High function · table tennis shoes worn by Olympic athletes! What is Mizuno "wave drive" & "wave medal".
A great breakthrough at the world championship of the Japanese national team brought excitement throughout Japan, becoming an unprecedented boom, "table tennis". This time, Mizuno (Mizuno Corporation: Representative Director Mizuno Akito) has been researching and developing for more than 40 years, Mr. Nakaya of the planning and development person of "Table Tennis Shoes", two types of shoes now pressed He told me about it.
Hidemi Sakuma
|
2017/12/28
It is said that wearing table tennis shoes in Japan was established in the 1950s and 1960s, the shoes at the time were made of cloth and had a simple shape with sponge and rubber affixed to the bottom, so-called "indoor wear" and It was getting.
In Mizuno, we started selling table tennis shoes since around the 1970s and devised measures to enhance the grip power, such as grooves with corrugations and angles. In the 1980s, the development of rubber used for outsole also progressed, sole performance improved dramatically due to improvement of grip power, durability, light weight, etc.
And from the 1990s onwards to the present, the design has also improved, and the midsole, including the shock absorbing material, and the upper material continue to remarkably evolve.
＜参照：卓球王国 『卓球グッズ2016』 2016年7月号別冊 P53＞
Mizuno Corporation
Global Footwear Product Headquarters
Racket Sports Shoes
Mr. Toshiki Nakatani
- Recently, I feel a table tennis boom.
Nakaya: Since the Japanese players made a big success at the Rio de Janeiro · Olympic Games last year, they got noticed in the media, the number of new members in the table tennis club increased at the school, and it became an unprecedented table tennis boom.
- Could you tell us about this shoes?
Nakaya: The shoes to be introduced this time are of two types: "lightweight bare feet emphasized shoes" and "stable · cushion emphasized shoes".
"Wave drive"
This gray and yellow shoes is a model called "wave drive" that emphasizes light-bare feet. This series has been deploying for more than 10 years, and speaking of Mizuno's table tennis shoes, there is recognition as "wave drive" to say. Among them, the high-end model is "Wave Drive Z". Joint development research was born as a sports agency's high performance support business. It is on sale from 2016.
The concept of this shoe is to accelerate player movement. By making the grooves in the diagonal direction on the sole and making it easier to twist inward, we will lead the player's first step kicking out force to be more powerful. Actually, Ao Fukuhara played active at last year's Rio Olympic Games.
"Wave Medal"
Another stable · cushion type shoes are "Wave Medal". It has become quite popular in recent years. In this shoe, the sole is thick and has a sense of stability, designability is also supported. Originally, table tennis shoes had a lot of shoes with only a little color in pure white base, but I got a high reputation for design, and I am mainly wearing students.
- Is there a difference in the sole of "wave drive" and "wave medal"?
Nakaya: Yes. "Wave drive" reduces the rubber part of the sole, making it thin bottom to make it easier to grab the coat to enhance acceleration performance.
「ウエーブメダル」は、ソールの形状を一面フラットにしており、コート上でしっかりと踏ん張りやすいような構造にしています。こちらは安定性重視なので、サイド方向に動いた時にぶれないように補強を重ねています。
- Is there any difference other than Saul?
Nakaya:yes, I have. "Wave drive" is based on barefoot sense as a concept. Because it is creating an upper using artificial leather of micro fiber fiber called prime skin, it is a shoe with good foot familiarity. And by adopting a mesh material with slight elasticity called Dynamotion Fit on the inner shell side, even when bending while playing, the upper will suck up and reduce the power loss with a bumpy foot.
- The appearance seems to be futsal shoes.
Nakaya: Sure, it is close. There are also some players who like to play futsal shoes that actually have high design.
- How about coloring?
Nakaya: There are more shoes that are ogle in the last few years. Various color shoes are on sale every season.
- Are there any other features?
Nakaya: The weight of the table tennis shoes is relatively light compared to other indoor shoes. By the way, the difference between "wave drive" and "wave medal" introduced this time is about 20 g.
- That 20 gBut is it different when you move?
Nakaya: Depending on the play style, it is not. A player who places importance on the speed of winning in front of a table tennis wears a light shoe with thin bottom that is easy to carry out fine steps, and contrary to the cut, the player who opposes it cuts behind so many cushions There is a tendency to choose what has one. Also, because there are wide type shoes, it has become a lineup that can respond to various play scenes, styles, and the demands of athletes.
- How long did it take from planning to completion?
Nakaya: It takes at least 2 years. We will talk with many stakeholders and players to raise the accuracy. Beginning with ideas, we reworked the sample a number of times as to how to actually make the material and specification in what shape, whether the functionality is satisfactory, and soon completed.
- In particular, where did it take you?
Nakaya: It is Saul. The work of making a metal mold is broken. It is difficult to modify how to shape the design based on the concept, once you make it, it is necessary to raise the accuracy at the preparation stage.
――2Which share is more of a type?
Nakaya: A light type was popular until two or three years ago, but recently the popularity of the stable type has been growing, and it has grown with the momentum to overtake the lightweight type.
- What reasons are possible?
Nakaya: Because play style is more powerful and speed is required, I think that shoes that can withstand it are becoming popular.
- How is the durability?
Nakaya: Compared with other events, table tennis shoes are made thicker because the forefoot portion of the sole is easier to reduce.
- How about the heel?
Nakaya: Mizuno's shoes have a reputation for fitting goodness. The goodness of fitting is that the heel's care is important, so that the heel shifts when moving so that it does not become a power loss. Because table tennis has many unique movements to hit the ball while laying his legs down, moderate softness is also necessary so as not to disturb the fitting.
インソールは、まず踵をしっかり固定し、中足部に盛り上がりを付けることで中足部をしっかりと押し上げて指でコートを踏ん張りやすくなるようにしています。ミズノでオリジナルのインソールを作る選手もいます。
- Finally, could you tell us about your future prospects?
Nakaya：これからも選手のサポートをして、選手に活躍をしていただきたいです。また、卓球界を引っ張っていけるようなブランドであり続けたいです。そして、モデルやカラーリング、機能面で進化し続け、お客様に喜んでいただけるような商品をつくりたいです。 (了)
Mizuno table tennis shoe
http://products.mizuno.jp/c/category/tabletennis/shoes/
Cooperation of coverage / Mizuno Corporation
Photo provided / Mizuno Corporation
Interview photograph / Hidemi Sakuma
In Mizuno, we started selling table tennis shoes since around the 1970s and devised measures to enhance the grip power, such as grooves with corrugations and angles. In the 1980s, the development of rubber used for outsole also progressed, sole performance improved dramatically due to improvement of grip power, durability, light weight, etc.
And from the 1990s onwards to the present, the design has also improved, and the midsole, including the shock absorbing material, and the upper material continue to remarkably evolve.
＜参照：卓球王国 『卓球グッズ2016』 2016年7月号別冊 P53＞
Mizuno Corporation
Global Footwear Product Headquarters
Racket Sports Shoes
Mr. Toshiki Nakatani
- Recently, I feel a table tennis boom.
Nakaya: Since the Japanese players made a big success at the Rio de Janeiro · Olympic Games last year, they got noticed in the media, the number of new members in the table tennis club increased at the school, and it became an unprecedented table tennis boom.
- Could you tell us about this shoes?
Nakaya: The shoes to be introduced this time are of two types: "lightweight bare feet emphasized shoes" and "stable · cushion emphasized shoes".
"Wave drive"
This gray and yellow shoes is a model called "wave drive" that emphasizes light-bare feet. This series has been deploying for more than 10 years, and speaking of Mizuno's table tennis shoes, there is recognition as "wave drive" to say. Among them, the high-end model is "Wave Drive Z". Joint development research was born as a sports agency's high performance support business. It is on sale from 2016.
The concept of this shoe is to accelerate player movement. By making the grooves in the diagonal direction on the sole and making it easier to twist inward, we will lead the player's first step kicking out force to be more powerful. Actually, Ao Fukuhara played active at last year's Rio Olympic Games.
"Wave Medal"Another stable · cushion type shoes are "Wave Medal". It has become quite popular in recent years. In this shoe, the sole is thick and has a sense of stability, designability is also supported. Originally, table tennis shoes had a lot of shoes with only a little color in pure white base, but I got a high reputation for design, and I am mainly wearing students.
- Is there a difference in the sole of "wave drive" and "wave medal"?
Nakaya: Yes. "Wave drive" reduces the rubber part of the sole, making it thin bottom to make it easier to grab the coat to enhance acceleration performance.
「ウエーブメダル」は、ソールの形状を一面フラットにしており、コート上でしっかりと踏ん張りやすいような構造にしています。こちらは安定性重視なので、サイド方向に動いた時にぶれないように補強を重ねています。
- Is there any difference other than Saul?
Nakaya:yes, I have. "Wave drive" is based on barefoot sense as a concept. Because it is creating an upper using artificial leather of micro fiber fiber called prime skin, it is a shoe with good foot familiarity. And by adopting a mesh material with slight elasticity called Dynamotion Fit on the inner shell side, even when bending while playing, the upper will suck up and reduce the power loss with a bumpy foot.
- The appearance seems to be futsal shoes.
Nakaya: Sure, it is close. There are also some players who like to play futsal shoes that actually have high design.
- How about coloring?
Nakaya: There are more shoes that are ogle in the last few years. Various color shoes are on sale every season.
- Are there any other features?
Nakaya: The weight of the table tennis shoes is relatively light compared to other indoor shoes. By the way, the difference between "wave drive" and "wave medal" introduced this time is about 20 g.
- That 20 gBut is it different when you move?
Nakaya: Depending on the play style, it is not. A player who places importance on the speed of winning in front of a table tennis wears a light shoe with thin bottom that is easy to carry out fine steps, and contrary to the cut, the player who opposes it cuts behind so many cushions There is a tendency to choose what has one. Also, because there are wide type shoes, it has become a lineup that can respond to various play scenes, styles, and the demands of athletes.
- How long did it take from planning to completion?
Nakaya: It takes at least 2 years. We will talk with many stakeholders and players to raise the accuracy. Beginning with ideas, we reworked the sample a number of times as to how to actually make the material and specification in what shape, whether the functionality is satisfactory, and soon completed.
- In particular, where did it take you?
Nakaya: It is Saul. The work of making a metal mold is broken. It is difficult to modify how to shape the design based on the concept, once you make it, it is necessary to raise the accuracy at the preparation stage.
――2Which share is more of a type?
Nakaya: A light type was popular until two or three years ago, but recently the popularity of the stable type has been growing, and it has grown with the momentum to overtake the lightweight type.
- What reasons are possible?
Nakaya: Because play style is more powerful and speed is required, I think that shoes that can withstand it are becoming popular.
- How is the durability?
Nakaya: Compared with other events, table tennis shoes are made thicker because the forefoot portion of the sole is easier to reduce.
- How about the heel?
Nakaya: Mizuno's shoes have a reputation for fitting goodness. The goodness of fitting is that the heel's care is important, so that the heel shifts when moving so that it does not become a power loss. Because table tennis has many unique movements to hit the ball while laying his legs down, moderate softness is also necessary so as not to disturb the fitting.
インソールは、まず踵をしっかり固定し、中足部に盛り上がりを付けることで中足部をしっかりと押し上げて指でコートを踏ん張りやすくなるようにしています。ミズノでオリジナルのインソールを作る選手もいます。
- Finally, could you tell us about your future prospects?
Nakaya：これからも選手のサポートをして、選手に活躍をしていただきたいです。また、卓球界を引っ張っていけるようなブランドであり続けたいです。そして、モデルやカラーリング、機能面で進化し続け、お客様に喜んでいただけるような商品をつくりたいです。 (了)
Mizuno table tennis shoe
http://products.mizuno.jp/c/category/tabletennis/shoes/
Cooperation of coverage / Mizuno Corporation
Photo provided / Mizuno Corporation
Interview photograph / Hidemi Sakuma
