Acushnet Company

The present invention generally relates to golf shoes having a lace tightening system. The shoe includes an upper, midsole, and outsole. The upper includes various lace guides that are separated by gaps. The lace is threaded through these guides and the lace can be tightened or loosened. The lace tightening system can be used to close the instep region around the foot to secure the shoe and provide a comfortable fit. The midsole provides cushioning to the shoe. The outsole preferably contains multiple traction members to provide good stability and ground contact. The shoes of this invention help provide the golfer with stability and balance.

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.

A golf shoe with an upper and a sole assembly connected to the upper. The sole assembly may include a midsole comprising a first region located in a medial forefoot region of the sole assembly, a second region located in a lateral forefoot region of the sole assembly, a third region located in a medial rearfoot region of the sole assembly, a fourth region located in a lateral rearfoot region of the sole assembly, and a fifth region located in a midfoot region of the sole assembly, wherein the first region comprises a foam material with an adaptable material property that changes or varies based on (i) an amount of force exerted by a subject’s foot on the foam material and (ii) a velocity of the subject’s foot relative to the foam material.

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 extending across the outsole in a plurality of different directions; and a plurality of traction elements arranged along the plurality of tracks, wherein the plurality of traction elements comprises: (i) a first set of traction elements comprising one or more stability elements; (ii) a second set of traction elements comprising one or more medium studs; (iii) a third set of traction elements comprising one or more locking elements; and (iv) a fourth set of traction elements comprising one or more small studs.

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.

A golf shoe with an upper and a sole assembly comprising a midsole and an outsole with a plurality of traction elements arranged on the outsole. The plurality of traction elements includes a first set of traction elements provided along an anterior end and a posterior end of the outsole, a second set of traction elements provided along a lateral side edge and a medial side edge of the outsole, and one or more rubber inserts provided along the anterior and posterior ends of the outsole, wherein the one or more rubber inserts have a lower modulus of elasticity than the first set of traction elements and/or the second set of traction elements.

A golf shoe with an upper and a sole assembly connected to the upper. The sole assembly includes a midsole and an outsole. The outsole may comprise a multi-material outsole with one or more traction elements for engaging with a plurality of different ground surfaces, including on course and off course surfaces.

A golf shoe with an upper, a sole assembly, and an insert integrated with the sole assembly. The insert may provide an elastic response during a golf-related movement. The insert may comprise a plurality of legs extending from a central region of the insert to stiffen the shoe, the plurality of legs including a first set of symmetric legs extending between the central region and a forefoot region of the sole assembly and a second set of symmetric legs extending between the central region and a rearfoot region of the sole assembly. The first set of symmetric legs comprises a first and second leg that diverge to provide a longitudinally flexible forefoot region between the first and second leg. The second set of symmetric legs comprises a third and fourth leg that diverge to provide a longitudinally flexible rearfoot region between the third and fourth leg.

A golf shoe comprising an upper, a midsole, and an outsole comprising a first set of spiral pathways with a first plurality of spiral segments radiating from a first point of origin and a second set of spiral pathways with a second plurality of spiral segments radiating from a second point of origin. The first set of spiral pathways and the second set of spiral pathways are inversely related and superimposed to form a plurality of tiles across the outsole, the plurality of tiles having a plurality of sides or edges formed by a plurality of sub-segments associated with the first plurality of spiral segments and the second plurality of spiral segments. The outsole may comprise a plurality of traction members with sidewalls extending from the sides or edges of the tiles to form a ground contacting or ground penetrating portion of the traction members.

Golf shoes having improved outsole constructions are provided. The golf shoes include upper, midsole, and outsole sections. The outsole includes a first set of arc pathways extending along the outsole in one direction. A second set of arc pathways extend along the outsole in a second direction. When the first and second arc pathways are superposed over each other, four-sided tile pieces are formed, and these tiles contain protruding traction members. In one embodiment, the tiles comprise a first protruding traction member, an opposing second protruding traction member, and a non-protruding segment disposed between the first and second traction members. Different traction zones containing different traction members are provided on the outsole. These zones provide improved multi-surface traction. In one embodiment of the outsole, there is no channeling and no trenching of the golf course turf. There is less damage to the golf course for a given amount of traction. In another embodiment, a heel step region without traction members may be provided on the outsole. Additionally, spike receptacles may be provided on the outsole in addition to the traction members.