Ever innovating, Nike have unveiled the ‘Flight’ ball – a revolution in football aerodynamics. It will feature in all leading Nike leagues including the Premier League and it features a 30 percent truer flight than its predecessor.
Nike have today unveiled the ‘Flight’, a ball that is not only innovative but is – according to the brand – destined to change the game. No pressure then. So how does it back up that claim? Well, firstly and most importantly, it addresses issues of inconsistent aerodynamics through a revolutionary ball design. Every football has some unpredictable movement in flight due to a variety of aerodynamic factors. An example of this would be if a ball was completely smooth. Under those circumstances it would be gripped by the air, creating a significant wake and causing frequent changes in direction. These shifts can result in misplaced long balls, derailing a potentially fruitful counter, or shots that stray off goal.
Nike Flight, a game-changing football, addresses issues of inconsistent aerodynamics through a revolutionary ball design. Incorporating Nike’s new AerowSculpt technology, the ball delivers a measurable benefit of 30 percent truer flight than its Nike predecessor.
“Everything done at the Lab is rooted in science,” says Kieran Ronan, Nike Senior Director for Global Equipment. “Here, we are able to detect small differences in performance that may not be perceivable to most athletes, but when those small differences are iterated upon 68 times, the result is a noticeable leap in performance.
“The construction started with a square shaped Aerotrack groove. Over the course of the 68 iterations, we modified the shape of the groove, added sculpted chevrons, and explored multiple features throughout to deliver one geometric pattern that helps promote a more stable flight.”
The panel configuration also influences how the ball flies. Nike Flight carries a fuse-welded four panel construction with 40 percent fewer stiff seams than a traditional 12-panel ball. This construction enables a prominent sweet spot for superior touch and performance. An additional design element comes in the repurposing of Nike All Conditions Control (ACC) 3D ink. Introduced in 2014, ACC helps ensure optimal grip in wet or dry conditions. The Nike Flight ball uses the 3D ink layout to strategically print “micro flaps” along Nike AerowSculpt, dragging off of aerospace principles and further optimising aerodynamic stability.
Pick up the Nike Flight Ball at prodirectsoccer.com
