Adidas Predator: Fake or Fact? (Adidas Predator)

Member Name: Logan33

Product:	Adidas Predator
Date:	31/01/09 (267 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: You'll look like a pro

Disadvantages: you can't play like a pro!

I owned the very first pair of Predator boots that were brought out some 15 years ago when Craig Johnstone (The former Liverpool Midfield meastro) first developed them.
Since my first pair, I never bought another pair unti this season and I'm gonna be completely honest and say they are a total rip-off. In essence, I think we all want to know if they help you "swerve" and "control" the ball more?

My thoughts:
(PS just so you aware, my background is in sports science and in particular bio-mechanics and statistics, therefore I'm making my judgements on

a) how they were to play in (Subjective opinion)
b) what I've read about them. (Objective analysis)
Playing:

The first pair of predators were extremely clumsy in there design, with what can only be described as huge "Finns" of rubber on the front of the boot. They were also extremely heavy and the alleged swerve that they could generate is all well and good but you were about 3 yards slower than you once were because of the weight of the things! Secondly the original model suggested greater swerve/power/control. Well I know hundreds of people who bought them and I think at the time we were all seduced into thinking "we saw the ball swerve more".....why? Because we were told thats what would happen. This is actually quite a simple psychological suggestion that marketing and sales firms use all the time. In reality the ball really had no greater swerve on it than when I wore my regular boots. FACT
Moving onto the Predator Precision. To my delight the huge finns had shrunk and on the new boot they barely extend away from the regular surface of the boot. but did the boot give me greater "swerve", "accuracy", "an increased sweet spot", "increased control". Now these are big statements to make and once again I have been left thinking that these claims are just not true........why? Because I've been wearing them and I noticed absolutly NO DIFFERENCE between Predators and normal boots.

From a subjective view, did the boots do what they said?............NO
Did they make me a better player?........................................... ........NO
Did I score more goals?............................................ ..Well yes but I was playing upfront this season!
Where the boots worth the £90 I paid.............................................. ..NO

now for the statistics bit:

Since they're release in 1994, there have currently been 9 different versions of the Predator boot through from the first "Adidas predator" through to the "Predator Swerve". On each and every release, Adidas have claimed (and check the website for this www.footy-boots is a good one) that the design of the boots have been improved and they now swerve the ball upto 8% more and 3% more force. Now if you're even slightly mathmatically minded, there are two important factors you have to consider. Firstly 9 different types of predator all improving each time at 8% means that the newest boot must be able to swerve the ball 81% more, than a regular leather boot. I think we know the answer to that one. RUBBISH, you may have a slight increase but 81% is total rubbish
Also where they get a 3% increase in force is beyond me, heres why:

Force = Mass x Acceleration
In other words the weight of your foot times the speed you kick it at!!!! How can they change that? you could change it for 1 individual by altering the weight of the boot until it was in harmony with the speed at which they kick. But this is impossible as a general rule. or in short......a load of Rubbish.

Also , and yes I am getting a bit to involved now, but a 3% change in anything is not considered statistically significant, therefore can also be considered a pointless statistic.
In short, Adidas have fooled us all and seduced with the vision of buying boots that are going to make us better players. I however still find myself playing Sunday league football and getting lumps kicked out of me..........................I do have sexy looking boots though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Summary: Expensive and innaffective