158 out of 220 players that started games in the Premier League (on February 4th 2024) were wearing a separate grip sock (or under-sock) and sock sleeve combo.
That is a full 72% of players that have chosen a personalised sock setup - and they have a good reason
Short history lesson
10 years ago grip socks were deemed a fad and the concept of a sock sleeve was unheard of bar a few elite players - CR7, Suarez, Torres - that went out of there way to avoid wearing a single full length football sock.
Large kit suppliers like Nike, Adidas, and Puma had never given true thought to a sock sleeve and grip sock combo for football - even though in the US sock sleeves have been common place in the NFL for 20+ years.
With the rise of TRUsox leading the grip sock market and an increased investment in sporting biomechanics, the demand for split second advantages, and the billions of £'s pumped into football, it became clear - in the words of Al Pacino in the 1999 film Any Given Sunday - that games were won "inch by inch" and these fine margins had only gotten finer.
Fast Forward to 2024
If you look out across any hallowed Premier League turf nowadays you'll see a wave of graphic-laden white grip socks that have become a pro player mainstay.
The physiological and biomechanical edge grip socks give varies from player to player, and frankly sock to sock, but they're here to stay.
Here's why:
Comfort:
- Traditional full length football socks hold water, meaning they get heavier, and can lose structural fit over 90 mins
- Grip socks offer a more snug, athletic, and locked-in feeling and are often made from lighter, more hydrophobic material
- Pro Players use the grip sock and sock sleeve to offer a more secure base to slot in and wrap a shin pad
Confidence:
- Pro players want their foot, sock, and boot to perform as a single unit
- The confidence they gain from trusting their standing feet during high speed turns, initial sprints, and 1 vs 1 situations is vital
- It's all part of the preparation ritual - pro players have individual pre-game rituals and grip socks convey a sense of control they want to have
Injury Prevention:
- Being able to trust that sharp twists and sudden directional changes are going to be supported by their footwear - boots and socks
- 20% of all football related injuries (source) are ankle or foot derived. This on top of the fact that 74% of injuries come from direct player-to-player contact, means pro players want all the biomechanical security they can get
Performance:
- Pro players want any 1% advantage they can find. Grip socks reduce the external slippage between the players sock and the boot for improved speed and acceleration
- Truly elite grip socks also focus on the internal grip between the players foot and the sock itself. Reducing the sock slipping off the players foot when wet or under pressure helps retain energy transfer and improve power application into speed
The Future of Grip Socks
Now, here at APEX, we believe the innovation curve around grip socks, sock sleeves, shin pads, and even the dreaded sock tape is only just beginning.
Pro players will always be looking for an edge and as advancements in boots, nutrition, recovery, and training power on, we intend to keep pushing grip socks and related setup related products to the limit.
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