Every football player is always looking to give themselves an edge. You train that bit harder. You practise your skills until they happen by instinct. And you choose the kit specifically designed for the environment in which you play. Of course that includes pulling on the right boots. That’s where the magic happens — the point of contact between your foot and the ball.
So, if you’re playing on a firm surface, you’ll be at your best wearing firm ground football boots. Let’s find out more about them so you can choose a pair that’ll bring out the winner in you.
WHERE WOULD YOU WEAR FIRM GROUND BOOTS?
Choosing new football boots is always exciting. Will this be the pair that gives you that edge you’ve been looking for? Will they score that all-important goal or make that heroic defensive block? With so many boots available at least you can narrow down your choice by choosing boots that suit the surface. In this case, firm ground boots.
You wear these boots when the sun’s baked most of the moisture out of the ground. They’re the most popular boots of any because they’re the most versatile in terms of surfaces you can wear them on.
You can wear hard ground football shoes when there’s a little more ‘give’ in the ground. In fact, some players wear them whatever the weather. However, they’re really at their best – and bring out the best in you – on dry, hard natural surfaces. That means they’re perfect for the British summer or harder pitches wherever in the world you find yourself.
WHAT MAKES THEM PERFORM ON FIRM GROUND?
All football boots should support you in a way that helps your feet feel comfortable throughout every game. And, they should also be flexible enough to give you the agility that helps you to perform at your best. When your boots fit like a glove, you can focus on making that match-saving tackle, leaving your defender in your dust as you fire in that pinpoint cross or curling a winner into the top corner.
To do this on firm surfaces you’ll need agility and grip. This comes from how you make contact with the pitch. Firm ground (or fg) football shoes have strategically placed studs on the soleplate that spread weight evenly underneath your foot, giving you just the right balance on the firmest of ground.
The studs (or blades) are also different from those found on other types of football boots. Firm ground boots have between 10-14 moulded plastic studs or blades made from rubber or hard plastic. Unlike other types of boot the studs can’t be removed, so you’ll never have to search the pitch looking for a lost one. They’re designed for perfect penetration of hard surfaces and arranged to give you maximum grip, so you can turn in a flash to outfox your opposite number.
HARD VS SOFT GROUND FOOTBALL BOOTS
There are several different types of football boots out there, but if you’re playing the beautiful game on grass, your choice is only between firm and soft ground boots. The difference between them is what’s under the sole. From the sole up they’ll be identical, but the studs below will be designed specifically for better grip and traction on hard or soft surfaces.
As we’ve pointed out earlier, firm ground boots feature plastic studs or moulds. By contrast, soft ground boots feature a mix of plastic and longer interchangeable metal studs. Choose soft ground boots for slippery, wet conditions where you need your studs to dig in for extra traction and speed. Choose firm ground football boots if you want a better grip on hard surfaces or more of an all-rounder shoe.
COULD YOU WEAR FG BOOTS ON ARTIFICIAL GRASS?
Nobody wants to be injured and have to sit out the rest of the season watching their best mates have all the fun. That’s why you should always wear the proper boots for the surface you’re playing on. While it’s certainly possible to wear firm ground football boots on modern artificial grass surfaces (3g or 4g), we wouldn’t recommend it. The trouble is that there's a chance the studs will get caught in the surface, which would slow you down or even trip you up.
Wearing firm ground boots on 2g artificial turf is definitely a no-no, as you’ll be slipping and sliding like Bambi on ice. You can buy specific turf football boots that are perfect for this surface. And while we’re on the subject, you certainly shouldn’t wear soft ground football boots on any artificial surface as it can be dangerous.
HARD GROUND BOOTS – A REAL CROWD-PLEASER
You can't go wrong with choosing this type of football boot. It's perfectly suited to the pitches you'll encounter from spring to summer during the British football season. If you want to make the most of your hard-earned skills, you need a kit that matches the conditions. And when the ground is firm underfoot, firm ground football boots are the ones to choose.