Nike built their brand on the back of signature shoes. Just ask Michael Jordan.
Although they have the number one player in the world, Rory McIlroy, in their stable it is still the biggest name in golf that Nike name a shoe after and the latest Tiger Woods shoe, the Nike TW'15, has had plenty of input from the man himself.
Tiger has worked with designer Tobie Hatfield since the first iteration of the TW shoes and this model brings together some of the best Nike innovations into one shoe.
The TW'15 incorporates Flyweave, first seen in Nike basketball shoes in 2014, in to a one-piece woven upper that has excellent strength-to-weight support and is capable of supporting the most demanding of sporting movements.
Hatfield, Athlete Projects Innovator at Nike, explains the fit of Flyweave to Woods:
Tiger epitomises power. His power starts with natural motion which begins with unleashing the foot from the ground up. Flyweave gives you that flexibility coupled with support.
The Flyweave is integrated with Nike's Dynamic Flywire, which is strategically placed filaments that function like cables on a suspension bridge and offer support precisely where it’s needed to give the stability required for an aggressive golf swing.
The upper element is combined with a golf specific outsole that is inspired by Nike Free shoes that give athletes a natural range of motion. Woods was heavily involved and his feedback led to designers making a sole that is 3mm closer to the ground than in the Nike TW'14 shoe.
The process used to create the sole optimises the flexibility of the shoe and traction is enhanced by the combination of four spikes with an Integrated Traction area in the toe of the shoe to help Woods harness the full power in his swing without losing any grip.
These traction elements are apparently shaped like octopus beaks and the rubber in the tip and the heel are inspired by shark scales, Hatfield's nod to Woods' personal love of diving and spear fishing.
Woods is certainly happy with the results:
Nike keeps answering the bell every time I want to push the envelope. The new Flyweave technology provides even more stability and support for my foot, and when you pair that with the Free-inspired outsole, I noticed I can push off the ground better and finish my swing with power.
The Nike TW'15 shoe is available in three colour combinations: University Red/Black; Metallic Silver/Black/Cool Grey and Black/White.
On general sale from March, there will be a limited number of the Silver/Black/Grey shoe available exclusively from Nike's website on 2 February.