Shoe Banned From NBA

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22748484/25349974

A little over a month ago, I remember writing about this pair of shoes that make people jump higher. But not because some ad campaign says so or because you pump up a basketball on the tongue of the shoes. Like these kicks literally make you jump higher. How? Because there's a spring in the sole.

The company Athletic Propulsion Labs has developed the shoes called the "Concept 1's" and they're going to retail at a cool $300. The technology is what they're calling "Load n' Launch" in the forefoot of the shoe that is basically a springboard. APL claims it will increase a vertical leap by three and half inches and in some cases, more.

And treating the shoes like they're vertical leap steroids, the NBA has banned them. From a press release:

For the first time in its 64-year history, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has banned a new line of shoes based on the league's rule against an "unfair competitive advantage" that increases a player's vertical leap. The league's ban on Athletic Propulsion Labs' Concept 1 confirms the company's claims that the shoe, with its Load ‘N Launch (TM) Technology, performs as advertised. No professional player will be allowed to wear the product in games for the upcoming 2010-2011 NBA season.

This action comes on the 25th anniversary of the NBA's ban on Nike's Air Jordan shoes, albeit for reasons of their colorful appearance rather than any performance advantage.

Athletic Propulsion Labs (APL) was notified by a senior NBA official who stated, "League rules regulate the footwear that players may wear during an NBA game. Under league rules, players may not wear any shoe during a game ‘that creates an undue competitive advantage (e.g., to increase a player's vertical leap).' In light of that rule...players will not be permitted to wear the APL shoes during NBA games."

Sports Illustrated's Chris Ballard tried the shoes in September and based on his highly non-scientific lab results, they work. Well, to some degree. Ballard said he felt like maybe he got a little extra, but the other test subject said he felt a significant difference, saying that he's never been able to dunk with two hands before using the Concept 1's. So it's possible they really do enhance a vertical leap.

Ballard said he played in the shoes five times and tested them out on a wide range of other players. Some jumped higher, some didn't. The results were a little mixed. And likely mixed enough that might make someone hesitate in dropping $300 for a pair of sneakers.

The concept of the Concept 1's isn't anything new. People have been trying to figure out how to make athletes jump higher for forver. Everyone remembers the Seinfeld episode The Jimmy (two Seinfeld references in one day? Yep, and I apologize) where a guy named Jimmy wears some pretty funky looking shoes that force you to walk on your tippy-toes. And in the show, he claims the kicks have made him jump through the roof.

A friend of mine is a workout junkie and he's tried wearing a form of strength shoes to attempt to strengthen his legs and calves. Just like any other weight training program, it works some, but increasing vertical leap typically comes from a lot of hard work. You can buy some vibrating stomach wrap that's supposed to give you six-pack abs, but really, you're only going to get what you want by working hard in the gym. And it's likely these shoes are in that same category.

And while the APL's won't be appearing in the NBA, you'd think a ban from the premier jumping sport on the planet would be devastating for business. But in reality, this is the best endorsement the company could get. Because by banning the spring-loaded shoes, in some way the NBA's acknowledging the shoes might actually work. Already on the company's website, that's exactly how they're marketing them - "Banned by the NBA" it says.

Ballard's feature doubted the new shoes because of some very non-conclusive results. (If you read Ballard's story, he even called the new tagline of "Banned by the NBA." Impressive.) That might've been a bit of a PR hit for the company, but today's ban is a godsend. The NBA probably did the shoe company the biggest favor it could by telling its players they weren't allowed anywhere near them. How ironic.

All I gotta say, Cool

I'm guessing it has a lot more to do with sponsorship dollars than an unfair competitive advantage.

All the fuss aside, that's a really nice, slick looking shoe.

Andrew, +1 I don't even know how that shoe can increase vertical leap it looks like an ordinary shoe which is really nice

I read a review of this a few months back. The journalist and some of his friends tried it. He said he had one friend who couldn't touch the rim, put the shoes on and he grabbed it with his first jump... took the shoes off and he could still grab it. The results might be more mental than anything. If you think you're going to jump higher you probably will.

Damn,I want these shoes!
(Even if it's a mental thing!)
They look cool to me though.

As for the ban thing,I have to agree that there is more than the "unfairness" in this case and probably something about sponsorships as Andrew said.
Maybe Adidas has a relation with this?A new company with a preferred product from NBA players could steal the spotlight from them?

They cost $300. And I'm not completely sure they work.

They cost $300. And I'm not completely sure they work.

60% of the time it works every time!

I don't even know how that shoe can increase vertical leap

Too much video games being played by Stern. This ain't no 2k11!

i could do without the neon green, but wth are there rockets on this thing or what

They're really taking advantage of all the free promotion, just check out the website: http://www.athleticpropulsionlabs.com/

They're certainly making the best of it. Just remember:

*Results may vary based upon height, weight, athletic ability technique and physical condition.

Putting a spring in a shoe can work, but it really depends on how a person jumps. Anybody who can already jump high may gain an advantage because the way you jump high is by pushing off the ground as quickly as possible. Imagine if you don't time your leap with the expansion of the spring after it compresses. When you plant your feet, you won't get any benefit. It's like a trampoline, if you don't time your leap right, you get no extra air. Ever tried jumping on a trampoline that was stretching downwards? You get no air because the force of your legs is just pushing the trampoline down more.

Also, where on the shoe is this spring? If it's in the heal, I call bullshit. Karl Malone and the catapults.
A spring that truly gave you an advantage would probably mess up your regular movement on the court.

on the site, it shows it towrds the front of the shoe. for some reason the way they explain it makes me think its not a spring but some sort of air bubble or something.

i have a pair of Nike Air Payton IVs and it has this "carbon spring plate" in the same area and i don't know if it helped but it feels nice to jump off of.

Where's Oz when you need him? Doesn't he have a degree about feet movements or something.

I read a review of this a few months back. The journalist and some of his friends tried it. He said he had one friend who couldn't touch the rim, put the shoes on and he grabbed it with his first jump... took the shoes off and he could still grab it. The results might be more mental than anything. If you think you're going to jump higher you probably will.

From now on I'll always think all my shoes have springs in them.

phpBB [video]

Where's Oz when you need him? Doesn't he have a degree about feet movements or something.

not sure how i missed this before but yeah basically i do have a degree in running/jumping/body movement. odds are the shoe doesnt do shit

They really put springs in the shoe
http://www.kenlu.net/forum/APL-Concept- ... 56264.html

I dont see how those tiny springs would help you other than providing a softer landing. Maybe if they were platforms with 2 inch springs that actually compressed. Didn't karl malone have some sneakers a long time ago that had springs in them? The catapults. They had springs in the heal.

They really put springs in the shoe
http://www.kenlu.net/forum/APL-Concept- ... 56264.html

Reverse 'engineering' that shite so they can produce cheap knock offs. Bless the Chinese.

Given that theyre trying to get a patent, I think there has to be a lot more than just springs.