Thursday , March 28 2024

Uhlsport Torkralle – Designed for Goalkeepers

Uhlsport Torkralle

Goalkeepers hold one of the most important positions on a soccer field, they are the last resort, they need to be ready at every moment. Having a goalkeeper that you are confident in and can rely on, can completely change the complexion of your team. With that in mind, the team at Uhlsport got to work on creating a soccer cleat that would compliment the needs of any goalkeeper. The result they named the Uhlsport Torkralle. There are several advancements with the Torkralle that make them extremely beneficial for all goalkeepers:

  • Additional Forefoot claws: Instead of just having a normal stud design, Uhlsport have added additional forefoot claws that are designed to provide improved lateral grip. This is essential for goalkeepers who need to move from side to side quickly, especially when saving shots! There are 8 claws in total that run right around the front of the cleat. (seen in the images)
  • Raised Heel: The heel of each cleat has been raised by 4mm. This is to allow sufficient weight towards the forefront of the cleat, allowing a goalkeeper enhanced agility and spring. One of the first rules you learn as a goalkeeper is to stay on your toes!

I recently spoke to Chivas USA Goalkeeper Danny Kennedy, who spent some time testing the Torkralle for Uhlsport. His reaction to the cleat was positive, specifically with the raised heel, which he says is more likely to keep you on the balls Uhlsport Torkralle Sideof your feet, while also giving you an extra 4mm of height (what goalkeeper doesn’t want to be a little taller?). Danny will be wearing Uhlsport gloves and cleats this season in MLS. Former German goalkeeper Robert Enke worked with Uhlsport through the development of the cleat. He was due to wear them at this summers World Cup in South Africa before his untimely death. Arsenal goalkeeper Lucasz Fabianski has been wearing them in recent Champions League action.

I also spoke with former Georgetown standout goalkeeper Jade Higgins (who runs a goalkeeping website called Shutout Central), to get her perspective on the new Torkralle. When I asked her about the benefits these offer Goalkeepers her opinion is similar to that of Kennedy, “I like the extra blades that outline the sole of the cleat.  When goalkeepers dive, they put a lot of their weight on their toes.  The extra blades provide better grip, but don’t make you feel ‘stuck’ in the ground.  I’m surprised more companies haven’t tried developing a specialized Uhlsport Torkralle up closegoalkeeper cleat.” And this is something I tend to agree with. Coaching goalkeepers from a young age can be challenging, and there are several critical skills that need to be learned in order for them to have growth in the position.

In my opinion, the Torkralle are probably a great companion for any young goalkeeper. They almost give an unfair advantage as they can be used to train muscle memory. The key component of learning a new movement is doing it over and over again, basically training your mind to control your movements. For example, keepers need to be on the balls of their feet at all times. Jade told me about some training techniques one of her goalkeeping coaches used. He would make his goalkeepers put their heels on tennis balls when practicing basic handling, so their weight would be forward, and that is something the Torkralle are designed to offer without using tennis balls.  Worth noting is the fact that Uhlsport have patented their technology to ensure they are the only ones that can reproduce the design – now that shows how serious they are about these cleats!

I have had an opportunity to try on the Torkralle but as an outfield player, I am not a huge fan. They are definitely designed for one player on the pitch, and one player alone…the goalkeeper! Looking at them, they seem to look bulky and full, yet they weigh in at a pretty nice 10oz, this is lighter than the Predator X and Total90 Laser III.

Uhlsport Torkralle

About Bryan Byrne

The mastermind behind the revolution that is SoccerCleats101. Bryan started this website back in 2008 and has been testing boots on a daily basis ever since. Check out our About Page for more details on Bryan and the website.

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10 comments

  1. Uhlsport’s actually been making a variation of this boot for some time. I want to say that they’ve had this boot as of 10 years ago but I don’t really remember. I know Just-Keepers were selling them. But in the past, the boot didn’t have a cleated toe but only additional cleats on the lateral side of the forefoot. It still maintained a raised heel though.

    But the slice of this pie is so small. It pertains to only 1 of 11 players on the pitch and even then the benefits may not be strong enough to pull buyers. It would be cool if it could become a modular thing. If let’s say Uhlsport did an F50-esque boot in which added pieces could include a raised heel and additional studs on the forefoot.

  2. You should post something as a review on soccer.com because a lot of clueless people are bringing its rating way down.

  3. Eugene,

    That is a pretty good idea..you should patent it before someone else does!! One benefit that Uhlsport have is the fact that they are so prominent in the goalkeeping world (gloves and goalkeeper sweats etc)…if they can establish themselves as the go to soccer cleat for goalkeepers they will be taking 1/11th of the market…which in soccer terms is a lot of money! One thing I have noticed is just the fact that people are becoming more familiar with the Uhlsport name because of the conversation being created by its design (a lot of people are not fans) and hey, that is the ultimate goal right?

    tres,
    Once we get some proper reviews together I will share them with the team at soccer.com!

  4. My 15 year old daughter wants these cleats. Before I purchase them I would love some feedback from people who have them already. She has Adidas Copa Mundials right now that she loves but she would love to try these out. She's in the goal most of the time, but comes out to play defense sometimes. We worry that these cleats will not be good for her short time on the field.. But, her heart (and most of her time) are spent in the box…

    • Lisa,
      If she comes out to play on the field I would not recommend them – they have been designed specifically for goalkeepers and offer a completely different shape to what outfield players wear. The Copa Mundials are actually a great option, maybe check out the adiPure range as they offer a similar fit, but different designs!

  5. Great practical boots. Yet Uhlsport better learn very quickly that aesthetics as well as practicality are a selling point. Lets face it, these boots look like crap.

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