Check out these Hi-Tec Infinty Flare styles, which came out in 2013.
They call this scheme Blue and “Tangelo”.
Images via holabirdsports.com
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Spotted
For reference, this is a tangelo:
Photo by Jerrica Merz ∞
Anyway this tangelo fellow is Nick Matthew’s signature shoe. Here he is:
Photo by Steve Cubbins ∞
Only one problem though. As first reported over at Control the T: Nick Matthew’s Infinity Flare Hi-Tecs are actually his old Hi-Tec S701s painted to look like the new model:
You can see the pattern by the pinky toe (marked with a blue arrow above) matches the S701, Nick’s longtime shoe:
Here’s the actual Infinity Flare again:
Thanks to Bopper for relaying the tip. And Lauri Selänne for nearly getting it.
After word got out that out that Nick’s shoes were painted to look like a newer model, Nick responded:
Hi-Tec are perhaps the only company out there who invest time, money and resources into a shoe ESPECIALLY for squash. Asics & Adidas, to use two examples are both ‘court’ or ‘indoor’ shoes not specific to the needs of squash. It is very difficult to make a shoe which suits every foot, as we found out to our cost last year.
We are very confident in the new shoe suiting as many people as possible. And being a great product, I wouldn’t have put my name to it otherwise. My shoe has a slight tweak on the toe because of the unique nature of my foot which wouldn’t be appropriate to 99 per cent of other people. I look forward to continued success with Hi-Tec, the world’s number one squash shoe maker.”
Seems like more than just a ‘slight tweak on the toe’ to me. It’s a wholly different shoe, right?
My take is it’s a custom shoe that fits Nick’s weird foot. Yes, it’s the old S701 shape, but Hi-Tec no longer sells it, so it’s de facto custom. There’s nothing wrong with that. I’m sure the golf clubs Tiger Woods plays with are not the same ones you buy in the store. Still, it might be nice if the manufacturers were more up front about this stuff. (Ahem, that includes Dunlop too.)
For their part, Hi-Tec made me laugh with their response:
@squashcrazy @squashsource @nickmatthew headline news…we constantly work with Nick to make better squash shoes!
— Hi-Tec (@hitecsports) December 4, 2013
Anyhow, Greg Lobban was wearing these at the 2015 US Open, and there was no intrigue involved:
Photo by Steve Cubbins ∞
Here’s the relatively uncontroversial silver-yellow-black color scheme:
Image via holabirdsports.com
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This is the 2012 model, which was actually worn on-and-off by Nick:
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Here’s a video of Nick talking about the shoes. Check out the interesting pattern of the laces.
And here’s another video with Nick Matthew, this one looking more like a TV commercial.
The roar at the end of that video is a bit weird, but overall still pretty cool. I like that this shoe has its own trailer.
It’s also available in this charcoal gray color:
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Here’s Nick lunging for a ball in the finals of the 2013 Swedish Open.
Photo credit: Mikael Dunder
He’s wearing his new Hi-Tec Infinity Flare shoes. He actually started off the match wearing his old shoes, the Hi-Tec S701 4SYS. But after the first game he was treated for blisters on his feet, and when he came back on court he was wearing the Infinty Flares.
Here are a couple more photos of the Hi-Tec Infinity Flare.
Via Jordan Mansfield
Via Mike English
I’ve seen a few negative reviews on the these shoes. I’ve heard they caused a “nasty blister” and are “cheaply made and uncomfortable”. Other reviewers in this forum thread came to the defense of the Infinity Flares.
Tim AKA squashcrazy says
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I was sat next to nick on wednesday, he was watching his mate play in the masters, he had his ” 701 infinity’s ” on his feet, they looked the same as the photo, then he took his shoes off and had bare feet, his feet are a very odd shape underneath! Behind his big toe on the sole, the ball off his feet was mahoooooosive, like he had had a massive sponge implant lol
Even so, hes a great guy, funny too, his mates opponent was non plussed at nick coaching his mate in between games, must of been very funny seeing nick in your opponents corner, I asked the guy what it felt like and he simply said ” its always nice to get one over the matthews camp” haaaaa
Pierre Bastien says
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Haha, it’s the rare shoe that can handle a massive sponge implant!
Ben says
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Hi everyone, he does mention his massive toe in his book.
Ben
jj says
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Check the ‘in the bag’ video Nick did for pdh sports. It’s a new shoe which he started wearing in Qatar. It looks like the hitec s701 with an updated color scheme to me, perhaps they’re making sure Nick actually uses it before releasing it.
I tried the infinities when they came out and experienced blisters in the heel and toes – and the “I’ll be wearing these ones I promise” comment he makes would lead me believe he did too!
Pierre Bastien says
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I did see that video (here it is). I didn’t notice at the time that they weren’t “real” Infinity Flares. I wonder if they’ll release Nick’s S701 in the new color, or just press ahead with the Infinity Flares.
kyle says
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This is too funny !! why beat around the bush ? wellI I guess Hi-Tec wants to sell the Infinities but maybe they and Nick should have discussed this beforehand ?
Pierre Bastien says
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Yes I think that’s the thing, they want to sell the Infinity shoes but weren’t quite sure how to work around the fact that Nick’s got weird feet!
Tom says
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I was very excited by these shoes but they turned out to be the worst I had ever worn. Grip seemed to wear away really quickly and they are now in the bin replaced by Peter Nicol’s bright luminous green prince shoes.
Pierre Bastien says
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Thanks Tom
Kevin says
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The Infinity Flare are nice shoes, but unfortunately the sole wears off in less than two months, if you play regularly. Hopefully they did fix that in the new version, but by looking at the pictures, the sole looks exactly the same to me…
Pierre Bastien says
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Thanks Kevin