Golf shoe with support structure
A golf shoe with an upper and a sole assembly connected to the upper. The sole assembly includes a midsole and an outsole. The golf shoe may comprise a footbed disposed within an interior region of the upper; an insole component provided below the footbed; and a support structure that is fixed to at least one of the midsole, the footbed, or the insole component. The support structure may comprise a free-floating component configured to move relative to the sole assembly as the subject executes a golf-related action or movement.
1 . A golf shoe, comprising:
an upper and a sole assembly connected to the upper, the sole assembly comprising a midsole and an outsole;
a footbed disposed within an interior region of the upper to support a subject's foot when the subject's foot is positioned within the golf shoe, wherein the footbed comprises a channel, a recess, or a groove formed within and extending along a bottom surface of the footbed;
an insole component provided below the footbed; and
a support structure comprising (i) a forefoot portion, (ii) a midfoot portion, and (iii) a heel portion that is riveted to the footbed, wherein the forefoot portion is fully detached or decoupled from the footbed, the insole component, and the midsole, wherein the support structure is positioned within the channel, recess, or groove, wherein at least the forefoot portion of the support structure is configured to move laterally through the channel, recess, or groove and flex independently of the footbed, the insole component, and the midsole during a golf-related action or movement.
2 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the support structure is riveted to the footbed in a heel portion of the golf shoe.
3 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the midfoot portion of the support structure is detached from the footbed.
4 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , further comprising a foam material provided between the footbed and the support structure.
5 . The golf shoe of claim 4 , wherein the support structure is riveted to the footbed using a rivet that is configured to extend through the foam material provided between the footbed and the support structure.
6 . The golf shoe of claim 4 , wherein the foam material is positioned entirely within a heel region of the golf shoe.
7 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the support structure has a first orientation that provides a first flex characteristic and a second orientation that provides a second flex characteristic that is different than the first flex characteristic.
8 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the support structure is riveted to the footbed at a single attachment point.
9 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein only the heel portion of the support structure is riveted to the footbed.
10 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the midfoot portion of the support structure is detached from the insole component.
11 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the support structure is provided above the insole component and within the interior region of the upper.
12 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a rigid material or a semi-rigid material.
13 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a deformable material or an elastic material.
14 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , further comprising a low friction coating applied to a surface of the support structure.
15 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the heel portion of the support structure is detached or decoupled from the insole component.