We don’t know whether Kevin De Bruyne will provide more than 15 assists next season, or whether Virgil van Dijk will reach 50 interceptions. What we do know is that if they do achieve this, they’ll be doing so whilst playing with the Nike Flight, the Premier League’s new match ball for next season.
17 June 2021
- Written by David del Río
Football match balls from the major leagues have always been highly sought-after items for many people. On the one hand, there are the collectors, who eagerly await the launch of each competition’s new ball every season to decide whether it is worthy of a place in their collection. On the other hand, there are the sports equipment specialists, a group to which we belong. You have no idea how exciting it is to receive the ball, see it, touch it, share your first impressions, and take it onto the pitch to confirm whether you were right or not. Finally, there are those who actually use it: the footballers. Will it fly well? Will it be too heavy? Will I be able to use it as an excuse when 40,000 people voice their dissatisfaction with my performance on the pitch?
Without a doubt, Nike is one of the world’s leading brands when it comes to sports equipment, but its competitors are usually on a par, if not ahead, in products such as football boots or kit. That’s not the case with footballs, as in this instance Nike really does stand out from the rest.
This football is perfect in terms of performance. The American brand tells us that eight years of development went into this Nike Flight football, and having tested it, we believe every word of that statement. Nike describes it as a revolutionary ball, primarily for two reasons. The first is a series of grooves running across the ball, giving it a 3D finish and channelling airflow to make it more stable in flight. The second is that this Nike Flight football is constructed from four panels, which reduces the number of rigid seams on the ball, providing a larger contact surface and improving the feel of the ball.
Let’s move on to the design, because however revolutionary this Nike Flight football may be, it is still the same ball used in the Premier League last season. But when it comes to the exterior design, Nike has really outdone itself. Against the white background, there are a series of curved black lines that give it a modern feel without losing the essence of what a Nike football is, but that’s not all. The American brand has decided to add a series of orange circles all over the ball, sometimes on top of the black lines and sometimes underneath them. These orange circles add a splash of colour and personality to the new Premier League ball, making it one of the most attractive balls we can remember.
Technical specifications: Premier League 21/22 football
The moulded grooves and their precise alignment with 3D-printed patterns guide the ball’s flight through the air, allowing players to place it exactly where they want. Nike Aerowsculpt technology uses moulded grooves that disrupt the airflow over the ball to reduce drag and deliver a more stable flight. This aerodynamic revolution delivers 30% better flight compared to Nike’s previous Merlin ball. The 3D ink print refines the ball’s flight to help you hit the target with every shot and pass. All Conditions Control (ACC) technology provides a consistent touch in both dry and wet conditions. Four fused panels create a larger contact area for powerful shots.
This is the new Nike Flight ball that will be used in the Premier League next season. It’s certainly a bold move by Nike that will set English football apart from the rest of the world even more than before.
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