Nike 'Wobble Illusion' Ball

[Dom. FC]

Moderators, if this isn't a serious enough topic for this board please delete or relocate this thread.

The gold and white Nike ball that has been forced on the USMNT is IMO awful. (And it isn't like Nike doesn't make some good balls.) I've read that some of the players agree, I'm pretty sure that everyone that ever played between the pipes agrees and I'm wondering what you all think. If they could put eight or maybe even 16 Nike swooshes on it maybe that could help with the contrast.

In Germany they'll be playing with a Adidas 'TeamGeist' ball with a nice contrast pattern. MLS will be using a very similar ball. Meanwhile we play friendlies with a ball that looks like a volleyball with a gold spray paint dark side of the moon pattern.

Discuss?

[Northcal19]

Moderators, if this isn't a serious enough topic for this board please delete or relocate this thread.

The gold and white Nike ball that has been forced on the USMNT is IMO awful.

In Germany they'll be playing with a Adidas 'TeamGeist' ball with a nice contrast pattern. MLS will be using a very similar ball.
Discuss?

Because Adidas makes some quality products, whereas Nike is just, well it's Nike. It's crap. Which there is a large market for.

[Henry Porter]

I agree that the ball is too much. I was going to start a thread on it but put it off, good to see others agree. It really takes away from the game being played and shouldn't be allowed. I'm all for technology to make better balls but FIFA should step in on this.

[Dom. FC]

If I knew how to set up a poll on this topic it would be something like:

A. The gold and white Nike ball sucks.

B. The gold and white Nike ball sucks real bad.

C. The gold and white Nike ball was designed by a guy that usually does drapes and wallpaper - not soccer balls.

D. The gold and white Nike ball sucks so much that it can't be properly inflated with ordinary ball pumps.

And that's still holding back a little considering polite company and all. ;>)

I wonder how many replicas they have made and have to sell before they can bail on their very flawed design?

[CbR]

i know they make the ball lighter and stich it up for maximum lift/velocity but resorting to optical illusions to trick the keeper to increase scoreing is just messed up:)

my fav ball of all time is the first MLS mitre ball

[usfooty7]

It's about time somebody dissed that lopsided poo-colored orb.

[wcharriscpa]

The ball is ugly as sin (at best), and can actually detract from watching an otherwise enjoyable soccer match (at worst).

I'm all for innovative designs on a ball, but when you're watching a match and you notice yourself wondering "What the hell is wrong with that ball?"....well, there's a problem.

[yankeexpride]

it fooled my girlfriend pretty bad
she was absolutely positive they were playing with a rugby ball
because of the way it looked on tv

[Ringo]

I thought I saw Landon wearing matching shoes ... they had that same gold-colored pattern around the heels.
I could be wrong.

I wouldn't think the ball was designed to fool the keepers ... the US wouldn't want to play with a ball that would fool THEIR keeper, too ... but that doesn't keep it from being butt-ugly. i think the part of if fooling the keepers is an unforseen side effect.

[yokefello1]

The T90 ball was great in retrospect.

I would prefer a palin white ball to this golden wobble egg.

[Newtbomb]

As a former keeper, I'd have to totally agree that the ball is crap. I don't care how well it plays, who makes it or it's freakin' deflation rate. It does appear to wobble ( on TV at least). Is it not as noticeable to the players on the pitch? It would be nice to get an opinion from someone who attended one of the friendlies or find an article quoting a US player dissin' the thing.
And I thought I had it bad adjusting in the 80's when all-white balls started appearing in the US. If someone took a good crack on a clean ball, the spin would be difficult to read. In this case with the Nike ball, the "movement" is false. Again, this is what it appears onscreen.....

[chrishungate]

Yeah...it's definitely annoying to watch it on TV. Very distracting. I believe I heard the announcers on a recent game say that the players, too, have a hard time tracking it and judging it. I'm surprised that FIFA hasn't outlawed it yet. Good thing it's the adidas ball for MLS and the World Cup. And a nice adidas ball it is. Can't wait to get my feet on one.

[equakesfan]

It would be nice to get an opinion from someone who attended one of the friendlies

It was annoying watching it in the stands, too. I definitely thought it was "wobbling" when in flight without a uniformly dark background.

[sidefootsitter]

It also makes goalkeepers think the whistle has been blown.

True story.

[DCUSA]

What is the idea behind this ball? It's atrocious, even my wife said, "uchhh, what's wrong with that ball?". Be gone, Weeble ball!

[NBlue]

It seems I'm a minority of one -- I though the ball was kinda cool. I'll go back to my cave now . . .

[T Nitty]

It sounds like the wives (and all women?) hate the ball. Is that based strictly on appearance, or does it have anything to do with the wobble effect? Reminds me of my girlfriend deciding to root for a team because their players are cuter. :rolleyes:

Remember that Adidas ad where the keeper gets scored on several times and then says "this ball sucks"? That's so gimmicky, trying to make a ball to fool the keeper. Wouldn't it also affect field players?

FIFA needs to go to a standard ball, ala NFL, NBA, MLB. Maybe it would hurt the bottom line, but the current circus of balls out there (EPL, hello) is just one more thing that the haters can joke on.

So, is it "Nike does not care about keepers"? Or...
http://us.gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/nike-maxsight-might-give-you-game-113778.php
http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/images/nikemaxsight.jpg

[yokefello1]

As I said the Nike T90s are really great balls IMO. I just think the new vapors are totally unwatchable on TV.

Thankfully the WC will be using the new Adidas, but I hope the EPL refuses to replace the T90 with this vapor.

It's shcokingly bad. Hard on the eyes even from afar.

[Ultra Peanut]

I thought I saw Landon wearing matching shoes ... they had that same gold-colored pattern around the heels.
I could be wrong.

You're correct. I also noticed Twellman and Dempsey sporting matching footwear.

It sounds like the wives (and all women?) hate the ball. Is that based strictly on appearance, or does it have anything to do with the wobble effect? Reminds me of my girlfriend deciding to root for a team because their players are cuter.

Speaking as a chick who is someone's wife, I'm largely indifferent to the ball other than thinking the wobble illusion looks kinda weird.

So, is it "Nike does not care about keepers"? Or...
http://us.gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadget...ame-113778.php

Is it wrong of me to note that my annual eye exam is just prior to when I'm heading out for the WC, and to be tempted to ask my doctor for a sample of these suckers?

BTW, at the Revs/Midnight Riders' Meet the Coach a couple weeks back, Mariner mentioned the new MLS ball was appreciated by the forwards, but hated by the GKs. Make of that what you will, given that the new MLS ball is (if I'm not mistaken) the new WC ball.

[swedust]

Reminds me of my girlfriend deciding to root for a team because their players are cuter.

Wait, you mean that's not why the rest of you are in this forum?

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EJ also has the jaundice boots on, BTW, in the ESPN Mag article w/Gooch that's been discussed.