If different stud patterns on soccer shoes change running speed. I think that Chevron studs will make you run the fastest, because of their V-shape studs designed to give you a burst of acceleration as you start.

How Do Studs Help?

• Studs are small bumps (metal, plastic, or rubber) on the bottom of soccer boots that dig into the ground to stop slipping.
• They help players sprint faster, stop quickly, turn sharply, and stay balanced during fast moves, tackles, and shots.
• Different studs match different surfaces: longer ones for grass, lots of small rubber ones for indoor courts or futsal.
• Good studs lower injury risk—about 70% of soccer injuries affect legs and feet, often from bad grip or twisting.
• The right studs give better speed, ball control, and safety, making them a key helper every time you play on the field!
• In short, studs are a soccer player's key ally for grip, speed, control, and safety when you step on the pitch.

How Do Stud Patterns Change A Runner's Actual Speed, And Does That Speed Match How Fast The Runner Feels They Are Going?

• Stud patterns change both how fast you actually run and how fast you feel like you’re running.
• Traction = the grip between your shoe and the ground. Different stud patterns give more or less grip.
• Longer studs → dig deep into soft grass/mud → better push → you run faster on soft surfaces.
• Smaller studs → work best on hard ground → they don’t slow your steps → you move more smoothly.
• Actual speed (real speed measured by time) can be different from perceived speed (how fast you feel). Good studs + comfortable shoes = you feel fast and you actually go faster!

In short, the right studs don’t make you much faster on the clock, but they can completely change whether running feels like flying or fighting!

How does the type of playing surface (grass, turf, or wet ground) affect how well soccer studs work?

• Different surfaces change how well studs grip the ground.
• On natural grass (soft), studs sink in deeply → good traction, helps players stay balanced and avoid slips.
• On artificial turf (harder and firmer), studs get very strong grip → great for speed and quick turns, but sometimes too much grip can strain knees or ankles.
• Wet surfaces (grass or turf) make studs slip more easily → traction drops and players lose control.
• Players pick the right stud type for each surface to run faster, turn safely, and lower injury risk.

Variables

Procedure

-These are the materials we used

• Cones or Poles  - to set up the running path and direction changes
• Nike soccer cleats - 3 types (Chevron\, Conical/Round & Hybrid)
• Measuring tape - measure exact distance
• Weight scale- for measuring the weight of the shoe
• Notebook and pen to record times and observations
• Same runner
• Safety Items - water bottle for hydration, proper soccer gear and parental supervision
• Speed Gates - used to measure time from start to finish

We tested three different cleats, I ran 3 times for every cleat. We ended up doing 2 different types of sprints: A 25-meter linear sprint and a "5-10-5" multi-directional sprint. For the Linear sprint we used 4 speed gates 2 at the start line and 2 at the finish line. A cool thing about the speed gates was that it used the times to also measure your "Velocity"! for the 5-10-5 sprint we used 4 speed gates, 2 of them were facing each other at the start and the other 2 at my extreme left.

Results - Linear Sprint Test (25m Distance)

Results - 5-10-5 Changing Direction

|
| Run 1  | Run 2 | Run 3 | Average Time | Average Velocity | | --- | ------ | ----- | ----- | ------------ | ---------------- | | Conical/
Round | Time- 5.64
Velocity- 12.75 | Time- 5.66
Velocity- 12.71 | Time- 5.51
Velocity- 13.07 | 5.60 | 11.77 | | Chevron | Time- 5.55
Velocity- 12.97 | Time- 5.55
Velocity- 12.95 | Time- 5.40
Velocity- 13.33 | 5.50 | 12.00 | | Hybrid | Time- 5.57
Velocity- 12.92 | Time- 5.47
Velocity- 13.16 | Time- 5.54
Velocity- 13.00 | 5.53 | 11.93 |

Analysis

• Chevron studs performed the best in both tests: fastest average speed in the 25 m straight sprint (22.00 km/h) and in the 5-10-5 agility shuttle (12.00 km/h).
• Hybrid studs came in second and were very close to Chevron (21.76 km/h straight, 11.93 km/h agility), plus they had the most consistent results across all trials.
• Conical/round studs were the slowest in both tests: 21.63 km/h in the straight sprint and 11.77 km/h in the agility shuttle.
• In the straight sprint, Chevron gave the best push-off and top speed; it was about 1.7% faster than conical studs, with hybrid almost as good.
• In the agility shuttle (quick turns and changes of direction), Chevron again won by providing the strongest grip for stopping, turning, and restarting—about 2% faster than conical studs, which matches real soccer moves like chasing balls or beating defenders.

Conclusion

My main finding: Chevron studs made me run faster overall!

• In the 25-meter straight sprint, Chevron was quickest (average 22.00 km/h vs. Conical/Round at 21.63 km/h) – about 0.16 seconds faster on average.
• In the 5-10-5 changing direction test, Chevron was again the fastest (average 12.00 km/h vs. Conical/Round at 11.77 km/h) – about 0.25 seconds quicker!

This shows Chevron studs give better traction for explosive starts, top speed, and quick turns. The  relatively light weight of the chevron studs also contribute to faster times–  All of these attributes are super important in soccer (sprinting to the ball or dodging defenders). -(Hybrid studs)  With weight being the only downside, hybrid studs were still very close behind and super consistent, so they're great for all-round players like me.

The differences are small, but in a real game, even a tiny speed boost can help you win the ball or make a key play. What I learned: The right cleats can make you faster and feel more confident on the field.

Real-world Applications+Weight

• Chevron studs are perfect for wingers and forwards (like the fast attackers on my team).

They give aggressive traction for those explosive straight-line bursts of speed – exactly what wingers and forwards need to beat defenders and sprint onto through balls.

• Conical/Round studs seem best for midfielders.

Midfielders spend the whole game pivoting, turning, and twisting to find passing lanes and escape pressure. The rounded studs probably feel more natural for all that rotational agility.

• Hybrid studs are the best choice for "all-rounders" like me!

They mix conical and chevron shapes, so they give good speed AND good turning ability.   And guess what? I actually own a pair of Nike Hybrid studs right now – so I know they work great for players who do a bit of everything on the field.

Weight

Analysis

• Stud pattern is the primary factor in 25m turf sprint speed: Chevron's blade-like edges maximize ground force without slippage.
• Shoe weight plays a modest secondary role: Lighter helps acceleration slightly (faster foot agility), but 10-30g differences are close to useless because of grip flaws ( example: Conical's micro-slippage wastes more energy than weight saves).
• Key Takeaway: On artificial turf for short sprints, prioritize aggressive translational traction over minor weight savings. Equalizing weights sharpens this — traction differences become even more obvious.

The most prominent difference that I could see in the “all same weight” was that the conical studs were much slower since they depended on WEIGHT and that is not a contributing factor anymore.

Sources Of Error

The next time I do a science project I would make a 2nd person do the tests and compare them to see if the result genuinely matched

When I was doing the testing I would roughly start about 1 foot behind the camera sensor but we didn't precisely measure where I would start from and that could have potentially made minor changes in the final results.

Links

Full article: Rotational traction of soccer football shoes on a hybrid reinforced turf system and natural grass  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11311168/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4617223/#:\~:text=The%20sole%20(polyurethane%20or%20carbon,on%20balance%20among%20soccer%20players

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9819624/#:~:text=Studs%20are%20the%20metal%20or,of%20stud%20for%20each%20surface.

Soccer Cleats vs. Football Cleats: What’s the Difference? | Under Armour

Credentials

-Thank you to TeamTown sports because that’s where I bought additional soccer

cleats from.

-Thank you Mom and Dad for planning the venue.

-I want to give a massive thanks to coach Jordan for helping me with gathering materials and running the tests!