More power in shots, better control of the ball

TODAY Sports reporter Noah Tan (noahtanyw [at] mediacorp.com.sg) recently had the opportunity to not only try out Nike’s latest Hypervenom 3 boots at a media event in Bangkok, but also got to use them in a friendly match featuring members of the Thai national team. He shares his experience…

The features

The first thing I noticed when I took out a pair of Nike Hypervenom 3 boots from its box was how light they were.

The pair weighed 196g , which was a big plus for me. This is because I’m not one of the fastest players on the pitch. As such, having  a lighter pair of cleats to provide a speed boost in a game will always be welcome by me.

But being lightweight  was just one of several interesting features in the Hypervenom 3.

Another was the 2mm multi-layered ‎Poron® foam pods that covered the boots.

At the Hypervenom 3 South-east-Asian launch in Bangkok, Thailand, last week, Nike explained that these “hollow, flexible pods were designed to create a dampening soft touch at low velocity contact, while activating rigidity when striking the ball with high velocity to create a firm launching pad for a true strike.”

In short, it’s meant to help a player better control the ball, while providing a power boost behind each shot.

Another interesting feature of the Hypervenom 3 is its Hyper-Reactive plate, which features a new traction pattern built for lateral cuts at sharp angles, while hexagonal-shape studs allows players to rotate quickly and easily.

Testing the Hypervenom 3

I was given a chance to test out the Hypervenom 3 at the boots’  launch, which was attended by media from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

Nike had arranged for us to undergo several training drills while using the boots, before taking part in a 9-a-side match at the Arena 10 football pitch. But we weren’t going to do it on our own.

Nike also enlisted Thai national players Kroekrit Thawikan and Noppanon Kachaplayuk (also known as Kong and Aof respectively), as well as Thai football icon Therdsak Chaiman, to be part of the testing process.

All three hail from Thai Premier League outfit Chonburi, with Therdsak serving as the manager of the club.

As such, it was Therdsak who led us on our training drills, which tested us on our shooting, passing, agility and ball control.

With the Hypervenom 3 fitting my feet snugly, I was able to move around comfortably on the pitch and felt no discomfort as I was put through the various drills.

Given that the Hypervenom 3 is designed for strikers, it came as no surprise that the first drill we went through was shooting.

Receiving a short pass from Kong, I struck the ball with the laces of my boot and heard the satisfying “thud” echo off as the ball thundered towards goal.

Alas, the ball went over the bar. Well, the Hypervenom 3 did promise to increase the power of my shots (which it did). It just didn’t make any promises about improving one’s accuracy.

Next up were some agility drills, coupled with dribbling and tackling.

Controlling the ball was a cinch with the pods providing a cushioned touch, while the studs made it easier for me to change direction when running with or without the ball.

The Match

The real test however, came when we were split into two groups – one wearing red jerseys, the other wearing black, to play in a 15-minute 9-aside friendly match, with both Kong and Aof joining a team each.

While just a friendly, the match was nonetheless intense, with the Thai media in particular proving to be skilful players and tough opponents. Perhaps they were eager to prove that just like their national team, they too were the kingpins of football among the Southeast-Asian media.

It was an evenly-matched game, with both sides pinging the passes back and forth and shooting from range as much as possible, with players obviously experiencing added power to their shots.

Both Kong and Aof were in a class of their own, even if they did hold back, and it was almost impossible to get the ball off them.

Personally, I enjoyed how easy it was to get the ball under control, which was immensely helpful when receiving the ball in tight spaces or under pressure.

I also liked the way my long passes seemed to travel much further than before, making it easier for me to spread the play.

Overall, the Nike Hypervenom 3 lives up to its promise of enhancing a player’s shots and touches, while also providing a level of comfort and flexibility that makes it easy to run in.