Pulse Jam

Gender Engineering

Sounds freaky and no it's not a new sci-fi movie.  Gender Engineering is the next generation of design technology to maximize fit and performance in athletic footwear. Mizuno has learned through extensive research that there are fundamental differences between the running styles of men and women. Gender Engineering from Mizuno adjusts to those issues – by creating shoes that more closely fit the different running styles of the male and female runner, in return maximizing performance.

Essentially the width of the sole has been increased for males to provide a more stable and secure run, increasing feelings of balance. For women, Mizuno has made the soles more flexible with more pronounced grooves, as well as making the heel rounder slowing inward role of the ankle. This is because women tend to pronate their feet more due to a wider pelvis.

As the saying goes, what will they think of next...

Pulse Gear: Shock Absorbers For Your Legs

While the Ski-Mojo might look like a device capable of giving you super strength, I’m afraid it won’t make your Iron Man dreams come true.  However it will help you maintain a proper bent-at-the-knees posture when you’re out skiing, as well as provide some extra support to your legs so that you can keep that squat position a lot longer.   Although I am a winter sports neophyte, I have to rely on Those Who Know, accordingly, I'll quote from the press release, because, although clearly partisan, it says more than I ever could and is quite well written:  "Worn under your ski pants and effectively working as an extra pair of thigh muscles, the Ski-Mojo is a ...device which takes up to one-third of the strain from your thighs and knees, and gives your legs an additional power boost of up to 50% by storing the free energy you gain as you bend your knees and then releasing that energy as you strengthen your legs".

Enough said.  We're all getting older and any assistance in extending one's skiing career or at least to enjoy a full day on the slopes is well worth it.

Songs To Swim By

If you've been avoiding the pool because exercising without music sounds like torture, it's time to find your goggles because there are a number of waterproof MP3 players that will let you listen to your tunes underwater.

Runners who listen to MP3 players usually strap them to their arms. For swimming, the players attach to goggle straps so they don't interfere with arm movement.  Most of the devices rely on waterproof headphones that attach to the swimmer's ears from behind; however we did find one that uses a method that transfers sound waves from the cheekbone to the inner ear.

Shape contributes most to comfort. The tube-shaped Nu Technology Dolphin player is the smallest and lightest player we found, making it almost unnoticeable to the wearer. A player that has been designed for triathletes and can crossover to other sports is the Freestyle Audio Soundwave.  The thicker player is built to help it absorb shock and withstand the rigors of land and water use.  The Finis SwiMP3 has two teardrop-shaped paddles that rest on the wearer's cheekbones instead of plugging into the ears. When underwater, the player uses "bone conduction" to produce it's crisp sound.

Although I can imagine most swimming coaches probably forbid these waterproof players during swim practice, it does make for a nice diversion for those of us who do most of our training on land.

Run, Synch and Store

Long runs, tempo runs, speed drills. This past year I became intimate with multiple workouts as I trained for my first marathon.  Accordingly, as I picked up my training, my expectations increased not only from what my body can do but from my training gear. 

Meet Garmin Forerunner 405. This GPS-enabled sport watch tracks your training, then wirelessly sends your data to your computer. This does take training technology to a new level.

Loaded with serious training features, Forerunner 405 continuously monitors your time, distance, pace, calories and heart rate (when paired with heart rate monitor). Each run is stored in memory so you can review and analyze the data to see how you've improved. You can even download recorded courses to compete against previous workouts or race a virtual partner - nice.

Once you’ve logged the miles, innovative ANT+™ wireless technology automatically transfers data to your computer when the Forerunner is in range. No cables, no hookups. The data is just there, ready for you to analyze, categorize and share.

Now, I need to go and put my miles in this morning to compensate for the holiday party this evening.

Pulse Gear: Cover That Noggin'

We've all heard that you lose a great deal of heat through your head - as high as 75% .  However, recent studies indicate that the cerebral blood flow supplied via the carotid and vertebral arteries (4 in total) is actually constant. The blood flow to the brain does not change as the demand for oxygen is constant. As a result, when you look at total heat loss, the head accounts for about 7% of the heat lost.

So why the little lesson?

As we enter the cold weather season, we've found another option for those who like wearing a hat and listening to music at the same time, and you don't have to worry about losing all that heat.  The LimbGear Noggin Net is an mp3 enabled skullcap that houses both the mp3 player and the earbuds. The soft, fleece textile is breathable and warm. The idea is not new but the interesting part is incorporating the mp3 player into the skullcap itself, hence hiding all the wires and the Nano in the cap itself.

A good idea and would make for a great gift this holiday season.

Snowboarding And Jamming At The Same Time

 Burton has designed a new snowboarding helmet with a built in audio system and an ear clip design that lets those bass notes boom right where you'll feel'em.  This could very well be one of the best ways you can find to spend $150 bucks, that is if you're an avid snowboarder.   A mute button and an emergency-disconnect plug means you could also wear this baby in the real world, like on your bicycle, and still hear the people who are shouting at you.

They also got a great rating at REI.

Not All Balls Are Created Equal

This may sound a little strange for many athletes and fans in the US, for we take for granted that our footballs, baseballs, basketballs, soccer balls, volleyballs, etc are all made in a uniform fashion adhering to standards.  Cricket is a different ball game (pun intended).  Not all cricket balls are created equal and that can have implications for international matches.  I bet you didn't know most cricket balls are manufactured Australia, India and Pakistan. 

In contrast to other sport balls, most cricket balls are still hand-made, which may affect the consistency of manufacturing and thus the properties of a ball.  The method of construction affects their stiffness and how well they perform under compression.   Softer balls are more forgiving, providing longer contact with the bat, thus allowing the batsman to place the ball more precisely.

I'm just getting an appreciation for the game, thanks to a new, shorter format, but the implications for major matches could be huge.  Just think if this was an issue for the World Series, or a major football game.

These Football Helmet Shields Can Protect Against A Kick In The Face

There are fewer worse things then sustaining a football injury and having your vision impaired.  Researchers have determined that the two most popular brands of football helmet face shields can withstand a hit equivalent to a kick in the face and provide that protection without disrupting players' vision.  The study tested the two most popular collegiate and professional football helmet face shields by manufacturers Oakley and Nike.

The eye specialists at Ohio State University used an air cannon to hurl baseballs at the plastic face shields. The impact was designed to mimic the force of a kick to the face, considered the riskiest way to sustain an eye injury in football.

The shields maintained their structural integrity after baseballs were propelled at the face shields at velocities of up to 218 feet per second, or nearly 150 miles per hour.  Measures of optical quality also showed that the curved, plastic shields do not add any corrections or distortions to players' vision.

Because no current performance standard exists for football helmet face shields, the researchers used the air cannon testing method that is already approved to assess face protectors for baseball and lacrosse.

The face shields' protective potential bolsters an argument favoring mandatory use of the shields for college-age and younger football players. 

It's kind of a no-brainer, but then again, I player soccer. 

Surf Year Round And Stay Warm

That's right, surfing is now a year round activity thanks to Rip Curl

The new H-Bomb by Rip Curl is the world's first power heated wetsuit.  It uses 2 lithium-ion 7.4 volt rechargeable batteries.  The batteries power up heating elements that are placed on your back that warm the core allowing your heart to pump warm blood to your extremities.

In addition to the electronics and heating elements, there is a fair amount of cutting edge technology in the H-Bomb including, E3 neoprene - the lightest, warmest and most flexible neoprene, Double Aquaban - internal and external liquid taping on all seams for the ultimate water tight seal and Fireskin lining - poly pro lining that wicks water away and combined with the heaters keep the surfers warm.

Sports Technology - The Golf Ball

 It may seem like the most simple of objects, but a golf ball is a feat of modern engineering.

From its first incarnation, when golf involved hitting a stone with a stick, the ball has been evolving to allow players to get the most out of their swing and stay competitive at all levels of the sport.

We've compiled five fast facts about the humble golf ball that will show you it is more complex than it may seem.

1. Top of the range balls consist of four parts

Today's ball is the result of centuries of design and engineering. It consists of an inner core of rubber, a softer outer core, a much harder, ionomer mantle and a soft polyurethane cover.

The separate parts interact to improve the efficiency and control of the ball.

2. On the tee a ball is compressed by approximately a quarter of its diameter

Though it seems sturdy enough, a golf ball's shape changes dramatically when struck by a club.

The rubber that forms the core deforms under the force of the club and absorbs a great deal of the energy from the player's swing.

Even though the ball returns to its original shape, over time a ball will deform permanently and need to be replaced.

3. The harder the ball, the further it goes

Though you may think your drive distance relies solely on how hard you hit the ball, the ball itself plays a very important part in the process.

The more the ball keeps its integrity, the more efficient the ball is, and therefore the further it will travel after being hit.

4. The softer the ball, the more control you have

The trade-off for drive distance is ball control, and if you really want to compete you need your ball to deform as it is hit.

When you want to play a lofted shot, using a wedge or an iron -- when placement is more important than the amount of ground you cover -- you need to be able to put spin on the ball. Spin relies on getting the ball to deform into the face of the club, which a harder ball won't do.

So the eternal debate when choosing a ball is whether to go for one that will give you maximum distance off the tee, or one you can control when it comes to getting on the green.

5. Dimples make a ball travel further

They give the ball its distinctive look, but the dimples are more than just decoration -- they are another part of the golf ball's intricate design.

A ball through the air experiences wind resistance, which affects its flight. When that ball is spinning, the wind resistance causes it to fall short of where you would imagine a non-spinning ball would land.

The dimples reduce the drag the air has on the ball, and gives even the shots played with major backspin a much truer trajectory.