Mizuno USA Tennis Official

[Dean M]

こんにちは (Hello),

My name is Tyler and I am the Tennis Product/ Marketing Manager for Mizuno USA.

Mizuno is officially BACK in the tennis game in the USA and we could not be more excited! Some of you may be thinking “back”? Well in 1990 Mizuno signed Ivan Lendl to a multiyear contract at which point we began selling tennis products in the USA. This was short lived as Lendl retired in 1994 and Mizuno ended distribution in the US.

I am enthralled with how active the forums are! All of you are the reason our great sport is alive and well. My intent for this thread is not to try and sell you Mizuno products but instead I am here to try and answer your questions to the best of my knowledge. For any other questions you may have you can send me an email at: Tyler.carey@Mizunousa.com

About my tennis background…
Playing experience: University of Mary Washington
Playing style: Grinder
Current set-up:
• Racket & strings - Babolat Pure Storm Tour, Babolat RPM Team 17g @48 lbs
• Shoes – Wave Exceed Tour 3 AC (Black)

I look forward to everyone’s questions and comments!

Hi Tyler,

Glad to have you on this discussion. I've been a fan of Mizuno products for a long time (since the Lendl days) and have used several pairs of running shoes and soccer cleats over the years. After a number of years off from tennis I got back into it 2 years ago and rediscovered the Mizuno tennis shoe line (Wave Exceed 2) and really are enjoying them. Looking forward to a full line of products being readily available in the U.S. We are so used to being forced fed with the big brands (Nike, Adidas, etc.) that many don't realize what high quality products Mizuno consistently makes.

 

[McLovin]

@Mizuno USA Official...you can thank me for your new position :

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/new-mizuno-tennis-shoes.552455/#post-9928425​

 

[brinkeguthrie]

Mizuno..hmmm let me think. How long have you been there, Tyler? Know a fellow named Steve Pruett? Fantastic player, thought he worked for Miz sometime back- maybe 90s

 

[Bluefan75]

Will there be apparel coming soon? Really liked Baghdatis' kit at the US open I believe it was.

 

[Mizuno USA Official]

Mizuno..hmmm let me think. How long have you been there, Tyler? Know a fellow named Steve Pruett? Fantastic player, thought he worked for Miz sometime back- maybe 90s

I do not know anyone by that name. I have only been with Mizuno for 6 short months

 

[Mizuno USA Official]

Will there be apparel coming soon? Really liked Baghdatis' kit at the US open I believe it was.

No plan for clothing in the USA right now. You will be able to get the clothing though from Tennis Warehouse Europe!

 

[Bluefan75]

No plan for clothing in the USA right now. You will be able to get the clothing though from Tennis Warehouse Europe!

That's a shame. And I can tell you, while it's nice stuff, there is nothing about any piece of clothing that will make me go to the lengths to ship from Europe to North America.

 

[kalede]

Is there any sort of outsole durability guarantee?

 

[Mizuno USA Official]

Is there any sort of outsole durability guarantee?

Hi @kalede , thanks for the question. Right now there is not an outsole durability guarantee for the Wave Exceed Tour 3 AC.

 

[TahoeTennis]

Mizuno Peeps,
Please tell me you make a size 15 shoe, and I will happily try them.
Otherwise I must stick with my beloved Asics and Nike.

 

[Mizuno USA Official]

Mizuno Peeps,
Please tell me you make a size 15 shoe, and I will happily try them.
Otherwise I must stick with my beloved Asics and Nike.

Hi @TahoeTennis
Unfortunately we do not offer size 15 at this time. Maybe down the road we will add some bigger sizes but for right now the largest size we offer is a men's 13.0 and women's 11.0

 

[TahoeTennis]

Hi @TahoeTennis
Unfortunately we do not offer size 15 at this time. Maybe down the road we will add some bigger sizes but for right now the largest size we offer is a men's 13.0 and women's 11.0

thanks for the reply, yes it's very hard for me to find shoes, but maybe after I win Wimbledon 2020 you could sponsor me with a custom size 15

 

[Challenge Court]

Hey Tyler, is there any place who actually has the Wave Exceed Tour 3 in store so I can try them on? Just curious. I'm in the same boat part of Pennsylvania so you know where to look. Thanks.

 

[bigserving]

@Mizuno USA Official Tyler, what can you share with us about the life of shoes if they stored for a long period of time while they are, "still new in the box."

I have a couple of pair that I bought on sale and they are still in my closet. What can I expect from them going forward?

Do the shoe materials degenerate even if they are not being used? If so, how long is the process and how long can shoes be unused, boxed before they begin to degenerate? How long until they degenerate to the point that they are no longer effective as playable shoes? What is it that happens to shoes over time that makes them degenerate?

 

[Moosch]

If you're shoes are not made out of paper mache or made before the 1970s, I'm sure they'll be fine unless you have them sitting in extreme weather conditions

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

[1HBHfanatic]

@Mizuno USA Official
Im looking for a wide toe shoe with high arch
im not a toe dragger, but need good durability on the soel of the shoe, hard court play
with lots of cushioning , preferably more so under the toes , where the real impact takes place
any mizuno suggestions/recomendations?

 

[Mizuno USA Official]

@Mizuno USA Official Tyler, what can you share with us about the life of shoes if they stored for a long period of time while they are, "still new in the box."

I have a couple of pair that I bought on sale and they are still in my closet. What can I expect from them going forward?

Do the shoe materials degenerate even if they are not being used? If so, how long is the process and how long can shoes be unused, boxed before they begin to degenerate? How long until they degenerate to the point that they are no longer effective as playable shoes? What is it that happens to shoes over time that makes them degenerate?

Hi @bigserving
Thanks for the question! Short answer... the shoes are completely fine assuming you haven't had them sitting in the garage since the 90's.
The reason shoes fall apart is because the all the glue that holds the shoe together dries up. I have only ever heard of this happening on shoes that are 20+ years old though so your shoes should be fine.

 

[Mizuno USA Official]

@Mizuno USA Official
Im looking for a wide toe shoe with high arch
im not a toe dragger, but need good durability on the soel of the shoe, hard court play
with lots of cushioning , preferably more so under the toes , where the real impact takes place
any mizuno suggestions/recomendations?

Hi @1HBHfanatic
Thanks for the question! Right now we only offer one shoe - Wave Exceed Tour 3 AC. They offer great arch support in my opinion and the durability is on par with other shoes alike. The shoes are very light weight so they are not meant to last as long as a barricade or Gel Resolution. The width is very standard (D width) but the material in the toe box area is very pliable which allows your foot to expand any direction. Hope this helps!

 

[Dean M]

Plus one on that question. I really dig the Wave Exceed Tour 3 but I have ordering shoes blind and having to send back. If I can try them on somewhere, that would be awesome. I like the black color with the blue and neon green color. Would be very interested in trying them on.

I've had Wave Exceed Tour 2's before and they ran just a tad long. Just received the Wave Exceed Tour 3's and Wave Intense 4's in the mail at 1/2 size smaller than my usual 9.5 US. Fits perfectly.

 

[Mizuno USA Official]

I've had Wave Exceed Tour 2's before and they ran just a tad long. Just received the Wave Exceed Tour 3's and Wave Intense 4's in the mail at 1/2 size smaller than my usual 9.5 US. Fits perfectly.

@Dean M is correct. I would recommend going down a half size and they should fit perfectly!

 

[tommyfr]

I play with Intence tour Ac 3 and Intence tour 4. They are both heavier than Exceed tour..but lighter than for ex Barricade. The sole of Intence tour is very heavy duty, and size is true. AC3 had less durable sole, still good, and fit slightly long.

 

[StefanosWillSaveTheWorld]

Great to have you Tyler! I am a huge fan of the Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 3. Great product. Definitely go down a half size. Already looking forward to the new colors of 2019.

 

[Mizuno USA Official]

Great to have you Tyler! I am a huge fan of the Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 3. Great product. Definitely go down a half size. Already looking forward to the new colors of 2019.

@StefanosWillSaveTheWorld Thank you! Glad you have been enjoying the shoes and thank you for supporting the brand!

 

[Nostradamus]

@StefanosWillSaveTheWorld Thank you! Glad you have been enjoying the shoes and thank you for supporting the brand!

I know you guys have penetrated hugely into Pros ranked 20-150 in the world. but do you guys have plans to penetrate big into NCAA D 1 tennis college programs as well ?? It seems like some of the big time programs like USC , UCLA, Virginia have deals already with Adidas, Nike and so on so it might be more difficult. but it might be worth it since college market is also very big in the USA.

 

[Nostradamus]

This new model seem to be sold in TW Europe only. not in USA, wonder why ?

 

[Mizuno USA Official]

Hi Everyone,

Mizuno shoes are officially available for purchase in the US! Check out the all new Wave Impulse and Wave Exceed Tour 3 colors!

 

[Big Bagel]

Hi Everyone,

Mizuno shoes are officially available for purchase in the US! Check out the all new Wave Impulse and Wave Exceed Tour 3 colors!

They only go up to size 13 though
I used to have a pair of Mizuno volleyball shoes in a 15, why not tennis? Guess I'll be sticking with my New Balance for a while.

 

[XFactorer]

Sad to report that the new Exceed Tours are way too narrow in the forefoot for me. Been wearing the Vapor 9.5s and moved over to NB 996 and now the Lav. Had high hopes for this shoe. Seems soft enough in the footbed that others will probably really like it.

 

[mctennis]

Tyler, I sent you an email message to the address you provided. I appreciate your attention to my question.

 

[mctennis]

They only go up to size 13 though
I used to have a pair of Mizuno volleyball shoes in a 15, why not tennis? Guess I'll be sticking with my New Balance for a while.

My issue as well. I use size 14 and they seem to only go up to size 13.

 

[Nostradamus]

WOW,, Mizuno shoes is Everywhere at the Australian open. I see more pros using this shoes than Adidas or Asics shoes

 

[Prestigeworldwide]

Just ordered my first pair, excited to see how they compare! Will give some thoughts soon after I get them on court.

 

[Mizuno USA Official]

Just ordered my first pair, excited to see how they compare! Will give some thoughts soon after I get them on court.

@Prestigeworldwide Thanks for supporting Mizuno! Looking forward to your feedback!

 

[Prestigeworldwide]

@Mizuno USA Official I wore these for a few practice sessions and wanted to share some thoughts. I went a half-size down and do think that is essential. I settled in after about an hour and the shoes feel great. Definitely feel supported enough but also light enough to move around the court. If you're an aggressive mover and like a fast shoe, this is one to check out. The durability looks to be on par with other speed models and I am coming from the Ubersonic 2 and Speed Solution 3.

 

[J B]

I am looking for a shoe with midfoot cushion as I have some shin issues. Does Mizuno offer anything with that sort of cushioning?

 

[M Pillai]

For "Wave Exceed Tour 3" the recommendation is to order half size smaller than other brands sizes, correct?

Hi Everyone,

Mizuno shoes are officially available for purchase in the US! Check out the all new Wave Impulse and Wave Exceed Tour 3 colors!

 

[Dean M]

For "Wave Exceed Tour 3" the recommendation is to order half size smaller than other brands sizes, correct?

Yes, absolutely perfect fit when getting a 1/2 size smaller. Also, TW Europe site has the Wave Exceed Tour 3 and several other models on sale. I bought the black color, clay version, including international shipping, for $103.

 

[bigserving]

Tyler, how much of this is happening right now?

The customer places their feet on a platter and lasers map the entirety of their feet. Size, shape, arch, etc. Then, the customer chooses the model of shoe that they want, the colorway and the desired outsole. The computer sends the foot mapping data to another machine and the pieces to the selected shoes are cut from the desired material. They would probably be assembled by the combination of machine and hand the same as they are now.

If the technology does not exist now, it should in the future. I don't know for a fact, but I have long assumed that the top athletes fit their shoes this way for a while now.

 

[Mizuno USA Official]

I am looking for a shoe with midfoot cushion as I have some shin issues. Does Mizuno offer anything with that sort of cushioning?

Hi @J B - The unique thing to Mizuno is our Wave plate technology that can be found in all of our tennis shoes. Wave technology uniformly disperses the shock throughout the sole, providing excellent cushioning and enhanced stability. Here is a link where you can read more about the Wave technology... https://www.mizuno.asia/region/technology.aspx
Hope this helps!

 

[Mizuno USA Official]

Tyler, how much of this is happening right now?

The customer places their feet on a platter and lasers map the entirety of their feet. Size, shape, arch, etc. Then, the customer chooses the model of shoe that they want, the colorway and the desired outsole. The computer sends the foot mapping data to another machine and the pieces to the selected shoes are cut from the desired material. They would probably be assembled by the combination of machine and hand the same as they are now.

If the technology does not exist now, it should in the future. I don't know for a fact, but I have long assumed that the top athletes fit their shoes this way for a while now.

Hi @bigserving - To my knowledge this machine does not exist. It may be a while until something like this comes along.

 

[Geoff]

I met Tyler @Mizuno USA Official at a local tennis show in Atlanta this past week. The shoe is very comfortable and true to size.

 

[airdupont]

I really enjoy every mizuno tennis pair I’ve had so far. Really good clay soles

 

[Mizuno USA Official]

I really enjoy every mizuno tennis pair I’ve had so far. Really good clay soles

Hi @airdupont - Thanks for supporting Mizuno and I am happy to hear you are enjoying the shoes!

 

[Mizuno USA Official]

Hi @markka02 - We do not have any plans to bring the Intense Tour 5 to the US as of right now.

 

[Kal-El 34]

Can you please make shoes in size 14 lol

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[Don't Let It Bounce]

Welcome to TT, Tyler. It's nice to see Mizuno back in the U.S., and I hope you do well here. I have not tried Mizuno tennis shoes, but I did have a pair of Wave EVO minimalist running shoes that I liked enough to wear out: great cushioning, especially for their weight.

And, as an aside, someone somewhere sometime may have made a cooler tennis shirt than this, but if they did I never saw it:

 

[airchallenge2]

Welcome to TT, Tyler. It's nice to see Mizuno back in the U.S., and I hope you do well here. I have not tried Mizuno tennis shoes, but I did have a pair of Wave EVO minimalist running shoes that I liked enough to wear out: great cushioning, especially for their weight.

And, as an aside, someone somewhere sometime may have made a cooler tennis shirt than this, but if they did I never saw it:

I've never seen it either! Even though, the Sampras ST shirt (when he won his first major) was at least as bad *** as this mizuno shirt.

 

[ckhirnigs113]

@Mizuno USA Official Are there any plans to bring the clay sole version of the Exceed Tour 3 to any US vendors? Right now I'd have to buy from out of the country to get the clay version.

 

[Mizuno USA Official]

Hi @ckhirnigs113 We will not be bringing in any clay court shoes in 2019.

 

[ckhirnigs113]

Hi @ckhirnigs113 We will not be bringing in any clay court shoes in 2019.

Ok, not the news I was hoping for, but I appreciate the info. I'll probably get these from a European shop now. Ironically, it might be cheaper that way anyway.