Adrian Gumowski

Soccer Cleats for HG, FG and SG. What’s the difference?



Posted: Wednesday, May 31, 2006

by Adrian Gumowski
my-youth-soccer-guide.com

Almost every model of soccer cleats is made to be suitable for a different field condition.
HG (hard ground)- for playing on hard surfaces.
FG (firm ground) - for playing on firm surfaces.
SG (soft ground) - for playing on soft surfaces.



Why is it important to have the right soccer cleats for different types of field?
In order to play soccer to your best abilities, you have to have soccer cleats. For several reasons but the most important is: traction. The studs will prevent you from slipping, giving you opportunity to turn, stop and accelerate with ease.




In order to achieve it, soccer cleats outsole (bottom part of the shoe) has several hard rubber, plastic or metal studs that sink into the surface providing a good grip. But the studs have to be long enough to offer good traction and short enough not to cause discomfort from applying too much pressure on the feet.

In other words, the length of the studs and their count depends on types of the surface they would be the most adequate for.

It basically means that soccer cleats for HARD GROUND (surface) have short studs. They provide you with enough amount of traction but at this same time they don't apply too much pressure on your feet causing discomfort when your cleats are unable to dig into hard ground. If you play on very hard fields, Turf shoes (cleats - TF) would be your best choice.



SOFT GROUND (SG) cleats come with removable (in most cases) studs. There are few different lengths of the studs for different conditions of soft fields (soft and wet for example), so you can adjust them properly.



FIRM GROUND (FG) cleats are the most universal. FG cleats are good for all field types without going to extreme (very hard and very soft). Of course they are the most adequate for fields with the firm surface (something between hard and soft). But if you play on different types of fields and can't afford to have two or three types of soccer cleats, the FG is probably the most ultimate choice.


More tips and recommandations at http://www.my-youth-soccer-guide.com/soccer-shoes.html

Adrian Gumowski has been involved in soccer for thirty years. As a former player and now as a parent of two youth soccer players Adrian shares his knowledge on soccer equipment and other soccer related topics at my-youth-soccer-guide.com.
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)
» left by Anonymous 3 years 262 days ago.
excuse me I Only want to ask you something!! I usually play on soft ground but sometimes I happen to play on firm or hard ground ( synthetic ground or fake grass) and I was just thinking of buying soft boots!! I wanted to ask you this ... if I took the studs off from the boot when I play on firm and hard ground how would it be? would I feel comfortable? would I slip or lose balance?
» left by Adrian Gumowski from Arizona 3 years 261 days ago.
 

Yes, you'll be loosing balance, slipping all over the place. And it'll be very uncomfortable. You won't have any traction. The outsoles of soccer cleats are made of material that with contact with grass are very slippery. I am sorry but that's a very bad idea. More questions? Contact me on my web site.

» left by Bart Winthrop
from New Hampshire
2 years 302 days ago.
What does AG stand for?
» left by Anonymous 2 years 301 days ago.
It's either Artificial Ground or All Ground, meaning these shoes are recommended for all sorts of types of fields, from artificial, hard to firm.
» left by Anonymous
2 years 289 days ago.
Gives me the answer I need - very good. Thanks.
» left by Anonymous
2 years 201 days ago.
thanks that helped so much =) *thumbs up*
» left by Tom from Canada 2 years 8 days ago.
hi, if I bought hard ground cleats, will I be okay on firm ground or wet fields? I play on grass that is often wet and mushy. Thanks. I am in my first year of soccer, 32 yrs old and think the guy at the store should have told me the difference! I wondered why 99% were firm ground and only the Ubmro in hard ground. I would return but i used them outside once.
» left by TODD from thailand,bangkok 241 days 12 hours ago.
i dont really recommend to use HG on wet fields cause the studs are to short you will end up slipping all over the place other then that your okay... from bangkok thailand KICCK SHOP
» left by JOSE 1 year 283 days ago.
ARE ALL THE STUDS FOR THE AG CLEATS ARE METAL OR ALUMINUM
» left by anonymous
from zimbabwe
51 days 2 hours ago.
I have some sg cleats is it a good idea if i wear them on to artificial grass?
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