Something big just happened in the world of baseball cleats. SQAIRZ has officially been recognized by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons—the leading voice in sports biomechanics for its role in improving athletic performance. Out of more than 400 scientific studies submitted to the 2025 ACFAS Annual Conference, only two on footwear made it through. Both were on SQAIRZ. This isn’t a paid partnership, it’s a clinical and peer-reviewed validation from the people who study how athletes move for a living.
For the first time, there’s real science behind a baseball cleat. Until now, most players picked their shoes based on habit, style, or whatever felt good in the moment—not because of hard evidence. But now there’s medical-grade research showing that what you wear on your feet can actually impact your balance, power, and velocity.
It changes the conversation completely. We’re no longer guessing when it comes to performance. With third-party clinical testing confirming real, measurable improvements, the bar just got raised for what a high-performance cleat should deliver.
Clinical Study Highlights: Performance-Driven Results
Two independent clinical studies led by Dr. Paul Klutts, a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and biomechanical expert Chad Miller, evaluated the performance effects of SQAIRZ baseball footwear over a 10-month research period. Both studies were accepted for presentation at the 2025 Annual Scientific Conference and recommended for manuscript publication, marking a major leap forward in evidence-based validation of athletic footwear.
Study 1: Quantified Gains in Ankle Stability
In a real-world balance test called the wobble test, athletes were measured on how much their ankles moved side to side while standing on one leg. Using high-res motion capture over 20 seconds, researchers tracked just how stable each foot really was under pressure.
Out of 64 athletes, the results were clear…
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Right foot: 7.26 wobbles in traditional shoes vs. 4.89 in SQAIRZ
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Left foot: 7.98 wobbles in traditional shoes vs. 5.62 in SQAIRZ
That’s a 31% drop in ankle instability. Less wobble means better alignment, more efficient power transfer, and stronger movement from the ground up.
Study 2: Measurable Increases in Pitching Velocity
The second study assessed radar-confirmed fastball velocity in a controlled bullpen setting with 54 collegiate pitchers. Each athlete threw sessions in five leading footwear brands—then again wearing SQAIRZ GFP™ cleats.
The velocity data showed clear performance gains:
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41 out of 54 pitchers threw harder in SQAIRZ
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Average increase: +2.1 mph
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Top individual gain: +8.0 mph
Analysis of video footage showed improved balance at the peak of the stride, more consistent hip rotation, and stronger ground force output which allows pitchers to transfer energy more efficiently through their delivery.
The SQAIRZ Advantage: Ground Connection and Power Transfer
At the core of SQAIRZ performance benefits is its patented square toe box design, which offers the roomiest foot base of any baseball shoe. This design allows toes to spread naturally, correcting alignment, improving balance, and increasing energy transfer with the ground.
Stability is further enhanced with an EVA foam midsole that provides responsive cushioning, a dual-density compression foam removable insole, and a high-tech heel stabilizer that runs from the heel to the arch for integrated arch support.
These features collectively contribute to improved biomechanics, allowing athletes to generate more power during swings and pitches, and to execute quicker, more efficient movements on the field.
Adoption by Professional Athletes
The efficacy of our design is evidenced by its adoption among professional athletes. Over 20 active MLB players are now wearing GFP™ cleats and turfs.
These players have reported increased pitch velocity, faster burst times, and greater confidence underfoot, even in late innings. The real-world application of the GFP™ clinically validated design is transforming performance at the highest levels of the game.
Explore the SQAIRZ GFP™ Lineup
Every movement in baseball starts from your feet. When you're driving off the mound, exploding out of the box, or reacting to a line drive, your shoes set the foundation for power, speed, and control.
SQAIRZ offers a lineup designed for every player and every surface:
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GFP™ Metal Spike – Built for elite-level grip and force transfer on dirt
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GFP™ Molded Cleat – Versatile, durable, and ready for any field condition
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GFP™ Turf – Stable and supportive for practice, cages, and turf games
Each model is engineered around the same patented design that produced measurable gains in pitching velocity and ankle stability. The same design that led to a rare and prestigious recommendation for manuscript publication by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
That kind of recognition sets a new standard for us as well as the entire category of performance baseball footwear. It's a sign that the game is moving forward, powered by biomechanics, clinical research, and gear built for the realities of today’s athletes.
This is a moment of progress for the sport, for the science, and for every player looking to get more out of every step.
