Babolat Propulse 4 Shoe Playtest

[Babolat Official]

Originally Posted by embot

Fun day yesterday at Nellie Gail Ranch. Great meeting mad dog1, frunk, and samprasbackhand1. Great guys! Wish we could have hit, even for a little bit. Thanks again to Babolat and Tennis Warehouse!

Come hang with us at Indian Wells!

[frunk]

Kinda bad news - the strap on my left shoe ripped off. I'm assuming this is because I drag my left foot on its side..

[Babolat Official]

Originally Posted by frunk

Kinda bad news - the strap on my left shoe ripped off. I'm assuming this is because I drag my left foot on its side..

send it in for warranty

[hcb0804]

I wore mine to play tennis in for the first time tonight. Not overwhelmed......the shoes are just W I D E, especially in the midfoot and heel. I just didn't feel secure in moving around the court. The shoes just will not snug up enough, and they feel stiff and not flexible. I think that a lot of people complained about the Propulse 2 and 3 digging In and irritating their heels, so they over corrected on the 4 and they are too loose in the heel area, no matter how tight I pull the heel straps. And I am wearing the thickest Level 3 Thorlos, by the way......

[Murray_fan1]

Second outing in the shoes and I am very happy with the fit, comfort and durability thus far. I am lucky to have a fairly normal foot width and arch so i don't have too many fit issues but compared to other shoes ( res 4's and 2k11's)i would say these do fit slightly wider. 4.5 hours logged thus far and the only wear I can see is a little bit scuffing on the inside forefoot area of the cell shield where my foot drags on a slide. Seems Babolat really did their homework here as it is beefed up in the exact spot I would slide. (something I wish my Asics Res 4's would have as I always seem to rip through the seam at this location)

Full review to come but very impressed so far.

[mad dog1]

Mad Dog1's Babolat Propulse 4 Full Review:

Tennis experience/background: I’ve played tennis since I was 13. After college, I stepped away from the game and got back into the game 3.5 years ago. I play for fun and exercise. Tennis is also a healthy and safe outlet to relieve stress after a long day or week at work. I can go to the court and take out my aggression on a poor hapless ball without breaking any laws and hurting anyone. I play with a bunch of guys who range between 4.0-4.5 in skill.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): I was a serve & volleyer in my younger days. Having lost a step or two or three due to age (42 yo), I now consider myself a baseliner, but am not afraid of approaching the net to get passed or to flub a volley. i appreciate a shoe that is light, comfortable and durable since I treat tennis as exercise and don't mind running alot. Weighing in at just under 160 lbs, I'm not an excessive toe dragger nor am i excessively hard on my shoes.

Current shoe: New Balance MC 851 – this is one of the lightest and as a result one of the most comfortable tennis shoe I have worn. Positives: The light weight and low profile make it a very fast and fleet feeling shoe. I can definitely get to the ball quicker in these. Running shoe like comfort. Negatives: Not very durable. I’ve almost worn through the outer sole on the medial side of the forefoot in less than 2 months playing 4 hours a week.

Previous shoes: Nike CB 3.3 – this shoe weigh a ton. Positives: Incredible outer sole durability and heel cushioning. These last me a little over 5 months before I broke into the midsole. Negatives: Long and uncomfortable break in period. Lace straps snapped after 3 months so I ended up punching lace eyelets in the upper. Traction eroded as the outersole wore down. The AirMax heel does not offer great stability. An enclosed air packet is not inherently stable. Think trying to pop a balloon by sitting on it. Narrow forefoot fit. I normally wear a 9.5 and had to go up an entire size to fit comfortably and even then it wasn’t great. The narrow forefoot fit caused some pain under the ball of my foot that disappeared as soon as I switched to new shoes.

Adidas Barricade 5 – this is another tank of a shoe. Heavy in weight. Positives: felt lighter than they weighed. Another extremely durable shoe. These last me almost as long as the CB 3.3s. toe durability wasn’t quite as good as the CBs. By the time I wore a hole under my big toe, the rest of the outersole still had another month or 2 of life left. Once broken in, these shoes were very comfortable. AWESOME heel cushioning offering more stability than the CBs. Fantastic forefoot stability. Great traction for the entire life of the shoe. Fit was a bit wider than medium in the forefoot. Negatives: Long and uncomfortable break in period. Weighed a lot and felt kind of tank like.

Babolat Propulse 2 – lighter, lower profile, high performance shoe. Forefoot fit was a bit tight which I remedied by wearing thinner socks. Positives: Loved the close to the ground, low profile feel. Ventilation was the BEST. The vents underneath the shoe were extremely effective in keeping the feet cool and moisture free. The Michelin rubber compound provided some of the best traction – even better than adidas. Relatively quick break in period. Outersole durability was very good. Last me about 4 months so not quite as durable as the B5s or CB 3.3s. Very good support. Negatives: Forefoot cushioning was a bit thin especially as the outersole under the ball of the foot wore away. Landing on the forefoot was a bit jarring on the feet and knees. My joints would feel more fatigue wearing these vs the B5s.

KSwiss Defier DS – Generous medium width fit. nice wide stable shoe last that works well with hard orthotics. Positives: decent durability and an all around solid performing shoe. Didn’t feel too heavy. Durability was acceptable. I wore through the outersoles in 4 months.
Negatives: Ventilation wasn’t great. Feet sweat a lot in these. Felt a bit clunky and clumsy.

Nike Air Breathe Cage, Asics Challenger 7, KSwiss UltraNatural – Since these shoes are much older, I won’t offer any comparisons.

How many hours did you play with the shoe? 25 hours so far

Comments on shoe performance: 9/10 I really love the new P4s. If these shoes offer durability as good or better than the P2s, I can say that out of all the shoes that offer excellent durability that i have tried to date, these are at the top. The P4s offer great comfort, fit and performance. They accommodate my orthotics well. They fit very comfortably and they offer excellent stability and traction. They hug my feet and do not feel heavy, clunky or tank-like. Babolat has done a SUPERB job with their newest shoe offering! BRAVO!!!

-comfort: 9/10 AWESOME! Super comfy. This is the 1st tennis shoe of the more durable offerings that is just so comfortable after the brief break in period that i would wear these around on the weekend. There are no tight spots causing any pinching; no hard plastic materials that dig into the ankle or the outer part of the forefoot and toes, etc. The Cell Shield upper molded nicely around my feet. The cushioning is first rate! I really liked the low to the ground feel of the Propulse 2s but my only complaint was that the forefoot cushioning seemed a bit thin. The Propulse 4s aren't quite as low profile as the 2s, but they are still feel closer to the ground that than the CB 3.3s and the Barricade Vs both of which had really thick cushioning under the heel. While the Propulse 4 heel cushioning isn't as thick as the CB3.3 or B5s, the heel Kompressor cushioning system offers comparable levels of shock absorption while still allowing me to feel connected to the court. The forefoot cushioning is the best i've felt in any tennis shoe. it's not overly rigid like the CBs and Barricades but it's more cushioned. When i bounce on the balls of my feet, i can feel the Side 2 Side technology with the 3D Dynamic Fishbone providing the cushioned feel and then springing back like a shock absorber. While I'm not sure it helps get me to the ball quicker, it sure does an excellent job at providing effective cushioning.

-arch support: I can’t comment on the built in arch support since I wear prescription orthotics; I will say that my hard orthotics seated in the heel cup very nicely. I believe this is due to the Propulse heel cup design. Most shoes have a rigid plastic cup for the heel counter. If the plastic cup is too narrow, the orthotic never seats quite right into the heel cup. The Propulse heel counter is 2 pieces rather than 1 fixed piece. There’s a rigid counter on the left and right side; the width is adjusted by the heel strap. You pull the strap tighter to tighten the heel counter and loosen the strap to accommodate a wider orthotic. I find this design to work exceptionally well with hard orthotics. I had a hell of a time getting my orthotic to seat comfortably in the Nikes, Adidas and Asics. The narrow heel cup would squeeze my orthotic forward in the shoe bed. The friction of the orthotic rubbing on the inside would create a very annoying squeaking sound as well. Over time, the orthotic eventually seated properly in some shoes while they never did in others. This wasn’t a problem with the Propulse 4. I give the Propulses big props for this design.

-stability/support: 10/10 Because of the Propulse 4s low profile design, stability is excellent as is support. Additionally, like the prior generations of Propulses, the FootBelt straps do a great job of securing the foot as well as securing the shoelaces to keep them from coming undone. The heel cushioning is excellent while being very stable. The CB 3.3 heel cushioning was excellent but not very stable.

-ventilation: 9/10 Ventilation is xlnt. Not quite as airy as the Propulse 2s with the built-in underfoot air vents, but superior to the Defier DS, CB 3.3s and B5s.

-sole durability: After 25 hours, the medial side of both shoes is starting to show significant wear. the tread under the ball of the right shoe is showing approximately 50% wear. tread is balding, but traction is still excellent.

-toe durability: After 25 hours, the medial side of the left big toe area has significant wear.

-traction: 9.5/10 Traction is excellent. The Michelin rubber provides the right amount of bite, grip and give. The P4s really excel when making sharp stops and quick acceleration to the ball. They feel connected to the court. With the CB 3.3s, the feedback was always rather vague i think in large part due to the Air Max cushioning. The B5s were pretty good after they were broken in.

-weight: 8/10 These shoes feel lighter than the B5s and CB 3.3s for sure. I think the P 4s are about the same weight as the KSwiss Defier DS but they feel much more agile and nimble. The only shoes that feel noticeably lighter and quicker are the NB 851s but at the expense of durability.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: The P4 is a good looking shoe! The Pittsburgh Steelers colorway looks like it means business! Per the TW product description, slight break in required and I agree. VERY quick break in period. Took about 10-15 mins. After a few hard cuts on the court, i had to tighten the laces and VOILA! the Propulse 4s were broken in. Per the TW product description, length is true to size; width is medium. I agree on the length. I am finding the width to be a bit wider than medium. I describe it as a generous medium fit in the forefoot/toebox. These are a bit roomier than the Propulse 2s. The fit of the heel is medium.

[frunk]

Propulse 4 Review (One Week)

Comfort:
I'll preface this with saying I double socked at all times, both for style points and for comfort. I only double sock with Barricade 7's, as they are uncomfortable. 4.3's fit like a glove. That being said, double socked, the pp4's felt really nice. Almost strangely nice. The shoe isn't exceptionally light, as I personally couldn't feel the difference of 1.5 ounces or whatever, but I did feel lighter on my toes and I could bounce more on them and contort my foot without any pain, as I get from the B7's. No blistering for me!

Support/Stability:
One thing I'm very happy with is the lateral stability. At the playtest, we did side to side plyometric drills, and I could really lock in my foot on those sharp turns. This carried on with the rest of my playing. I could easily change direction and even lunge for a ball I would've normally slipped away from. Very very good thing for me. There is supple support with the shoe as is, and the straps help people lock in the heel if there is slippage, or if there is extra breathing room up top. Overall, very pleased with the support I got.

Ventilation:
Average. Nothing insane to boast, nor was it a sauna with two socks on. There is a lot of mesh on the shoe, though, so some people will feel the extra ventilation. Nothing exceptional for me, however.

Durability:
The caveat of many good shoes - durability. I've heard stories about propulse's wearing out in a matter of a month, yet some swear it lasts ages. Sole durability is very relative to the player you are and how much you do move your feet. For me, I wear through barricades and courtballistecs in about 2.5/3 months, and vapors in about a month. Average wear and tear on the sole, for just a week. Keep in mind I've put in about 15 hours in these shoes. Another part of durability is the side durability. I drag my left foot when I slide, especially I drag it on the inside area. 9 times out of 10, this is the first part of the shoe to really suffer any damage, and this was apparent when the strap system broke apart. The friction of the court had literally destroyed it. Totally a personal issue, however! I doubt many of you suffer from the same issues. For me, durability of the inside median shoe is always a difficulty, and this proved similar to the competition.

Background Info:
I'm the youngest TT-TW playtester for this shoe, I believe, and I play about 4.5-5.0, where I can beat a 4.5 and put up a good hustle against a 5.0 and get a set or two or three. Keep in mind that I am from Orange County, where a 4.5 can be similar to a 5, and a 5 is like a 5.5 or low 6. I am 16 years old and play Varsity Singles tennis in High School. I am a junior, and have been on varsity for 3 years. I usually play with the CB4.3's and now recently (unfortunately) the B7's. I've never used Babolat shoes prior to this experience. I was pleasantly surprised. As of now - would I switch to the propulse 4? Probably not. I still love the comfort and durability that the CB's have given me over the years. It's a personal affair, yet the PP4's are SOLID, solid shoes and you should seriously give them a shot!

[hcb0804]

I played a mixed doubles match last night on clay in my playtest shoes, and I found the sock combo that makes them fit snug enough....double socked with a pair of Elites and a normal thickness Nike mostly cotton socks. I felt much more locked in and stable in the shoes with this double sock combo, and very comfortable.
Doubles match today on indoor hardcourt for further testing!

[tbln]

Is this thread just for the TW play testers? I have been playing with this shoe for a short while here in Australia and would be happy to contribute my own review on it.

[mad dog1]

Originally Posted by tbln

Is this thread just for the TW play testers? I have been playing with this shoe for a short while here in Australia and would be happy to contribute my own review on it.

while it is a thread specifically for the TW playtesters to post their reviews, i imagine your review would most certainly be welcome. and a warm welcome to the forum!

[hcb0804]

I am starting to think, that the 11.5 I got is just too big. I am thinking the new Propulse 4 fits more like the SFX that I wear an 11 in..... I have worn 11.5 in every incarnation of the Propulse, so I felt pretty confident in requesting 11.5 for the playtest. Kinda sucks.

[Murray_fan1]

Murray_fan1's Review of the Propulse 4

I will update durability and overall comments in the coming weeks

Tennis experience/background: My Dad introduced me to the game when I was 9 years old and haven't looked back since. I played competitive tennis (league, junior tournaments etc) at a fairly high level up until I was about 19 yrs old when the usual facts of life kicked in (School, Job, Family). I now play generally to keep fit, hitting with others players at my club around the 4.5-5.5 level. I plan to play league tennis this spring/summer and some select tournaments along the way when time permits.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): I would describe myself as a base liner with aspirations of becoming an all court player. Although I don't consider myself old I do feel that I would be better off finishing points as quickly as possible (moving in) instead of slugging it out all day from the back with these young 20 somethings . Needless to say, I feel most comfortable at the baseline so if you were to catch me on the court no doubt that is where I will be.

Current shoe: Asics Gel Resolution 4's - The Resolution line since it's introduction has been my go to shoe and IMO this shoe is the Hallmark in terms of overall performance ( Speed, Stability, Traction, Fit and Comfort). It does lack the durability I have been longing but comes with a painless 6 month durability guarantee (shoes last me 2 months) through TW so I can't complain.

How many hours did you play with the shoe? Approx 9 hrs

Comments on shoe performance:9/10 This shoe has really surprised me. Going into the play test I had some preconceived ideas on how this shoe would perform. Based on the styling I had pegged this as a typical durability shoe which lacks the speed, comfort and traction I desire to play at my highest level. Well let me tell you the Propulse delivers on a high level in all the key categories for me with only the Resolutions slightly ahead in terms of overall performance.

Comfort-I found these shoes to have a very nice balance of comfort to performance. I like the fact that these shoes play low to the ground and have great feedback but don't punish you for that feel either. The resolutions may be a little better in this regard but it is very close. Heel cushioning is outstanding. The Compressor heel cup does a great job in absorbing shock without losing the feedback that you would get with an Airmax system.

-arch support: 10/10 I am lucky enough to have a fairly regular arch so nothing special is required here. I felt the Propulse was adequate in this regard for my foot type. No issues here.

-stability/support: 9/10 This is a very stable shoe that takes very well to side to side movement, lateral cuts and movement in general around the court. The cell shield upper is pliable but not overly constricting and the heel and foot belt straps keep my foot locked in place with no fear of foot slippage. Stability is on par with the best in this category ( Barricade, Court Ballistecs, Resolution 4's)

-ventilation: Although this time of year ventilation is not a concern for me (play indoors during the winter). The construction (Cell shield Cage) of the upper seems to be designed with this in mind. Ventilation seems more than adequate for even the hottest of summer days.


-sole durability: I will update this as the time goes but very little to report here. Sole seems near new at the 9 hrs mark with only the slightest signs that these have been worn on a hard court.


-toe durability: Beefed up in all the right places, I think this will bode well for this shoe over time. I tend to drag my toe on service returns and when serving so this will definitely get a true test with me. I also like the fact that they beefed up the section on the upper which is exactly where my would drag when sliding out wide. Asics please take note of this if you are reading this. Babolat got it right here.

-traction: Traction to me due to the spacing on the indoor courts I play the ability to start and stop abruptly when chasing balls out wide is paramount. The Propulse has the right mix of grab and give (slides) that allows for complete confidence around the court.

-weight:-The weight of this shoe is slightly more than what I am used to and yes I would love for these shoes to weigh less but I know with that comes some compromises i.e durability, support, cushioning stability. I would take the extra weight in this case as I don't feel the reduction in weight would be worth it.


General reaction/comments on overall performance: Well I would like to thank Babolat and Tennis Warehouse for allowing me to be apart of this play test. These shoes are a real contender to become my shoe of choice. I really like my current shoes but if these continue to perform this well I may be switching. The overall performance to date has been nothing less than outstanding and has been a pleasure to be apart of.

[tbln]

Originally Posted by mad dog1

while it is a thread specifically for the TW playtesters to post their reviews, i imagine your review would most certainly be welcome. and a warm welcome to the forum!

Thanks! I've been a long time lurker so here goes..

Tennis experience/background: I'm 29, fit and play mostly singles 3-4x/wk at a NTRP level around 5.0 on plexicushion hard court here at Melbourne Park, home of the Aus Open.

I'm a heavy heel-striker and wear out most shoes in 2-3 months based on either the condition of the midsole or the whites showing through on the outsole, whichever comes first. I know that the midsole is worn when my feet start hurting on court but goes away when I slip on a new pair of identical shoes.

I have EE wide feet and often have difficulty finding shoes that fit comfortably. For example, the courtballistecs 4.3 are too narrow if I don't put them in a shoe stretcher first and I can't even put my foot inside an adidas barricade. I can fit into size D wide shoes with a break-in. To make matters worse, I also wear 3/4 length hard custom orthotics and ASO ankle braces.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): My natural game is a defensive baseliner--rely on my fitness to grind out the point until my opponent (or I) crumbles into a crying cramping sweaty heap of frustration, heatstroke and resignation.

Current shoe: Babolat Propulse 3
Past shoes: Nike Courtballistec 3.3/4.3 (used shoe stretcher to widen), Nike Lunar Vapor 8 (wore out too quickly), Head Insane Pro (nice width, wore quickly, poor toe guard, uppers were too soft)

How many hours did you play with the shoe? 3 hours, singles

Comments on shoe performance:
-comfort: Out of the box, I felt the PP4 was slightly more comfortable than the PP3 with more cushioning under the ball of the foot and on top of the toes. With my fat feet, orthotics and ankle braces the fit was snug but not unplayably tight. I could barely knot the laces before running out of string. However, after a 15 minute warm up, the shoes felt loose and I had to tighten the laces and at this point the shoe felt near-perfect for me (still a tad snug on the sides). The shoe feels a tad higher off the ground than the PP3s but, comparing to the two aforementioned shoes I wore in the past, feel in-between a courtballistec and a lunar vapor when running around the court. It has excellent cushioning (but not as much as the courtballistec) but feels light (but not as light as the lunar vapor).

I should comment that, just like the PP3, I get some odd rubbing on top of the 4th toe at the proximal/middle phalanx joint that I only notice when I take off my shoes and see a broken blister. This is not a deal-breaker for me since I can preventatively wrap the joint up with some medical tape before play.

-arch support: I can't comment aside from the fact that it readily accommodates my 3/4 length hard plastic orthotics without feeling any extra lumps or like I'm running on high heels. I usually places these underneath the insole.

-stability/support: Pretty darn amazing. To me, what separates a good shoe from a so-so shoe (that still fits well) is how it feels at the high end of athleticism like when I'm changing directions quickly, taking full cuts, or stopping at full stretch to retrieve a good drop shot. The PP4 really excelled here. Like the PP3, I found the rear strap pretty useless but accredited the top strap to improving my stability during high energy situations. However, I should note that the top strap is shorter and thinner than the PP3 with uneven velcro proportions. There is to too much soft velcro and not enough rough velcro to overlap, and with my bulky feet I was only able to overlap about half an inch but it never came undone during play.

-ventilation: Pretty good but I don't really rate ventilation as a necessary criteria in selecting my shoes. For me, my choice depends on fit>comfort>durability/price >>> weight>ventilation.

-sole durability: I can't comment too much on this yet but I would be very happy if it lasted me 3 months.

-toe durability: I'm a left-toe dragger when hitting my backhands and I was glad to see these shoes cover those areas quite well. The uppers are quite durable and abrasive-resistant as well as I completely pronate my foot sideways when I lunge and found minimal wear as a result.

-traction: Absolutely amazing. The outsole feels like softer rubber than the PP3 and it just grips the gritty hard court like a sports tire. In the PP3, I sometimes slide a little on the hard court but I felt more glued to the court in the PP4s. Time will tell if its at a cost to durability.

-weight: This is not a major consideration point in my shoe selection but I guess I tend to wear and favor heavy tank-shoes anyway. I don't usually find light vs heavy shoes to really affect my play.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: Overall, I really like this shoe and it will probably be my new go-to shoe for the next year. Like the PP3, I love how the top strap keeps the shoe molded to my feet and the heel planted, particularly when on the balls of my feet or sliding out wide. I love how protected my feet feel on court. Most of all, I really love the traction and stability that these shoes provide to give me just that little bit more confidence to run after that ball on the full stretch and make my opponent hit just one more shot.

Its funny that these shoes are associated with michelin because I really do think that these shoes are analogous to sports tires. Expensive, wears quickly (to be seen), but amazing performance/traction. Might be overkill for the beginner/intermediate player though.

I only wish that it came in red like the PP3 to match my red shirts and prestige racquet.

I hope this review was helpful to anyone out there considering these shoes.

[samprasbackhand]

Tennis experience/background: I played high school varsity for a couple years and played casually in college. I don't get to play as much now as I used to (probably once every 2 weeks). I would say I'm a 4.0 - 4.5


Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): I'm an aggressive baseliner, always looking to hit the forehand. I like coming to net so I can dump volleys into the net.


Current shoe: Asics GR4, Adidas Barricade 7's

How many hours did you play with the shoe? About 4
Comments on shoe performance:
-comfort: Probably the most comfortable out of the box shoes I've worn, just as comfortable out of the box as GR4's, which is a big reason why I switched to Asics over Adidas in the first place.
-arch support: Very good, no complaints here
-stability/support: I liked it a lot, the shoes feel very snug. I felt no problems moving from side to side and the shoes offer a nice low to the ground feel. I didnt' feel like the straps helped with anything though.
-ventilation: Good
-sole durability: Cannot comment yet but seems good to me.
-toe durability: I am a heavy toe dragger so the toes usually wear out first on me. Won't know until I put many more hours in.
-traction: Great! The shoes grip the court very well. I generally try to play very aggressively and move as little as possible so I'm not really sliding around or anything.
-weight: The shoes feel pretty light to me but weight has never been an issue with shoes for me. Asides from Asics shoes I've been playing in Barricades my whole life so I don't mind having weighty shoes.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: Great comfort out of the box so I'm satisfied. Most of my issues with shoes in the past has been break-in time so I like how I can start playing in the shoes immediately instead of having to wear them around the house or anywhere else. I am probably not going to wear Barricades anymore and would either wear Asics and wouldn't mind switching to this shoe either.

[mad dog1]

I reached the character limit in my review above so i have to start a new post to add comments.

I've noticed some pros and cons regarding the footstrap across the top of the shoe which i discovered when i had my Propulse 2s.

Cons: the velcro strap can and does snag the laces so it takes a few seconds longer to get the shoes tied initially.

Pros: I secure the shoelaces by tucking them under the strap and found that my shoelaces never come undone any more so no need to double tie my laces. By securing the laces in this fashion, they never get dragged across the court. the KSwiss Defier DS and NB MC 851 have longer laces and i found that even when i double tied my laces, they'd still drag on the court and get abraded and eventually break because i'd be stepping on and sliding on the long laces. No need to buy new laces due to breakage!

[hcb0804]

Originally Posted by hcb0804

I am starting to think, that the 11.5 I got is just too big. I am thinking the new Propulse 4 fits more like the SFX that I wear an 11 in..... I have worn 11.5 in every incarnation of the Propulse, so I felt pretty confident in requesting 11.5 for the playtest. Kinda sucks.

Sad, but true.....my test shoes are too big after all. I tried on a size 11, and it fits. Like I said, I have worn 11.5s in EVERY previous Propulse, so I was confident in requesting the 11.5. Babolat is on a trend of making their shoes roomier, a la the SFX which runs huge. I think the reason most everyone is saying that double sox and thickest Thorlos are required is that the Propulse 4 runs bigger than the 3s.......my recommendation is to order a half size smaller in the 4 than you wore in the 3.

[mad dog1]

Originally Posted by hcb0804

Sad, but true.....my test shoes are too big after all. I tried on a size 11, and it fits. Like I said, I have worn 11.5s in EVERY previous Propulse, so I was confident in requesting the 11.5. Babolat is on a trend of making their shoes roomier, a la the SFX which runs huge. I think the reason most everyone is saying that double sox and thickest Thorlos are required is that the Propulse 4 runs bigger than the 3s.......my recommendation is to order a half size smaller in the 4 than you wore in the 3.

yeah, i found that the propulse 4 are definitely roomier than the propulse 2s. w/ the P2s, i ended up wearing thinner socks and the shoes fit pretty well. the P4s fit comfortably with my thicker socks.

[NJ1]

Originally Posted by hcb0804

Sad, but true.....my test shoes are too big after all. I tried on a size 11, and it fits. Like I said, I have worn 11.5s in EVERY previous Propulse, so I was confident in requesting the 11.5. Babolat is on a trend of making their shoes roomier, a la the SFX which runs huge. I think the reason most everyone is saying that double sox and thickest Thorlos are required is that the Propulse 4 runs bigger than the 3s.......my recommendation is to order a half size smaller in the 4 than you wore in the 3.

Is this even with two pairs of socks? (not sure if you normally use the Elite plus regular dri-fit with all your shoes).

[hcb0804]

Originally Posted by NJ1

Is this even with two pairs of socks? (not sure if you normally use the Elite plus regular dri-fit with all your shoes).

Yes, even with level 3 Thorlo the 11.5 is roomy. I usually wear single Elites, or single normal cushion foot socks......not normally a double sock wearer.

[TahoeTennis]

Dear Babolat,
please start making a shoe in size 15.