Alcaraz New Custom Shoes

VAPORHEAD

VAPORHEAD

Rookie
Alcaraz now wearing custom shoes from Nike
www.thetennisinsider.com

Carlos Alcaraz's New 2024 Nike Shoes - Custom Nike Zoom Vapor 11

Shop Alcaraz's Gear Carlos Alcaraz, now a two-time Grand Slam Champion and former ATP #1, is finally getting the custom shoe treatment from Nike. Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal have worn custom Nike shoes differing from retail available models for the majority of their career. Given that Alcaraz...
www.thetennisinsider.com www.thetennisinsider.com

8bbef3_cd191c6aeb7d48f084ccbc86c66fce24~mv2.jpg
 
Sinner was seen practicing with the retail VP11s, and last year he was using custom 11s that had a lower profile but with the everything the same.
 
dr. godmode said:
Somehow Nike has made it so none of their pro's wear current versions. Why don't they get their pro's to test shoes instead of giving us untested garbage like the Vapor NXT or Zoom NXT
Click to expand...
They keep changing the last and fit of their shoes. Nike isn’t the Nike of the 80’s, 90’s, and early 2000’s. All the tennis shoes used to be in the Air Trainer 1 last but that has changed and they change lasts with every generation.
 
Sorry to take the thread in a tangntial direction but,
Can someone explain to me Sinner and the zoom zeros?

Weren't the zoom zeros a "budget" shoe back when they were being produced or am I confusing it with another?
 
They were not a budget shoe, had the higher tier tech and features (seamless upper, sculpted full length zoom air, performance midsole, totally new design); it sat in that weird spot in the line up where I feel they've never been able to create a long-standing 'brand' of a shoe (think Vapor, Cage, etc). Its was positioned in the third pillar spot: speed/comfort/performance spot after the Vapors and Cages (similar to the Ultras and GPs; all three got turned over pretty fast, in name at least). I remember not being personally into this shoe, I think I had heel slippage and sent the burn-orange pair back after a few weeks.

I agree, the top player not using the current on-sale models is at an all time high disaster for Nike (Dimitrov (V9), Sinner (ZZ), Alcaraz (VP), Shapo (VX), Nishikori VX?) . I get it for world class athletes who don't want to change ANYTHING (same with racket paint jobs). But maybe Nike should take that input and just make a killer pro model and keep it around forever; they are kinda doing this with the V9.5 but I think the few years off the market really killed the momentum - no clue if the general public is buying these colors, but I see them on court around here.
 
Thanks @teckid
Nike uses "zoom" alot, so I'm sure I had it confused.

I think Nike is just going the way of pro stock racquets, based on these Alcaraz pics. Also basically what they did with Federer and to a lesser extent Rafa.
Create a custom upper to sorta look like the latest model but have a completely different out and mid sole.
Nike retail shoes must really suck because other brands don't seem to have this issue. I don't see Asics or Adidas or New Balance players wearing 5 or 10 year old shoes.
 
Chairman3 said:
Thanks @teckid
Nike uses "zoom" alot, so I'm sure I had it confused.

I think Nike is just going the way of pro stock racquets, based on these Alcaraz pics. Also basically what they did with Federer and to a lesser extent Rafa.
Create a custom upper to sorta look like the latest model but have a completely different out and mid sole.
Nike retail shoes must really suck because other brands don't seem to have this issue. I don't see Asics or Adidas or New Balance players wearing 5 or 10 year old shoes.
Click to expand...

What you also don't see is Nike shoes coming apart on court and/or injuring their athletes

And nothing NB or Adidas makes (aside from the Barricade) has the staying power that Nike's stuff does

And those companies don't have the scope to continue producing custom shoes for their athletes, they can barely keep up with new offerings as it is.
 
Rosstour said:
What you also don't see is Nike shoes coming apart on court and/or injuring their athletes

And nothing NB or Adidas makes (aside from the Barricade) has the staying power that Nike's stuff does

And those companies don't have the scope to continue producing custom shoes for their athletes, they can barely keep up with new offerings as it is.
Click to expand...
Except when Medvedev tore through his Vapor X's at the US open (also there was that whole Zion Williamson thing, different sport same company)
To be fair, I'd need you to provide some examples of other brands allegedly tearing and/or injuring their athletes.

You leaned the wrong way into my comment. My point was other sponsors pro's don't have the issues Nike pros do transitioning to newer models.
 
Chairman3 said:
Except when Medvedev tore through his Vapor X's at the US open (also there was that whole Zion Williamson thing, different sport same company)

You leaned the wrong way into my comment. My point was other sponsors pro's don't have the issues Nike pros do transitioning to newer models.
Click to expand...

On the second point--yes, look at it conversely

Nike changes their stuff more often, and they have the best players.
 
dr. godmode said:
Somehow Nike has made it so none of their pro's wear current versions. Why don't they get their pro's to test shoes instead of giving us untested garbage like the Vapor NXT or Zoom NXT
Click to expand...
Hey the Zoom NXT is not bad especially on sale. I find its a better Vapor Pro than the Vapor Pro 2. Its a touch firm (comparatively) but thats fine
 
I cant defend nike anymore, this is an utter disgrace

so you let you top pros (CA, rune, fritz, etc) wear the vapor pro 1 in a stock white colorway for an entire year, then you let CA have a player edition for the USO that consumers cant buy, now were making a hybrid vapor pro 1 / vapor 11 so that you can market the v11 as something he uses? LOL to put it bluntly, nike can **** off

Alcaraz Sinner and Rune going to carry tennis for the next 15 years & you cant get them to wear something consumers will buy? if thats the case, just re-release old shoes and stop pretending that your R&D team knows what they are doing. The vapor pro 2 and vapor 11 are two of the worst shoes to ever don the Vapor moniker in it's 20+ year history

Nike tennis continues to underwhelm & find bandaid solutions to releasing bad products. Im glad I stocked up on GP turbos, 9.5s, and vapor pro 1s because the direction of the company continues to nosedive.

I'll have to brace myself for a transition away from Nike shoes (been wearing them my entire tennis career of 20+ years) in the next few years. At least Asics and Adidas pros wear the shoes that consumers can buy................................
 
colan5934 said:
Cool, thanks! Looks like a trial for practice. I only ever saw the zoom zero in matches though. He’ll probably get customs in current colorways just like Carlos and Rafa
Click to expand...
Tennis insider said that sinner will also be wearing custom shoes. It is a shame tbh if they just released the versions that the pros wear I wouldnt have to buy them on ****. Nike doesnt seem to realive that the more shoes they sell the better even if at a lower margin.
 
theaceproman said:
Tennis insider said that sinner will also be wearing custom shoes. It is a shame tbh if they just released the versions that the pros wear I wouldnt have to buy them on ****. Nike doesnt seem to realive that the more shoes they sell the better even if at a lower margin.
Click to expand...
Nike sales are just fine. So many players just blindly buy them because they look cool or it’s the name they know. The people complaining are gonna say something. The people content are silent. I’m not saying they’re making shoes the same as before - my preference is the older Vapor models too - but they’re certainly still selling shoes and making money.
 
Rosstour said:
What you also don't see is Nike shoes coming apart on court and/or injuring their athletes

And nothing NB or Adidas makes (aside from the Barricade) has the staying power that Nike's stuff does

And those companies don't have the scope to continue producing custom shoes for their athletes, they can barely keep up with new offerings as it is.
Click to expand...

Possible 'yes' to the lack of capabilities of making fully custom shoes for their athletes, but I bet Djoker and Meddy have custom molds for their shoes at the minimum and are not off the rack (more likely they also get total customs: fits their custom insoles/orthotics, maybe a custom size 10.75 or 11.25, more flexible/lighter materials) There is to much at stake and margins are slim in the top 20 so they have to look at all the little stuff. Asics, Adidas, NB for sure can do it; Wilson/Diadora/Yonex...??

I would be curious to know the exact level of customization for Sinner and Alcaraz as they are playing in models that they kinda grew up with and when they were younger and lower ranked, DID probably play in off the shelf models. Maybe they just like the old models and don't need a fully custom set up.

Also curious how they get the custom shoes produced for say Rafa or Carlos who need probably 20 pair a quarter (say 10 pairs for Jan>Mar practice/warm up events and 10 specifically for AO?): special isolated factory in Asia that just does pro athletes custom set ups? Special room at Nike HQ? Pulling components off the line in Asia and assembling elsewhere? Seems like a pain in the butt. I've heard rumors of a special basement in Nike HQ that has the ability to make any shoe ever produced in any size on demand, no clue if there are storing all the molds, 3D printing, etc. Maybe I'll ask Aaron Cooper on IG, former Nike designer, he has been giving some great posts about designing, producing, pricing Nike stuff.
 
colan5934 said:
Nike sales are just fine. So many players just blindly buy them because they look cool or it’s the name they know. The people complaining are gonna say something. The people content are silent. I’m not saying they’re making shoes the same as before - my preference is the older Vapor models too - but they’re certainly still selling shoes and making money.
Click to expand...

you seem to say that with certainty. did you have a look at their income statement by segment? I personally fear based on volume/pricing of discounts they are not in a good place revenue-wise. They're discounting limited colors of flagship shoes 50% within a month of launch (V11 mac attack). That signals trouble to me
 
Contact a shoe supplier on Alibaba after going to your podiatrist with your arch mold. Tell the supplier you need an MVP, or sample before large order, three variants for margin of error in production based on your specification. Rinse and repeat every season, new customs.
 
Here’s where I’m at

  • VP1: outsole, lace line, bootie sock liner, tongue, midsole, medial cushion upper pieces, toe box area of upper
  • V11: cosmetics and toe TPU overlay
  • Completely 1:1 custom: foot frame lateral side
 
gino said:
Here’s where I’m at

  • VP1: outsole, lace line, bootie sock liner, tongue, midsole, medial cushion upper pieces, toe box area of upper
  • V11: cosmetics and toe TPU overlay
  • Completely 1:1 custom: foot frame lateral side
Click to expand...
I agree, that is what it seems. I have yet to see the outsole. Also sinner is practicing with him tomorrow and he is also supposedly wearing custom shoes.
 
theaceproman said:
I agree, that is what it seems. I have yet to see the outsole. Also sinner is practicing with him tomorrow and he is also supposedly wearing custom shoes.
Click to expand...
I guess Both are basically getting the fed/nadal Nike treatment. I’d expect them to “endorse” a lame shoe in Nikes current lineup. Maybe Carlos endorse v11 and sinner endorse vp2 whilst both wearing completely unique/custom shoes

At least fed and nadal wore mostly the shoe available

Fed vapor speed stock, vapor 4-6 upper (although 4s heel frame was hollowed out) , vapor 9/9.5/X upper. Feds v6 paintjobs were hilarious, no hiding he didn’t want to move on

Rafa breathe free I/ii stock, breathe cage 1/2 upper, all courtballistec uppers (1.3 and 2.3 slightly modified), lunarballistec upper, & currently using cage 3 upper (briefly used a custom cage 4 upper)

Is gen z that picky ?
 
Last edited:
Rosstour said:
What you also don't see is Nike shoes coming apart on court and/or injuring their athletes

And nothing NB or Adidas makes (aside from the Barricade) has the staying power that Nike's stuff does

And those companies don't have the scope to continue producing custom shoes for their athletes, they can barely keep up with new offerings as it is.
Click to expand...
Nike's narrow toe box and lack of cushioning have injured many tennis players.
 
I do kinda like the cinderblock feeling in a way, the sharp edge heel midsole to outsole feels really good to me for some reason. Stable and always dependable, gives feedback when you are moving. I don't feel like they are heavy (although they prob are compared to other Vs), but definitely a battle shoe (ballistics) vs a slipper (Vapor 9s).

I hated the Cage 3 and its rounded heel, feel like I was going to roll over any moment.
 
teckid said:
I do kinda like the cinderblock feeling in a way, the sharp edge heel midsole to outsole feels really good to me for some reason. Stable and always dependable, gives feedback when you are moving. I don't feel like they are heavy (although they prob are compared to other Vs), but definitely a battle shoe (ballistics) vs a slipper (Vapor 9s).

I hated the Cage 3 and its rounded heel, feel like I was going to roll over any moment.
Click to expand...

I’ve used every cage/ballistic/gp or vapor shoe since 2005, this is the least comfortable midsole of them all. To each their own I guess, shocked but I’m sure Nike corporate is glad to have a few like yourself who embrace the stiffness and rigidity of the shoe. I’ve played way too much tennis in my life to let those shoes screw up my knees further
 
I'm split on the V11 for sure, it was giving me weird achilles pain during November and never experienced that before. I agree it is stiff, but I think I just like that support and feedback. Softer low profile shoes like the V9/9.5s aggravated my shin splints. It's hard, everyone's body reacts different. I personally like the GP Turbos the best for the plush feel, but didn't like the lateral stability. I have hopes for the new GP Challenge, but I am getting close to moving away from Nike if I can't land on something that works.
 
teckid said:
I'm split on the V11 for sure, it was giving me weird achilles pain during November and never experienced that before. I agree it is stiff, but I think I just like that support and feedback. Softer low profile shoes like the V9/9.5s aggravated my shin splints. It's hard, everyone's body reacts different. I personally like the GP Turbos the best for the plush feel, but didn't like the lateral stability. I have hopes for the new GP Challenge, but I am getting close to moving away from Nike if I can't land on something that works.
Click to expand...

Lateral stability is on my mind after 4 hours in the Turbos. At some point I wished the shoes were a bit harder, my toes are killing me now. The courts were just resurfaced and tore a hole in the left upper.
 
Rosstour said:
Lateral stability is on my mind after 4 hours in the Turbos. At some point I wished the shoes were a bit harder, my toes are killing me now. The courts were just resurfaced and tore a hole in the left upper.
Click to expand...
The GPTs gave me toe problems as well, I kept pushing over the forefoot lateral edge when stopping.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

VAPORHEAD
Nadal 2024 French Open shoes
Replies
1
Views
999
gino
gino
VAPORHEAD
Tiafoe New Nikes at UTS
Replies
5
Views
2K
innoVAShaun
innoVAShaun
S
Nike shoes worn by pros
Replies
17
Views
2K
SinneGOAT
SinneGOAT
B
Custom pro shoes
Replies
27
Views
4K
kimguroo
kimguroo
J
Grigor Dimitrov Nike Vapor Pro Stock Shoes obtained (with pics)
Replies
26
Views
9K
vex
vex
Back
Top