Secrets behind the shoes

Track runners employ special shoes to give them a boost -- literally -- during competition. Spikes are used by track athletes to increase traction, but the small metal rods twisted into the soles of the shoes add a little height to the runners. “They make you faster because they can grip the ground [on] track,” Breeyn Gryp ’18 said. Spikes are a common name used for the shoes, although t...

Although the name tennis shoes is used universally for simple walking or jogging shoes, tennis athlete Sydney Shie ’17 highlights the differences between the common shoes and those used in her sport. “They have a thicker sole, [which is helpful] because I drag my feet and they have more support for when I’m running back and forth,” she said. Shie sees importance in the structure and s...

Despite seeming like a sport in which players don’t move around as much, golf shoes are designed very specifically to sport. “Golf shoes are different from other shoes because they’re tight on your feet and made for traction. When you swing the golf club, a lot of stress is placed on your body, which is why shoes with spikes are so important. If you have normal tennis shoes, you’ll likely los...

Bowling shoes have several unique features that make them very different from the shoes in other sports, the most important of which being a slide pad on the sole of the shoe. “In the bottom you have a slide pad which makes you [slide]. Most bowlers tend to slide quite a bit. When they come through and release [the ball], they slide,” said varsity bowler Kalen Rios ’17. Rios also added tha...

Many basketball shoes are worn off the court for means of fashion, but the original intent of the high topped shoes was to provide ankle support, allowing athletes to cut across the court. “There are some shoes that have good traction, ankle support, and weight. They are also lightweight. That is basically the perfect shoe,” said Seybian Sims ’18. Basketball shoes come in abundant styles a...

Soccer shoes have many types of variation. There are firm ground cleats, soft ground cleats, turf shoes and indoor soccer shoes. The classic soccer cleats are the firm ground ones. Soccer shoes are specially designed to have good grip on the ground while sprinting after a ball or making sharp turns.   “A shoe with good traction helps you turn faster and not slip,” said varsity soccer player Harr...

In the heat of a match, the grip you have on the mat can be a game changer. Wrestling shoes were designed with just this in mind. “They're light, comfortable, they fit like you're barefoot and they have amazing grip,” said Jackson Brennan ’20. The thing that makes wrestling shoes superior to all others in Brennan’s mind is their comfort. “Most shoes aren't very comfortable and aft...

Two types of shoes are used in distance running: spikes, and training shoes. In this article, we will be covering the standard training shoes. Simple yet effective, distance running shoes were designed to keep in mind the fact that the wearer would be using them to cover long distances. “They cushion each step, and add more traction than a normal shoe,” said cross country and track runner Ac...