Why does Haas wear Nike clothes and Asics shoes?

grover · 10-08-2012, 12:45 PM

Does he not have a Nike contract anymore?

OHBH · 10-08-2012, 12:54 PM

Doesn't mean he doesn't still have a contract. Unlike clothing which is pretty universal apart from style, shoes actually effect performance. So if Haas doesn't like the new Nikes he is going to go with the shoe that best suits his foot and improves his game. . Most contracts give the athlete the option to not use the product if it will hinder performance. Which is fine because they have have other options like PJs, but unlike rackets, it is pretty much impossible to put a PJ on a shoe

BreakPoint · 10-08-2012, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OHBH

Doesn't mean he doesn't still have a contract. Unlike clothing which is pretty universal apart from style, shoes actually effect performance. So if Haas doesn't like the new Nikes he is going to go with the shoe that best suits his foot and improves his game. . Most contracts give the athlete the option to not use the product if it will hinder performance. Which is fine because they have have other options like PJs, but unlike rackets, it is pretty much impossible to but a PJ on a shoe

Not true. Several pros wear paintjobbed shoes, including Federer and Nadal. They wear shoes that only look like the retail versions but really are completely different shoes. So you can pretty much make a shoe to look like just about anything you want.

Rusty669 · 10-08-2012, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

Not true. Several pros wear paintjobbed shoes, including Federer and Nadal. They wear shoes that only look like the retail versions but really are completely different shoes. So you can pretty much make a shoe to look like just about anything you want.

Well, I have never seen an Adidas Feather shoe with a Nike Vapor PJ on it...

BreakPoint · 10-08-2012, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty669

Well, I have never seen an Adidas Feather shoe with a Nike Vapor PJ on it...

Maybe you just didn't know because the great paintjob fooled you?

Most people, other than on this board, don't even know many pros use paintjobbed racquets. Hard to tell on TV or even in person.

Rusty669 · 10-08-2012, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

Maybe you just didn't know because the great paintjob fooled you?

Most people, other than on this board, even know many pros use paintjobbed racquets. Hard to tell on TV or even in person.

Haha, maybe you are right!

The whole PJ business is getting to be a little too much for my liking, but that
is a different topic I guess....

WhereIsMacMac · 10-12-2012, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

Maybe you just didn't know because the great paintjob fooled you?

Most people, other than on this board, don't even know many pros use paintjobbed racquets. Hard to tell on TV or even in person.

so like racquets, we also have pro stock shoes?

Adidas_Anderson · 10-08-2012, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty669

Well, I have never seen an Adidas Feather shoe with a Nike Vapor PJ on it...

any photos about this ? sounds interesting

Rozroz · 10-09-2012, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

Not true. Several pros wear paintjobbed shoes, including Federer and Nadal. They wear shoes that only look like the retail versions but really are completely different shoes. So you can pretty much make a shoe to look like just about anything you want.

so is TW give false info when saying "this pro's shoe of choice" etc..?

BreakPoint · 10-09-2012, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rozroz

so is TW give false info when saying "this pro's shoe of choice" etc..?

Don't they say that for racquets, too?

"Shoe of choice" is not the same thing as "I wear this exact retail version of this shoe". "Shoe of choice" just means if you asked the pro which shoe would he choose - Shoe A or Shoe B - he'd say - "I would choose Shoe A." It doesn't mean he actually wears that shoe.

Rozroz · 10-09-2012, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

Don't they say that for racquets, too?

"Shoe of choice" is not the same thing as "I wear this exact retail version of this shoe". "Shoe of choice" just means if you asked the pro which shoe would he choose - Shoe A or Shoe B - he'd say - "I would choose Shoe A." It doesn't mean he actually wears that shoe.

so, 'prefered' shoe/racquet etc. is the right word

btw- you're a master bionic poster!
i would change to this name, LOL

harryz · 10-10-2012, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

Not true. Several pros wear paintjobbed shoes, including Federer and Nadal. They wear shoes that only look like the retail versions but really are completely different shoes. So you can pretty much make a shoe to look like just about anything you want.

I live in Portland, Oregon and the other day (October 7th) I met two guys who work at the Nike Campus here. I had seen them play once or twice. One is a shoe designer for the pros, and he had a new pair of the shoes Fed is going to wear at the Masters. No lie. They are the new Vapor, and they're purple with black accents and the toe box is mesh. Very soft and flexible. Fed's shoes are size 11.5 and fairly wide; I wear 11s and tried them on, but they are too large for me. He brought the pair to the courts to give to his buddy, also a Nike employee, as they have a slight imperfection. They are NOT a paintjob or modded shoe in any way.

harryz · 10-10-2012, 04:35 PM

Back in the day (late 70s), Phil Knight was sued by the founder of Asics for basically stealing his designs AND NAMES for a few early Nike models. Knight came out of U of O in Eugene and Asics was also a running shoe company. From what I've heard, Knight lost the suit... So in other words, the heritage of Nike tennis shoes is tied to Asics anyway...

BreakPoint · 10-10-2012, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harryz

I live in Portland, Oregon and the other day (October 7th) I met two guys who work at the Nike Campus here. I had seen them play once or twice. One is a shoe designer for the pros, and he had a new pair of the shoes Fed is going to wear at the Masters. No lie. They are the new Vapor, and they're purple with black accents and the toe box is mesh. Very soft and flexible. Fed's shoes are size 11.5 and fairly wide; I wear 11s and tried them on, but they are too large for me. He brought the pair to the courts to give to his buddy, also a Nike employee, as they have a slight imperfection. They are NOT a paintjob or modded shoe in any way.

Did you have a retail version of the same shoe to compare side-by-side? Did you try both shoes on and play a set in them side-by-side to determine if they are indeed the same as the retail version? A paintjob is not something you can see with the naked eye because it's made to look just like the retail version. But if you tore the shoe apart and looked at what's on the inside and if you actually play in them for a while, you can probably tell the difference. Federer's shoe is closer to an older version of the Vapor but with the look of the latest retail version.

BTW, how can you be so sure what he had was a shoe that was made specifically for Federer? Just because he said so?

harryz · 10-10-2012, 09:42 PM

Seems I left out some information. The guy who brought the shoes to the courts is a shoe designer and engineer for Nike who designed this model. The pair I saw were the newest version made for Federer to wear at the Masters. I didn't ask if they were custom; however, it was pretty clear from the way that the two guys talked about the shoes that these are going to be the retail versions and that's what Federer wears. The second guy was wearing the current Vapors, and he mentioned that he has had other shoes that were earmarked for Fed since they wear the same size. Apparently, he gets to "play test" samples. The only reason that the designer was giving him the pair was that they had a slight imperfection. It was clear that they both know Fed and other pros and are involved with Nike tennis (as is a third guy I know who is now with the pro apparel division). The designer talked about a new material for the toe guard , which he showed us, and how they had designed the shoe to be softer and flexier. It wasn't a long conversation; however, based upon what I heard I believe that these very shoes are the same ones that you and I will be able to buy.

harryz · 10-10-2012, 09:49 PM

The designer's name is Mike Huey, and the other fellow is named Dustin (didn't get his last name). Naturally, both were decked out in all Nike current gear. I'm sure that they shoes are not a paint job because Dustin was wearing a play test pair of current Vapors and they are not the same as what Mike brought by a stretch. A paint job would not account for differences in weight (I held both) or feel (Dustin tried on the new ones after wearing the current ones to the courts). Perhaps I'm naive, but I believe that the shoes I saw have been designed for Fed to start wearing soon, so that he can adjust to them before the Masters. That's what Mike shared. By the way, what information do you have that indicates that Fed and Nadal don't use retail versions of shoes (or clothes for that matter)? I don't have a horse in the proverbial race-- just sharing what I learned, which is no different than what a bystander talking to a stringer at a pro tournament might have overheard, learned and shared.

JTJet · 10-08-2012, 01:00 PM

Didn't Haas lose many contracts because he always wore apparel from competitor brands?

BreakPoint · 10-08-2012, 01:44 PM

Why?

Because he CAN!!!

jokinla · 10-08-2012, 06:15 PM

He wore an Asics crew today.

BreakPoint · 10-08-2012, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jokinla

He wore an Asics crew today.

He started the match wearing a Nike shirt.

10-08-2012, 12:45 PM	#1
grover Rookie Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 117	Why does Haas wear Nike clothes and Asics shoes? Does he not have a Nike contract anymore? __________________ Prince Rebel 98 with full bed of Tonic 60lbs.

10-08-2012, 12:54 PM	#2
OHBH Semi-Pro Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 589	Doesn't mean he doesn't still have a contract. Unlike clothing which is pretty universal apart from style, shoes actually effect performance. So if Haas doesn't like the new Nikes he is going to go with the shoe that best suits his foot and improves his game. . Most contracts give the athlete the option to not use the product if it will hinder performance. Which is fine because they have have other options like PJs, but unlike rackets, it is pretty much impossible to put a PJ on a shoe Last edited by OHBH : 10-08-2012 at 04:20 PM.

10-10-2012, 04:35 PM	#13
harryz Semi-Pro Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 596	Incidentally Back in the day (late 70s), Phil Knight was sued by the founder of Asics for basically stealing his designs AND NAMES for a few early Nike models. Knight came out of U of O in Eugene and Asics was also a running shoe company. From what I've heard, Knight lost the suit... So in other words, the heritage of Nike tennis shoes is tied to Asics anyway...

10-10-2012, 09:42 PM	#15
harryz Semi-Pro Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 596	I'll clarify Seems I left out some information. The guy who brought the shoes to the courts is a shoe designer and engineer for Nike who designed this model. The pair I saw were the newest version made for Federer to wear at the Masters. I didn't ask if they were custom; however, it was pretty clear from the way that the two guys talked about the shoes that these are going to be the retail versions and that's what Federer wears. The second guy was wearing the current Vapors, and he mentioned that he has had other shoes that were earmarked for Fed since they wear the same size. Apparently, he gets to "play test" samples. The only reason that the designer was giving him the pair was that they had a slight imperfection. It was clear that they both know Fed and other pros and are involved with Nike tennis (as is a third guy I know who is now with the pro apparel division). The designer talked about a new material for the toe guard , which he showed us, and how they had designed the shoe to be softer and flexier. It wasn't a long conversation; however, based upon what I heard I believe that these very shoes are the same ones that you and I will be able to buy.

10-10-2012, 09:49 PM	#16
harryz Semi-Pro Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 596	One more thing The designer's name is Mike Huey, and the other fellow is named Dustin (didn't get his last name). Naturally, both were decked out in all Nike current gear. I'm sure that they shoes are not a paint job because Dustin was wearing a play test pair of current Vapors and they are not the same as what Mike brought by a stretch. A paint job would not account for differences in weight (I held both) or feel (Dustin tried on the new ones after wearing the current ones to the courts). Perhaps I'm naive, but I believe that the shoes I saw have been designed for Fed to start wearing soon, so that he can adjust to them before the Masters. That's what Mike shared. By the way, what information do you have that indicates that Fed and Nadal don't use retail versions of shoes (or clothes for that matter)? I don't have a horse in the proverbial race-- just sharing what I learned, which is no different than what a bystander talking to a stringer at a pro tournament might have overheard, learned and shared.