Abstract: An athletic shoe sole (10) includes a twist flex portion (18) positioned generally below the ball region of the user's foot. The twist flex portion (18) is defined by intersecting diagonal grooves (20, 22, 24, 26) and diamond shaped cleats (44, 46) between the grooves. A truncated pivot ball (28) is located in a toe portion (12) of the shoe. A similar pivot ball (38) is located in the heel portion (16) of the shoe. Grooves and ribs are provided in several regions of the shoe sole (10) for facilitating flexing of the shoe sole (10) in a direction perpendicular to the ribs and grooves, and for stiffening the shoe sole (10) in a direction longitudinally of the ribs and grooves.

Abstract: A primary pivot pad (28) is positioned on the sole (12) of a shoe (10) below the ball region of the user's foot. A secondary pivot pad (30) is positioned on the sole (12) forwardly of the primary pivot pad (28). A second secondary pivot pad (20, 20') is positioned on the sole (12) both rearwardly and laterally inwardly from the primary pivot pad (28). The secondary pivot pad (20) may be positioned primarily rearwardly and somewhat laterally (FIG. 2) or may be positioned primarily laterally and only slightly rearwardly (FIG. 13). Each pivot pad presents a downwardly directed pivot surface having a pivot center. The primary pivot pad (28) extends into each secondary pivot pad (20, 20', 30) and truncates each secondary pivot pad (20, 20', 30).