LE Nike Lunar Control 3 Golf Shoe - McIlroy Sets and Unconventional On-Course Tone

[Tony Covey MGS]

This came in from Nike Golf over the weekend. I thought it was interesting for a few different reasons, so I thought I'd pass it along.
 
At face value, all we've got is another Limited Edition shoe, so why is this one noteworthy?
 
1) It's Limited Edition...for whatever that's worth. I like limited edition stuff.
 
2) The design is more big Nike than Nike Golf. I'm all but certain this is what you're going to see from Nike moving forward. The golf division is going to be nearly indistinguishable from the larger Nike brand, whereas in the past it has operated separately. Quick hit, limited edition, bold (like the rest of Nike). This is Nike Golf now. Think Jordan brand applied to golf.
 
3) Think about this release in terms of Tiger vs. Rory...not on the golf course, but as individuals. Tiger is very particular...black shoes, white shoes, Sunday red. Consider that it bordered on actual news that Tiger might wear a red hat during a tournament (he didn't).
 
Rory, by contrast, is more flexible in what he's willing to wear. We can haggle over which is Nike's marquee golf athlete right now, but Rory inarguably gives Nike Golf more freedom to be itself, take risks, and do bold things with color. Rory allows Nike to be Nike.
 
As press release-type things go this is an interesting read because of the language itself. Key on disruptive. Nike used the word to describe Rory's all-white look for the Masters, and they're using it again to describe the giant toe swoosh on the LE LC3.
 
Within the larger context of what's happening inside Nike Golf right now, I think it describes Nike's new approach to its golf business. It's not going to play the same market share, 10 more yards, the #1 widget in whatever it is we're #1 at game that the rest of the industry plays. Nike is finally going to just do golf like it just does everything else.
 
Keep an eye on this...it's going to be very interesting to see if Nike can actually disrupt the industry by finally acting like Nike.


SEPTEMBER 07, 2015

MCILROY SETS AN UNCONVENTIONAL ON-COURSE TONE

 

A bold Swoosh and bright color highlight the limited edition Nike Golf Lunar Control 3 shoe.

 

Seven spikes and additional traction elements prevents slipping and retains the control needed to generate power and speed

 

When Rory McIlroy steps onto the first tee today for his final round at the Deutsche Bank Championship, the Nike Golf athlete will look to disrupt the status quo with both his swing and his shoe: a limited edition Nike Lunar Control 3.

“We set out to be disruptive with this shoe,” explains James Arizumi, Nike Golf's Design Director of footwear. “We challenge the status quo by placing the Swoosh on top of the shoe in the toe area, instead of on the side.”

 

Dynamic Nike Flywire technology wraps the foot for adaptive lateral support

 

The aforementioned Swoosh appears in metallic silver, set against a bright orange and white upper, which also employs Flywire technology for adaptive lateral support. Additionally, the Nike Lunar Control 3 boasts a wide base for stability, that allows the athlete to maintain contact with the ground for as long as possible through ball impact. The shoe's carbon fiber midfoot shank offers lightweight stability while its midsole features full-length Lunarlon foam that delivers lightweight, responsive cushioning.

 

McIlroy and a variety of Nike Golf athletes will wear the limited edition Lunar Control 3 in the final round of upcoming competitive events.

Full-length Lunarlon midsole delivers unsurpassed cushioning

 

AVAILABILITY

The Nike Lunar Control 3 LE is available now at nike.com.

[Kenny B]

Is Nike transitioning away from the Lunar Volt color, and more toward Cobra orange?  

[Tony Covey MGS]

Is Nike transitioning away from the Lunar Volt color, and more toward Cobra orange?  

 

Golf will follow the big brand, which means there is going to be some variance in whatever the hot color du jour is. This particularly flavor of orange is one of Nike's fall colors. Volt, for example, is so totally last season.

[Kenny B]

[Volt, for example, is so totally last season.]  "What's that?  Then Sell, Sell, Sell!" 

[This particularly flavor of orange is one of Nike's fall colors.]  "They're all selling? Then Buy, Buy, Buy!"

[RookieBlue7]

Blue to be the spring color. Volt green is gone

[hckymeyer]

Blue to be the spring color. Volt green is gone

I might actually buy some Nike gear then

[Hula Rock]

that's weird......

 

Blue was a color for the Spring Collection 2015, They introduced Volt color for Vapor line, and would not be shocked to see it again in the spring if the Vapor line of golf clubs continues.

 

Orange is a color for the 2015 Fall Collection.

[EthanSterlingPrice]

Make it Aggie maroon and I'm all over it.

[apprenti23]

I was thinking similar thoughts as you T, but when they released the pink Michelle Wie high tops. I said wow, Nike is finally starting to be like Nike. Not sure how this will work in the hard goods market, but I think this bodes well for them as a dominating force in the soft goods market (if you can wear it you consider it soft goods).

 

I don't think Volt is gone, yet. It's just as evident on the new blue driver as it was on the black driver.

 

I'll tell you what though- SO GLAD they seem to be done with "victory red."

[Jmikecpa]

Hope this is really the end to the volt color. Guy in front of me had on volt colored shorts, volt colored shirt and volt colored shoes today. Not sure how anyone thinks they should go out in public dressed like that?

[EthanSterlingPrice]

Hope this is really the end to the volt color. Guy in front of me had on volt colored shorts, volt colored shirt and volt colored shoes today. Not sure how anyone thinks they should go out in public dressed like that?

reminds me of the older fella on Rickie Fowler's custom fit commercial