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Flex Grooves

Flex Grooves are slight indentations or grooves found on the outsole of a shoe. The grooves enable the shoe to bend with the foot under the ball. There are several types of flex grooves used to perform certain functions on shoes used for a specific sport, such as:

  • Multiple and Deep, which may be found on the outsoles of shoes used for running and walking
  • Basketball and basic court shoes normally have one or two grooves
  • Flex Grooves are also found on shoes used for casual activity or for cross training

The direction of the flex grooves can vary from diagonal to lateral, which provides support to the foot depending on the particular function of the shoe itself. Flex grooves found in the forefoot may appear as "slashes" that are wide at the outsole's edge, then taper to a point towards the center of the outsole.