MODERN GOLF SHOE TRACTION PROPERTIES ON GRASS

摘要

Potential damage to natural turf by the penetrating metal spikes of the traditional golf shoe has promoted the development of golf shoes with alternative designs and inserts on the outer sole. The mechanical performance characteristics of three golf shoe outer soles were assessed on a natural grass turf surface to determine the amount of traction the designs provided. A golf shoe rig utilising a prosthetic leg and foot was built and the shoe to grass interface was exposed to increasing levels of differential linear and rotatory force to determine for each shoe the limiting level of traction preventing slip. Measurements were made by a force platform system located beneath a plate to which natural grass turf was adhered. In the golf swing movement usually the complete foot is in ground contact, though sometimes only forefoot contact occurs. The mean linear traction coefficients at the shoe sole-turf interface for the forefoot and complete foot contact were 0.97 and 1.01 for the traditional seven spike (8 mm) golf shoe. Comparable figures for the design sole with seven moulded spikes were 0.91 and 1.01 and for the flat sole golf shoe with no mouldings the equivalent figures were 0.66 and 0.88. Rotational traction was assessed for the golf swing specific movements of forefoot inward rotation, complete foot inward and complete foot outward rotation. In comparison with the alternative spike shoe design, the traditional metal spike shoe limiting torque provided significantly more forefoot linear (7%) and rotational (31%) traction (P<0.05). The traditional metal spike shoe complete foot traction provided greater inward (11%) and outward (18%) rotatory traction.