XIOM FOOTWORK
When the table tennis sport moved from 38 mm two-piece to 40 mm seamless balls, the sport drastically changed. The increased uniformity and surface area of the ball meant players could now have more control over the spin and direction of the ball. These changes made rallies more about precision and speed, rather than raw power, and made games more intense to play and watch. And of course, the increasing demand for rapid movement meant the top players craved shoes to keep up with their footwork.
In-house Design Work
XIOM Table Tennis
Seoul, South Korea
2015 - 2016
We used 3D modeling and rendering to communicate ideas and designs, and also to control the shoe design development beyond the normal 2D drawings. All design choices, including materials, cuts and shapes were represented in 3D so there could be no confusion about the intent. Apart from upgrading the laces, the renders are almost identical to the final product.
Table tennis requires fast-paced sidestepping, pivoting, jumping and solid grip. We developed a totally new one-piece sole with a transforming hexagonal groove pattern that allowed the sole to flex and move with the player.
Designed and engineered solely for table tennis, we tailored the construction from top to bottom. Supporting leather on the outsides, back and front, and a breathing mesh inner body with side lacing for unparalleled fit, comfort and breathability.
The one-piece outsole concept was developed with Grasshopper, giving us control of the complex hexagonal pattern during development. When we found the right blend of sizes, depths and merging, we finalized and polished the geometry. The hexagons vary in size and shape to give unique properties to each area of the sole without needing additional parts or materials.
The Footwork series is still in production and sold around the world.
All designs and trademarks shown on this page are property of XIOM Table Tennis.
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