Rory McIlroy will be wearing some new golf shoes this week at the WGC-HSBC Champions, debuting the Nike Golf Lunar Control Vapor kicks in China.
McIlroy first worked with the shoes in an August respite, spending time with the shoes on any kind of lie he could imagine during a Bahamas practice and training trip.
The shoes feature the traction system that came with the Nike Flyknit Elite, which debuted at the U.S. Open in June. The treads, inspired by snowmobile blades, accomplishes several different things. First, it decouples the medial heel and lateral forefoot to help a golfer get through the swing. The TPU, tooth-like treads create more contact points with the turf for maximum traction through the swing. The articulated channels in between the separated sections of traction helps a golfer maintain balance.
The added benefit is that the treads replace spikes, as well the need for receptacles to hold the spikes on the outsole. That allowed Nike designers to put in my foam under the foot for better cushioning. Superintendents will like that the teeth don't damage greens.
The traction system is built on top of a full-length Lunarlon midsole and Nike Flywire. The upper is made from a lightweight premium microfiber and has a two-year waterproof guarantee.
The Nike Lunar Control Vapor, available for men and women, will be available in limited fashion in Nov. 22 and available fully on Nov. 25.
