GOLF SHOE WITH TRACTION ELEMENTS
A golf shoe comprising an upper and a sole assembly connected to the upper. The sole assembly comprises an outsole comprising a plurality of traction elements and a plurality of tracks circumscribing a central region of the outsole. The plurality of tracks comprises a first track extending along a perimeter or edge of the outsole and a second track extending alongside the first track. The plurality of traction elements comprises a first set of traction elements positioned along the first track, a second set of traction elements positioned along the second track, and a third set of traction elements disposed within a forefoot portion and a rearfoot portion of the central region of the outsole. The first or second set of traction elements comprises a plurality of adaptive traction elements and a plurality of frustum-shaped traction elements. The third set of traction elements comprises a plurality of conical traction elements.
1 . A golf shoe, comprising:
an upper;
a sole assembly attached to the upper, the sole assembly comprising a midsole and an outsole comprising a plurality of tracks circumscribing a central region of the outsole, the plurality of tracks comprising a first track extending along a perimeter or edge of the outsole and a second track extending alongside the first track; and
a plurality of traction elements comprising:
(i) a first set of traction elements positioned around the central region of the outsole and along the first track,
(ii) a second set of traction elements positioned along the second track; and
(iii) a third set of traction elements disposed within a forefoot portion and a rearfoot portion of the central region of the outsole,
wherein the first set of traction elements and the second set of traction elements comprise (i) a plurality of adaptive traction elements positioned along a periphery of a medial side and a lateral side of the outsole and (ii) a plurality of frustum-shaped traction elements positioned along an anterior end and a posterior end of the outsole, wherein the plurality of adaptive traction elements comprises a first material comprising a rigid or semi-rigid thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material,
wherein the third set of traction elements comprises a plurality of conical traction elements comprising a second material comprising a deformable or elastic rubber material.
2 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conical traction elements have a different geometry than the plurality of frustum-shaped traction elements.
3 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein an orientation, a directional bias, or a directionality of the plurality of adaptive traction elements changes or varies between the anterior end and the posterior end of the outsole.
4 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein a size, a shape, or a profile of the plurality of adaptive traction elements changes or varies along the medial side or the lateral side of the outsole.
5 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of adaptive traction elements comprise one or more adaptive traction elements with a ground contacting surface extending vertically downwards at a 90-degree angle relative to a bottom of the outsole.
6 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the first or second set of traction elements comprises a series of spaced apart traction elements that are staggered relative to each other.
7 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the third set of traction elements comprises a series of spaced apart traction elements that are staggered relative to each other.
8 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the first or second set of traction elements includes a first subset of traction elements arranged along an anterior or posterior end of the outsole and a second subset of traction elements arranged along the medial side or the lateral side of the outsole, wherein the first subset of traction elements includes a greater number of traction elements per unit area than the second subset of traction elements.
9 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the third set of traction elements are evenly distributed across the forefoot portion or the rearfoot portion of the central region of the outsole.
10 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the third set of traction elements comprises a first set of conical traction elements and a second set of conical traction elements.
11 . The golf shoe of claim 10 , wherein the first set of conical traction elements is provided within the forefoot portion of the central region of the outsole.
12 . The golf shoe of claim 10 , wherein the second set of conical traction elements is provided within the rearfoot portion of the central region of the outsole.
13 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of frustum-shaped traction elements comprise one or more rubber inserts.
14 . The golf shoe of claim 13 , wherein the one or more rubber inserts comprise a different material than the plurality of adaptive traction elements.
15 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the first material is harder and more rigid than the second material.
16 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , further comprising an additional set of traction elements positioned between the plurality of frustum-shaped traction elements and the plurality of conical traction elements.
17 . The golf shoe of claim 16 , wherein the additional set of traction elements comprises a different material than the plurality of conical traction elements and the plurality of frustum-shaped traction elements.
18 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the outsole includes one or more break regions extending across the outsole through the first set of traction elements or the second set of traction elements to enhance a flexibility of the outsole.
19 . The golf shoe of claim 18 , wherein the outsole includes one or more flex regions extending through the third set of traction elements to enhance the flexibility of the outsole.
20 . The golf shoe of claim 19 , wherein the one or more break regions are aligned with or coincide with the one or more flex regions.