CONCAVE FOOTBALL BOOTS – Q&A

Due to launch in the UK in just a few days time, the new Concave football boots have been causing quite a stir. We thought we’d catch up with the guys behind the scenes and get some answers to the most asked questions we’ve seen.

It’s very unusual for a new football boot to create some much discussion before it has been released, but there is something about the Concave football boots that seems to have struck a chord with those in the know. With limited information around about the football boot in advance of the release (the Concave football boot launches on August 1), we thought we’d send our roving reporter out to visit Concave’s ‘tech department’ and see what they have to say. Armed with the most asked questions in our email and comments box, off we ran… well cantered.

Footy Boots – So what’s so different about these Concave boots compared to other football boots?

Concave – Concave football boots have a unique concave shaped element along the natural ridge line of the instep of the foot (where the laces normally are).'  This concave shape made of a patented 3 density TPU compound (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) acts to cup the ball, providing a shaped platform which gives greater interface for kicking the ball, which leads to greater accuracy, power and control of a ball. The concave element also provides greater protection for the metatarsal bones in the foot.

Concave boots are designed to enable more accuracy, control and power on a far more consistent basis than with a regular football boot. This means better results on the pitch.

Footy Boots – Tell us more about this now ‘infamous’ Concave sweet spot?

Concave – Most mis-kicks or inaccurate kicks occur when the ball does not strike the “sweet spot” of a football boot. The “sweet spot” on a Concave boot is approximately four times larger than that on a standard football boot, which allows for a far greater chance of accuracy, power and control; and reduced chance of a mis-kick.

The concept is similar to that of tennis racquets with oversized heads which provide a greater “sweet spot” surface area for optimum contact with the ball.

Footy Boots – Has this actually been tested though?

Concave – Yes. In a series of tests, Concave football boots were found to improve accuracy by up to 40 per cent, and increase speed and power by between 10 and 15 per cent. Testing has proven that the design and material used in the football boot can significantly increase the performance of the traditional football boot in the critical areas of velocity, power and control.

Specifically, machine testing and human testing undertaken by Australia’s largest technology consulting firm, Invetech Pty Ltd. and Monash University’s Rehab-Tech Department, found that accuracy improved by up to 40 per cent, while speed and power increased by between 10 and 15 per cent due predominantly to the four times larger sweet spot.

Footy Boots – We’ve had questions about concerns with kicking with the side of the foot, what do you make of that?

Concave – Well, independent player testing demonstrated that the integration of the concave element into the boot instep allows for flexibility of kicking on and off the concave element.

Footy Boots – Well it’s good to hear that they have been tested. Back to the kicking and the Concave element as this is interesting. What if I kick a ball on a part of the football boot other than the Concave element?

Concave – If the ball strikes the sweet spot of the concave element, it will travel with greater accuracy and power by utilising the design of the football boot. However if the intention is to kick with another part of the boot the user will not notice any difference from another pair of football boots.

Footy Boots – Does the unique external design of the football boot affect the overall comfort of Concave boots?

Concave – Great care has been taken to select the finest materials for construction and adding ergonomically correct cushioning in the heel and areas of the forefoot and above the stud configurations. In addition to the revolutionary design of the top of the football boot, the outsole, the foot bed, and the sockliner have each been crafted by an industry leading football'  footwear designer to work in concert with the top of the shoe to provide a complete state-of-the-art football boot which provides exceptional comfort and performance, but of course like with all new football boots, the Concave boots need to be broken in.

Footy Boots – Do you have any evidence to back Concave’s claims that their football boots can actually improve performance?

Concave – Yes.

Footy Boots – And finally, a national crisis happens every time England prepare for a major tournament, its know as ‘the metatarsal injury’ does the Concave football boot offer the same foot protection as other leading brands?

Concave – For sure. Concave’s upper design, specifically the concave element, offers increased protection against the occurrence of metatarsal impact injuries, as the concave element provides an additional layer, a patented 3 density TPU compound, (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) with lightweight foam which covers the entire metatarsal area and better absorbs shock from striking the ball.

Click here to read more about Concave Football Boots

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