The 2011 Australian Open quarterfinalist will carry a familiar friend along for the ride—the Michelin Man. Born in 1894, the Michelin Man is one of the world’s oldest trademarks, but he hasn’t slowed a step. The image of the running Michelin Man appears on the heel of the Propulse 3, signifying the shoe’s Michelin OCS sole.The changes to the Propulse aren’t merely cosmetic. Babolat touts two new technological enhancements—a “kompressor system,” for high-performance heel cushioning, and “cell shield”, a high-tech upper designed to offer both durability and comfort. The cell shield also lightens the load of the shoe: This year’s model weighs in at about 15.1 ounces, compared to the heftier 16.7-ounce Babolat Propulse 2 Titanium.
“Andy’s new Propulse shoe is very different from what we’ve seen from other Babolat shoes such as the V-Pro,” says Dr. David G. Sharnoff, TENNIS footwear adviser. “It’s designed more for his needs. He’s a big guy who prefers a low-cut shoe rather than a mid-cut shoe. The Velcro foot-belt is intended to try to lock his foot into the shoe and minimize the potential for rolling his ankle. It’s a performance shoe intended for aggressive, explosive movers.”
