Tips Chosing Sol Plates Football Boots

Which sole plate to wear is extremely important depending on what surface you are playing on as this will affect grip, traction and movement. The choice will also take care of a players feet, as the wrong choice can potentially be very damaging to the foot.

Soft Ground (SG)- Soft ground football boots are suited for soft natural grass playing surfaces and are usually ideal during the winter months and wet conditions. Depending on the brand most studs are removable and are available as screw-in or bladed studs. Soft ground studs are longer and made of a denser material usually with a metal tip (cleat) to provide extra grip under the feet when the ground is soft.


Firm Ground (FG)- Usually fixed/moulded to the sole plate, firm ground boots are best used on firm natural grass surfaces. During the spring and summer months when the ground has become too hard for a soft ground stud to sink into, it is essential to look after the sole of the feet and switch to firm ground studs. Depending on the manufacturer studs come in varying shapes such as bladed and conical, and varying lengths, but it is important for a footballer to find their own personal preference.

Hard Ground (HG)- Mostly used on artificial pitches and very hard natural surfaces a hard ground sole plate is the perfect middle ground between a trainer and a firm ground football boot. Studs have various configurations with a low profile and are made of softer materials such as rubber, creating more friction on the hard surface, but give more freedom of movement on a surface which can be quite inforgiving on the leg muscles during play.