Golf shoe with traction elements
A golf shoe with a plurality of traction elements positioned around a central forefoot region and a central rearfoot region of the outsole of the golf shoe. The plurality of traction elements comprises: (i) a first set of traction elements arranged in a first outsole zone along a perimeter or edge of a medial or lateral forefoot region of the golf shoe, (ii) a second set of traction elements arranged in a second outsole zone along a perimeter or edge of a lateral or medial rearfoot region of the golf shoe, and (iii) a third set of traction elements arranged along a third outsole zone extending diagonally across a midfoot region of the golf shoe between the medial or lateral forefoot region and the lateral or medial rearfoot region. The third outsole zone includes a plurality of tracks extending across the third outsole zone.
1 . A golf shoe, comprising:
an upper;
a sole assembly attached to the upper, the sole assembly comprising a midsole and an outsole; and
a plurality of traction elements positioned around a central forefoot region and a central rearfoot region of the outsole, wherein the plurality of traction elements comprises:
(i) a first set of traction elements arranged in a first outsole zone along a perimeter or edge of a medial or lateral forefoot region of the golf shoe,
(ii) a second set of traction elements arranged in a second outsole zone along a perimeter or edge of a lateral or medial rearfoot region of the golf shoe, and
(iii) a third set of traction elements arranged along a third outsole zone extending diagonally across a midfoot region of the golf shoe between the medial or lateral forefoot region of the golf shoe and the lateral or medial rearfoot region of the golf shoe, wherein the third outsole zone includes a plurality of tracks extending across the third outsole zone in a plurality of different directions,
wherein the third set of traction elements includes a first set of directionally aligned traction elements with sidewalls oriented in a same direction and a second set of directionally aligned traction elements with sidewalls oriented in a different direction than the sidewalls of the first set of directionally aligned traction elements,
wherein the first set of directionally aligned traction elements comprises a first traction element arranged along a first track and wherein the second set of directionally aligned traction elements comprises a second traction element arranged proximal to the first traction element along a second track directly adjacent to the first track, wherein the first traction element and the second traction element have different sidewall orientations.
2 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the third outsole zone is configured to extend between the first set of traction elements and the second set of traction elements.
3 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the third outsole zone is configured to extend around or along the central forefoot region and the central rearfoot region of the outsole.
4 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the central forefoot region or the central rearfoot region is longitudinally flexible.
5 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the third outsole zone is configured to extend from the medial or lateral forefoot region to a toe region or a forefoot/anterior end of the outsole.
6 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the third outsole zone is configured to extend from the lateral or medial rearfoot region to a heel region or a rearfoot/posterior end of the outsole.
7 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the third outsole zone is separated from the first outsole zone and the second outsole zone.
8 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the third outsole zone comprises a plurality of apertures or windows formed across the third outsole zone to reduce a weight of the outsole and to enhance a flexibility of the outsole.
9 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein each of the first set of directionally aligned traction elements and the second set of directionally aligned traction elements includes a series of traction elements positioned or arranged along a same track.
10 . The golf shoe of claim 9 , wherein the traction elements in the series of traction elements have a same size or a same shape.
11 . The golf shoe of claim 9 , wherein the traction elements in the series of traction elements have different sizes or different shapes.
12 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls of the first set of directionally aligned traction elements are oriented in a first direction to enhance traction in said first direction, and wherein the sidewalls of the second set of directionally aligned traction elements are oriented in a second direction to enhance traction in said second direction, wherein said second direction is angularly offset from said first direction.
13 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the first set of directionally aligned traction elements is arranged along the first track, and wherein the second set of directionally aligned traction elements is arranged along the second track.
14 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the third set of traction elements includes a plurality of directional traction elements with sidewalls that progressively change in orientation across the plurality of tracks.
15 . The golf shoe of claim 14 , wherein the directional traction elements are arranged along different tracks according to an orientation of the sidewalls of the directional traction elements.
16 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the first, second, or third set of traction elements comprises one or more adaptive traction elements.
17 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the first track and the second track have different angular orientations.
18 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the traction elements in the third set of traction elements and the traction elements in the first or second set of traction elements comprise different types of traction elements.
19 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls of the traction elements in the first set of traction elements or the second set of traction elements are oriented perpendicular to a bottom surface of the outsole.
20 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls of the traction elements in the third set of traction elements are oriented perpendicular to a bottom surface of the outsole.