Goalkeepers in handball, futsal and floorball have long taped the soles of their shoes to slide further on split saves. It works, but only for a while. Sports tape gives you glide, yet it wears out fast, has to be re-applied constantly, and its friction is never the same twice. SplitOut is an engineered heel patch that delivers consistent, ultra-low friction for far longer, and built on Spraino's biomechanical research, it is designed to cut the braking forces that load your knees and ankles during a slide. This guide compares the two honestly so you can decide what belongs on your shoe.
Why goalkeepers tape their shoes in the first place
A split save is one of the most demanding movements in indoor sport. To reach a low shot you drop into a wide split, and your feet have to slide outward across the floor fast and smoothly. Indoor courts are built for grip, exactly what you want when you sprint and push off, and exactly what fights you when you need your foot to glide. If the shoe catches mid-split, you lose reach, you lose speed, and the sudden braking load is absorbed by your knees and ankles.
So keepers improvise. A strip of sports tape across the heel or sole lowers the friction enough to let the foot travel. It is cheap, available in every kit bag, and it genuinely helps you get lower and faster. That is why taping became standard practice long before any purpose-built product existed.
What tape does well and where it falls short
To be fair to tape: it is inexpensive, easy to find, and it does produce glide. For a keeper who tapes carefully before every session, it can be a reasonable stopgap. But improvised tape was never engineered for this job, and the compromises show up quickly.
- Inconsistent glide. How much you slide depends on the tape brand, how many layers you use, how you smooth it down, and how dusty the floor is. No two applications feel the same.
- Wears fast. Tape scuffs, frays and peels within a session or two, so your glide changes as it degrades, often mid-match.
- Constant re-taping. You are re-applying before nearly every session, which eats time and adds cost over a season.
- Only incidental joint protection. Any reduction in braking force is a side effect of whatever friction you happen to get that day, not something the tape was designed to deliver.
How SplitOut is different
SplitOut takes the same idea (lower the friction so the foot glides) and engineers it properly. It is a patch applied to the heel of a goalkeeper's shoe, with an ultra-low-friction surface tuned to slide smoother and faster than regular sports tape. Because it is a manufactured patch rather than a strip you wrap by hand, the glide is consistent every time and lasts far longer before it needs replacing.
The design also comes from a serious place. SplitOut is built on the same biomechanical research family as Spraino's ankle-sprain work, which was tested in a randomised controlled trial and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. That friction-control principle is what lets SplitOut reduce the braking forces on your knees and ankles during a slide, rather than leaving joint protection to chance.
The key difference: tape gives you whatever glide you can improvise on the day. SplitOut gives you an engineered, repeatable low-friction surface designed from the ground up to make you slide smoother, and to spare your joints while doing it.
SplitOut vs sports tape: head-to-head
| Feature | Improvised sports tape | SplitOut patch |
|---|---|---|
| Glide quality | Variable; depends on brand, layers and floor | Ultra-low friction, smoother and faster |
| Consistency | Different every application | Same performance every time |
| Durability | Scuffs and peels within a session or two | Roughly 20-40 hours per patch |
| Joint protection | Incidental, if any | Designed to cut braking forces on knees and ankles |
| Re-application | Before nearly every session | 4 patches per pack, enough for 2 pairs of shoes |
| Residue | Sticky, uneven | Small residue that wipes off with the included alcohol wipe |
What the pros use
Elite goalkeepers have already made the switch. They rely on the split save every match, so consistency and durability matter more to them than anyone.
"SplitOut is a great product because it is better than regular sports tape. It makes you faster during splits, and it lasts longer." Emil Nielsen, FC Barcelona & Danish National Handball
"SplitOut helps me achieve my ideal split. It prevents me from being braked and the patch makes my splits faster and smoother." Jannick Green, PSG & Danish National Handball
SplitOut is also used by elite futsal keepers including Frederik Peytz and William Rams of the Danish National Futsal Team. It is made for handball, futsal and floorball goalkeepers at any level, not only the pros.
How to switch from tape to SplitOut
Making the change takes a couple of minutes and no special skill.
- Clean the heel area of your indoor shoe so it is dry and free of dust.
- Peel and press a SplitOut patch onto the heel, smoothing out any air.
- Play as normal. Your grip when pushing off is unchanged; the patch only lowers friction where the heel glides during a split.
- When a patch is worn, swap it. Each pack contains 4 patches, enough for 2 pairs of shoes.
- When you remove a patch, wipe away the small residue with the included alcohol wipe.
SplitOut is made in the EU, ships free on orders over €75, and is delivered in 2-4 days.
Frequently asked questions
Why do handball and futsal goalkeepers tape their shoes?
To slide further and faster on split saves. Indoor floors are built for grip, so keepers lower the friction under the heel or sole to let the foot glide out into a wide split. Tape is the cheap, improvised way to do this. SplitOut is the engineered version.
Is SplitOut better than sports tape?
For glide and durability, yes. SplitOut delivers ultra-low friction that is smoother, faster and consistent every time, and one patch lasts roughly 20-40 hours instead of a session or two. It is also designed to reduce braking forces on your knees and ankles, which improvised tape only does by accident. Tape remains a workable, low-cost stopgap.
How long does a SplitOut patch last?
Around 20-40 hours of use per patch, depending on your floor, style and intensity. Each pack contains 4 patches, enough for 2 pairs of shoes, so a single pack covers a long stretch of training and matches.
Will SplitOut make me slip when I push off?
No. The patch sits on the heel and only lowers friction where the foot glides during a split. Your grip when sprinting, jumping and pushing off is unchanged, so the rest of your game feels normal.
Does SplitOut leave a mark on my shoes?
When you remove a patch it leaves only a small residue, which wipes off easily with the alcohol wipe included in every pack.
