Rafa using the Cage 3 instead of the Cage 4

[AEROSPEED]

So in the beginning of 2020, Rafa was using the Cage 4 in the Atp Cup. and then in the AO, it looked like the Cage 3 because of the upper and the outsole was completely different compared to the 4, in the colorway it was supposed to be in the 4.
Then in Acapulco, it looked like the Cage 3. On instagram, he had a selfie which showed a photo of him, and you can see the cage 3's from 2019.
Is Rafa just used to the Cage 3 and doesn't like the 4, and he doesn't want to change(just like his racket)

 

[AEROSPEED]

This is the Cage 3 he wore in 2019

 

[HiHowAreYou]

Rafa has a history of this. Kept wearing his court ballistecs when the lunar ballistecs cape iIt

 

[RNBABOLAT]

At first nike takes some time to adjust his shoes to look like the current model they are making, so I assume Nadal shoes will look like the ZC4 at some point this year

 

[dr. godmode]

Rafa has a history of this. Kept wearing his court ballistecs when the lunar ballistecs cape iIt

Yeah he even wore the Beeathe Cage 2 when the Ballistec 1.3 came out from AO09

 

[Dae18]

You do know that it’s still the CB4.3 that’s underneath the ZC3/4 upper right? The AM bag is covered with the midsole.

 

[Deleted member 768841]

You do know that it’s still the CB4.3 that’s underneath the ZC3/4 upper right? The AM bag is covered with the midsole.

I think he actually switched to the cage 3’s foam style in 2017/2018. The heel foam is too short I think to have an air bubble in there, and there is no massive outrigger like the CB.

 

[Dae18]

I think he actually switched to the cage 3’s foam style in 2017/2018. The heel foam is too short I think to have an air bubble in there, and there is no massive outrigger like the CB.

In the CB4.3, the AM bubble was actually pretty low, like near the sole itself. There isn’t a massive outrigger cause that wasn’t the a problem to change. The silhouette is still the CB4.3 including the AM no matter what upper.

 

[jmacdaununder2]

As documented in his biography and elsewhere, Rafa has been managing chronic career threatening foot problems/injuries for many years, requiring substantial, and no doubt, ongoing structural modifications to the business areas of his footwear. Consequently, any seasonal stylistic changes are of necessity, bound to be almost entirely superficial.

 

[innoVAShaun]

 

[borgbjorn]

Rafa looks better in white shoes.

 

[RNBABOLAT]

Well... Looks like Nike won't be able to have Rafa endorsing the VC4 this year. Hopefully Nike at least try to bring something similar to the CB or the ZC3 to make it visible

 

[innoVAShaun]

 

[innoVAShaun]

 

[innoVAShaun]

 

[optic yellow]

Can anyone elaborate on the chronic foot issues Nadal is supposedly dealing with?

(I am capable of using Google of course but would prefer to read a nicely written summary from someone who knows here.)

 

[haqq777]

Is he wearing a match kit for practice? Either way I like it!

 

[Dae18]

Can anyone elaborate on the chronic foot issues Nadal is supposedly dealing with?

(I am capable of using Google of course but would prefer to read a nicely written summary from someone who knows here.)

 

[BilyNovak]

what model of nike is this that rafa is currently wearing?

 

[innoVAShaun]

what model of nike is this that rafa is currently wearing?

It is a custom PE Nike Zoom Cage 3

 

[innoVAShaun]

 

[Goof]

Odd. I hated the 3s but absolutely love the 4s. (For wearing, not for the look)

 

[Rosstour]

The white socks absolutely ruin that outfit

 

[innoVAShaun]

The white socks absolutely ruin that outfit

He should be wearing orange socks

 

[Rosstour]

He should be wearing orange socks

Or navy. Anything but white.

 

[spottishwood]

Odd. I hated the 3s but absolutely love the 4s. (For wearing, not for the look)

Exactly opposite for me lol although I never bought Cage 3 since Rafa endorsed it. I bought 3 of them when Delpo endorsed it

 

[Goof]

Exactly opposite for me lol although I never bought Cage 3 since Rafa endorsed it. I bought 3 of them when Delpo endorsed it

Even in the same size, my 3s are much narrower than my 4s, and 3s are a lot stiffer. My 3s seem much much much more durable though (the narrowness caused me to give up on them well before I would've worn them out, but they are built like a tank). The 4s, like almost all other tennis shoes I've tried in the past 20 years, blow out on the sides at the base of my pinky toe in about 6-8 months.

I wish Reebok still made the late-90s Changs. Haven't had a pair of shoes that are both comfortable and durable since I played with those in high school.

 

[innoVAShaun]

 

[innoVAShaun]

 

[SinneGOAT]

Is that a 2009 Pure Drive paint job? That isn’t Moya, is that the PD original under a 2009 paint job?

 

[innoVAShaun]

Is that a 2009 Pure Drive paint job? That isn’t Moya, is that the PD original under a 2009 paint job?

That's Marc Lopez

 

[SinneGOAT]

That's Marc Lopez

He had to steal one of Moya’s racquets

 

[Dae18]

He had to steal one of Moya’s racquets

I’m sure it’s the one he’s been using for awhile now, Swirly+ Moya always used the Soft Drive underneath the PD paintjob.

 

[innoVAShaun]

 

[jmacdaununder2]

Would like to be able to buy those socks...

 

[innoVAShaun]

 

[innoVAShaun]

 

[innoVAShaun]

 

[RNBABOLAT]

Would like to be able to buy those socks...

Looks like they are available in the everyday cushion pack of blues. Luckly I still have a bunch of the essentials in my size but that blue socks really are tempting

 

[jmacdaununder2]

I don't think those are the same sock; the ones above have two colours and I believe are based on an earlier model Nike Elite Crew sock which used to be available retail, mainly in white/black or black/white and a few other variations. The closest retail version of the Elites was possibly Blue Lagoon/Black - but it wasn't that close.

 

[innoVAShaun]

 

[innoVAShaun]

The socks do look similar to his 2018s:

 

[innoVAShaun]

 

[RNBABOLAT]

I don't think those are the same sock; the ones above have two colours and I believe are based on an earlier model Nike Elite Crew sock which used to be available retail, mainly in white/black or black/white and a few other variations. The closest retail version of the Elites was possibly Blue Lagoon/Black - but it wasn't that close.

Yes, is not the same but match the color... Not 100% sure but that blue is close to the court blue.

 

[innoVAShaun]

 

[innoVAShaun]

 

[innoVAShaun]

 

[innoVAShaun]

 

[jmacdaununder2]

What's up with the sock change? More room for/better suited to modifications re his foot issue?

 

[innoVAShaun]