Huczek to Wear Ashaway's New Racquetball Shoes

Designed specifically for the rigors of racquetball, Ashaway's new 500i line incorporates Anatomic System Technology (AST) which allows the shoe to mold to the natural shape of the wearer's foot, increasing comfort and stability and reducing foot fatigue. Says Ashaway-sponsored World Champion, Jack Huczek, "These shoes really give me the traction I need to romp around the court."

New Ashaway 500i Shoes made specifically for racquetball Ashaway sponsored champion consulted on design Ashaway, RI -- 2004 World Champion and current #2 ranked player Jack Huczek will help Ashaway Racket Strings launch their new line of racquetball shoes. As part of a three year sponsorship deal, Huczek consulted on the design of the new Ashaway 500i shoe line, and will begin wearing them in tournaments this fall. "As a touring professional, I have a number of specific requirements for footwear," said Huczek, "including comfort, support, traction and light weight. This new 500i line has it all and more." Designed specifically for the rigors of racquetball, Ashaway's new 500i line incorporates Anatomic System Technology (AST) which allows the shoe to mold to the natural shape of the wearer's foot, increasing comfort and stability and reducing foot fatigue. "Conventional sports shoes only offer support for two parts of the foot--the heal and the ball," said Steve Crandall, VP Marketing for Ashaway Racket Strings. "This innovative new line of footwear supports the whole foot and offers even distribution of pressure points." "When they sent me the first pair, I asked them to increase the height to provide more ankle support," said Huczek. He also likes the other racquetball-specific features designed into the shoes, including the reinforced toe strip which prevents "dragging" wear, and the high-traction soles made of a special rubber compound engineered especially for court play. "These shoes really give me the traction I need to romp around the court. They're even good on slick court surfaces." Ashaway's AST(tm) engineered racquetball shoes are constructed with multiple layers of support. An anatomically shaped insole made from a natural latex vulcanized rubber adds comfort. A highly shock-absorbent insert and a comfort-layer insert, both located at the heel, offer additional support. A direct injected phylon midsole is molded to the shape of the human foot, adding comfort and providing yet another layer of support. "We got a lot of input for the development of these shoes," said Crandall, "from Jack as well as others. We feel we've come up with a winning combination of comfort, performance and durability that can help players at all levels increase their enjoyment of the sport and also improve their game."