in golf or track and field may wear shoes with sharp metal spikes.
Since these are events without physical contact between players, there is little danger of these spikes causing injury to another player.
In sports that include some level of physical contact, rubberized cleats or studs are worn to provide additional traction while reducing the danger of injury.
The most popular specialty studded or spiked shoes include those designed for the following sports:
The studs on these shoes are smaller than the studs on shoes designed for American football, however there are three different types of cleats that are used depending upon the ground surface.
There are soft ground cleats for use on a wet field; there are cleats designed to be used on firm ground and finally cleats which are used on hard natural surfaces.
Football cleats are also changed based upon the surface.
They are also changed based upon the position of the player.
A running back or defensive safety have very different needs from those of an inside lineman and the shoes they where support the different activities that are required by each position.
These are also changed based upon the surface, whether that surface is natural or artificial grass and whether the surface is dry or wet.
Historically golf spikes were composed short metal studs.
Most golf courses have banned the use of these metal spikes to protect the putting surface of the greens.
They have been replaced by plastic spikes that look similar to a spider.
These provide the golfer with additional traction and limit the spike marks that are left on the greens.
However, they are more easily clogged with grass and they are more difficult to keep clean.
While modern sport can seem like battle, the roots of cleated footwear can be traced back to those worn in actual combat.
The roman legionnaire wore caligae.
These were leather shoes that were laced up the center which had a hard sole in which hobnails were hammered to provide additional support to the shoe and traction to the soldier.
Additionally they could be used to inflict damage on a downed enemy by stomping.
The consequences of losing your footing during a battle against the barbarian enemies of Rome were significantly higher than slipping on the infield but the solution to the problem was similar, spiked footwear.
Each sport has their own particular type of studded shoe that has been designed to provide the wearer with additional traction based upon the nature of the surface.
For example, shoes designed for baseball need to help the player running through the dirt track of the infield.
These are different than the spiked shoes worn by football players doing battle on the grassy "gridiron" field.
Participants in golf or track and field may wear shoes with sharp metal spikes.
Since these are events without physical contact between players, there is little danger of these spikes causing injury to another player.
In sports that include some level of physical contact, rubberized cleats or studs are worn to provide additional traction while reducing the danger of injury.
The most popular specialty studded or spiked shoes include those designed for the following sports:
- Soccer shoes
- Baseball shoes
- Football cleats
- Golf Shoes
The studs on these shoes are smaller than the studs on shoes designed for American football, however there are three different types of cleats that are used depending upon the ground surface.
There are soft ground cleats for use on a wet field; there are cleats designed to be used on firm ground and finally cleats which are used on hard natural surfaces.
Football cleats are also changed based upon the surface.
They are also changed based upon the position of the player.
A running back or defensive safety have very different needs from those of an inside lineman and the shoes they where support the different activities that are required by each position.
These are also changed based upon the surface, whether that surface is natural or artificial grass and whether the surface is dry or wet.
Historically golf spikes were composed short metal studs.
Most golf courses have banned the use of these metal spikes to protect the putting surface of the greens.
They have been replaced by plastic spikes that look similar to a spider.
These provide the golfer with additional traction and limit the spike marks that are left on the greens.
However, they are more easily clogged with grass and they are more difficult to keep clean.
While modern sport can seem like battle, the roots of cleated footwear can be traced back to those worn in actual combat.
The roman legionnaire wore caligae.
These were leather shoes that were laced up the center which had a hard sole in which hobnails were hammered to provide additional support to the shoe and traction to the soldier.
Additionally they could be used to inflict damage on a downed enemy by stomping.
The consequences of losing your footing during a battle against the barbarian enemies of Rome were significantly higher than slipping on the infield but the solution to the problem was similar, spiked footwear.
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