Nike Tennis Unveils the Lunar Ballistec

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Complex Original

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As with most other sports, tennis has evolved to be faster and more physically demanding than ever before. To help players keep up, Nike has introduced an impressive array of tennis footwear over the years, including the all-new Lunar Ballistec model.

As its name suggests, the Nike Lunar Ballistec features a Lunarlon midsole that drastically reduces the weight compared to traditional tennis shoes (which tend to be on the heavier side), all the while providing lightweight, responsive cushioning to allow players to move around the court with speed and agility.

"Our primary objective was to design a revolutionary Nike Tennis shoe that makes players faster to the ball," said Michael Hui, Senior Designer of Tennis Footwear at Nike. "It wasn't about making a shoe lighter at all costs. We wanted to add to the superb durability, support and cushioning that existed in our tennis footwear to create a shoe that would improve our athlete's ability to compete and win."

As far as design goes, the Lunar Ballistec looks oddly familiar to Kevin Durant’s latest signature basketball shoe, the Nike KD VI. But make no mistake about it—the Lunar Ballistec is a tennis shoe through and through. The upper is constructed using synthetic leather and mesh, and features Nike Flywire technology for locked-in support, particularly in the midfoot region.

The aforementioned full-length Lunarlon midsole provides cushioning and adds a spring in your step. A built-in TPU shank helps with balance and stability during multi-directional changes, allowing players to run down ball with ease. Rather than a traditional herringbone pattern, the outsole on the Lunar Ballistec features a unique traction pattern inspired by foot mapping. It in reinforced in key high-wear areas to improve overall durability, and features Nike’s Outrigger technology on the lateral side of the shoe promotes a more explosive toe-off.

The Lunar Ballistec will make its global retail debut on January 2, 2014.

[Nike]

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