Cleats are specialized athletic shoes with either permanent or detachable studs or spikes that allow the athlete to maintain a better grip on the turf than traditional athletic shoes. Many sports require the use of specific types of cleats, for the protection of the athletes as well as the turf. Athletes can choose from a variety of types of cleats for each sport, based on personal preference for options such as height and stud type.
Golf Spikes
Instead of wearing the traditional saddle style golf shoe, some golfers prefer golf spikes when out on the turf. Golf spikes are available in both metal and plastic, although most courses have banned metal spikes because of the damage they cause to the greens. Plastic spikes weigh less than metal spikes and are built wider to better distribute the forces generated by walking, resulting in less damage to the course and more comfort for the golfer.
Football Cleats
Football cleats come in many forms, and selection of the cleat depends on the player's position. Football cleats provide strong support in the middle of the sole of the foot. Three heights of football cleats offer options for different levels of foot protection. High-top cleats reach above the ankle and are favored by defensive lineman thanks to the increased protection. Mid-level cleats are the most-selected football cleats and allow for the increased maneuverability needed by players such as quarterbacks. Players that must run fast, such as receivers, prefer the lighter weight low-rise cleats.
Soccer Cleats
Soccer cleats vary by the type of turf on the field. Cleats intended for use on hard turf fields employ shorter studs, usually made of rubber. Playing on firm turf requires firm ground cleats with medium-length studs for gripping the ground. Soft turf requires the player to use soft ground cleats that employ detachable studs. The studs for the soft ground cleats are available in varying heights, which are interchangeable based on turf conditions during the game.
Baseball Cleats
In baseball, players must cope with a variety of turf situations, including hard, dry turf, wet and saturated turf, and areas of bare mud or dirt. Baseball players can choose from plastic or metal cleats. Metal cleats are often used in college and professional baseball, while most youth leagues ban them. Plastic cleats come in molded or permanent configurations, as well as detachable options. The studs on plastic cleats are sometimes made of synthetic rubber rather than plastic, and can also be worn off the field. Like other types of cleats, baseball cleats offer high, medium and low cut styles for the user's preference.
Member Comments