United Golfers has launched the Free Release golf shoe which is fitted with a sole that rotates up to 20 degrees. The turning mechanism shifts the strain exerted by the golf swing on the hip, knee and ankle joints almost completely onto the shoe. The effectiveness of the technology has been verified by a study at the University of Tubingen supervised by Professor Veit Wank and Professor Frank Schiebl, with the support of PGA professional Peter Eisenhuth. The tests conducted proved that the Free Release shoe can, for example, reduce the 530 Nm of stress exerted on the ankle by up to 99%.

The new footwear is good for muscles, tendons and joints - and golfers do not just benefit from better health, by stabilising the body's centre of gravity, players stand firmer, improving their game as a result.

The "stress transfer principle" has seen similar success in winter sports, where the hourglass shape of the carving ski largely eradicates the traditional weight-shift-and-turn action. Now this kind of ski dominates the market, and has practically displaced all other types.