Champ and Hi-Tec Bring Customization to Golf Shoes

Champ and Hi-Tec Bring Customization to Golf Shoes
Press Release

Golf today is all about customization. Having the right equipment for your game or for the course conditions can make all the difference. Thanks to CHAMP, customization is coming to the golf shoe market in 2005 as CHAMP’s revolutionary Custom Directional Traction™ (CDT) technology is being launched with the world’s first game improvement shoes from Hi-Tec.

Hi-Tec, the Instantly Comfortable Lightweight Footwear brand, was curious about whether or not shoe technology could increase the power of a golfer’s swing. With the assistance of Quintic Laboratories, Hi-Tec’s development team spent the past 18 months observing, recording and analyzing a range of golfer’s swings and foot positions during golf shots. Of particular interest was the weight distribution and changing pressure patterns of players. The results led to the unique CDT technology developed by CHAMP, the world leader in sport cleat technology.

CDT is a revolutionary, fully flexible cleat system that can be customized to suit individual needs. Built by CHAMP to offer improved traction, comfort and green friendliness, each spike features an asymmetrical design that has one standard cleat pin and two longer pins, which provide maximum grip. In the middle of the spike is an arrow indicator that points to the direction of maximum grip. And using CHAMP’s Stinger™ spike’s patented technology, the arrow will wear down to indicate when the cleat needs to be changed.

There are more than four million possible configurations with CDT®. However, there are three setup options that have been deemed the best:

· Power Plus: An ideal setup for optimum traction. This is the configuration used by Padraig Harrington.

· Perimeter: An ideal setup for the all-rounder, with lateral traction and extra resistance to help keep a golfer’s balance centered.

· Uphill/Downhill: An ideal setup for hilly golf terrain, with the cleats angled to give golfers uphill grip on the forefoot and downhill grip on the heel.

“Based on our vast experience with top athletes around the world,” said Harris MacNeill, CEO of CHAMP/MacNeill Engineering, “CHAMP clearly understands how to design a cleat that offers better traction, comfort and durability. The CDT technology is revolutionary because it can be customized by the golfer to provide optimum traction and stability. That kind of customization and personalization is usually reserved for golf clubs, not golf shoes. Obviously, we are thrilled to partner with Hi-Tec to take shoe and cleat technology to the next level.”

“Because each golf swing is different, there is no one shoe out there that can provide the perfect combination of stability and balance for every golfer,” added Duncan Patmore of Hi-Tec. “The CDT® technology allows golfers to customize their cleats to ensure they have the proper amount of stability for their game and course conditioning. The benefit is more power and control.”

The Hi-Tec CDT® line will be available in 2005. Each CDT® shoe will come equipped with Hi-Tec’s innovative Launch Pad Outsole, the most stable base in golf; a Stabilaflex contoured lasting board; full-grain leather VAMP; custom fitting contoured footbeds; an Event® membrane; a bellows tongue; an athletic V-notch heel; and six CDT® cleats and one standard CHAMP Stinger cleat with Q-LOK™ receptacles.

“It’s easy to stick with what you know,” said Padraig Harrington, one of the best golfers in the world, “but then tennis players would still be chasing balls with wooden rackets. I’ve worn metal cleats since I first picked up a club, but not anymore. The new CDT® cleat system has won me over.”

About CHAMP/MacNeill Engineering Worldwide CHAMP is a division of MacNeill Engineering Worldwide, which has been designing and manufacturing athletic footwear components since 1931. The company has been a pioneer in cleat technology since it introduced the world's first locking spike: SURE-LOK. Since then, MacNeill Engineering has grown to be the world leader in the sport cleat industry with revolutionary offerings which include the CHAMP Q-LOK System®, used in all Nike®, Dexter®, and Cutter and Buck® golf shoes; the CHAMP TRI-LOK® system, which fits shoes by Foot Joy®, Adidas® and Etonic®; as well as the most complete line of innovative spikes in the world, including the new CHAMP Stinger™ spikes, CHAMP ScorpionSpikes™; and CHAMP TRAC™ spikes.