Serve it up
MIKASA MVA200 VOLLEYBALL
The new official volleyball is designed to improve accuracy and control.
Sight
Colors were changed to bright blue and yellow to improve visibility. The conventional 18-panel design was changed to an 8-panel, flower-petal- type arrangement.
Control Options
Dimpled surface creates an air disturbance in front of the ball as it moves, making for a truer trajectory.
Feel
With fewer panels the ball has fewer seams, meaning more of the player’s hand comes into contact with the ball, which aids in control. Panels are glued at seams and not directly to the bladder, creating a pocket of air between the two, which makes the ball softer.
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Versatile specs
OAKLEY ENDURING EYEWEAR
Interchangable lenses and advanced optics let female athletes look cool while seeing the competition in a whole new light.
Options
Different lens shapes available, with vented versions for improved air flow.
Two nosepieces allow for improved
Clarity
Lens coatings prevent water and sweat from leaving streaks.
Engineered to provide a sharper view over longer distances.
Conventional sunglasses
Objects in the distance can blur or distort like the center area of this test pattern.
Oakley Endurance
High definition optics help keeps objects clear, even those that are far away.
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Fast and cool
NIKE SWIFT APPAREL
U.S. track and field athletes will be outfitted with new fabrics that improve aerodynamics, keep them cooler and allow for more interesting graphics.
Visuals
Graphics printed directly on mesh instead of layered on as a decal, creating a lighter feel.
Speed
Seams removed or moved to the back to provide 7 percent less drag than the 2004 uniforms (left).
Enviro-friendly
Made with recycled polyester yarns.
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Slick suit
SPEEDO LZR RACER SWIMSUIT
Speedo calls this the world’s fastest swimsuit, designed to reduce drag while in the water.
Construction
Fully bonded suit is made of three full-length pieces. Seams are ultrasonically welded, not stitched, to reduce drag. Composed of the lightest woven swim fabric, it is waterrepellent, chlorine-resistant and fast-drying.
Panels made of ultra-thin compression membrane and placed at strategic areas streamline the shape and reduce drag.
Silicon grippers at ankle and knee ensure suit doesn’t wrinkle or move.
Core stabilizer added to help maintain the swimmer’s body position.
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New heights
NIKE HYPERDUNK
This new basketball shoe design emphasizes the basics of shoe support while minimizing materials for a lighter shoe.
Strength
Design uses Nike’s Flywire technology, a web of high-strength strings to support the foot, similar to the way cables support a suspension bridge.
Weight
Design requires less material, resulting in a shoe that is 18 percent lighter.
Typical Nike basketball shoe: 16 ounces
Hyperdunk: 13 ounces
Comfort
Cushioning uses a light-weight foam that distributes force evenly over a larger area so less pressure is felt in any one spot.
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SOURCES: Speedo, Nike, Mikasa, Oakley
TRIBUNE GRAPHIC / Adam Zoll, Max Rust and Phil Geib
