NB lav fresh foam Clay performance

[mikele]

Anyone has used the NB Lav freshfoam in clay courts? if yes how it the sole performed? I am interested in this or the Asics Novaks, the asics do have a clay court version, but they NB look more cushioned ( based on reviews). Recently I got a pair of Babolat jet match II for clay, and although the shoe is pretty comfy, the tongue of the shoe is very narrow and the clay goes into the shoe all the time during the match and it is **** me off quite a bit, first time this happens to me in a shoe. Thanks for the answers

 

[Hansen]

the nb lav definitely hasn´t a claycourt sole , it´s quite the opposite (more suited to indoor carpet than claycourts) and won´t work. i myself would also like to buy the nb lav (or at least give them a chance) for the claycourt season, but since they don´t release this shoe with a clay court sole, which is absolutely amateurish, i can´t. if you like this kind of shoe maybe the upcoming ubersonic II would also fit the bill.
https://www.adidas.de/ubersonic-2-c...W_cXlY_6LRil_HXrmeAaApDZEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[mikele]

Thanks for the answer Hansen, will try the Novaks in clay sole then, let´s see how they perform.

 

[sp1derman]

The vapor 10 are pretty good in clay and they make clay court outsoles. I have to disagree with @Hansen on the NB FF outsole. Generally a clay court outsole is full herringbone tread pattern which the FFs are. The FFs also come with the bootie which helps keep clay out. The reason I like my FF for hard court and vapor 10s for clay is stiffness and cushioning. On clay I don't need as much cushion and prefer the stiffer feel of vapor 10 for sliding. On hardcourt I look for more cushioning for the knees which the FF provides. There was a day when NB was amateurish but no mas!

 

[Hansen]

i really don´t want to start a big discussion, especially since the facts are clear, but there is a reason that there are clay specific outsoles. and not releasing clay specific outsoles is just lazy.
the lav outsole isn´t suited for clay, because it lacks deep grooves, and that will result in trouble if the court isn´t perfectly watered, which is sometimes inevitable. here is a pic of the lav sole.

a proper clay sole has deep grooves to really grip the clay like these:

and yes it is amateurish to release one single model clay court shoe, when in some parts of the world at least half of the year (if not more) is played on clay (south america etc.)

 

[Sardines]

and yes it is amateurish to release one single model clay court shoe, when in some parts of the world at least half of the year (if not more) is played on clay (south america etc.)

Agreed on the outsole. Still, nowadays, because of the need of advanced players to slide even on hardcourt, many manufacturers are releasing variations of herringbone.
As for the popularity of clay, the problem is that clay shoes last a lot longer than on hard court. I can get through entire seasons of clay at 3 times a week and the outsole wear is still acceptable to play in after. Hard court I run through a pair of shoes in 2-3 months, less if it is thinner or softer soled, and that's with 'durability' models.

 

[sp1derman]

i really don´t want to start a big discussion, especially since the facts are clear, but there is a reason that there are clay specific outsoles. and not releasing clay specific outsoles is just lazy.
the lav outsole isn´t suited for clay, because it lacks deep grooves, and that will result in trouble if the court isn´t perfectly watered, which is sometimes inevitable. here is a pic of the lav sole.

a proper clay sole has deep grooves to really grip the clay like these:

and yes it is amateurish to release one single model clay court shoe, when in some parts of the world at least half of the year (if not more) is played on clay (south america etc.)

You're right about the outsole. Been awhile since I've been in any of my tennis shoes....what I said about the vapor being my clay shoe and the FF being my hard court shoe still hold true.