The Premier League have unveiled their new-look ball for the 2008-09 season.
Manufacturers Nike claim it is the "most consistent ball ever" and will "provide countless spectacular moments in the new season".
For those who are dying to know what the ball is called, it's official title is the 'Nike Total 90 Omni Ball', and has been engineered to set new standards for consistency, accuracy and visibility.
And for those who scoff, this state-of-the-art sphere has apparently been a long time in the making.
It has been tested and proven over two years - in computer simulations, in research labs and with some of the world's best players.
For those not interested in the science of balls, I'll try to keep this brief and simple.
It is made up of engineered hexagons and pentagons that fit precisely together to create a nearly perfect sphere.
This design distributes pressure more evenly across panels and all around the ball to create what the engineers are calling a "360-Degree Sweet Spot".
And what about the new red colour? Well, this is supposedly to help players make better split-second judgements.
We are told that "a new, red asymmetrical band encircling the ball generates a more powerful visual signal as it rotates, providing a quicker read on ball location, spin rate, speed and trajectory from any angle.
"It's designed to help athletes make better decisions at top-speed, when the pressure is on."
Expect it to be in a shop near you soon.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ma...YourView&xml=/sport/2008/06/29/ufnball129.xml
(Check link for pic)
Manufacturers Nike claim it is the "most consistent ball ever" and will "provide countless spectacular moments in the new season".
For those who are dying to know what the ball is called, it's official title is the 'Nike Total 90 Omni Ball', and has been engineered to set new standards for consistency, accuracy and visibility.
And for those who scoff, this state-of-the-art sphere has apparently been a long time in the making.
It has been tested and proven over two years - in computer simulations, in research labs and with some of the world's best players.
For those not interested in the science of balls, I'll try to keep this brief and simple.
It is made up of engineered hexagons and pentagons that fit precisely together to create a nearly perfect sphere.
This design distributes pressure more evenly across panels and all around the ball to create what the engineers are calling a "360-Degree Sweet Spot".
And what about the new red colour? Well, this is supposedly to help players make better split-second judgements.
We are told that "a new, red asymmetrical band encircling the ball generates a more powerful visual signal as it rotates, providing a quicker read on ball location, spin rate, speed and trajectory from any angle.
"It's designed to help athletes make better decisions at top-speed, when the pressure is on."
Expect it to be in a shop near you soon.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ma...YourView&xml=/sport/2008/06/29/ufnball129.xml
(Check link for pic)
