Case Study: Golf shoes go Hi-Tec - April 2005  

In March 2005, sports footwear brand HI-TEC launched what it considers to be the world's most innovative golf shoe technology ever. S&T investigates…

Two years ago, European professional golf player Padraig Harrington set the product development team at Hi-Tec a challenge. What could they do to help him hit the ball longer off the tee and to give him better control and consistency off the fairway?
An intensive research period followed utilising the biomechanical expertise of Dr Paul Hurrion of the Quintic Consultancy. Many prototypes later, the ideal sole design and cleat configuration was finally arrived at, now known as the Cdt Launch Pad Outsole.
Custom Directional Traction (CDT) is a first in golfing footwear. The fully adjustable directional cleat system allows a player to configure the traction elements to suit their style of play or the local conditions. It results in increased stability enabling them to hit the ball harder, faster and further.
The launch pad outsole is a unique design that helps optimise the swing of players. Essentially it helps give the player better balance by ensuring that the grip is maximised at the key moments of the swing. Better balance leads to more control which in turn leads to more distance and accuracy.
This is additionally facilitated through the revolutionary fully flexible CDT cleat system that can be customised to suit individual needs when combined with the MacNeill Q-Lok system. In essence, it improves stability when playing a shot for greater power.
With over with over 4m possible configurations, HI-TEC spent months of research and testing with Harrington to decide the best set- up options. Harrington's personal favourite is THE POWER PLUS which provides optimum traction to fully load a swing.

The biomechanical facts

To arrive at the optimum outsole design and CDT configurations, HI-TEC, Harrington and Quintic's Hurrion observed, recorded and analysed Harrington's foot movement not only with high speed film but also utilising force platforms and specially developed analytical software. The team took particular interest in weight distribution and changing pressure patterns during Padraig's swing.

Credit: Empics

Longitudinal Stability Index

The longer a player's centre of gravity can continue towards the target the more energy is directed there - improving confidence, efficiency and accuracy. This measurement is referred to as the Longitudinal Stability Index (LSI). Unfortunately all players deviate from this ideal line, thus reducing the energy flowing in the optimum direction. The results of Harrington hitting a five iron under three different test conditions were as follows:

Bare Feet - 65% Hi-Tec Custom V-Lite shoes - 78% NEW Hi-Tec CDT Power shoes - 94%

The results

In a test conducted at the 2004 US Open, Harrington, using the same club and ball as in 2003 but using the CDT Power shoes, increased his ball speed from 166 mph to 173 mph. Following the Hong Kong Open, 2-5 December 2004, Harrington was leading the European Tour in Driving Distance with an average of 320.6 yards. "Golfers are always questioning their game. I've wondered: could shoe technology increase the power of my swing? And is there something out there better than metal golf spikes? Eighteen months ago I sat down with Hi-Tec and Quintic Consultancy to investigate. The hard work paid off. The answers are yes and yes." says Harrington.

For more information visit www.hi-tec.com/cdt or contact Karl Johnson at Capitalize on 020 7940 1710

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