Tennis Warehouse Playtest: adidas SoleMatch Bounce Shoe

[Faris]

Playtest Review:
Adidas Solematch Bounce
By Faris

I would like to begin this playtest by first of all thanking @TW Staff for giving me this opportunity to playtest. This is my first shoe review here and I hope I am able to do a good job and get as thorough with details and pictures as possible.

Tennis experience/background:
I’m a 6'2”, 175 lbs and athletic build. Have been playing all sorts of sports all my life. Currently play at 4.0 level but I can hang with most 4.5 and give them a tough time. I play maybe once or twice a week. Would love to play more but graduate school keeps me very busy. For reference and a little background on footwear, I was playing in Adidas Solecourt Boost before this playtest but I have played with almost every mainstream shoe (Vapors, Barricades, Solution Speeds etc).

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
I will describe my style as an aggressive baseliner who likes finishing points from the baseline. I have a big serve and big forehand. I do love playing doubles as well and I'm good at the net too. I wear my shoes out quick on outdoor courts because I drag feet on serves and I move a lot on court. My friends sometimes describe my game as scrappy for a tall build guy.

Current shoe:
I am wearing Adidas Solecourt Boost these days and I will try to give a few comparisons with Solematch Bounce in this playtest. As mentioned above, I have played with nearly every popular shoe from the current major brands available in US.

How many hours did you play with the shoe?
Twenty hours total on outdoor hard. This includes singles and doubles play along with a few warm ups and drills.

Normal size:
9.5

Playtesting size:
9.5

Comments on Shoe Performance:

Comfort:
The Solematch Bounce were a little stiff out of the box compared to Solecourt Boost. That said, they did not require breaking-in. They were flexible and comfortable enough right out of the box.

From a fit perspective, they offer a similarly roomier toe box as the Solecourt Boost so this is a great shoe for people whose feet are on the wider side. The Solematch Bounce I received also opened up a bit more for me after a little use but nothing of concern. I mean the midfoot area and toebox didnt open up so much where I felt like my feet were floating everywhere but just a little bit. I had no comfort issues moving laterally or front and back. Did not experience any heel slippage.

The lacing system was a concern for me from a comfort point of view as it felt stiff and it would poke into the upper part of the foot at times when my moving. That got better with time but still not 100% gone. Overall, the shoe isn't as cushy and spongy feeling as the Solecourt Boost, but it is still a very comfortably cushioned shoe.

Arch support:
I have medium arches and I can adapt easily to most shoes. The Solematch Bounce shoes have medium arches and worked well for me. I had no pain in arches at any time and also no pain or feeling of pressure either.

Stability/support:
For me, the lateral support along with stability were great for me in all sorts of movements. Heels were deep and snug enough inside the shoe to stop slippage and provide ample stability to the ankle. I did not experience any toe jamming. Even with the shoes opening up a bit, I did not experience any floating about feeling of the foot in the toebox. Very similar stability and support, I would say, compared to the Solecourt Boost given the similarity in fit and shape.

Ventilation:
Ventilation was excellent. The light plastic mesh upper gave way for lots of air entering the shoe and my feet never once felt any trouble staying cool even in hot and humid conditions. I mostly play outdoors and can instantly tell how my feet are feeling. This shoe is definitely a winner in the ventilation department.

Sole durability:
I have twenty hours of play on this shoe and the wear so far is minimal. The Adiwear sole are doing their job and are sturdy and strong. The sole felt very sticky and squeaked for the first few hours but the squeaking is gone now. As someone who drags toes a lot, my shoes start showing signs of wear in ball/toe area after I have logged this many hours on them. This one definitely is doing better than others.

Toe durability:
As I mentioned above, I drag my toe on serves and wear my shoes out. For this pair, the toe durability was excellent. It does feel a little firmer under the tow area but tread remains good. Definitely on par with legendry Barricade sole durability I have seen in the past.

Traction:
Traction as mentioned above was very sticky at first and then became normal after a few hours of play. I was able control my movement forward /back and laterally with confidence. I was able to do everything: stop/start, shuffle, move forward, backward, move sideways (left/right), and do abrupt changes in direction without hesitance. As mentioned above, the squeaking sound stopped after a few hours but traction was great right up till the twenty hour mark. The tread is showing minimal signs of wear at this point so this shoe will last a while at least as far as tread wear is concerned.

Weight:

Definitely a lighter shoe coming in at 13.15 oz. That is much lighter than current Solecourt Boost or Barricades of yore. I want to say it feels as light as Vapors or Ubersonics when on feet. Anyway, this kind of weight is ideal for those looking for a good mix of speed, stability and cushioning.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:
Here are a few of my general comments on the shoe:

1. I am not impressed by the quality of this shoe at all. The shoe was in stark contrast to the Solecourt Boost in terms of quality, the latter being obviously the flagship shoe and thus manifesting top notch quality product. For this Solematch Bounce, I see glue everywhere on the tread joining the upper part of the shoe, and all around as well. If I strtch or flex shoe by hand it starts to come apart to the point that I am sure I can tear it off. There are glue marks and dots all around as well. The white cushioning and upper tread has visible gap which looks as if it will come apart any minute. The overall build quality seems subpar. After 20 hours, I am not seeing any tearing or ripping apart so that's a good sign. But still. Not exactly a glaring testimonial for Solematch Bounce line.

Following are some pictures:

2. The colorway works for me and is fantastic in person I think. The orange isn't blaring in your face and the black with orange has a subtle funkiness to it which I like. Goes with any kit.

And finally for conclusion, I would like to thank Tennis Warehouse @TW Staff again, along with Adidas, for giving me this opportunity to playtest this shoe. It was a great fun playtest and I hope to be a part of many more. If anyone wants to know anything in specific, please feel free to ask away!

Faris

 

[sanister]

Yes, I think playtesters here all got black and orange colorway.

Cool, yeah I see it now, thks.

 

[sanister]

Playtest Review:
Adidas Solematch Bounce
By Faris

I would like to begin this playtest by first of all thanking @TW Staff for giving me this opportunity to playtest. This is my first shoe review here and I hope I am able to do a good job and get as thorough with details and pictures as possible.

Tennis experience/background:
I’m a 6'2”, 175 lbs and athletic build. Have been playing all sorts of sports all my life. Currently play at 4.0 level but I can hang with most 4.5 and give them a tough time. I play maybe once or twice a week. Would love to play more but graduate school keeps me very busy. For reference and a little background on footwear, I was playing in Adidas Solecourt Boost before this playtest but I have played with almost every mainstream shoe (Vapors, Barricades, Solution Speeds etc).

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
I will describe my style as an aggressive baseliner who likes finishing points from the baseline. I have a big serve and big forehand. I do love playing doubles as well and I'm good at the net too. I wear my shoes out quick on outdoor courts because I drag feet on serves and I move a lot on court. My friends sometimes describe my game as scrappy for a tall build guy.

Current shoe:
I am wearing Adidas Solecourt Boost these days and I will try to give a few comparisons with Solematch Bounce in this playtest. As mentioned above, I have played with nearly every popular shoe from the current major brands available in US.

How many hours did you play with the shoe?
Twenty hours total on outdoor hard. This includes singles and doubles play along with a few warm ups and drills.

Normal size:
9.5

Playtesting size:
9.5

Comments on Shoe Performance:

Comfort:
The Solematch Bounce were a little stiff out of the box compared to Solecourt Boost. That said, they did not require breaking-in. They were flexible and comfortable enough right out of the box.

From a fit perspective, they offer a similarly roomier toe box as the Solecourt Boost so this is a great shoe for people whose feet are on the wider side. The Solematch Bounce I received also opened up a bit more for me after a little use but nothing of concern. I mean the midfoot area and toebox didnt open up so much where I felt like my feet were floating everywhere but just a little bit. I had no comfort issues moving laterally or front and back. Did not experience any heel slippage.

The lacing system was a concern for me from a comfort point of view as it felt stiff and it would poke into the upper part of the foot at times when my moving. That got better with time but still not 100% gone. Overall, the shoe isn't as cushy and spongy feeling as the Solecourt Boost, but it is still a very comfortably cushioned shoe.

Arch support:
I have medium arches and I can adapt easily to most shoes. The Solematch Bounce shoes have medium arches and worked well for me. I had no pain in arches at any time and also no pain or feeling of pressure either.

Stability/support:
For me, the lateral support along with stability were great for me in all sorts of movements. Heels were deep and snug enough inside the shoe to stop slippage and provide ample stability to the ankle. I did not experience any toe jamming. Even with the shoes opening up a bit, I did not experience any floating about feeling of the foot in the toebox. Very similar stability and support, I would say, compared to the Solecourt Boost given the similarity in fit and shape.

Ventilation:
Ventilation was excellent. The light plastic mesh upper gave way for lots of air entering the shoe and my feet never once felt any trouble staying cool even in hot and humid conditions. I mostly play outdoors and can instantly tell how my feet are feeling. This shoe is definitely a winner in the ventilation department.

Sole durability:
I have twenty hours of play on this shoe and the wear so far is minimal. The Adiwear sole are doing their job and are sturdy and strong. The sole felt very sticky and squeaked for the first few hours but the squeaking is gone now. As someone who drags toes a lot, my shoes start showing signs of wear in ball/toe area after I have logged this many hours on them. This one definitely is doing better than others.

Toe durability:
As I mentioned above, I drag my toe on serves and wear my shoes out. For this pair, the toe durability was excellent. It does feel a little firmer under the tow area but tread remains good. Definitely on par with legendry Barricade sole durability I have seen in the past.

Traction:
Traction as mentioned above was very sticky at first and then became normal after a few hours of play. I was able control my movement forward /back and laterally with confidence. I was able to do everything: stop/start, shuffle, move forward, backward, move sideways (left/right), and do abrupt changes in direction without hesitance. As mentioned above, the squeaking sound stopped after a few hours but traction was great right up till the twenty hour mark. The tread is showing minimal signs of wear at this point so this shoe will last a while at least as far as tread wear is concerned.

Weight:

Definitely a lighter shoe coming in at 13.15 oz. That is much lighter than current Solecourt Boost or Barricades of yore. I want to say it feels as light as Vapors or Ubersonics when on feet. Anyway, this kind of weight is ideal for those looking for a good mix of speed, stability and cushioning.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:
Here are a few of my general comments on the shoe:

1. I am not impressed by the quality of this shoe at all. The shoe was in stark contrast to the Solecourt Boost in terms of quality, the latter being obviously the flagship shoe and thus manifesting top notch quality product. For this Solematch Bounce, I see glue everywhere on the tread joining the upper part of the shoe, and all around as well. If I strtch or flex shoe by hand it starts to come apart to the point that I am sure I can tear it off. There are glue marks and dots all around as well. The white cushioning and upper tread has visible gap which looks as if it will come apart any minute. The overall build quality seems subpar. After 20 hours, I am not seeing any tearing or ripping apart so that's a good sign. But still. Not exactly a glaring testimonial for Solematch Bounce line.

Following are some pictures:

2. The colorway works for me and is fantastic in person I think. The orange isn't blaring in your face and the black with orange has a subtle funkiness to it which I like. Goes with any kit.

And finally for conclusion, I would like to thank Tennis Warehouse @TW Staff again, along with Adidas, for giving me this opportunity to playtest this shoe. It was a great fun playtest and I hope to be a part of many more. If anyone wants to know anything in specific, please feel free to ask away!

Faris

Excellent detailed review, Faris. I'm contemplating between the solecourt boost and solematch bounce these days. Your review was very helpful. I have to say tho, I am a little surprised at the condition of the shoes you received. I have purchased all kinds of shoes and equipment from Tennis Warehouse and they are absolutely wonderful in all aspects. Have never had any quality issues with any brand, even once at lower price point (which Solematch Bounce isn't). @TW Staff can you be kind enough to confirm if this is jist a one off case? Could it be the carrier shipping these not keeping them in temp controlled environment (exposing to extreme heat etc)? Or are other pairs somewhat similar in quality to this? The glue leak around the bottom area and the gap does seem to look a bit bad.

 

[Faris]

Excellent detailed review, Faris. I'm contemplating between the solecourt boost and solematch bounce these days. Your review was very helpful. I have to say tho, I am a little surprised at the condition of the shoes you received. I have purchased all kinds of shoes and equipment from Tennis Warehouse and they are absolutely wonderful in all aspects. Have never had any quality issues with any brand, even once at lower price point (which Solematch Bounce isn't). @TW Staff can you be kind enough to confirm if this is jist a one off case? Could it be the carrier shipping these not keeping them in temp controlled environment (exposing to extreme heat etc)? Or are other pairs somewhat similar in quality to this? The glue leak around the bottom area and the gap does seem to look a bit bad.

I have absolutely nothing but praise for tennis warehouse, always helpful and the team has great customer service and they go out of their way to help. I think it could just be a piece from a bad batch or a one off like you said. I'm not too worried, the shoe does not seem to be coming apart or anything, could just be residue since it hasn't affected integrity of the shoe.

Can other playtesters share pics of their test shoes?

 

[Matthew Lee]

I have absolutely nothing but praise for tennis warehouse, always helpful and the team has great customer service and they go out of their way to help. I think it could just be a piece from a bad batch or a one off like you said. I'm not too worried, the shoe does not seem to be coming apart or anything, could just be residue since it hasn't affected integrity of the shoe.

Can other playtesters share pics of their test shoes?

Will post a picture of my shoes soon. Still playtesting it as I'm juggling work with friends and tennis. Will say, though, this shoe is reaaaalllllly good for sliding.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

I have absolutely nothing but praise for tennis warehouse, always helpful and the team has great customer service and they go out of their way to help. I think it could just be a piece from a bad batch or a one off like you said. I'm not too worried, the shoe does not seem to be coming apart or anything, could just be residue since it hasn't affected integrity of the shoe.

Can other playtesters share pics of their test shoes?

First, thank you for the revue, as it was very detailed and the comparisons were good.

Several things.

1) could you post the following measurements if possible:

Heel height overall:
Heel midsole height:
Shank height overall:
Midsole ("pontoon" location (where the widest part of the shoe is)) height:
Width heel outsole:
Width "pontoon" outsole:

2) could you comment on the drop from the heel to the front of the shoe

As a side comment: while you said somewhere around the end of the revue that the glue residue is only a cosmetic problem it remains the impression that the main comment about quality is the most predominant for the shoe overall. However, you also say that its sole durability is top notch, its ventilation is very good, its upper is not creating any discomfort and the stability and overall fit are also very good. Aren't these the true sign of quality and the glue "residue", being a minor point of cosmetics? Even in closeup shots it doesn't look to be a very significant thing. Considering what happens to most tennis shoes after only a couple of hours of wearing it looks even less important from even a cosmetic point of view.

 

[Faris]

First, thank you for the revue, as it was very detailed and the comparisons were good.

Several things.

1) could you post the following measurements if possible:

Heel height overall:
Heel midsole height:
Shank height overall:
Midsole ("pontoon" location (where the widest part of the shoe is)) height:
Width heel outsole:
Width "pontoon" outsole:

2) could you comment on the drop from the heel to the front of the shoe

As a side comment: while you said somewhere around the end of the revue that the glue residue is only a cosmetic problem it remains the impression that the main comment about quality is the most predominant for the shoe overall. However, you also say that its sole durability is top notch, its ventilation is very good, its upper is not creating any discomfort and the stability and overall fit are also very good. Aren't these the true sign of quality and the glue "residue", being a minor point of cosmetics? Even in closeup shots it doesn't look to be a very significant thing. Considering what happens to most tennis shoes after only a couple of hours of wearing it looks even less important from even a cosmetic point of view.

Thanks for the kind words.

1) Will try and post them in the next few days. I'm traveling this week and not at home.

2) Drop is similar to Solecourt Boost, very little. Fit of foot is exactly the same it feels like. Very flat feeling.

3) In the bigger scheme of things, sure but I've only put 20 hours of play on the shoe. None of the Adidas shoes I have owned ever come out of the box looking like this (what happens to them after I wear them for a few hours is another story). And while they don't look like they are about to come apart after 20 hours of play, the entire experience wasn't very confidence inducing either.And yes, it is a pretty significant thing. I mean if I'm paying $120 for a pair of shoes, I would not like glue residue like this everywhere making me think integrity of shoe may be suspect. For me true sign of quality also means the shoe doesn't look like this out of the box.

I'll try and follow up here after I have put more hours and show pictures.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

What's the difference between Bounce and Boost?

 

[haqq777]

What's the difference between Bounce and Boost?

Two seperate cushioning technologies by Adidas. Bounce equipped shoes are comparatively cheaper, and feel firmer than their Boost equipped counterparts. I also personally feel Bounce provides better stability due to it's firmer nature, but at the expense of softer cushioning and comfort of the Boost. In the end, depends on what you like.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

I need knee protection so I will stick with Sole Court BOOST

 

[DailyG&T]

Am I doing something wrong?! Look at the wear that happened so quickly on my new shoes:-( I got them the 2nd week of July and have played approx 10-12 times since then. I just noticed this when I went to put them on yesterday.

I'm wondering if maybe I'm doing something wrong with how I'm tying the laces? The damage is from abrasion from the edge of the tongue.

 

[milk of amnesia]

Am I doing something wrong?! Look at the wear that happened so quickly on my new shoes:-( I got them the 2nd week of July and have played approx 10-12 times since then. I just noticed this when I went to put them on yesterday. I'm wondering if maybe I'm doing something wrong with how I'm tying the laces? The damage is from abrasion from the edge of the tongue.

I have my shoes laced the same way and don't have that type of wear on the collar, so I don't think it has to do with the way the shoes are tied. The tongue doesn't seem to be rubbing against the damaged area in the photo, so I'm not sure what is causing that. Do any of your other shoes show that type of wear? Side note: those blue shoes are gorgeous.

 

[DailyG&T]

I love the color! No, this wear pattern is like nothing I've ever seen before. Normally the main place my shoes wear is on the outer heels (I'm a pronator.) But that weird top thing? Never seen anything like it.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

..

 

[milk of amnesia]

I love the color! No, this wear pattern is like nothing I've ever seen before. Normally the main place my shoes wear is on the outer heels (I'm a pronator.) But that weird top thing? Never seen anything like it.

Pay particular attention to where you are grabbing the shoes when putting the shoes on and taking them off. Also the top set of eyelets on this shoe are located farther back from the top edge of the shoe than the eyelets of other shoes so maybe you are dragging the lace across the top of the collar while lacing the shoes. Do the shoes fit you well? Really weird wear patterns can develop from ill-fitting shoes.

 

[DailyG&T]

They fit great and I love them. They're super comfortable. My one complaint is they feel a little bit bulky on the bottom like I feel a little like I'm tripping over my feet/clunky. But in general they are good shoes.

I wear Birkenstocks to the court and bring my tennis shoes in a shoe bag. Then I put them on right before I play. Take them off after play and get back into those Birkenstocks. After 2-3 hours I am ready to get my feet into the fresh air. I don't do other things in the shoes.

 

[DailyG&T]

And I don't play in pants or anything that might rub from above??? I wear a tennis skirt. I do wear dark socks (the black socks you can see in this picture.)

 

[milk of amnesia]

Tennis experience/background: Recreational player 3.5 level.

Describe your playing style: All-court singles player; occasional social doubles

Current shoes: Asics Gel Res 7, New Balance Fresh Foam Lav, Nike Air Zoom Zero

How many hours did you play with the shoe? Approximately 17 hours

Normal Size: Women’s size 8

Playtesting Size: Women’s size 7

Comfort: The SoleMatch Bounce is the first shoe that I have worn that literally had no break-in period. It is incredibly comfortable right out of the box. The shoe is plush and soft with ample padding on the upper, around the collar, and on the tongue. The mesh fabric upper is soft and flexible with just a bit of rubbery synthetic material reinforcing the big toe area, the arch, and the eyelets. The sole is also soft and flexible with good cushioning under foot.

Arch Support: Supports my medium arches just fine.

Stability/Support: The SoleMatch Bounce offers outstanding stability and support as the outsole has one of the widest bases of any shoe I’ve seen. The outsole flares out from the upper around the heel and that, plus the outrigger, combine to make a shoe in which it would be extremely difficult to roll an ankle. I find the extreme width of the base to be unnecessary as I’ve never rolled an ankle and consequently, I prefer the sleeker profile of Asics to that of the SoleMatch. However, the wide base and outrigger on the SoleMatch didn’t get in my way and I never tripped over my feet.

The upper provided enough resistance to push off against. It is not at all stiff yet gave me the support that I needed. Plus, the shoe looks fantastic. I have received many compliments on this shoe. The insole is a bit flimsy and the upper stretched out a bit during the playtest, but I found these to be minor issues easily remedied by wearing an extra pair of socks and replacing the stock insole with a more substantial custom insole.

Ventilation: The flexible mesh upper provides excellent ventilation.

Sole Durability: The sole shows minimal wear after about 17 hours of play.

Toe Durability: I’m not a toe dragger so the toe area shows minimal wear. A thick layer of Adiwear rubber wraps around the side of the shoe from the tip of the toes down past the side of the big toe. The layer of rubber is thicker than on other shoes I’ve seen; however, there is not a lot of rubber covering the top of the toe box.

Traction: The outsole starts out very sticky. I normally play on a well-kept PlexiPave court with the highest level of grit allowed. Coming out of my split-step I felt like I had suction cups on my feet. The stickiness created a lot of drag and I felt slow in these shoes. I also played a couple of times on a well-worn outdoor court and found the stickiness helpful in poor court conditions, but I still felt slow.

I think I understand what adidas is trying to achieve with this sticky, wide sole as a couple of years ago, a woman I know slipped and fell while playing tennis and she landed right on her head. She was hospitalized for several days as the doctors wanted to monitor her brain to make sure it didn’t suffer any permanent damage. I think a shoe with this level of traction along with the wide base could have prevented her from falling – the shoe seems made for people who play in poor conditions and/or are concerned with slipping and falling.

Toward the end of the playtest I either got used to the stickiness or it wore down a bit, but the outsole is still sticky.

Weight: The SoleMatch feels much lighter to me than the other shoes that I own but due to the extremely wide outsole the shoe seems bulky and somewhat cumbersome. The SoleMatch is lightweight and comfortable, but it is not a fast shoe.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: One of the unique features of this shoe is the double-eyelet lacing system. The parallel eyelets do a good job of keeping the laces tight while I am running around on the court. The system also allows for various lacing configurations including the ability to put runner’s loops on every eyelet if desired (longer laces would be needed for this). There is also an optional grosgrain ribbon loop on the arch side of the shoe which can be used to further cinch up the laces. Despite all of this, I was not able to lock down my foot to prevent my heel from sliding around in the heel cup.

A word on sizing and I can’t emphasize this enough: THIS SHOE IS HUGE

The last pair of adidas that I wore was the reissue of the Barricade 5’s. That shoe fit me great and it was one of my all-time favorite shoes but even so, that shoe ran large and I had to order an entire size smaller than normal to get a good fit. With this playtest, I ordered the same size that I wore in the Barricade 5’s and the SoleMatch still turned out to be too big. The shoe runs longer and much, much, wider than the Barricade 5’s. Had I known that at the start, I would have asked for a shoe a half size smaller than what I requested – 1 ½ sizes down from what I normally wear. That would have fixed the sizing issue for me length-wise but not width-wise.

Normally, the standard width of a woman’s shoe is a “B.” I’m guessing that the width of the women’s SoleMatch Bounce is at least an “E.” If you are thinking of buying these shoes, be sure to try on several different sizes to ensure you get the correct fit.

Overall, I really liked the adidas SoleMatch Bounce shoes and if they came in a narrower width, I would purchase those beautiful blue ones for social play. I highly recommend the SoleMatch shoes to recreational players with wide feet seeking traction, stability, and comfort in a great-looking shoe.

Thanks so much to adidas and Tennis Warehouse for inviting me to playtest this awesome shoe!

 

[milk of amnesia]

Any comparisons to the ASICS Gel Resolution or the Wilson Rush Pro V3.0 would be nice. Stability, comfort (*cushioning) and durability (*overall & outsole) are main concerns.

The adidas SoleMatch Bounce and the Asics Gel Resolution 7 look and feel like completely different shoes made for different purposes. However, both shoes are advertised as providing support, stability, and comfort - they just accomplish those goals in very different ways.

The SoleMatch Bounce follows current trends by featuring light-weight, comfortable materials in the sole and upper. Despite the lightness, the upper is supportive and the extra-wide and sticky sole creates a base that provides plenty of stability and prevents slipping.

The Gel Res 7 has a much sleeker profile and seems like a throw-back compared to the SoleMatch. The Gel Res 7 achieves stability by featuring a stiff upper and shank which supports the foot in the style of old-fashioned leather shoes. The shoe has a long break-in period and when new, it almost feels like wearing a brace on one’s foot. Once the shoe is broken in it is incredibly comfortable and it feels as though it was custom-made.

The SoleMatch has an extra-wide width and the Gel Res 7 a narrow width; if one fits it’s most likely the other won’t. Below is a quick comparison:

adidas SoleMatch Bounce ​	​	Asics Gel Resolution 7 ​
Medium​	Arch Support​	Medium​
None​	Break-in Period​	Long​
Excellent​	Breathability​	OK​
Extra Long​	Length​	True​
Good​	Sole - Cushioning​	Good​
Minimal wear after 17 hours​	Sole - Durability​	Excellent​
Flexible​	Sole - Shank​	Stiff​
Sticky​	Sole - Traction​	Grips and Slides​
No​	Sole - Warranty​	Yes​
Slow​	Speediness​	Medium​
Minimal wear after 17 hours​	Upper - Durability​	Excellent​
Flexible - Fabric​	Upper - Exterior​	Stiff - Plastic​
Plush​	Upper - Interior​	Extra Plush​
Light​	Weight​	Heavy​
Extra wide​	Width​	Narrow​
Social​	User Profile​	Competitive​

 

[DailyG&T]

Update on my post up-thread about the unusual wear pattern (with pics) -- just got off the phone with TW. I had emailed them pics and they didn't respond so I called today to follow up. They have never seen anything like it and have no idea what I could be doing and they will accept a return for full store credit. It's weird and I'm kind of bummed but this shoe seems to not be for me.

 

[mhkeuns]

The adidas SoleMatch Bounce and the Asics Gel Resolution 7 look and feel like completely different shoes made for different purposes. However, both shoes are advertised as providing support, stability, and comfort - they just accomplish those goals in very different ways.

The SoleMatch Bounce follows current trends by featuring light-weight, comfortable materials in the sole and upper. Despite the lightness, the upper is supportive and the extra-wide and sticky sole creates a base that provides plenty of stability and prevents slipping.

The Gel Res 7 has a much sleeker profile and seems like a throw-back compared to the SoleMatch. The Gel Res 7 achieves stability by featuring a stiff upper and shank which supports the foot in the style of old-fashioned leather shoes. The shoe has a long break-in period and when new, it almost feels like wearing a brace on one’s foot. Once the shoe is broken in it is incredibly comfortable and it feels as though it was custom-made.

The SoleMatch has an extra-wide width and the Gel Res 7 a narrow width; if one fits it’s most likely the other won’t. Below is a quick comparison:

adidas SoleMatch Bounce ​	​	Asics Gel Resolution 7​
Medium​	Arch Support​	Medium​
None​	Break-in Period​	Long​
Excellent​	Breathability​	OK​
Extra Long​	Length​	True​
Good​	Sole - Cushioning​	Good​
Minimal wear after 17 hours​	Sole - Durability​	Excellent​
Flexible​	Sole - Shank​	Stiff​
Sticky​	Sole - Traction​	Grips and Slides​
No​	Sole - Warranty​	Yes​
Slow​	Speediness​	Medium​
Minimal wear after 17 hours​	Upper - Durability​	Excellent​
Flexible - Fabric​	Upper - Exterior​	Stiff - Plastic​
Plush​	Upper - Interior​	Extra Plush​
Light​	Weight​	Heavy​
Extra wide​	Width​	Narrow​
Social​	User Profile​	Competitive​

That was awesome. Thank you so much!

 

[milk of amnesia]

Do they fit wide and roomy like the SoleCourt boost? I hope not...

I'm not familiar with the SoleCourt Boost, but the SoleMatch Bounce is definitely suited to those with wide feet.

 

[California]

I'm not familiar with the SoleCourt Boost, but the SoleMatch Bounce is definitely suited to those with wide feet.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[fullwesternforehand]

Tennis experience/background: I've played tennis for about 7 years now, started out in high school, played at my junior college's and university's club team, and am currently coaching. Overall I am around the sport constantly day in day out, whether it be coaching or actually playing tournaments
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): I am more of an all around player. I have an unconventional full western grip forehand, and am always looking to move in and finish at the net
Current shoe: Asics Gel Res 7
How many hours did you play with the shoe?: total time about 30 hours, with about 12 of those hours actually playing and the rest coaching players, so still wearing them on the court
Normal Size: I am always between 10 and 10.5 for normal shoes, but my typical tennis shoes are 10
Playtesting Size: 10.5

Comments on shoe performance:
-comfort: Right out of the box the shoes are less than averagely stiff. They are actually really flexible and could bend the shoes with relative ease. The soles and shoe itself is way softer than usual, too soft almost for my liking. I like to wear a beefy shoe such as Asics gel res shoes, and before that I wore Nike air max cages. Overall, this is on the comfier side of the tennis shoe spectrum
-arch support: I have pretty wide and flat feet, so the arch support was not that good, for my liking that is. The shoe was comfy enough to wear for a bit, but my foot did get sore after the second hour of a typical practice
-stability/support: The shoe was very stable despite it not having enough support, in my opinion. Again, my foot is a bit wider and flatter than usual, so this was my experience. There is also an additional piece of shoe on the lateral side added for stability, but more on that later
-ventilation: Ventilation was surprisingly average. While it was better than the gel res 7's, it isn't that big an accomplishment considering the gel res 7's have poor ventilation. Overall, it was average
-sole durability: The sole lasted me about 15-20 hours before I saw some real wear on them. Out of the box the sole is beefy, and it definitely held up considering how soft the shoe was. IMO, this is way better than the durability of a nike vapor
-toe durability: I am not really a toe dragger, so for me I guess the durability is good enough if you don't consider yourself a toe dragger. Nothing out of the ordinary for me
-traction: The traction was pretty well. I like the design of the sole, which made it resistant to sliding on the court. Overall, regardless of the wear on the sole, traction held up well
-weight: The shoe was lighter than the beefy shoes I like to wear, so I would say it has average weight. I didn't feel the weight was a hindrance aspect of the shoe.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: Overall, I feel like adidas has stepped away from the beefy shoes they were always known for, such as the barricade line. Now for my biggest complaint. WHY IS THERE SUCH A CHUNKY PART OF SOLE/SHOE ON THE MID LATERAL SIDE OF THE SHOE? It seems to be there for added stability, but it hindered my lateral movements. It makes the shoe wider than it has to be. I agree, maybe in theory the added part of shoe could work for stability, but don't make it so big! I almost wanted to take the shoes to my shed and hacksaw the extra piece of shoe off. It adds way too much weight and could be a hazard for tripping. I wish I could post a shoe picture, but i'm sure some will touch on it. Other than that, I feel like this shoe is the nike vapor of adidas. The toe-space, IMO, is a bit too big and roomy for my foot. I had to double sock it. If you have a flatter/wider foot, I wouldn't recommend this shoe

As always, thank you TW and Adidas for my first shoe playtest, and hope to do more in the future!

 

[Matthew Lee]

Before I begin, I would like to thank Tennis Warehouse for the opportunity to be a part of this playtest. I've been wanting to try out newer shoes for experience. I would also like to apologize for not being able to upload pictures. I put two holes into my shoe already...
Anyways, here goes nothing

Tennis Background: I am a 19 year-old college student who plays competitive club tennis as a flexible singles and doubles player. This year marks, if I can remember correctly, the 5th year anniversary of my introduction to the sport that is tennis. I like to think that, though my time since I was a beginner is short, that my effort and the time that I put in slightly makes up for it. I've had 2 years of varsity tennis, mainly gravitating towards the singles side of the game. I like to think of myself as a consistent 4.0 or an inconsistent 4.5, though I have made players at higher levels work hard for their win.

Play Style: Over the past years, I thought that I had no particular style of playing. Realistically, I adapt to the opponent as best as my somewhat dull brain allows me to. If the opponent is prone to error, I do my best to grind and frustrate my opponent. If the roles are reversed, I like to use drop shots and touch volleys to tire out the opponent. I have been said by my fellow college players that I can attack and defend very well. Whatever the situation, it's likely that if someone were to be far from my match, they would hear the annoying sounds of me sliding to any ball that I can manage. Though I'm a tad bit overweight, I have a knack for sliding when needed. I have quite a serve for someone who is barely 5 foot 8, and my slices are about as good as they can get. My forehand is definitely more natural to me than my backhand will ever be.

Current Shoe: For about a year or two, I have stuck with adidas, but more towards their Barricade Classic Bounce, which weighs in at around 14.5 ounces. I wore size 11 and did the same for the SoleMatch Bounce.

Amount of Hours: I think I put in around 32 hours on this shoe. 12 hours of hard rallying and practicing, 20 hours of matchplay with my hitting partner (UTR 8.5).

Size (Normal and Playtest): 11

COMMENTS ON SHOE AND PERFORMANCE

Comfort: This shoe, surprisingly enough, had no break in for me in any way, shape, or form. Compared to my Classic Bounce, which had around an hour or two of break in period, I could play straight away with the SoleMatch Bounce. That's actually what happened. I was with my hitting partner, rallying, and after 10 minutes I decided, to hell with it, let's play a set. However, my flat feet and I did not match well with the shoe, at least until a good hour or two after first putting it on. There was always a constant reminder, day in and day out, whenever I played in these shoes, that the pain was never really going to go away. Still, other than that, the shoe was excellent. A solid 8/10.

Arch Support: Probably one of the only bad things I have to say about these shoes. As stated previously, the SoleMatch Bounce and my flat feet did not gel together what so ever. I was constantly reminded that the medium arch was not easily compatible to my liking; a similar occurrence with this shoe and the Classic Bounce. However, the Bounce technology apparent in both my current shoe and this playtest shoe was a good sign, as my feet were somewhat used to the feel of it. Regardless, I play with pain every time I step onto the tennis court, as I have to slide for many points and push my overweight body in every point played. Therefore, it was not that much of an issue. I'd say 6.5/10.

Stability/Support: For the most part, whenever I practiced my footwork drills or slid to the ball, the shoes were almost like a part of my feet, easily allowing me to do the necessary things that my body demanded of the shoes. However, every other time I played, there were instances in which I almost slipped, and once or twice, I remember falling flat on my back after attempting to stretch hard for a slide. Other than that, no real problems. Maybe a 8.5/10.

Ventilation: When I first looked at these shoes, I noticed that there were parts of the shoe near the toe that could allow my feet to feel a bit cooler during play. To my delight, it was easily a step up compared to the Classic Bounce that I previously wore. Easily a 9/10. However, wearing thick socks would sometimes prevent this.

Sole Durability: Upon research previous to the playtest, I realized that these shoes were a little lighter than my other shoes at 13.7 ounces instead of the 14.5 ounces that I was used to. Additionally, I found that there was no durability guarantee, something which I was not used to. This had me worried for some time, and I would often think before a match or a practice session on whether to use a different shoe or not. Thankfully, I can say with confidence that the shoe is pretty durable for not having a guarantee, as my sliding and sluggish footwork have barely made a dent to the bottom of the shoe. I would give another 8.5/10.

Toe Durability: I am going to go ahead and guess this means the top part of the shoe, which is affected every time I slide. What happens to my feet when I slide, at least for my forehand (dominant) side is that my right foot slides towards the ball, while my left foot serves as an anchor by creating friction with the ground as it leans right. For being a shoe that looked so weak, the sole actually provided assistance with the protection of the toe guard. Therefore, this shoe actually ended up lasting a while before holes began to come in. For not having a durability guarantee, I would rate this portion an 8/10.

Traction: I LOVED THIS SHOE FOR SLIDING!!! Wasn't too grippy at all but it wasn't really slippery, yet it gave way to slides like a knife through butter. There were maybe one or two slips, though, so I would rate it 9/10.

Weight: Again, this shoe was nearly an ounce lighter than what I was used to. Though it doesn't sound like much, it definitely made a mark on my on-court speed, as I felt a tad bit faster and lighter as I lunged for slides. Not as light as once would want in a lightweight shoe, but definitely a good weight number for being a shoe in between a feather and a tank. Easily an 8.5/10.

Additional Comments: For anyone who likes to slide in game, this shoe, in my mind, is one of the better options available on the market. I tried the Asics Gel Resolution 6, and if it were lighter and less durable, I would compare this shoe to that.

Again, thank you to Tennis Warehouse for this playtest. I thoroughly enjoyed this playtest whenever my flat feet wasn't in my mind, and I enjoyed sliding as much as I could. I am considering making this shoe my permanent selection if I think of getting a different insole to help with my condition, and would not have been able to think about it without this playtest. If there are any questions, feel free to reply to this message or directly contact my account here on Talk Tennis!

 

[TW Staff]

REMINDER:

Playtesters please post your comments ASAP. Reviews are due tomorrow.

Thanks,
TW Staff

 

[haqq777]

General reaction/comments on overall performance: Overall, I feel like adidas has stepped away from the beefy shoes they were always known for, such as the barricade line. Now for my biggest complaint. WHY IS THERE SUCH A CHUNKY PART OF SOLE/SHOE ON THE MID LATERAL SIDE OF THE SHOE? It seems to be there for added stability, but it hindered my lateral movements. It makes the shoe wider than it has to be. I agree, maybe in theory the added part of shoe could work for stability, but don't make it so big! I almost wanted to take the shoes to my shed and hacksaw the extra piece of shoe off. It adds way too much weight and could be a hazard for tripping. I wish I could post a shoe picture, but i'm sure some will touch on it. Other than that, I feel like this shoe is the nike vapor of adidas. The toe-space, IMO, is a bit too big and roomy for my foot. I had to double sock it. If you have a flatter/wider foot, I wouldn't recommend this shoe

Great review overall. Wanted to say that this part I quoted from your review is how I feel exactly too. You and I are also not the only ones. I now know many others who feel the same way about this new Adidas design.

If you look at the Solecourt Boost thread, this "chunky part on mid lateral part" like you explained, or as some called it the "pontoon", was extremely annoying for some, and I personally did not like it for angular and lateral movements as well. I felt like it gave the foot much wider and flatter feel than necessary. I also tripped very early on and had a twisted ankle in the beginning (posted photos of ballooned ankle as well) of using Solecourt Boost but I gave it a second chance thinking I shouldn't blame the shoe. Still wasn't very confident in movement and mainly due to that weird fit and shape. I much preferred my 18 Barricade Boost over this design of the Solematch Bounce and Solecourt Boost.

In my opinion, the fit and design has changed drastically and not for the better. I have two pairs of Solecourt Boost (one Parley and one regular) and one pair of Solematch Bounce. Do not like the design of either.

 

[fullwesternforehand]

Great review overall. Wanted to say that this part I quoted from your review is how I feel exactly too. You and I are also not the only ones. I now know many others who feel the same way about this new Adidas design.

If you look at the Solecourt Boost thread, this "chunky part on mid lateral part" like you explained, or as some called it the "pontoon", was extremely annoying for some, and I personally did not like it for angular and lateral movements as well. I felt like it gave the foot much wider and flatter feel than necessary. I also tripped very early on and had a twisted ankle in the beginning (posted photos of ballooned ankle as well) of using Solecourt Boost but I gave it a second chance thinking I shouldn't blame the shoe. Still wasn't very confident in movement and mainly due to that weird fit and shape. I much preferred my 18 Barricade Boost over this design of the Solematch Bounce and Solecourt Boost.

In my opinion, the fit and design has changed drastically and not for the better. I have two pairs of Solecourt Boost (one Parley and one regular) and one pair of Solematch Bounce. Do not like the design of either.

Glad to know I wasn't the only one who shares these views, as I was a bit nervous leaving a bad review.. I've left ok-ish reviews on string before, but never on shoes as this is my first shoe playtest. I've started to notice not only adidas, but most shoe companies are stepping away from big heavy shoes and exploring the lighter, more flexible shoes area. Whether that's good or bad, to each their own. But the "pontoon" has to go. I can't imagine people running at full speed or at an angle and not roll an ankle.

 

[Chezbeeno]

Sorry for the last minute review, I was really hoping to get a last-minute hitting session in with these before doing a final review, but my work schedule is garbage and that didn't happen.

Tennis experience/background: Played for 19 years, and a former D2 mens college player

Describe your playing style: I'm an aggressive all-court player in singles, these days I prefer to play doubles, though.

Current shoes: Nike Zoom Cage 2

How many hours did you play with the shoe? ~14 hrs~

Normal Size: men's size 11.5

Playtesting Size: men’s size 11.5

Comfort: Looking at the shoes out of the box I was afraid they would take a substantial break-in period but this wasn't the case at all. The mesh was comfortable, and sole flexed just fine; even the more ridged rubber area on the inside of the forefoot area didn't seem stiff at all. While they did fit more or less true-to-size, they fit on the slightly smaller end of that, so I did have to wear them in for an hour or two before I was able to fit my orthotics in them, and even then I still experienced a bit of heel-slippage that didn't go away. Going up a half-size might not be the worst thing for some people. I did also find the shoe to be ever-so-slightly more snug in the forefoot area than I would like - I have a slightly wider-than-average forefoot, so for most this probably won't be a problem, but for the player with a truly wide foot, I would probably not recommend the shoe.

My one complaint with these shoes regarding the comfort is the lack of forefoot cushioning. I have somewhat sensitive knees and hips as the result of being really tall and relatively skinny, and these shoes didn't really do me any favors. Running around the baseline was mostly ok, but whenever I dug down for a lower ball or went to push off to move forward (and then plant my foot to stop after moving forward) I would feel a bit of a twinge that definitely isn't there in shoes that have more substantial cushioning (like my Cages, or even the Vapor IX's that I was using before). By far this was the biggest problem I had with these shoes - for juniors, though (or anyone with non-problematic hips and knees, I guess?), these should be fine.

Arch Support: Arch-support was mediocre (I have medium arches), but this is part of why I have orthotics. It should be fine, though, as long as you don't have high arches.

Stability/Support: In the forefoot the SoleMatch Bounce feels incredibly low to the ground, and super stable as a result. I am more used to Nike's way of flaring out the forefoot for lateral stability, but the shank that Adidas positions more in the midfoot area I find works just as well (though somehow it seems bulkier? but that's definitely just a personal perception thing).

Ventilation: The ventilation was fine for me; I did find that the soles of my feet got quite warm though, since there isn't a ton of material separating your forefoot from the court.

Sole Durability: I noticed negligible wear on the sole.

Toe Durability: The layer of rubber on the toe is on the thicker end, and it holds up impressively well. I haven't ever thought of myself as a toe-dragger, but I always inevitably wear out the toe on my shoes well before anything else - with almost every shoe I've ever owned I notice some wear on the toe even after the first couple hours of use. Not with these! Granted, I'm no longer training for college tennis, but I still expected to start to see whatever was underneath that layer of rubber and I never did! Plus I was playing on a recently re-surfaced hard court that should have been extra tough on the shoes.

Traction: As noted by other playtesters, the sole is really sticky, and I would never dream of trying to slide in them, especially on the resurfaced courts near me. I expect that the sweetspot on the SoleMatch for me would be when they are quite well worn, but so far they have proven sticker than I am comfortable with. Coming to a stop after running down a ball is jarring and unpleasant at faster speeds, and I found myself having to take an extra couple of steps to stop after a sprint than I would in other shoes. The stickiness of the soles really ends up making the shoes feel a lot slower than they should, given their lighter weight and stability.

Weight: I was pleasantly surprised by how light the shoes felt out of the box - I was expecting something that felt more like a Barricade or a Cage and instead these felt more akin to the Vapors, albeit a bit clunkier.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: I was super excited when I first tried these on out of the box - the SoleMatch Bounce is light, the mesh is supportive, but flexes well and is comfortable for your feet, and the only things that I was initially concerned about were things I assumed would get better with a little bit of wear. The lacing system is super stiff and I didn't initially have room for my orthotics - sure enough the lacing system did loosen up a bit and I did have more room for my orthotics; however, the lacing system did come back to bite me in a different way. Most shoes have an additional eyelet at the top of the shoe for those people who want to be able to lace their shoes extra tightly and securely - had this been an option, I don't think the heel slippage would have been a problem, but Adidas does not include such a feature on the SoleMatch Bounce, so I was forced to decide whether I wanted to deal with heel slippage, or the loss of the support of my orthotics. As I mentioned before, though, sizing up should remove this problem.

Wearing the SoleMatch Bounce around my apartment they felt great and I couldn't wait to get them on the court. My enthusiasm once on court died down a little. The shoes are light, comfortable, supportive, and super stable. But the two biggest issues for me - the traction and the forefoot cushioning - are problematic enough that I have a hard time continuing to be excited about the shoes. Ultimately, between the sticky outsoles and the almost non-existent forefoot cushioning, the word that most immediately comes to mind to describe the SoleMatch Bounce is "jarring." That being said, I can see plenty of people really enjoying these shoes and being in a position where the traction and forefoot cushioning aren't as much of a problem. If I were still training like I did in college I expect that I would wear down the soles quickly enough that the traction wouldn't bother me, and if I were someone who either had healthier joints, or perhaps played on clay courts, then I can see the forefoot cushioning not being much of an issue (and the traction on clay would also not be an issue, I can only assume). Playing style I think is also an important consideration with these shoes - side-to-side movement on the baseline was much less problematic than forward/backward movement, so the baseline grinder may enjoy these more than the attacking net player.

At the end of the day, I enjoyed the playtest, and my biggest problem with the SoleMatch Bounce is one that I think a lot of lightweight speed-oriented shoes suffer from, and that is a lack of proper cushioning (specifically in the forefoot - the heel cushioning is great). Given that there are shoes out there that have a similar weight that have better forefoot cushioning (the Vapors and Ubersonics come to mind) that don't carry a huge price difference, it would be a little hard to settle on the SoleMatch Bounce instead of a different shoe, though the durability on these seems much better than other light shoes.

Thank you very much TW for the playtest opportunity!

 

[swfh]

SoleMatch Bounce Review

Tennis experience/background: I'm a 5.5 player. Former college player, and now currently hit with top juniors and other college players.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): I would call myself an attacking all courter. I'll mix in a serve and volley quite often, but usually I'm at the baseline looking to come in.
Current shoe: Current: Asics Gel Solution Speed 3. Previous: Adidas AdiZero Ubersonics 2. Before that: Asics Gel Resolution 7.
How many hours did you play with the shoe?: 40 hours
Normal Size: 11
Playtesting Size: 11

Comments on shoe performance:
-comfort: Compared to the Asics, I felt that these were a little less comfortable as a whole. That being said, I play with 2 pairs of socks at all times so if the shoe lacked in cushioning I wouldn't really feel it. I would say that after a few hours of playing, but feet felt just as fine as with the asics. One thing to mention is that this shoe is ever so slightly bigger than the solution speed 3, even though they are both size 11. The european sizing is more accurate.

-arch support: Arch support was okay. When I cinched down the laces to really get the shoe tight, I never really felt the shoe mold to my arches like the asics. It's kind of hard to really tighten the laces to get a locked in feel. I'm not sure if this is because the upper is so stiff or because it is something with the lacing system.

-stability/support: This is where the shoe shines. It has that piece of plastic on the sides that adds more surface area to the lateral foot and I loved that. I felt that addition saved me from rolling my ankle several times over the course of the playtest. Thinking back to the gel resolution 7's that I used to wear, I feel that these are just as good in this aspect.

-ventilation: I didn't really notice the shoe being too hot, but in NY it has been scorching over the last month and I think that these temperatures, any shoe will feel the same. I guess my not complaining about the shoe being hot is a good thing.

-sole durability/toe durability: I am pretty light on my feet and this is never really a problem for me in such a short amount of time. I would have to assess this over the course of a few months. That being said, it's nice to have the outsole come up into the toe area.

-traction: Traction was excellent! I felt very secure in the shoe. Sliding around was never a fear of mine.

-weight: For the amount of rubber that is on the outsole, this is a very light shoe. I was quite surprised at how light they were when I first picked them up. I remember my resolutions and court ballistic 4.3's being much heavier.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: This kind of feels like a beefier Ubersonic as opposed to a barricade type shoe. That's not necessarily a bad thing though. I loved that the outsole came up and around the shoe around the toe area. With the ubersonics and asics solution speeds, I'm kind of scared to drag my toe around because I worry about damaging the shoe. But with these I'm not scared.

I would also like to point out that price wise, this is the lower tier of the SoleMatch shoe. If it weren't for this playtest, I would not have bought them because I would've thought that these were much worse than the Boost version. I thought that these would stand kind of like where the Asics Gel Game model does in their lineup. However, I would have no hesitation buying these shoes again if the price was right. Would I pick them over the Solution speeds at the same price? Probably not. But if these were cheaper I would definitely get a pair to rotate in.

Thanks to TW and Adidas for this great playtest!

 

[chinobambino]

Something is definitely rubbing against those areas. It is impossible for a soft material to destroy them in such a localised manner. You should be looking at other things that you do in them. The right shoe has a dirty area just behind the worn area from some food or something similar, but definitely not a normal stain mark.

Do you wear them while doing something else? Wearing trousers from hard materials? Where the torn spot is the deeper it goes the dirtier it gets. That can happen only if something dirty has been digging deep in that spot and that is not the tongue, which is not dirty. It doesn't look to be from sliding as there are no marks on the inner side of the shoe where the torn part is. It is from something that was directly above.

In my experience, that's definitely from sliding and laying down the medial part of the shoe. Now if you told me you never hit an open forehand or backhand and never dragged the foot, I would be flummoxed!

 

[d-quik]

Barricade Classic Bounce

How did you find the toebox width and height in these vs other recent offerings?

 

[Matthew Lee]

How did you find the toebox width and height in these vs other recent offerings?

It's been a few years since I was last able to wear the Classic Bounce shoes, but the width seemed medium-wide, and the height was just average. Maybe gave an extra inch on my height.
I don't know if you'll be able to find any of these shoes in stock, but good luck to you if you still want to look for them.