The technique you use to tie soccer cleats significantly affects the flexibility and comfort of your feet. Following the right lacing method can save you from injuries such as the twisted ankle. Hence, it is crucial to find a proper technique that lets you perform to your full potential.
The article described various lacing methods, including those of soccer stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Further on in the article, we talked about the reason why shoelaces are unusually long. Let’s begin without any further delay.
Contents
1. How To Lace Soccer Cleats With Two Holes
There are numerous ways to lace football cleats with two holes. Based on our research, top lock lacing proves to be the most efficient and effective of all the techniques. Find out more about it below.
Top Lock Lacing
The top lock lacing method is perhaps the most popular way to lace football shoes. Everyone prefers this method, from casual players to professional athletes, as it keeps the laces tight for up to 90 minutes.
A big advantage of top lock lacing is that it locks the heels down. Hence, you won’t slip no matter how you move during a game. Lack of slippages prevents the development of painful and unsightly heel blisters.
The following steps will help you lace cleats using top lock lacing.
STEP 1 – Slide the lace on both sides
Insert the lace into the bottom eyelets. Keep sliding it. As you slide the lace, you should have equal amounts of the material on both sides within a short while.
STEP 2 – Thread the lace into an ‘X’ shape
It is time to thread the lace. Follow a simple threading technique: the left lace goes to the right eyelet and the right lace to the left eyelet. You are doing it right if it forms a crisscross pattern, also known as an ‘X.’ Continue to thread using the technique until the last two eyelets.
STEP 3 – Make a loop
Next, attach both laces to the eyelets located directly above them. And then string the laces through the eyelets on the outside. It is going to form a loop.
STEP 4 – Cross the lace
You need to pass the laces through the adjacent loop to cross them. Tighten the laces up to get that tight-fitting heel lock.
Pulling the laces tight causes an excessive amount of lace to surround the shoes. You do not want that if you are about to participate in a long race. In that case, you can wrap the excess lace under the arch between your toe and heel.
The lace may cause discomfort on the sides of the foot following the above method. An alternative is to wrap it around the spike of the heel cleat.
STEP 5 – Tie and tuck the lace
Each individual has a different way to tie their cleats. You can tie your pair however you like. As the lace is considerably long, a good deal of it remains unused. Stuff it between your ankle and shoe.
2. How To Tie Cleats Tight
The top lock lacing method may not be ideal for people who want to keep their shoes tight for an extended period of time. Fortunately, we have another technique in our arsenal, which will provide the extra tightness you are looking for. Have a look at it below.
Forward-foot Lock Lacing
Forward-foot lock lacing is a variation of top lock lacing that focuses on maintaining the tension and tightness of your cleats. While top lock lacing locks the lace on the top eyelet, forward lacing does so in the middle. Because of this, your boots remain tight over time, regardless of how often you slide, run, or kick. Let’s learn how to tie shoes with forward-foot lacing.
STEP 1 – Attach the lace
Push the lace through the bottom eyelets. Make sure both eyelets have a similar amount of lace.
STEP 2 – Make an ‘X’ shape using the third eyelet
In a diagonal manner, thread both laces into the third eyelet, skipping the second one. You should notice the newly formed ‘X’ shape as soon as you do this.
STEP 3 – Repeat the ‘X’ pattern using the second eyelet
Now pull back the laces down from the third eyelet and place it into the second eyelet (open) diagonally. In essence, it will result in an additional large ‘X’ on top of the existing one.
STEP 4 – Create a lace lock
Next, the laces will go diagonally in the fourth eyelet. In this way, you crisscross the cleats’ fronts. It also creates a lace lock at the front of the foot. Thanks to the lace lock, you are unlikely to experience slippage while running.
STEP 5 – Finish with the final crisscross
Those tired of crisscrosses, we’ve got one more for you.
Lace the remainder of the eyelets with a classic back and forth crisscross called the X-shaped pattern. Repeat the process until you hit the top. You are all set to tie the pair and fold the loose lace behind the ankle.
3. Why Are Football Boot Laces So Long
Even the smallest-sized football shoes come with the longest possible lace. But why? Due to the lack of a definite answer on the internet, people seem pretty confused regarding the topic. Here are a few reasons to help clear up your confusion.
a. Size Issue
Compared to 7-size, 10-size boots are significantly larger. Thus, a pair of 10-size shoes obviously requires more lace than a pair of 7-size boots. Adding a specific length lace based on size is challenging and time-consuming for manufacturers. Hence, regardless of the shoe’s size, they use the same long lace for all products.
b. Lacing Method
Not everyone is a fan of the crisscross lacing pattern. People prefer various other methods to secure their cleats. Each technique uses a certain amount of laces. Some folks even return their shoes just because the pair has a short lace. It is yet another reason why brands are still producing boots with long laces.
c. Security
According to some sources, when the soccer shoes first hit the market, they were not well secured. As a result, manufacturers made boots with long laces so that athletes could tighten the cleats securely.
d. FIFA Ruling
In 1974, Chile’s entire team left the field during an ongoing game. Moments earlier, two Chile players’ shoes came off, and to everyone’s surprise, French players hid them and refused to return them.
Following the incident, many people believe the long lace could have been a mandate from FIFA. It is unclear whether FIFA still asks for lengthy laces on boots.
e. Flappy Tongues
Soccer fans from the 70s and 80s may remember how irritating it was to have cleats with big, flappy tongues. It’s never been clear why those shoes used to have such flappy tongues. Long laces were the only way to hold down the tongues.
Final Words
Even if you have the fanciest Adidas or Nike shoes, you won’t enjoy these cleats to the fullest extent if you lace them with random methods. Professional athletes use both top-lock lacing and forward-foot lacing. In case you are unsure of which lacing style is suitable for you, try both. One or two games should be enough to determine which one works for you.
Is there any other lacing method you want us to talk about? Let us know in the comment.