TLSS TIPS | EP.8 : The Conclusion of MG (English Version)

After previously discussing the importance of stud length and hopefully helping everyone realize why it matters. It’s time to move on to another equally important element. Because if the goal is to create a soleplate that can perform across multiple types of pitches within a single boot, simply paying attention to stud length alone is not enough.

Another crucial factor is the number of studs.
Why does it matter?
Because the number of studs directly affects stability, balance, and weight distribution while standing and moving.
You don’t even need to have worn football boots before to understand this concept. Just imagine the difference between standing on your tiptoes and standing flat-footed. One clearly provides better balance and stability than the other.

More than 10 years ago, during the intense competition among brands to create the fastest football boots possible, there were one brand released a speed-focused FG soleplate featuring only two heel studs, while most conventional designs normally use around 4–6 studs in that area.
The purpose was to improve heel release speed and encourage forefoot-driven acceleration for maximum sprint performance. However, the trade-off was reduced stability, less secure footing, and a higher risk of ankle rolls and other injuries compared to boots with more conventional stud configurations.

Now, let’s return to the purpose of an MG soleplate.
Since MG boots are designed specifically with artificial grass in mind, the design philosophy must be completely different. Artificial turf does not use natural soil, nor is the ground soft enough for long studs to penetrate deeply for explosive traction. On the contrary, if the studs are too long or too few in number, the risk of injury can actually increase because the surface is too shallow and too hard to create proper balance with minimal contact points.

This is why MG soleplates require a noticeably higher number of studs compared to FG soleplates.
When combined with the idea of maintaining a stud length that is neither too short nor too long, the result is a setup that provides better full-foot stability, more balanced standing posture, confident movement and reduced slipping during play.

And if you still remember the principles behind stud shape design from TLSS TIPS | EP.3 : All About Outsoles (FG), you may recall that rounded studs are designed to penetrate the ground while supporting balanced multidirectional movement.
While bladed or edged studs are designed to enhance movement and acceleration in specific directions.
Using this principle, we developed our MG soleplate by integrating six triangular studs around the forefoot area. Their purpose is to improve explosive acceleration during sprint starts.
This approach allows the soleplate to maintain balanced full-foot stability while also enabling players, regardless of playing style to enjoy fast movement without compromising the injury-reduction characteristics that remain the core focus of the design.

Ultimately, you can clearly see that every football boot soleplate type is arranged according to Stud height and Number of studs.
Both of which directly correspond to the hardness of the playing surface. If we rank soleplates from taller studs to shorter studs and from fewer studs to more densely distributed studs,
the progression becomes:
SG > FG > AG/HG > MG > TF > IC (Futsal)

From all of this, our goal in designing the MG soleplate has always been simple.
We want players who love football to enjoy the game safely, reduce unnecessary injuries, extend their playing longevity, and continue expressing their own playing style comfortably and confidently.

And for those who love our FG soleplate because of the KaRVO material that enhances energy return and responsiveness, the MG version may initially feel a little disappointing because it does not include this material.
The reason remains the same, artificial grass simply does not provide the soft ground conditions necessary to fully utilize aggressive propulsion and rebound systems. Therefore, we designed the MG soleplate to focus more on shock absorption, balanced full-foot support, and overall stability instead.

That said, there are still ways to customize the experience.
We have also carefully developed additional accessories for players who want to fine-tune the character of their boots whether to improve comfort and support, or to add more rebound and responsiveness during movement.

And in the next episode, we’ll be introducing and explaining those accessories in greater detail.