Forget about racket pjs! How 'bout them kicks?
- Thread starter badmice1
- Start date
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
Yes, I've heard that many pros use "paintjob" shoes as well. Many shoes are custom made to specific pros specifications. That's why if you look closely, you'll see their names (e.g., Roger Federer, etc.) printed on their shoes. It's because they are made just for them. They only look like the shoes that you can buy in stores but they may have very different cushioning systems (or lack thereof), soles, and weights.
If you read interviews with the players you'll find several making mention of having their shoes specially designed for them. I gather it is usually reserved only for the upper eschelon players but you can feel pretty confident that what they're running around in isnt exactly what you'll buy in a store. The lower level players I dont imagine get the same kind of treatment. However, when I was playing football and the club was sponsored by one of the footwear brands those of us with fittings that weren't catered for by their standard shoe would have something made from scratch.
This is a little excerpt (didnt think you'd want the whole thing) from an interview with Ally Baker the young American player who was off the circuit due to a foot injury (she had the foot reconstructed).
" The modifications made to adidas tennis footwear is a service exclusive to adidas' Sports Marketing department, and is only available to adidas' contracted athletes. The cost of modifying a specific footwear style to meet the needs of a particular athlete's foot requirements can cost upwards of a few thousand dollars.
Ginger Tivey serves as one of adidas' Athlete Service Managers in the Sports Marketing department, and she worked directly with Ally. "The technical expertise that Ginger has is incredible," said adidas spokesperson Matt Martell. "She and our entire Athlete Service group can almost be called podiatrists, minus the medical degree. Ginger took molds of Ally's feet, conducted foot scans and various other foot-related tests. Once Ally's specific needs were identified, we went about modifying a shoe for her."
This is a little excerpt (didnt think you'd want the whole thing) from an interview with Ally Baker the young American player who was off the circuit due to a foot injury (she had the foot reconstructed).
" The modifications made to adidas tennis footwear is a service exclusive to adidas' Sports Marketing department, and is only available to adidas' contracted athletes. The cost of modifying a specific footwear style to meet the needs of a particular athlete's foot requirements can cost upwards of a few thousand dollars.
Ginger Tivey serves as one of adidas' Athlete Service Managers in the Sports Marketing department, and she worked directly with Ally. "The technical expertise that Ginger has is incredible," said adidas spokesperson Matt Martell. "She and our entire Athlete Service group can almost be called podiatrists, minus the medical degree. Ginger took molds of Ally's feet, conducted foot scans and various other foot-related tests. Once Ally's specific needs were identified, we went about modifying a shoe for her."
david aames
Professional
Players use orthotics in their shoes that they can move from one pair to another. Don't go assume that they leave that part to Adidas or Nike. Sampras for example used to consult with Simon Small, an orthopedist in Philly (other top players go to him as well)
What the players are given by their sponsor is close to the retail version of the shoe with one major difference -- it will be available in 3 outsoles (hard, clay, grass).
I have Federer's shoes from his first Wimbledon final and they are almost identical to the Breathe Free you could buy in the store -- except for the grass outsole and the color (no insole). They were made in China.
What the players are given by their sponsor is close to the retail version of the shoe with one major difference -- it will be available in 3 outsoles (hard, clay, grass).
I have Federer's shoes from his first Wimbledon final and they are almost identical to the Breathe Free you could buy in the store -- except for the grass outsole and the color (no insole). They were made in China.
luke_1983uk
Semi-Pro
the only differences in the pros shoes to our shoes is that the pros shoes are customized for the pro's ie size and soles. the soles that we buy come only in one style (Hardcourt or grass) the pros use the same shoe but if they are playing on grass they use the grass version check **** for maria sharapova's worn wimbledon shoes on the uk site she wore the normal old style vapours with the grass pimples on.
Rabbit
G.O.A.T.
Sampras was very particular about his footwear after he switched from Sergio Tacchini to Nike. If you y'all remember, he injured his achilles and it sidelined him for quite some time. I think it also scared him.
I remember the picture of Connors on the front of Tennis magazine a few years ago. It was taken of him in mid-leap directly after he retrieved the 4 overheads that Paul Harhiuus hit to win the point. He was endorsing Reebok, funny thing was his soles said Nike.
A few years ago, when Serena had just signed with Puma, she had a trainer come out on court. They lifted her foot to remove her shoe. She was wearing disguised Nike Oscillates.
The deception grows deeper...
I remember the picture of Connors on the front of Tennis magazine a few years ago. It was taken of him in mid-leap directly after he retrieved the 4 overheads that Paul Harhiuus hit to win the point. He was endorsing Reebok, funny thing was his soles said Nike.
A few years ago, when Serena had just signed with Puma, she had a trainer come out on court. They lifted her foot to remove her shoe. She was wearing disguised Nike Oscillates.
The deception grows deeper...
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
I remember reading in a book, maybe it was Bill Scanlon, but back in the '70's some pros use to buy one brand of shoes and then use a magic marker and draw the logo of their shoe sponsor onto the shoes themselves.
I think a particular instance I heard about was, again, maybe it was Bill Scanlon, that borrowed a pair of Borg's Diadora grass shoes from him and then drew the Nike swoosh logo on them so he could wear them during Wimbledon.
I think a particular instance I heard about was, again, maybe it was Bill Scanlon, that borrowed a pair of Borg's Diadora grass shoes from him and then drew the Nike swoosh logo on them so he could wear them during Wimbledon.
Mike Cottrill
Hall of Fame
david aames said:
David,
You have the actual pair he wore? That seems like having someone’s dirty socks.. Hopefully he only wore them for the one match. Do you have them in a case or something and on display?
Thanks Mike.
david aames
Professional
Ok, I'm busted. : )
Not really like having someone's dirty socks no since he wore them with 2 pair of socks and the orthotics... They are actually quite clean on the inside. The outsole on the other hand is pretty worn out and green.
But I do have his wristbands which in your book is probably borderline. Ha!
And no case, nope. They sit next to the pair I play in.
Not really like having someone's dirty socks no since he wore them with 2 pair of socks and the orthotics... They are actually quite clean on the inside. The outsole on the other hand is pretty worn out and green.
But I do have his wristbands which in your book is probably borderline. Ha!
And no case, nope. They sit next to the pair I play in.
Mike Cottrill said:
david aames
Professional
Haha. Now, I have to see of picture of your turkey baster, Rabbit.
Rabbit said:
incredholt
New User
speaking of federer's shoes anyone wanna buy some a pair for $1500 ?
http://cgi.*********/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=430&item=5209144659&rd=1
http://cgi.*********/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=430&item=5209144659&rd=1
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