best cushioning shoe - all else is unimportant

[stapletonj]

Hi all,

Time for new shoes for the big guy (6'6" 235lbs, hard courter, 50s) again, And I'm toying with the idea of changing brands just to see if there is anything out there better.

I've been with the Asics gel resolutions since the 2 model, having owned 2 2's, 1 3, and 2 sets of 4's. They do the job pretty well and last a reasonable amount of time.

However, being a Yonex racket guy, formerly a Prince guy, and playing with babolat string.......... I'm wondering if I should switch to one of the following:

Babolat SFX
Yonex 308
Prince T22

or stick with the AGR and get a set of 5's.

Nothing else is important compared to cushioning. The three most important things in a tennis shoe to me are cushioning, cushioning, and oh yeah, cushioning. The joints are living on borrowed time. I understand the argument that heavily cushioned shoes might make you more prone to joint injury due to instability. Respectfully, I'll take that chance.

Of those 4 options (or any other super duper cushioning shoe I may have omitted) which do you all recommend as the ultimate cushioning shoe?

Many thanks for your thoughts and ideas!

 

[Nostradamus]

I guess it is that new Yonex power pro Stan is wearing now.
Tennis Magazine gave the shoe one of the BEST ratings they had ever given any tennis shoe in their history. It blew away all Nike shoes including Lunarlite ballistec.

and Cushioning rating was one of the Highest I had ever seen

 

[Lukhas]

Yonex for me. If they weren't so damn expensive for a stud' like me I would have a pair. I keep repeating it in threads with similar topic, it almost feels like I'm one of their salesman. They're still very stable and not "mushy", the cushion retains its form. But Asics GR5, while not as shock absorbing are still a very good performer and more breathable. I have no experience with the Prince T22 though.

 

[Nostradamus]

Yonex 308 is just as good too. Not as much cushioning in the forefoot as the new model but it is just as good.
it is just that now 308 has become impossible to find and they are all sold out pretty much everywhere in USA.

 

[mmk]

When I tried them on the Wilson Rush Pros felt very cushioned, too much so for me. One of the guys I play wears them because of knee pain and says they are the most cushioned shoes he has ever tried, although I know he hasn't tried any of the Yonex shoes.

 

[KaiserW]

KSwiss are my favorite due to cushioning, comfort, and long lasting. I currently have the defiers but I think these are now discontinued. My next pair will most likely be Big Shots.

 

[Herdsman76]

I actually like the Adidas Feather IIIs myself. Very comfortable and currently priced well. Depends on the width of your feet but I'd say just try 'em...

H76

 

[Nostradamus]

When I tried them on the Wilson Rush Pros felt very cushioned, too much so for me. One of the guys I play wears them because of knee pain and says they are the most cushioned shoes he has ever tried, although I know he hasn't tried any of the Yonex shoes.

is that the same shoes that Feliciano Lopez wears ?

 

[mmk]

is that the same shoes that Feliciano Lopez wears ?

looks like it

 

[WildVolley]

I haven't worn the Babolat SFX shoes, but in my opinion the Yonex shoes are more cushioned than the Prince T22s.

 

[Arsnlrob]

I found the Nike Vapors to be way more cushioned than K-Swiss Bigshot (original version) and definitely more than the Wilson Pro Rush

 

[Fintft]

Niek CB's 4.3 are way better cushioned than Asiscs GR5 + more stable.

 

[imajica77]

Yonex shoes hands down. Any model of theirs is great.

 

[TW Staff]

stapletonj,

Chris, one of our TW playtesters, lists his top three cushioned shoes right now as the Diadora Speed Star K V, Asics Gel Resolution 5 and Lunar Ballistecs.

Brittany, TW

 

[mmk]

Yonex shoes hands down. Any model of theirs is great.

I tried on the 308s a while back, and could tell they would be comfortable, but for one problem: the arch was in the wrong place for me, too far towards the heel. Obviously other people don't have that problem. I think with any shoe you really have to try it on.

 

[Nostradamus]

stapletonj,

Chris, one of our TW playtesters, lists his top three cushioned shoes right now as the Diadora Speed Star K V, Asics Gel Resolution 5 and Lunar Ballistecs.

Brittany, TW

Diadora received really poor reviews as far as cushioning goes. from the last issue of Tennis magazine.

 

[TW Staff]

Nostradamus,

The Diadora shoe reviewed in Tennis magazine is different from the shoe Chris playtested. Both the men and women playtesters found the Speed Star K shoe to be one of the most comfortable tennis shoes they have ever worn.

Brittany, TW

 

[Cyclone]

GR5 and Lotto Raptor are two of the most cushioned shoes I've played in. However, I think it's important to take into consideration fit and feel, since "comfort" can be dependent on how well your foot matches with a particular shoe.

 

[scotus]

Nostradamus,

The Diadora shoe reviewed in Tennis magazine is different from the shoe Chris playtested. Both the men and women playtesters found the Speed Star K shoe to be one of the most comfortable tennis shoes they have ever worn.

Brittany, TW

I can see from the pictures why the Diadora Speed Star K would have great cushioning, even without having worn a pair.

The outsole shows a hole in the middle of the heel, much like the Cantilever Technology now prevalent in running shoe heels.

I was wondering when I would start seeing those in tennis shoes, because tennis players' heels take just as much pounding as runners' heels.

 

[lobman]

Take a look at the Prince T9 Roadster. I have bee wearing them for about a year on hard courts and they give really good cushioning.

 

[Cyclone]

I can see from the pictures why the Diadora Speed Star K would have great cushioning, even without having worn a pair.

The outsole shows a hole in the middle of the heel, much like the Cantilever Technology now prevalent in running shoe heels.

I was wondering when I would start seeing those in tennis shoes, because tennis players' heels take just as much pounding as runners' heels.

The Lotto Raptor has a similar opening in the heel, which they call "Syn-Pulse". Takes almost all the shock out of landing on the heel, great propulsion and energy return as well.

 

[stapletonj]

update -

Got the Yonex shoes....latest model....cushioning was great

BUT.........

construction problems! the shoe is "higher" than normal.
almost like the old "Mac Attacks" where it reached up to but did not cover your ankles like the old hightop basketball shoes did. This resulted in the top edge of the shoe rubbing into and under my ankle bone. Annoying at first, but within an hour, it was really hurting with every step. I actually took them off and put on my old worn out AGR 4s.

my ankle was still sore several days later, so I got the AGR 5s and no problems since.

Summary: if the ankle things are not an issue, the Yonex is a great shoe, but it was a deal killer for me.


PS - shout out to ************** customer service! GREAT!!!

 

[Rennokas]

update -

Got the Yonex shoes....latest model....cushioning was great

BUT.........

construction problems! the shoe is "higher" than normal.
almost like the old "Mac Attacks" where it reached up to but did not cover your ankles like the old hightop basketball shoes did. This resulted in the top edge of the shoe rubbing into and under my ankle bone. Annoying at first, but within an hour, it was really hurting with every step. I actually took them off and put on my old worn out AGR 4s.

my ankle was still sore several days later, so I got the AGR 5s and no problems since.

Summary: if the ankle things are not an issue, the Yonex is a great shoe, but it was a deal killer for me.


PS - shout out to ************** customer service! GREAT!!!

I got the new Yonex 254 durable shoes, super comfy and bouncy insole, but my planar fasciitis is not happy. So I would say that mid foot support is not so superb. And also does not fit well for flat footed people.

Those Yonex shoes are not so "deep" as the Pros or last years models so they dont reach ankle area. Gel resos are much higher in that area.

 

[gino]

Can anyone talk about gel resolution 5s?

How is the long-term cushioning?

 

[Nostradamus]

update -

Got the Yonex shoes....latest model....cushioning was great

BUT.........

construction problems! the shoe is "higher" than normal.
almost like the old "Mac Attacks" where it reached up to but did not cover your ankles like the old hightop basketball shoes did. This resulted in the top edge of the shoe rubbing into and under my ankle bone. Annoying at first, but within an hour, it was really hurting with every step. I actually took them off and put on my old worn out AGR 4s.

my ankle was still sore several days later, so I got the AGR 5s and no problems since.

Summary: if the ankle things are not an issue, the Yonex is a great shoe, but it was a deal killer for me.


PS - shout out to ************** customer service! GREAT!!!

I AGREE. I turned my ankle twice with this shoe. am looking into its brother power cushion lite. hope it is better

 

[martini1]

stapletonj,

Chris, one of our TW playtesters, lists his top three cushioned shoes right now as the Diadora Speed Star K V, Asics Gel Resolution 5 and Lunar Ballistecs.

Brittany, TW

Yes, gel res is very comfy in terms of cushioning.

 

[QuadCam]

stapletonj,

Chris, one of our TW playtesters, lists his top three cushioned shoes right now as the Diadora Speed Star K V, Asics Gel Resolution 5 and Lunar Ballistecs.

Brittany, TW

good info, but the OP is 235#. Chris appears to be sub 170#. I can say from experience that bigger/heavier players put much more demand on thier sneakers cushioning. The cushioning in most shoes will wear out faster and get compacted in no time. Of Chris' shoe choices, I only tried the AGR5, and I found it to be sub par in the cushioning department. Asics needs to apply some of their running shoe cushioning technology to a set of tennis shoes.