Images via Nike

by Brendan Dunne

Nike is doing its best to shake up the stuffy world of golf footwear and apparel by applying its innovative design and eye for disruptive products to the game.

Its latest effort is the new Nike Lunar Control 4, seen here, which young star Rory McIlroy will debut at next week's DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. The sneaker reflects Nike's push to make its golf footwear look more like proper Nike product, from the Infrared-looking colorway to the "Just Do It" branding to the vamp Swoosh at the front end.

Longtime Nike man Gentry Humphrey, who recently became the VP of footwear for Nike Golf, is part of that push. In addition to helping with the retooling of the Nike Golf aesthetic, Humphrey hopes to broaden the category's appeal with younger athletes with more sportswear golf product – he's already promised golf-shoe versions of the Nike Air Force 1 and Nike Air Max 90.

The sneaker release date for the Nike Lunar Control 4 is Nov. 27 online and Dec. 1 in-store.