Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 4

I just got an email from Mizuno announcing the new Wave Exceed Tour 4. I was on the cusp of buying the previous model but think I’ll wait to see the reviews for these. Tons of pros were using the Wave Exceed Tour 3, so I would assume most will move to this new model if it’s an improvement.

Has anyone had a chance to try this new shoe out on the court?
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tomato123

Professional
This looks promising. This guy reviewed the Gel Res 8 a few weeks ago and just released his review of the Wave Exceed 4. I was unable to wear the 3's because it was too narrow and uncomfortable but it seems they improved the fit, made it lighter, and added a 6 month warranty. Definitely going to try these out.


Edit: So yeah, if this is supposedly just under 12 ounces while maintaining all the bells and whistles from pervious versions and it's durable enough for them to put on a warranty this is pretty exciting. I was set on getting a pair of Court FF 2's but was stalled for the last couple weeks because I couldn't decide from the current color options, but I just ordered a pair of the Wave Exceed 4's. Will report back once they arrive in a few days. I currently use 2018 Barricades.
 
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AM75

Hall of Fame
Hopefully quality-wise they will be be better than Wave Exceed Tour 3 or their other models.
 

tomato123

Professional
Mine arrived today and I tried them on in the house, and here are my first impressions:

I can confidently say that the fit is definitely more robust and less narrow than the Wave Exceed 3's, which I had to immediately return because of the narrow fit.

I would say I'm on the wider side of D, but not enough to consider myself in the wide foot category.

I have been wearing the 2018 Barricades for the last 8-9 months, which I've gotten very much used to, but I use a runner's loop to secure a tighter fit around the ankles. My favorite tennis shoes were the Court FF 1's which I unfortunately never stocked up on, and I'm a big fan of the sock fit construction.

Compared to the Barricades, I did not have any noticeable difficulty fitting into the Wave Exceed Tour 4, although it does feel slightly tighter trying to put them on. I would say, if the shoe were even a little bit tighter than its current form, I would return them, but they are just wide enough to provide a comfortable fit. Toe box was comfortable.

Immediately when you pick up the shoe, you can notice how light they feel. They are very light! I cannot believe these come with a 6 month warranty. Has Mizuno cracked the code on light weight, efficient performance and durability? I'm not sure. Side by side, the treads and sturdiness of the Barricades makes it feel like a tank compared to the Wave Exceed 4's.

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But when I look at the "depth" of the treads, I can see that they are not much different than the Barricades from inside, and I am not particularly hard on my shoes, nor do I slide.

So far, this looks like a great shoe to me. I can still feel connected to the ground, although not as connected as the barricades. But this is okay with me.

Unfortunately, I will have to wait until the weekend to see how these shoes hold up on the court. It should be interesting, but very good first impressions for me. I wear size 10.5, and the Wave Exceed Tour 4 at size 10.5 felt just right. I also have high arches, and it seemed like I could use a little bit more arch support, but we will see. I'm not sure if there will be any room for insoles if it's going to make the fit tighter.
 

richdvng

Rookie
Mine arrived today and I tried them on in the house, and here are my first impressions:

I can confidently say that the fit is definitely more robust and less narrow than the Wave Exceed 3's, which I had to immediately return because of the narrow fit.

I would say I'm on the wider side of D, but not enough to consider myself in the wide foot category.

I have been wearing the 2018 Barricades for the last 8-9 months, which I've gotten very much used to, but I use a runner's loop to secure a tighter fit around the ankles. My favorite tennis shoes were the Court FF 1's which I unfortunately never stocked up on, and I'm a big fan of the sock fit construction.

Compared to the Barricades, I did not have any noticeable difficulty fitting into the Wave Exceed Tour 4, although it does feel slightly tighter trying to put them on. I would say, if the shoe were even a little bit tighter than its current form, I would return them, but they are just wide enough to provide a comfortable fit. Toe box was comfortable.

Immediately when you pick up the shoe, you can notice how light they feel. They are very light! I cannot believe these come with a 6 month warranty. Has Mizuno cracked the code on light weight, efficient performance and durability? I'm not sure. Side by side, the treads and sturdiness of the Barricades makes it feel like a tank compared to the Wave Exceed 4's.

nSxQESp.jpg


But when I look at the "depth" of the treads, I can see that they are not much different than the Barricades from inside, and I am not particularly hard on my shoes, nor do I slide.

So far, this looks like a great shoe to me. I can still feel connected to the ground, although not as connected as the barricades. But this is okay with me.

Unfortunately, I will have to wait until the weekend to see how these shoes hold up on the court. It should be interesting, but very good first impressions for me. I wear size 10.5, and the Wave Exceed Tour 4 at size 10.5 felt just right. I also have high arches, and it seemed like I could use a little bit more arch support, but we will see. I'm not sure if there will be any room for insoles if it's going to make the fit tighter.
How was the cushioning in the shoe?
 

tomato123

Professional
How was the cushioning in the shoe?

Hard to get an accurate feel on the cushioning, but since this is the same pownce tech from the 3's I'm hopeful they will be good since it was well-received by people who used them. The shoes feel like they are slightly more elevated at the heel, and you can definitely feel the heels digging into the midsole and having it rebound back when I push down, but it's not the "cushy" or "pillowy" type of feel you get from flytefoam. But at the same time it's not as firm feeling as boost, when I push down on my old Barricade Boosts I definitely do not get the same kind of "give" on the heels like I do with the Mizunos. Maybe somewhere in between FF and boost might be how I'd describe it.
 

Dean M

New User
Mine arrived today and I tried them on in the house, and here are my first impressions:

I can confidently say that the fit is definitely more robust and less narrow than the Wave Exceed 3's, which I had to immediately return because of the narrow fit.

I would say I'm on the wider side of D, but not enough to consider myself in the wide foot category.

I have been wearing the 2018 Barricades for the last 8-9 months, which I've gotten very much used to, but I use a runner's loop to secure a tighter fit around the ankles. My favorite tennis shoes were the Court FF 1's which I unfortunately never stocked up on, and I'm a big fan of the sock fit construction.

Compared to the Barricades, I did not have any noticeable difficulty fitting into the Wave Exceed Tour 4, although it does feel slightly tighter trying to put them on. I would say, if the shoe were even a little bit tighter than its current form, I would return them, but they are just wide enough to provide a comfortable fit. Toe box was comfortable.

Immediately when you pick up the shoe, you can notice how light they feel. They are very light! I cannot believe these come with a 6 month warranty. Has Mizuno cracked the code on light weight, efficient performance and durability? I'm not sure. Side by side, the treads and sturdiness of the Barricades makes it feel like a tank compared to the Wave Exceed 4's.

nSxQESp.jpg


But when I look at the "depth" of the treads, I can see that they are not much different than the Barricades from inside, and I am not particularly hard on my shoes, nor do I slide.

So far, this looks like a great shoe to me. I can still feel connected to the ground, although not as connected as the barricades. But this is okay with me.

Unfortunately, I will have to wait until the weekend to see how these shoes hold up on the court. It should be interesting, but very good first impressions for me. I wear size 10.5, and the Wave Exceed Tour 4 at size 10.5 felt just right. I also have high arches, and it seemed like I could use a little bit more arch support, but we will see. I'm not sure if there will be any room for insoles if it's going to make the fit tighter.

It seems like Mizuno fixed the narrow and long fit that was on the Wave Exceed Tour 2 and 3 (I had both versions). The fit was a bit long so I had to go a half size down. Thanks for sharing your first impressions, I will go true to size on the 4's.
 

Kevin T

Hall of Fame
Hard to get an accurate feel on the cushioning, but since this is the same pownce tech from the 3's I'm hopeful they will be good since it was well-received by people who used them. The shoes feel like they are slightly more elevated at the heel, and you can definitely feel the heels digging into the midsole and having it rebound back when I push down, but it's not the "cushy" or "pillowy" type of feel you get from flytefoam. But at the same time it's not as firm feeling as boost, when I push down on my old Barricade Boosts I definitely do not get the same kind of "give" on the heels like I do with the Mizunos. Maybe somewhere in between FF and boost might be how I'd describe it.

Thanks for the feedback. The elevated heel you mention is why I chose to stick with Asics. I love Mizuno stuff in all sports but prefer shoes that are a little closer to the ground with less stack difference from heel to forefoot.
 

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
This looks promising. This guy reviewed the Gel Res 8 a few weeks ago and just released his review of the Wave Exceed 4. I was unable to wear the 3's because it was too narrow and uncomfortable but it seems they improved the fit, made it lighter, and added a 6 month warranty. Definitely going to try these out.


Edit: So yeah, if this is supposedly just under 12 ounces while maintaining all the bells and whistles from pervious versions and it's durable enough for them to put on a warranty this is pretty exciting. I was set on getting a pair of Court FF 2's but was stalled for the last couple weeks because I couldn't decide from the current color options, but I just ordered a pair of the Wave Exceed 4's. Will report back once they arrive in a few days. I currently use 2018 Barricades.
are these shoes have good Cushioning ?? in the past, they were criticized for having poor cushining
 

tomato123

Professional
are these shoes have good Cushioning ?? in the past, they were criticized for having poor cushining

I wouldn't say cushioning is the defining feature of this shoe like it is with technologies like power cushion, boost, or flytefoam. It's on the firmer side in terms of the feel you get when you press down on the heel, but it does not feel harsh because there's still a rebounding effect. This shoe seems like it's trying to stand out for the lightweight efficiency without sacrificing stability, while having "good enough" cushioning. It's the exact same midsole tech as the previous version, so if the 3's did not feel cushiony enough, then I don't think the 4's will feel that much better.
 
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tomato123

Professional
Played with the shoes for about 2 hours today outdoors for a casual hit, and I did not have any issues with stability or cushioning, and the shoes were very comfortable all around. I'd say I'm a moderate mover, as in, I don't slide but I'll run after most balls and I try to serve and volley on at least half my points on serve. There is a lot of flexibility and softness in the uppers to give it the step-in comfort and I can really feel the lightness in my movements, coming previously from Barricades. I like these shoes a lot and will be using them for both practice and game days, and the 6 month warranty is a nice peace of mind bonus.

I would say, though, that there are probably better shoes if you are looking for premium comfort and cushioning. The Wave Exceed Tour 4's are super light, stable, and comfortable, but I would not say they are on the level of Court FF's where a lof of the time I did not even feel like I was wearing shoes due to the glove like fit and plush midsole. I am probably going to use a custom insole with these shoes because I have high arches and have always needed them for any shoe, which should be an overall improvement for support and cushioning, and I can still keep the shoes under 14 ounces which is pretty amazing.
 
@tomato123 Were you referring to the first generation Asics Court FF's or the newer FF2's? I have the original Court FF and like it a lot, so I'd just like to know which version you were comparing these Mizuno's to.
 

tomato123

Professional
@tomato123 Were you referring to the first generation Asics Court FF's or the newer FF2's? I have the original Court FF and like it a lot, so I'd just like to know which version you were comparing these Mizuno's to.

The first gen FF. I briefly tried the FF 2s and liked it and was about to get a pair but decided to wait because I wasn’t a fan of the current color offerings. Then the Wave Exceed 4s dropped and I liked them enough to keep them. But I think these are very different from both FFs, though.
 

tomato123

Professional
According to Troy the cushioning seems to be an improvement from the 3's, so looks like I may have been wrong about the cushioning being similar.

 

bmd9

New User
Loved them at first, but having second thoughts. Started off loving them because of how cushioned and comfortable they were and how noticeably light they are, but now I'm starting to get how they pulled that off. All synthetic upper with mostly single piece construction from the midfoot to toe mean they "give" in a really weird way, almost like the fold over, when you make an aggressive lateral movement. Not like they cause your ankle to roll, but the upper just "falls off" the midsole. Also, the grip is just too tacky for me. I've fallen twice now catching an edge moving forward into the court. Never happened in Vapors or Cages. That's odd, because I don't consider myself a slider ("dragger", if that's a thing), but there is just no give to the outsole. I tried an alternative, but likely going back to Vapors I guess.
 

tomato123

Professional
After 6 months of playing anywhere between 2-4 times a week with the Wave Exceed 4, the treads are still good but it seems like the cushioning is starting to give out. Surprisingly durable and supportive for a lightweight shoe with above average cushioning if you prefer the "bounce" type of cushioning as opposed to the "pillowy" type. Very efficient all around. They do run a bit higher off the ground at the heels but I didn't have any problems with it.

I'm not sure if I'm going to get another pair of Wave Exceed 4's to replace these as I am considering prioritizing full length cushioning tech over lightweight efficiency (maybe Freshfoam Lav? or snatch a clearance zoom zero?) but it's also hard to imagine wearing another shoe over this one for performance.
 

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster

Looks like TW reviewers loved this new mizuno tour 4. improved cushioning and fit. But what is this about Heel Slippiage ?? is this bad enough where it could be a ankle turner ?? i hate tieing that last eyelet so i am asking. Thank you in advance.

Also which do you guys think is better ? This mizuno tour 4 or Adidas Ubersonic 2 shoes which also got rave reviews from TW.
 

tomato123

Professional

Looks like TW reviewers loved this new mizuno tour 4. improved cushioning and fit. But what is this about Heel Slippiage ?? is this bad enough where it could be a ankle turner ?? i hate tieing that last eyelet so i am asking. Thank you in advance.

Also which do you guys think is better ? This mizuno tour 4 or Adidas Ubersonic 2 shoes which also got rave reviews from TW.

It was also Tennis Magazine's "Best in Shoe" pick for 2020 :)

It's not the most snug fit for sure, compared to something like the Court FF 1 where I felt the shoes were literally an extension of my foot and I felt like I wasn't even wearing any shoes when I put them on. But for me the Mizuno was never bad enough where I felt my heels slipping or turned my ankle. I'd say I'm a fast player (for 41 years old lol) but I am definitely not an "aggressive mover." I'll run after drop shots, play serve and volley and try to run down balls on defense at the baseline, but I don't typically make sudden direction changes or slide. If you are that type of player, I can't say for certain you won't have heel slippage problems. It probably depends on your foot.

I also don't know if this shoe would be necessarily ideal for super aggressive movers because it does ride slightly high off the ground compared to other shoes, and most of the aggressive moving players I know seem to prefer shoes that are low to the ground.

I actually ordered a pair of Nike Zoom Zeros on sale and a lot of people seem to consider that shoe to have the best cushioning and comfort, so if they fit well on my feet I might try those out.

I never tried Ubersonice 2's, sorry :(
 

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
It was also Tennis Magazine's "Best in Shoe" pick for 2020 :)

It's not the most snug fit for sure, compared to something like the Court FF 1 where I felt the shoes were literally an extension of my foot and I felt like I wasn't even wearing any shoes when I put them on. But for me the Mizuno was never bad enough where I felt my heels slipping or turned my ankle. I'd say I'm a fast player (for 41 years old lol) but I am definitely not an "aggressive mover." I'll run after drop shots, play serve and volley and try to run down balls on defense at the baseline, but I don't typically make sudden direction changes or slide. If you are that type of player, I can't say for certain you won't have heel slippage problems. It probably depends on your foot.

I also don't know if this shoe would be necessarily ideal for super aggressive movers because it does ride slightly high off the ground compared to other shoes, and most of the aggressive moving players I know seem to prefer shoes that are low to the ground.

I actually ordered a pair of Nike Zoom Zeros on sale and a lot of people seem to consider that shoe to have the best cushioning and comfort, so if they fit well on my feet I might try those out.

I never tried Ubersonice 2's, sorry :(

Air zoom zero is super tight, my foot told me it was dying of lack of oxygen so i had to throw that shoes away.

Anyway, with mizuno wave 4 riding high off the ground. I am Yonex Eclipsion original lover. and that shoes wasn't low to the ground either and i love that shoes eternally. i don't like super low to the ground feel. I thought Vapor 10 was fairly low to the ground more than Yonex Eclipsion but for really really Weird reason, Vapor 10 feels like it is disconnected to the ground, at least for me. Maybe it is cause i have to put in the thick Custom doctor made orthotics ??

Anyway, I Wave 4 any more higher off the ground than Yonex Eclipsion ?? i thought Yonex was just right while providing super cushioning.
 

tomato123

Professional
Air zoom zero is super tight, my foot told me it was dying of lack of oxygen so i had to throw that shoes away.

Anyway, with mizuno wave 4 riding high off the ground. I am Yonex Eclipsion original lover. and that shoes wasn't low to the ground either and i love that shoes eternally. i don't like super low to the ground feel. I thought Vapor 10 was fairly low to the ground more than Yonex Eclipsion but for really really Weird reason, Vapor 10 feels like it is disconnected to the ground, at least for me. Maybe it is cause i have to put in the thick Custom doctor made orthotics ??

Anyway, I Wave 4 any more higher off the ground than Yonex Eclipsion ?? i thought Yonex was just right while providing super cushioning.

Never tried any Yonex shoes so I can't make an accurate comparison, sorry :(
 

ragingbull1980

Semi-Pro
So i have been using the tour 4 shoe now for about one month, 3x a week. I absolutely love this shoe. What an upgrade from the 3 model. True to size unlike the 3. I am a very aggressive mover, a retriever type of player and i have had zero issues with the heel slipping. These fit great, very comfortable yet very stable. I used to use the boost which was too wide in the toe box for me and the asics gel 7 which were too narrow. Also tried the zoom zero but not enough lateral support for how aggressively i move. I have bought 3 pairs. With a 6 month guarantee this is a great shoe. I'll report back when my shoe is ready to be replaced. Very curious to see what the next model is all about, hopefully for me it's pretty much there same.
 

k_h_d

New User
So i have been using the tour 4 shoe now for about one month, 3x a week. I absolutely love this shoe. What an upgrade from the 3 model. True to size unlike the 3. I am a very aggressive mover, a retriever type of player and i have had zero issues with the heel slipping. These fit great, very comfortable yet very stable. I used to use the boost which was too wide in the toe box for me and the asics gel 7 which were too narrow. Also tried the zoom zero but not enough lateral support for how aggressively i move. I have bought 3 pairs. With a 6 month guarantee this is a great shoe. I'll report back when my shoe is ready to be replaced. Very curious to see what the next model is all about, hopefully for me it's pretty much there same.

Anybody know where these are just not in stock anywhere? I fell into trying a pair and absolutely love them. I am gonna need a new pair in a month or so. They have been out of stock in most sizes everywhere. Looking for size 10.
 

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
Anybody know where these are just not in stock anywhere? I fell into trying a pair and absolutely love them. I am gonna need a new pair in a month or so. They have been out of stock in most sizes everywhere. Looking for size 10.
also try the yonex fusion rev 4, that new one. it looks like great shoes for sure. Nishioka already wearing and loving it
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
Anybody know where these are just not in stock anywhere? I fell into trying a pair and absolutely love them. I am gonna need a new pair in a month or so. They have been out of stock in most sizes everywhere. Looking for size 10.

Pretty sure you’ll be fine in a month as the Mizuno guy was on the Tennis Spin YT channel this week showing new colors coming out. Would guess he wouldn’t have done so if there was a known delay in the product arriving to shops.
 

ragingbull1980

Semi-Pro
I love this shoe, except one thing and that's the durability. I went two pairs in 5 months. I'm a righty and my left shoe above my pinky toe has a whole on both pairs. The first pair i actually went through the sole first and mizuno granted that no problem. But they no longer had my size so come April 2 or so I'll get my warranty pair. At least they have a 6 month warranty otherwise i would look elsewhere. Maybe even the Intense line? Also customer service has been great. As for the new color options, I'm really wanting the camo green color.
 

Vicious49

Legend
I dont mean to revive an old thread, but i can no longer find these shoes anywhere. Ive owned 2 pairs of them and wanted to purchase some more but they arent listed on any of the major retailer sites. Have they been discontinued?
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
I dont mean to revive an old thread, but i can no longer find these shoes anywhere. Ive owned 2 pairs of them and wanted to purchase some more but they arent listed on any of the major retailer sites. Have they been discontinued?

The 5s are due out this month.
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
I love the 4, and we know they always wreck a good thing, doesn't matter who the manufacturer is. At least I have one backup pair.

Maybe the 5 won't be a step backwards, but I'm not holding my breath ...

It’s possible, of course. But they got such good feedback/publicity on the Exceed 4 (tennis mag shoe of the year, and online reviews mostly super positive) that I feel like they’d keep it mostly the same. I hope. It’s a great shoe. Maybe make it slightly more stable/lower to the ground, and it’d be perfect.
 

JGads

G.O.A.T.
Maybe to compensate for the grass sole?

Yeah could be, but even the midsole I don't recognize. It's not the Intense Tour sole which is what they give RBA for his Exceed uppers. I guess because they don't release a grass shoe at all this is just conjured up super specifically for the pros. Interesting.
 
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