Traction of clogged golf footwear

Abstract

Purpose: In the game of golf, players are constantly moving into and out of many different terrains as well as playing on different ground conditions, which may cause the shoe-surface interface to become contaminated with solid debris. The addition of this debris will no doubt alter the shoe-surface interface, potentially altering the golfer's traction and performance during the swing. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the traction of two different types of golf cleats on wet and dry surfaces, while the traction elements were both clean and clogged with debris. Methods: The traction of footwear with two different cleat combinations on wet and dry natural grass, while the traction elements were unclogged and clogged with debris was tested. A robotic testing machine that encompassed six degrees of freedom was used for all traction testing. A normal load of 500 N was applied to the shoe, after which the platform moved at a speed of 75 mm/s, with the horizontal and vertical forces being measured by the load cell during the duration of the movement. Results: Clogging of the cleats significantly reduced traction (F = 63.823, p < 0.001) as did wetting the surface (F = 9.964, p = 0.002). Testing location of the shoe caused a difference in traction measurements with the forefoot having significantly higher traction values than the rearfoot (F = 49.617, p < 0.001). Cleat type did not have a significant effect on traction (F = 1.364, p = 0.247). Conclusion: If footwear is clogged with course contaminants, significant reductions in traction could occur, which may lead to slipping and result in altering the timing or motion of the swing as well as the ability to transfer the required force through the body to the ball.