Science of Swerve and Spin in Adidas World Cup Boots

How Adidas changed the shape of football

Chapter 1

The mud of Bern and the screw-in revolution

Chapter 2

Copa Mundial and the kangaroo leather classic

Chapter 3

The Predator and the rubber fin revolution

Chapter 4

The modern era of speed, knit, and sustainability

YOUR GOAL

Master of How Adidas changed the shape of football

Ch 3 · The Predator and the rubber fin revolution

adidas Aerodynamic testing of rubber-finned soccer cleats and ball spin

adidas Adidas Predator

Ping-pong rubber, glued to a boot, perfect curve!

The iconic Adidas Predator was first prototyped using table tennis rubber.

adidas David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane popularized the iconic red-tongued Adidas boots.

Beckham, Zidane, and the red tongue

adidas The 1998 Accelerator and 2002 Mania boots feature iconic red fold-over tongues

The 1994 USA debut of the Predator

adidas A black 1994 Adidas Predator boot with red details rests on green grass.

Swerve & Spin Boots* (4 words)
* *Predator's

BETA

adidas Swipe to spin your shots to discover how Predator boots changed World Cup history.

Fun Fact

Rejection first: Adidas initially rejected Craig Johnston's Predator prototype before German legends Franz Beckenbauer and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge backed it.

Glossary

predator (noun)
An animal that naturally preys on others. Adidas launched this iconic rubber football boot in 1994 after acquiring Craig Johnston's patented design.

Gossip

Best classic Predator feature?

Quiz

Who invented the original rubber-finned prototype for the Adidas Predator?

adidas Adidas debuted the revolutionary Predator soccer cleat in the United States.

Quiz

By what percentage could the Adidas Predator's rubber fins increase ball spin?

adidas Former Liverpool player Craig Johnston redesigned the soccer boot.

Quiz

In which country was the 1994 World Cup held where the Adidas Predator debuted?

Quiz

What physical property did the Predator's rubber fins increase to create more ball spin?

Quiz

What everyday sports item did Craig Johnston use to prototype the Adidas Predator's fins?

Quiz

Which French midfielder scored two headers in the 1998 World Cup final wearing Predators?

Quiz

Which English star became famous for his curling free kicks using Adidas Predators?

Quiz

What color was the iconic fold-over tongue of the classic Adidas Predator boots?