The new Nike Hi-Vis Merlin Total 90 ball will be the official winter ball for the 2019–20 Premier League season, inspired by the first Nike Total 90 Aerow Hi-Vis, which made its Premier League debut during the 2004–05 season. Following on from the Hi-Vis ball model introduced for the Premier League 15 years ago, the latest version of the Premier League Hi-Vis Merlin footballs pays tribute to the iconic legacy of the Total 90 Aerow with the legendary ‘T90’ logo featured on one of the panels. This is the first time in history that a ball has featured a design different from that of the regular season, as is the case with the Nike Merlin ball.
Total 90 Merlín Premier League match ball
To celebrate the return of the Hi-Vis Merlin ball, the legendary Hi-Vis Total 90 is being released, featuring exactly the same details and specifications as the original from the 2004–2005 season. It features a hand-stitched 26-panel construction combined with a flash-textured shell. These replicas, which come in a commemorative box, will be available from the 8th of November, limited to 600 units. So, you’ll need to be quick to get your hands on one of these works of art, which, of course, will be available via the Fútbol Emotion website.
Technical features: Hi-Vis Merlín Total 90
It is the 20th anniversary of Nike’s partnership with the Premier League, and this is what the American brand has chosen to commemorate with this new ball, just as it did with the Nike Geo Merlin 20th Anniversary. It is worth noting that the new Nike Merlin is produced exclusively for the Premier League. The distinctive modular graphic, adorned with vibrant colours, is inspired by the league’s dynamism and its vibrant fan culture.
In the words of Kieran Ronan, Nike’s General Manager of Global Equipment: “We wanted to design a ball that specifically captured the characteristics of Premier League football. A ball that feels hyper-technical and precise on the pitch, but is also inspired by this English way of life and embodies the spirit of Premier League football.”
On the face of it, and as we’ve mentioned, it looks like just a conventional ball, but nothing could be further from the truth; in fact, the new Nike Merlin ball may well be one of the most technologically advanced balls of recent times (we said the same thing last year, too). As well as featuring the ‘classic’ eye-catching colours, it boasts an advanced design which, for the first time, incorporates the brand’s signature All Conditions Control (ACC) technology, ensuring optimal touch and control in all weather conditions – something to be grateful for, especially from October/November onwards. Furthermore, this time it includes what is known as Urban Grip, an updated version of All Conditions Control (ACC) technology. The altitude of cities across England does not significantly affect the game or the ball’s flight, but Nike has chosen to emphasise this aspect. In cities and regions where this atmospheric factor is a limiting factor, it is often said that the ball feels lighter there, but this is not the case; it weighs the same as anywhere else. However, as there is less wind resistance, it gains much more speed than normal, compounded by a loss of the direction the player intends to give it – and Nike has sought to correct this with the Merlin ball.
The Nike Aerowtrack grooves on the ball ensure a more consistent flight path. Among other innovations, the ball is manufactured with a latex bladder, rather than a traditional rubber one, where the latex is encased in patented materials to promote more consistent air pressure and maintain its shape. The embossed grooves and 3D inks – designed to dry at varying levels and in positions differing by millimetres – deepen as they dry during the printing process, further enhancing the ball’s aerodynamics and feel.
The legendary Nike ball is back. What do you think of this new Premier League ball? Let us know in the comments section or via our various social media channels.
