Do Football Boots Make a Difference and Affect Performance?

Do football boots make a difference and can they actually have an affect on your performance? Well, we strongly wouldn’t recommend you go all-out 1948 India at the Olympics and not wear any boots at all when playing football, so in that sense, yes – playing with boots does definitely make a difference. But to what extent is that impact of wearing football boots and can a good pair of boots actual improve your game?

Do Football Boots Make a Difference?

The short answer is: Yes – the type of football boots you wear really will make a big difference on the pitch. Why is this? Simply down to the fact that depending on the surface of the pitch, the position that you’re playing in or even your team’s tactics, the dynamics of your game will change.

A Winger on a Muddy Pitch…

At this point you might be better off wearing a pair of wellies

If you’re a winger on a boggy, muddy pitch, the type of boots you wear will make a huge difference to your play. If you wear light boots which focus more on speed than traction, you’re going to get bogged down and not be able to play to your optimal ability. Alternatively, if you bring out more a substantial pair of boots, that give you better soleplate and stud grip, you will be able to move more effectively and your game will be enhanced. It works the other way around too, though. If the pitch is a carpet and there are beautiful weather conditions, a lightweight boot will be the better option.

A Full-back vs Bottom of the League…

Let’s take position and opponents into account now. If you’re playing full-back against bottom of the league, chances are you’re going to look to bomb forward at any opportunity. In this case, a lightweight boot similar to a winger’s would be ideal, assuming conditions are good. Alternatively, if you’re a centre-back playing against a good side, you’re more likely going to need a more substantial boot that is less optimised for speed or to be lightweight. This is because you’ll probably have to do a fair share of tackles, as opposed to running with the ball.

It’s little intricacies like these that can dictate what football boots you should wear on a match day, and determine just how effective they can be on your game.

Which Boots You Should Buy – Based on conditions, pitch and position

Here is a table to help you find the correct boots based on your position, the weather conditions and the pitch conditions. We’ve used abbreviations here such as AG and FG. To understand what these mean, check out our ultimate guide on buying football boots.

Do Football Boots Affect Performance?

Lionel Messi could wear flippers on the pitch and still perform better than most! We love you Messi

As touched upon in the previous section, football boots definitely do affect performance. If you put Lionel Messi in an old, battered pair of Sondico football boots, he’s still going to dominate a game. However, if you put Big John, who’s nursing a severe hangover, had five pre-match fags and is still thinking about his 20-fold banker that somehow didn’t come in, in the same boots, he’s going to struggle a lot more. Sure, by the sounds of it Big John would struggle in any boots, but our point is that unless we’re talking directly to Lionel Messi, the type of boots that you wear most definitely will affect your performance and make a difference.

No disrespect to your lovely selves, but we’re guessing there’s more chance that we’re talking to a Big John than Lionel Messi himself. Although, on that note Lionel if you’re listening, feel free to give a shoutout to your favourite football boot review site!

Surface, Pitch Condition and Position Matters

But as the table above showed, the ground, pitch quality and type, weather conditions and position you play will all dictate which boots you should be wearing. Sure, things like grip socks for football can help. But if you get the boots right, you’ll give yourself the very best chance on the pitch. Then it’s all down to you and your ability – if you’re your local team’s answer to Titus Bramble you may be too far gone anyway. But don’t let your boots set you back from reaching your potential while playing football. Oooh that’s deep, someone bang that on a T-Shirt and get it on Etsy!.

Are More Expensive Football Boots Worth it?

Way back in the day, I remember my mum had going all out, deviating from the usual buy-the-cheapest-boots-available plan, and actually buying a more expensive pair of football boots. They were Nike Magista Obras, and they looked beautiful.

When I Peaked in School

I had a game for my school team, and like any schoolboy would be, I was BUZZING to wear them. I distinctly remember even in the warm up, the first time I struck the ball it pinged satisfyingly off the upper of the Nike that were perfectly caressing my right foot. As a defensive player whose shots regularly drew laughter from my own teammates, there was nothing funny about this shot. It fizzed through the air and nestled in the back of the net with absolute finesse – shame I couldn’t ever do it in matches. That game, I had one of the best games I had ever played. The type you remember 20 years later when writing an article about whether or not expensive football boots make a difference. Let me tell you… THEY DO!

So, Should I Buy the Most Expensive Boots?

But it’s not about buying the most expensive boots out there. You should still do your due diligence and carefully select the football boots that will be best suited to your style of play. However, you will see the effect of spending that extra few pounds on a very good pair of boots. That’s not to say that cheap football boots aren’t good, but like most things in life, if you’re willing to spend a bit more you will get a lot back.

Adidas Ace 16.2 PrimeMesh FG football boots with studs

If you’re looking for a decent pair of boots we recommend the Adidas Ace 16+ PureControl.

Why Do I play Better Without Football Boots?

Why do you play better without football boots? Well, there’s a simple answer. When you don’t wear boots, there is less room between your boot and your foot. In fact, there’s no room because there aren’t any boots. So, when you’re making contact with the ball, there are less factors that can affect the ball. In football boots, your foot position, shape and movement will impact the contact you get on a football. However, the space inside your boots, between your foot and the inside upper of the boot, will also affect the contact you get with the ball. In removing this space by not wearing boots, you take away that space – and with it another factor in determining the contact you get with the ball.

Your Garden’s Answer to Pele

When your ball skills are so good barefoot the gnomes can’t quite believe it

Think about it. Have you ever been in the garden, in your socks and the ball seems to stick to you. You’re doing a few kickups and if anything, the ball is under too tight control. It’s not bouncing up but instead, simply just sticking too close to your foot, making it harder to kick the ball up higher to perform more kickups. This is because the top of your foot isn’t springy. When the ball makes contact with it, it simple sits on the foot (assuming the angle and shape of your foot is right), rather than springy back off it. In football boots, as the ball lands on your foot it compresses the space between boot and foot. This, combined with the upper material of the boot means the ball will spring back up significantly more than when you’re not wearing boots – as the upper reshapes back to its original position.

So, if you’re finding that you turn into a samba-skilled Brazilian straight from the Favelas when you don’t wear boots, but can’t replicate it on the pitch, this is normal. There’s also something you do about it. It might be that you do actually have great ball skills and control, but the boots are hindering your ability. In this instance, you should choose a football boot that is optimised for close control. A boot that has a thinner upper, so the ball makes closer contact with your foot.

Our Top Pick – The Best football boots for control: Adidas Ace 16+ PureControl

Check out our other useful articles:

• Top 5 Tips to Make Your Football Boots More Comfortable
• Can you Use Football Boots for Rugby?
• Top 5 Football Boots of 2024
• Top 5 Tips to Properly Clean Your Football Boots to Make Them Last Longer
• Are Football Boots Meant to Be Tight?

Football Boots Make a Difference FAQs