Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Babolat Jet Tere 2 Shoes

[TW Staff]

Attention Talk Tennis Members:

We are starting to wrap up the year and have some Babolat Jet Tere 2s to playtest . We have a very limited number of the shoes in men’s and women’s sizes to playtest. This playtest is for USA Talk Tennis members only.

Application period closed. Selected playtesters were sent an email confirmation.

If you are selected, you must reply to our confirmation email and confirm that you are able to perform this playtest.

We select playtesters based on a number of factors, including past performance on playtests, user history and postings in topics similar to playtest category.

*** Your review is due by November 1, 2024 by 5 pm PST.***

Posting a full review by the deadline is necessary to remain in good standing for future playtests. Reviews lacking sufficient effort will resort in disqualification from the playtest program.

Please use the following to write your review:

Tennis experience/background:
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
Current shoe:
How many hours did you play with the shoe?
Normal Size:
Playtesting Size:

Comments on shoe performance (3-5 sentences per category):
-comfort:
-arch support:
-stability/support:
-ventilation:
-sole durability:
-toe durability:
-traction:
-weight:

General reaction/comments on overall performance:

We encourage a lively discussion on Babolat shoes. We will remove extraneous posts, e.g., “email sent”.

Thanks,
TW Staff

 

[vndesu]

Just curious to see if anyone know if this is true to size? The last Babolat shoe playtest I was part of the shoes ran a little big lol.

 

[TW Staff]

We found them to fit true to size.

Thanks,
Brittany, TW

 

[Chairman3]

Exciting playtest.
I was impressed by the more budget SFX EVO when I did the playtest.
The Jet Tere are sort of a takedown of the Jet Mach.

Should be good for those who want light and fast shoes.

 

[Icsa]

Babolat has been adding some good shoes lately, including wider and comfortable shoes.
It would be interesting to see how a lighweight offering stacks up with the competition.

 

[Injured Again]

Wow! I just ordered (and received) two pairs of shoes from Tennis Warehouse. Being an older, heavier player with a new replacement knee, a lightweight shoe is not going to be great choice for me so I'm hoping to hear from those who are around 200 pounds like I am.

 

[StringStrungStrang]

Exciting playtest.
I was impressed by the more budget SFX EVO when I did the playtest.
The Jet Tere are sort of a takedown of the Jet Mach.

Should be good for those who want light and fast shoes.

@Chairman3 and @Icsa I second your thoughts! Babolat shoes (and other products too) have been impressive. I've played various Jet, SFX EVO and Propulse Fury and each have been excellent in there own way. I love the fast quick shoes and the Jet series can hold its own with the best of them. The Propulse Fury has been quick and rugged, while you cannot beat the SFX EVO if you are looking for wider shoes.
Personally, I am a sucker for the Michelin Man !!

 

[Icsa]

Personally, I am a sucker for the Michelin Man !!

Yeap, the Michelin outsole in SFX Evo has pretty good durability, while being soft and grippy.

 

[StringStrungStrang]

I like the soles of the Jet Tere 2 AC !! Everything you need and nothing you don't. A little weight savings keeping the outsole arch tread free. This provides better flex / contact for me on hard courts. These also provide a more snug fit - especially compared to the SFX EVO which is cut a bit wider.

 

[adchris2]

Wow so cool! I’ve used Babolat shoes in the past and they’ve always been solid performers. Using Yonex now. Would love to partake. Cheers!

 

[Yiuh]

Very excited to have been chosen for this! Shoes just arrived, planning to get them out on the court for the first time tomorrow or Friday.

 

[Pronate]

Thanks for the playtest opportunity. I played 2 hours in the shoes, and so far enjoy them. They are light weight and provide support.

Also the midsole is fairly soft.

 

[dak95_00]

I was chosen too but the shoes haven't arrived yet. I'm guessing those who received them must be in California to get them as quick as they did. I look forward to putting these on the courts.

 

[StringStrungStrang]

Looking forward to hearing what everyone thinks of these. Babolat makes great products from my experience - shoes, racquets, strings and bags !! If the new Jet Tere is as good as the old one it'll be a great pair of shoes.!

 

[Icsa]

From the UPS truck to match play in just 15 minutes!

These shoes look great in blue. It was love at first sight, and even more so at first wear. They felt excellent right out of the box and are absolutely 100% plug & play—no tedious break-in period needed!

If I had to describe the fit, I'd call it a snug medium. I went half a size up based on the Tennis Warehouse reviews, but honestly, they feel true-to-size. To deal with the extra room, I doubled up on socks and used a runner's knot, which worked like a charm. The shoes stayed rock solid during the match.

Now, I wasn't joking when I said it only took 15 minutes to go from the UPS truck to the court. The delivery guy pulled up just as I was about to head out, and I had enough faith in my SFX EVO experience to slip these on immediately. On the court, they felt almost invisible because of how lightweight they are. The Michelin outsole gripped the surface like a champ, and there was no slipping and sliding inside the shoe. No hot spots either. The upper material is soft and breathable, and Babolat’s newly adopted layer mesh opening underneath the shoes kept my feet feeling cool.

Sitting lower to the ground, these shoes offer a fantastic direct response, though you might miss the SFX EVO’s plush outsole cushioning if you’re used to that. Based on my first match, these kicks are perfect for anyone looking for a softer, comfier upper without compromising on stability and responsiveness.

 

[adchris2]

From the UPS truck to match play in just 15 minutes!

These shoes look great in blue. It was love at first sight, and even more so at first wear. They felt excellent right out of the box and are absolutely 100% plug & play—no tedious break-in period needed!

If I had to describe the fit, I'd call it a snug medium. I went half a size up based on the Tennis Warehouse reviews, but honestly, they feel true-to-size. To deal with the extra room, I doubled up on socks and used a runner's knot, which worked like a charm. The shoes stayed rock solid during the match.

Now, I wasn't joking when I said it only took 15 minutes to go from the UPS truck to the court. The delivery guy pulled up just as I was about to head out, and I had enough faith in my SFX EVO experience to slip these on immediately. On the court, they felt almost invisible because of how lightweight they are. The Michelin outsole gripped the surface like a champ, and there was no slipping and sliding inside the shoe. No hot spots either. The upper material is soft and breathable, and Babolat’s newly adopted layer mesh opening underneath the shoes kept my feet feeling cool.

Sitting lower to the ground, these shoes offer a fantastic direct response, though you might miss the SFX EVO’s plush outsole cushioning if you’re used to that. Based on my first match, these kicks are perfect for anyone looking for a softer, comfier upper without compromising on stability and responsiveness.

Would you say the Michelin outsole ‘gives’ enough to enable sliding? Or are they too grippy

 

[Icsa]

Would you say the Michelin outsole ‘gives’ enough to enable sliding? Or are they too grippy

They are on the grippy side with limited sliding if any at all. I'm playing only on indoor hard court so the Michelin outsole + court paint combination doesn't give any sliding. However this is something I prefer because I do a lot of direction changes at high speed and I don't want any sliding. I like to keep my feet moving all the time, split step and bouncing - so there is a lot of squeaking from these shoes.

 

[adchris2]

They are on the grippy side with limited sliding if any at all. I'm playing only on indoor hard court so the Michelin outsole + paint combination doesn't give any sliding. However this is something I prefer because I do a lot of direction changes at high speed and I don't want any sliding. I like to keep my feet moving all the time, split step and bouncing - so there is a lot of squeaking from these shoes.

Good info! Cheers mate

 

[dak95_00]

Mine arrived yesterday. So I'm going to share my initial impression.

I go between a size 9.5 and size 10 and can wear both sizes but prefer the 10 in the Wilson Rush Pro line of shoes. The 9.5 Wilson is very snug and the 10 is just right. These Babolat would be better for me in a 9.5 because they have lots of width. They remind me of my Diadora clay shoes which fit very similarly.

They're very comfortable and definitely on the minimalist side of shoes with the low weight. I played yesterday for about two hours. My feet didn't hurt and I think I like the extra space for my toes. I would like them just a little more snug around the ankle area but I laced them all the way to the last eyelets and that did the trick for fitting how I wanted them to feel. The low weight is a plus and the shoes made me feel quick around the court.

 

[Yiuh]

As others have said, I’m really enjoying these shoes so far. Only about 4 hours on them, half singles and half liveball, but they feel lightweight and breathable and comfy right out of the box. They do run a little big but not insanely so, and pulling them tight around the ankles did the trick for me. Tread is pretty grippy, and I’m definitely squeaking all over the court.

 

[Icsa]

One aspect that could benefit from improvement is the heel cushioning. During instances when I backpedal and jump high to hit an overhead (which happens more often during doubles), I occasionally land on my heels first, which results in discomfort due to the impact.

 

[dak95_00]

One aspect that could benefit from improvement is the heel cushioning. During instances when I backpedal and jump high to hit an overhead (which happens more often during doubles), I occasionally land on my heels first, which results in discomfort due to the impact.

I noticed this too but I noticed it more from the standpoint that these shoes have very little if any heel rise. They're almost like running around barefoot on the courts but with protection and some padding/cushioning.

 

[StringStrungStrang]

A very good looking shoe, clean minimalist design !

How is the toe box / fit; roomy , snug ?

 

[Yiuh]

A very good looking shoe, clean minimalist design !

How is the toe box / fit; roomy , snug ?

For me they’re pretty roomy (in a good/comfy way), but I have narrow feet so ymmv.

Also in these pix the white colorway looks a lot better - the navy ones are not aesthetically pleasing to me, not that it really matters if they perform well (they do).

 

[Salmon]

I’ve played tennis all throughout high school and for the last 7 years, and I would say my playstyle is more of a serve and volley and mostly doubles. My current shoe is the Yonex PC Fusion Rev 5, but it didn’t feel too different from the Babolat Jet Tere 2 shoes that I could try. I’ve been using Jet Tere 2 for the last week, so about 12 hours of playtime. I usually wear a 9.5 and get the Playtest shoe as a 9.5 too. After wearing these shoes for a while, I probably would have gone half up to a 10. The shoe ran a little tight toward the tip, which surprised me since I usually run into issues about narrowness toward the middle of the shoes. I thought the comfort was standard, and I did have to add insoles to my shoes after some playtime. Arch support was fine initially, but I eventually added my usual insoles just because my feet tend to be a little flatter. During my playtime with the original insoles, I thought that it was good, and I could have kept playing with them. However, I normally prefer more cushioned insoles. I thought the shoe was stable and had solid support. I was able to move laterally without any problems and really felt no problem running back and forth on the court. The heel support of the shoe was good, too, and I had no issues with movement on the court at all. The shoe's traction was solid and grippy, which made it easier to run on the court. After hours of playing on the court, I thought the grip did not wear out and felt the same the entire time. This shoe’s traction felt like the usual Babolat Michelin material, and I had no complaints. The shoe's ventilation was also fine. I played in about mid-80s degrees Fahrenheit for about 8 of the 12 hours of playtesting the shoe, and it felt completely normal. I felt that the shoe was very breathable, and the upper portion of the shoe felt soft. Playing at nighttime, the experience was the same as being breathable and comfortable. The durability of the sole and toe part of the shoe held up. I tend to drag the tip of my shoe often, and there wasn’t any noticeable wear and tear on the shoe yet. Since this shoe made it a little hard to slide, I think that the soles and toes of the shoe will hold up for a long time. But I will update this review if the toe section wears down after a few more hours of playtime. The shoe's weight felt slightly lighter than all the other shoes I have tried. Running on the court and keeping my feet moving felt very easy. I would also probably use these shoes as my regular running shoes because of how light they are. It did feel a little easier serving with these shoes since it was easier to jump in them. Overall, this shoe is great for its price point and is both comfortable and durable. I received the blue version of the shoe, and I thought it looked great.

 

[Icsa]

A very good looking shoe, clean minimalist design !

How is the toe box / fit; roomy , snug ?

Snug medium for my medium size foot.

 

[pizzadontdie]

Tennis experience/background: I’m a UTR 7-8 NTRP 4.0/4.5 all court player that relies on big serves and moving in to finish points. As I’ve aged, my baseline game and defense has improved, since I’m not quite fast enough to serve and volley like I did in my twenties. I play singles 3-4 times and a week and doubles 2x. In the summer I play 6 days a week and in winter a bit less. I blow through shoes monthly, as I’m a big 6’2 190lb dude. I’ve played through every line of Kswiss lately, my favorite being the ultrashot 3, although it’s a heavy shoe and the toe box stretches after a few weeks. I’ve also recently tried the Head 4.5 shoes.

How many hours did you play with the shoe? 25+
Normal Size:12
Playtesting Size:12
The Babolat Jet Tere 2 is really comfortable. I normally find lighter, minimalist shoes to lack comfort and some support, but these really surprised me. I could maybe ask for a tiny bit more comfort on the heel, but adding a custom insole would easily fix this. I was a little worried about the heel locking, specifically on my right foot. Not sure why, but I found the right foot to be a tad loose on heal and needed to use a runners knot on that shoe. On my first day out with these, I did have a slight ankle scare on a hard stop, but I attribute it to not breaking them in fully, as this never occurred thereafter.

The Jet Tere 2 really shines with Ventilation. I’m a really heavy sweater. I have to spray my shoes with the stuff used at bowling alleys daily and run them through the wash every couple weeks, otherwise they stink like hell. After 2 weeks of playing nearly daily, these don’t stink, mostly because I really don’t sweat that much in them. I’ve never had a shoe that vented as well on the court. You’d think that with all this mesh, you’d really sacrifice some stability, but I didn’t find that to be the case.

Hard to judge the durability after two weeks, but it looks great so far. The Michelin soles are usually god tier, and I haven’t seen much wear yet. I’d guess these would last me 2 months on hard courts. I’m a toe dragger and these haven’t showed much wear there either. I’ve found the traction to be perfect for my needs. I’m not sliding and these provide enough traction to stop and start quickly without worry.

As everyone I’m sure will attest, these suckers are lighter than almost anything else on the market. Really impressed by how they play and hold up so far, considering just how light they are.

After 25 hours or so, I’m honestly sold on these. I’ll probably buy a different colorway, as my only complaint is they aren’t the best looking shoes on the market. At the $99 price range, I can only think of a few comps that hold a candle to these. Mainly the adidas solematch control 2, but the durability is far worse. I’m inclined to try some other babolat shoe models as well. I believe this was my first time using any model from them and what a great first impression! Huge thanks to tennis warehouse for selecting me for the test. Really fun to participate and lo and behold, I’ve found my new favorite shoe.

 

[d-quik]

Mainly the adidas sole court 2

We are just making stuff up now?

 

[codonnell]

How would everyone compare these to the previous jet tere? They look quite a bit different in structure to me. I’m starting to look into new tennis shoes soon as my teres and my machs are starting to wear pretty bad.

 

[pizzadontdie]

We are just making stuff up now?

Whatcha mean?

 

[pizzadontdie]

We are just making stuff up now?

Sorry Adidas SoleMatch Control*

 

[dak95_00]

Tennis experience/background:

I’m 52 and have been playing tennis since I was a young teenager. I currently play local leagues and also USTA 4.0 18 and over as well as over age 40 USTA. Nearly all of my league play is doubles but I’ve decided recently to return to playing singles. Since nearly all of our league play in Columbus, Ohio is doubles related, I have to find young guys to play in singles. When I travel and find other TTers to play I have found that I am very competitive with 4.5 USTA guys throughout the country.


Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):

I’m an all-court player. I rarely serve and volley but will do it if I’m really bringing the heat and placing the serve. Otherwise, I am happy smashing away at the baseline and approaching when I am given a short ball, I can create an angle and approach behind for an easy put-away shot. I hit relatively flat and switch my grips from eastern forehand to semi-western and I play with a two-hand backhand. My serve is mainly slice but I will mix in a kick here and there. My best shots are my forehand and volleys. I rarely double fault because I usually go for placement over power.


Current shoe:

I have been playing the Wilson Rush Pro since the 3.0 version came out. I have also found deals on the 2.5 and moved up to the 4.0 through the years. I LOVE the Wilson Rush Pro shoe and stock up when I find deals regardless of the iteration. I haven’t tried the 4.5 version yet.


How many hours did you play with the shoe?

I play at most twice per week and usually for only two hours at a time. With these shoes, I made an extra effort to play more singles. I also made an effort to wear these shoes just for normal walking around and at work. Total playing time was probably close to 20 hours and I wore them to work a couple of days where I teach high school and stand on a hard linoleum floor for most of the day.


Normal Size:

I wear a 10 in most shoes but I used to feel a 9.5 was the truer size. I like the extra space for my toes in the size 10. When I first received these shoes, I had wished I had gotten the 9.5 but after a couple weeks, I’m happy with the 10.

Playtesting Size:

Size 10

Comments on shoe performance (3-5 sentences per category):

-comfort:

I have found these shoes to be exceptionally comfortable. They are much less material than the Wilson Rush but the minimalist style has really felt great on my foot for both tennis and everyday lifestyle wear. I have been a long-time sufferer of plantar fasciitis (PF) and these shoes have actually assisted in the pain not getting worse and maybe even better. The heal drop is almost nonexistent and I think that has much to do with it. These shoes ride very low to the ground. When I say I have suffered from PF, I’m talking since 2004 and I even had release surgery to help in 2019 but that could only do so much after so long. I have more to say about this at the end.


-arch support:

These shoes do not have a ton of arch support and that’s plenty okay with me. I look at these shoes as those minimalist shoes that allow my feet to function freely and naturally. Like I wrote previously, my PF isn’t hurting in these shoes.

-stability/support:

I like the low feeling of these shoes. They gave me plenty of confidence to cut and return balls regardless of the playing style. I have been playing more singles and defeated a strong 25 y/o guy who played NCAA D3 tennis just a few years ago. We only played a set but I was getting to the ball and able to approach the net as needed. I’m not as quick as I was when I was 25 but I’m still plenty quick for the average person. These shoes are every bit as stable and supportive as the Wilson Rush Pro which rides higher on the court. Because they were lower, I actually felt more stable and felt less likely to turn my ankle while playing.


-ventilation:

I’ve been playing outside and the air has been cooler in the Ohio fall weather. These shoes aren’t making my feet feel swampy so I feel the mesh is good for ventilation. I’d have to give them a summer tour to really get a feel for these. Just wearing them casually at work hasn’t been a problem either.


-sole durability:

The sole durability is good for a shoe without a warranty. They’re as good or possibly better than the Wilson shoes. Maybe it’s the Michelin rubber. I don’t know but they’re holding up just fine. I don’t think I’m too hard on shoes but I can wear out a pair in 6 months.


-toe durability:

I’m not a toe dragger so this has never been an issue with me. I really feel if I were to comment more, I’d just be making stuff up.


-traction:

These are good. I can cut easily and not feel as though I’m slipping. They also don’t squeak like the Wilson Rush Pro shoes do. I sometimes get embarrassed by the amount of noise the Wilson shoes make on the court and these are good for cutting, stopping, changing direction, and NOT SQUEAKING. I’m really surprised someone hasn’t tried to call a hindrance because the noise the Wilson shoes make. These problems are nonexistent with the Babolat shoes and I don’t have to worry about a squeak or squeal when I stop and change direction.

-weight:

These shoes are light. They are designed to be light, quick, and overall minimalist and that has been achieved.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:

My first reaction to these shoes was that I had gotten the wrong size and they were too big. I laced them all the way up to the last eyelets and that helped them lock to my ankle. But after a while they feel as though they have formed to my feet more naturally and I have unlaced that last eyelet. I guess they needed a little breaking in period to get there. My feet have always been wider at the toe area and narrow at the heels. These shoes give me plenty of room for my toes to expand and now lock to my heels as well. I really like these shoes but I’m not crazy about the blue color. I do like that after wearing them all day that my PF isn’t acting up and I’ve had days where my pain is almost completely gone.

On the topic of PF and pain, I have been doing much more mobility exercises overall instead of weight training. I’m not completely sure that my pain subsiding is due to these shoes but my usual casual shoe is either a Nike Vomero or Nike Pegasus running shoe and I cannot say the same about my feet at the end of the day when wearing those. I attribute it to the nearly nonexistent heal drop, the exercise, and the space I have for my toes.

In summary, I’ll greatly consider buying these shoes when my stash of Wilsons run dry or if the Wilsons start causing me pain. I’ll likely buy the blander looking white version though.

THANK YOU to TENNIS WAREHOUSE for the opportunity to review these shoes. I recently watched the review by TW and I am surprised that my review didn’t find the same problems. I think I would attribute it to a break in period and the ability to find other shoes that are likely much better right out of the box in comfort and stability. I just think these are hard to beat after a few weeks compared to other shoes. I also don’t have the ability, like TW employees do, to try many different shoes and equipment or the inclination to switch shoes as often.

 

[mogo]

Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Babolat Jet Tere 2 Shoes

Tennis experience/background: 20yrs/ 5.0 NTRP
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): Baseline- Counter puncher
Current shoe: Nike Cage 4
How many hours did you play with the shoe? 20
Normal Size: 10
Playtesting Size: 10

Comments on shoe performance (3-5 sentences per category):

-comfort: 8/10 - Shoes are great out of the box. No break-in period required, you can easily lace up and play on court within minutes. It has been about 20 hours, and this shoe is still very comfortable. I would say that cushioning is now around a 7/10 due to use. I don’t use custom insoles; I keep tennis shoes stock. I knew that these would not have as much cushion as say the regular shoe that I use, which is the Cage 4, but I do like these shoes to use in a light hitting session, rallies, and overall point play. In a full match I would opt for a sturdier shoe that can handle the super aggressive start and stop directional changes. But the shoe is comfortable, and I had no issues with rubbing or toe jams.

-arch support: 7/10 - no issues for me. I didn’t feel any arch support issues with his playtest. I felt no high arch, so my feet felt normal throughout the playtest. Some shoes can have a tough arch that you need to break down. But this was perfect for me.

-stability/support: 6/10 – This was an issue after 3 weeks; I felt as the shoe had a chance to loosen up from hours of hitting it started to break down a bit structurally. Stability was sufficient but not what I personally like on court. What I ended up doing was using all the eye lets and have the laces all the way to the top. This helped dramatically with the stability around the ankle area, and I felt locked into the shoe. Stability is better but I am apprehensive about going full speed and stopping on a dime. I like the shoe for hitting and rallying. Just don’t know if I would be comfortable personally going into a match for 2 or 2.5 hours with this shoe.

-ventilation: 9/10 – In the Texas heat these shoes shined. There was ample ventilation when wearing and I really enjoyed this part of the playtest. I would say they are by far the best ventilated shoe I have used in a while. Even if the wind blows you can feel it coming through the shoes, so I love it. Nice to have great ventilation.

-sole durability: 9/10 – The sole is great I didn’t notice any burn through when playing or any part that was getting really eaten on the hard courts. I would say these would last well long-term as I am going to be using for the next couple months. I don’t have any issue with durability, I think it’s more the stability of the upper part of the shoe that has me concerned as the top is really a light mesh and your foot does move out past the sole if you are stopping out wide. If there was extra support around this area it would make the shoe more stable overall, but I think if they did that then the shoe would be heavier which hurts the speed on court with this shoe. The rubber is solid, and I don’t think I’ll burn through anytime soon.

-toe durability: 9/10 – I am not a toe dragger so for me this didn’t have a big impact on me. They look well build but I don’t drag my toes so it’s hard for me to comment very much on this aspect.

-traction: 8/10 - No slipping, and traction was good. I felt connected to the ground and could move and adjust well. At first, I did notice the shoe was a little sticky on the hardcourt but after 2hrs it went away. Could have been the new layer of the outsole breaking in. You can start and stop without any issues traction wise. The grip is solid, and you can push off and start with no issues.

-weight: 9/10 - Very light shoe and very quick on court. I feel that because it is so light that the stability is an issue after the initial break-in period. So, if they beefed it up then the shoe would not be as light or quick. There is a fine line to get light, fast, and stable for a tennis shoe. I feel that Babolat did well to make this shoe as quick as possible and comfortable. I think that if you are looking for more stability than you may want to add an ankle support to add that stability and get the best of both worlds. In doing so you should probably go up a half-size.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: Great shoe and really light feel. For me it is more of a casual hit, point play, or doubles match shoe. I think if I was to play a singles match and grind, I would use my usual Cage 4 shoe as it is built for aggressive movement needed and has extra cushioning. Babolat did great on this shoe, I would recommend it for Junior players and adults. The blue color I got was awesome! I give the color a 10/10! I also liked the lacing eyelets and shoelaces, sometimes they can be too long or too short. But these were perfect to lace up all the way and not worry about tripping over them. I want to thank Babolat @Babolat Official and @TW Staff for a great opportunity to use these shoes as this for me has been a great playtest.

Picture below after 20hours and still counting!!

 

[Crimsonchen]

Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Babolat Jet Tere 2 Shoes

Tennis experience/background: 17 years of tennis experience. I played in high school and am currently playing usta 4.5
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): I'm generally a baseliner in singles but I do like to approach the net on short balls and every service game I try to throw in a serve and volley. I usually play doubles more often than singles, but during this playtest, I played a lot more singles as well as singles groundstroke games.
Current shoe: Asics Gel Resolution 9
How many hours did you play with the shoe? Roughly around 18-20 hours
Normal Size: 10.5
Playtesting Size: 10.5 - I went with my true-to-size and I was happy with staying at a 10.5. My foot had adequate spacing in the toe box and I didn't feel like at any point during the playtest that my foot was suffocating or being squished.

Comments on shoe performance (3-5 sentences per category):
-comfort: I was actually quite shocked at the comfort from this shoe as I was expecting mediocre comfort from a shoe that is pretty light compared to something like the Gel Resolution 9. Of course the cushioning isn't as good as something like the Gel Resolution 9, but at this price point and considering the weight of the shoe, I think the cushioning was well done. I've tried other lightweight shoes in the past like the Nike Vapor Tour 9.5 and those shoes generally give me foot pain and soreness in my heels after a hitting session. I didn't have any pain with these shoes, even after singles so I was very impressed with the cushioning on this shoe. I didn't notice any break-in period in regards to the cushioning, I felt like the shoes played great right outside the box (aside from traction which I'll get to). The mesh material used on the shoe feels a bit thin to me but didn't seem to affect the overall cushioning of the shoe.

-arch support: I have no concerns about the arch support on this shoe personally, but I don't have any foot issues myself. I will say that this shoe didn't give me any pain or soreness during the playtest.

-stability/support: I think this is where this shoe struggled the most. When first wearing the shoe, I had an issue with locking in my foot into the shoe and seemed to get a lot of heel slippage in singles. I also couldn’t seem to keep the shoes tight for more than 20-30 minutes so I had to use a runner's knot which seemed to help keep the shoe tighter. With the mesh material, I also felt issues with sliding as well as stopping in generally. My foot would dig into the mesh material on the sides when hitting running forehands and I just felt overall that this shoe was lacking in stability due to the lighter materials used on the shoe.

-ventilation: Ventilation was great with this shoe. With the mesh material, I didn't feel any built up heat in the shoe and you can feel the wind going through the mesh so I think this shoe is as good as it gets in regards to ventilation. During the whole playtest, I felt that my feet could freely breathe in these shoes.

-sole durability: I was very impressed with the michelin soles on the shoe. After 20ish hours of playtesting, I still feel that there is a lot of life left on these soles. Especially at this pricepoint, I think there's a lot of bang for your buck with the soles. I will say that generally I am a slider when it comes to running forehands and backhand slices, but I was not able to slide around much with these shoes so I was not as rough on them as I would be with other shoes. Generally, I do not burn through soles either but overall, I was impressed with the sole durability for the span that I playtested.

-toe durability: I never have toe drag or issues with the toe box so it's hard for me to speak on the toe durability. I was also not able to slide very much with the shoe like I normally would so I was not scraping the sides of the shoe either. The rubber material around the forefoot/toes seems sufficient, especially for the pricepoint, but the quality and sturdiness is not even close to something like the Gel Resolution or Adidas Barricade materials which feel a lot more durable than this shoe.

-traction: As I've mentioned before (maybe it's just a me issue), I seemed to struggle to slide with these shoes. I think that attests to the traction of the soles. With most shoes, after some time, I can get comfortable sliding around. With these shoes, I felt that they were very grippy so if you are looking for a cheaper shoe that has great sole durability and traction, I think these are a great option.

-weight: These shoes feel very light, especially with the mesh material used on the uppers. It's not the type of shoe that I'm used to playing in, however, I definitely enjoyed playing in them and I felt really quick when running up to the net or serving/volleying. The weight felt comparable to the nike vapor tour 9.5s in my opinion.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: Overall, keeping the price of the shoes in mind, I really was not expecting much as I have used Gel Resolutions for the past 2-3 years. I was impressed but the cushioning, the weight/speed, and overall playability of the shoe. They had a small snags for me in terms of my foot slipping in the shoe and the durability of the uppers, but I quite like the minimalistic look of the shoe. This shoe makes me want to give lightweight shoes a chance and I think it’s a great option for players looking for a lighter shoe and that are not looking to break the bank. Thank you Tennis Warehouse and Babolat for this playtest experience!

 

[Yiuh]

Tennis experience/background:
grew up playing, a little bit of local junior competition and a lot of high school play, then took a long break and have been back at it semi-seriously for the last two or three years. I’m 35 and on the USTA 4.0/4.5 border now.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
your basic American caveman baseline basher, serve+1 focused and aggressive on groundstrokes. My main partner is a very fast defensive baseliner so we end up with a lot of long groundstroke exchanges. Been mixing in a fair amount of serve and volley lately, which has been fun and changed my movement patterns in productive ways i think.

Current shoe: Adidas Barricade

How many hours did you play with the shoe? ~ 24 hours, mostly singles with a few hours of liveball and a couple sets of doubles

Normal Size: 12
Playtesting Size: 12 - this was the right choice. I’d say maybe they run a touch big but for most people I’d still recommend going tts.

Comments on shoe performance:

-comfort:
Right out of the box I found these things quite comfortable. There was no break-in period, and from my first time on the court they were light and responsive without sacrificing cushioning. When i pulled the laces tight they were a good width for my narrow heels/ankles, and the toe box had plenty of space. No jamming whatsoever, thankfully. Very pleased by the feel overall.

-arch support:
I didn’t notice much, but that wasn’t an issue for me. i have flatter feet, and the break-in period on my barricades usually involves at least one or two blisters on my arches. No such trouble here, and again i found them perfectly comfortable.

-stability/support:
This was fine - because they’re faster, lower profile shoes I think there’s naturally a little less support than what I’m used to, but not in a way that felt unstable, and i had the confidence to move and change direction without worrying about them at all. The mesh is obviously not as supportive as most shoe material, so if stability is a real concern in general i could see this being something to give you pause, but only if you’re super sensitive to it. Felt plenty good to me.

-ventilation:
This is where the shoe shines! Wow was this a literal breath of fresh air, especially in comparison to my barricades. I could feel the breeze through the mesh, and my feet stayed noticeably cooler and more comfortable than usual in the high-80s afternoons of SoCal “fall.” My barricades have sweat stains across the top of my foot, and this was a huge improvement. It did, however, lead to some durability issues - to be discussed below!

-sole durability:
This is where i ran into trouble. The shoes felt great and i was moving with confidence for the first 20+ hours, and then out of nowhere I had a bad slip (not injury-wise, I’m fine! but I took a real spill and it was totally unexpected and really bad timing within the match and messed with my confidence on my feet the rest of the day) trying to change direction on my right foot. I examined the court super closely like a goofball for the purpose of this review and it wasn’t slick or dusty at all, no leaves or anything on the court, so i checked my shoe - the tread has already noticeably degraded under the ball and toes of my right foot. It is slicker than my current pair of barricades and my Nike Zoom Vapor 11s, both of which have seen way, way more hours on court. I’ve played with them a little more since and had one more minor slip, but it’s really ruined my confidence in the shoes and i think I’m done using them for singles. Certainly for any serious competitive singles.

-toe durability:
This was also an issue, but not in the way I’d expect - i tend to drag my left foot, and in the old days would burn through shoes in the spot behind/above my left big toe. These are reinforced there, which i love, and that spot has some scrapes but nothing major. Weirdly it’s the other side that gave me trouble - the outside edge of my left shoe has a small but growing hole in the upper. I don’t think I slide there, and I don’t think it’s touched the ground at all, or at least not frequently or hard, so I guess just normal movement is pulling the threads apart? I’m not a particularly big guy (5’11, 180) so it’s a strange thing that to me speaks to the material or the build. It’s also of course a consequence of the lightweight, breathable mesh, but for me I think it’s not worth the trade off and I’ve never experienced damage there in any other shoe.

-traction:
I thought this was pretty great. Maybe a little too sticky the first time out but in a way that I appreciated. I felt grounded and connected to the court in a way that almost even helped my footwork. Really nice feeling, wish it had lasted longer!

-weight:
Another strong category for this shoe - it’s extremely light, and it shows on the court. They move fast and won’t weigh you down.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:
I find myself very conflicted writing this review - this shoe excels in a lot of categories, and I loved it in basically every metric for the first 20 hours. They’re comfortable, lightweight, breathable, fast, and i felt connected to the court, and they’re very reasonably priced. I was prepared to make them my new main shoe. But i lost confidence in them when I slipped, and I’m disappointed in the durability of both the sole and the upper. I’ve had strings that lasted longer than these! Maybe i got a weaker pair or hit a minor defect but as-is I don’t think I could justify buying shoes that lasted less than a month, even if they did feel quite nice for a while. I’d still maybe think they’re a solid option if you play mostly doubles or aren’t an aggressive mover, but if this is really indicative of their quality I can’t endorse them overall.

Despite my ultimate disappointment in the shoe, I really enjoyed this playtest and most of my time wearing these. Thanks TW!

 

[M Pillai]

Babolat Jet Tere 2 Shoes Playtest

Tennis experience/background:
Late bloomer who never touched a tennis racquet before age of 35, but had been playing consistently over the last 12+ years. Currently plays mostly singles tennis at 4.5 NTRP/USTA. Also enjoys social doubles and singles/doubles strategic discussions. Also an experienced stringer and usual go to person for the tennis strings/accessory/equipment related questions for the folks at the club.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
Strategic counter puncher. Move the opponent to compromised positions, and beat them in counter-attack is a usual play. Used to be that guy who only comes to the net to shake hands.

Current shoe:
Alternates between Prince T22 & Head Revolt Pro 4.5

How many hours did you play with the shoe?
20+ hrs

Normal Size:
11.0 (for wide shoes I go 10.5)

Playtesting Size:
11.5

Comments on shoe performance (3-5 sentences per category):
-comfort:
Excellent. I did ask for 0.5 size up than my usual size based on my previous experience with Babolat shoes in the speed/agility category, and I believe that was the right choice for me. My foot is slightly wider, at mid section and I learned to deal with some extra space in my forefoot, as long as the shoe has a snug fit. So fitting wise this show is a slight adjustment for me, but that definitely did not bother a bit with 0.5 size up. Now overall the cushioning is very good. Sole is comfortable but stable. Uppers are a bit minimalist, which possibly may affect durability on the long run, but gets good breathing and soft feel at the same time. The shoes seem to have a slightly sit-lower feel compared to my Prince T22, which probably took me a while to get used to, but felt stable after that. Overall, Excellent for comfort.

-arch support:
Average. I guess it depends on your feet. Of course the insole & arch support material is very comfortable, but if you need a high arch support, you may not feel it to be adequate. But I can understand that some people may feel it more comfortable. In general, I personally need more height at the midsection of the insole and so I cannot give a higher rating for arch support. But this may be because of a personal fitting, and does not have anything specifically to do with the shoe design.

-stability/support:
Excellent. It took me a few days to get used to the feel of sitting my foot lower than my other shoes. But once I got used to the feel, I felt like these shoes give a very high stability feel. I usually don’t have any issues with rolling the ankle or something, so I am confident even with shoes which sits high. But I am pretty sure folks who had previously rolled their angles on the run to sides, definitely would appreciate the sitting low feel. Now the trade off probably is that there is probably slightly less cushioning under, which may show up as time goes by and the materials degrade.

-ventilation:
Excellent. The uppers are slightly minimalistic in design, and that probably provides more ventilation than most other tennis shoes. Also, except for the specific spots on the sides of the shoe which need that additional support, the use of hard materials is minimal and so the shoes breathe a lot more than most other shoes, especially the shoes in the durability category.

-sole durability:
Average. Maybe I was probably expecting too much from the Micheline sole. Or probably I am spoiled from the consistent durability of the Prince T22 soles. But from my 1 month of use, I do see a lot more wear and tear on the sole than similar usage from a T22. But that being said, I believe this shoe is probably not in the same durability category as T22. I believe Jet Tere series is more of an agility/speed category, and when you consider that I think this is probably expected.

-toe durability:
Good. I personally have no issue with the toe durability specifically. I like the fact that the sole material goes all the way around to protect the toe. So toe specifically has no weak spots. But still the sole material itself is not too durable personally for me.

-traction:
Excellent. In fact this is something I like really about this Michelin sole. I did in fact test the shoe on a wet morning, and it definitely held up good. Good traction in both dry and wet conditions. I personally am not a slider, but the sole provides good traction without the sticky feel, and so I am pretty sure folks who like to slide may find this as an advantage. For me, extra sticky shoes sometimes give trouble on hard stops to change direction (for example when my opponent hits behind me, when I am running in full speed to other direction). But this sole held up pretty good, proving good stability for sudden change of directions at full speed.

-weight:
Excellent/Good. Personally I prefer a slightly more weight on my regular shoes, which gives me that extra confidence or feel of stability. But at the same time, I can see that this weight is probably a good balance for speed. Probably for a tournament play or for once in a week match play, I may choose this shoe for that extra speed. But for my regular day to day play/practice my personal choice would be more stable feeling heavier (and probably slightly slower) shoes. In summary, I do not think the weight should change for this shoe because of the specific market/category this shoe is intended to be placed. So I give it an excellent rating for that.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:

Babolat Jet Tere 2 is a good upgrade from the previous version and does a lot of things good, for the specific category this shoe is intended. This shoe is definitely stable and fast, at the same time durable than most other fast shoes. But probably don’t expect to beat shoes made specifically for durability. So best suitable for players who do a lot more competitive play. Fitting is unique to Babolat and I think the mid section is slightly narrower than other manufacturer’s shoes. I like the details and design that went into the shoe to a great extent.

Overall I loved every bit of the playtest, and will continue using this shoe till it wears out. Probably I can update my findings on durability on this thread later.

TW and Babolat, Thanks a lot for the opportunity.

 

[Pronate]

Babolat Jet Tere 2 Shoes Playtest

Tennis experience/background:
I’m a 4.0 NTRP player. When I was a junior I played tournaments and was nationally ranked.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
I’m a counterpuncher. So I like long baseline rallies and being able to finish points at the right time. Lateral movements and split stepping are key parts of my game, so I always look for a shoe that's supportive.

Current shoe: Babolat Jet Tere 1

How many hours did you play with the shoe? ~ 15 hours, all singles matches.

Normal Size: 11
Playtesting Size: 11 - I'm glad I went with this size because my pair has the right space in the toe box with no heel slippage.

Comments on shoe performance:

-comfort:
The shoe had comfort right out of the box., which surprised me considering the Tere 1 is very tight at first. I played with them with no break in required and won my first match. The midsole is very supple so they'll crease pretty quickly but I haven't found this to impact the responsiveness. Like the propulse 3 and the Tere 1, this shoes felt like a comfort shoe. Another thing to keep in mind is how tight you lace them up. When tied semi tight the shoes feel very comfortable, but my feet will move a bit when having hard stops. This was all resolved as soon as I made the most of the top eyelet.

-arch support:
The arch support was average, and I have a slightly wide foot. It would be interesting if there was a dense plastic shank in the arch area, although they could have impacted the weight distribution.

-stability/support:
The shoe is slightly more supportive compared to Tere 1. It rivals the ultrashots in my opinion when they are laced up properly and to the top eyelet. When I first started wearing them without lacing to the top eyelet they felt a tad unstable given how soft the upper is, but after that the lacing system has been pretty effective. I feel even more confident sliding on hard courts with these shoes compared to a lot other bulkier ones mainly because these have the support and the upper is soft enough that I don't get a toe jam when going for hard stops.

One difference between this shoe and Tere 1 is that Tere 1 has a hard plastic section around the heel whereas the Tere 2 is softer.

Probably the biggest takeaway I had wearing the shoe was to lace the shoes tightly. Also as the playtest went on I felt that was essential to using the shoe to it's capabilities.

-ventilation:
The shoe had great ventilation! Just like other playtesters mentioned, this is a very breathable shoe. I've played mainly at night and had no issues. During a couple hits in the afternoon they felt fine too.

-sole durability:
So far I think the durability has been excellent. I've played some physical 3 hour matches and still feel confident sliding and changing directions on hard court. The durability is likely at least as good as the first version based on how the tread pattern is still holding up well.


-toe durability:
No issue at all for me. As a former toe dragger, what helped was when I went a size up for a roomier feel. This let me move on the balls of my feet and also rarely toe drag. Also, when shoes are as lightweight as this one, I'm less likely to drag my toe in fear that the material is too thin to prevent purple toe nails.

Hopefully that helps others.

-traction:
I thought this was pretty great. It was easy to change directions and have hard stops when needed. When rallying I also felt the shoes had the right amount of grip and not sticky.

-weight:
The shoes are light weight, so another plus. This is because the majority of the shoe have a strong mesh upper and less hard plastic compared to the Tere 1. To my suprise this still didn't effect stability. These felt as light as Nike vapors while being less low to the ground.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:
One of my favorite products reviewed on the forum. It was fun to see how the Tere2 compared to Tere 1. All the great strengths from the first shoe carried over and this one definitely had improvements in the upper and overall comfort. I look forward to many more matches with these!

Thank you TW and Babolat for the opportunity!!!

 

[Pronate]

Just wanted to add that the arch support felt similar to the Jet Tere 1.

 

[pheonix6579]

Tennis experience/background: 25+ years playing and coaching. 4.0 singles with occasional doubles. Babolat was the first shoe I fell in love with, the old Propulse (the ones Roddick used to wear). After they did the major redesign, I switched to KSwiss for about 7 years, before switching again to Adidas.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
I would say that my game style is that of an aggressive baseliner that also relies on a big serve. I really do like to hang out at the baseline and win points from there, however, over the past six months, I have really tried to force myself to play more serve and volley more often.

Current shoe:
My current shoe is the Adidas Barricade, however I used to play exclusively with the old Babolat Propulse. Not super in love with the Barricades, just found a few deals on them so I’m wearing through what I have.

How many hours did you play with the shoe?
24+ hours on court, pulse about a week total wearing them at work (I am a teacher who spends most of their day on their feet).

Normal Size: US13
Playtesting Size: US13

Comments on shoe performance (3-5 sentences per category):
-comfort: 9/10
For a lightweight shoe, these really were super comfortable right out of the box. They felt very lightweight however they did not feel cheap at all which I find is fairly common with lightweight shoes. They did not require any break in time and they were comfortable on court right out of the box. The first time I used these shoes, I played singles for about four hours. During the entire time on court, my feet felt great. I did not experience any blisters or hotspots even though they were brand new. During the entire play test overall the shoes still felt great. The only area that seemed to start to bother me was the lack of cushion in the heel, it started to feel then toward the end of the play test.

-arch support:8/10
This is one area where I have a hard time, switching to the lightweight shoes permanently. I have very low arches and usually require shoes that offer a greater deal of support. I struggled with plantar fasciitis for a number of years and it’s only been in the last few that I have ventured into using more lightweight shoes versus shoes, built for stability and comfort. With the exception of the thin padding in the heel, I never felt any arch discomfort. My arch never felt sore or tender, even after long periods on court where most of the time is on hard courts.

-stability/support: 7/10
These shoes provided a really low to the ground feel. While these shoes did not provide the level of support that you would get from a more stability driven shoe, I was impressed with the overall level of stability. I really enjoyed the extra loops so I could lock in my heels with the laces. The shoes cinched nicely around my ankle and really did not move. The laces themselves did not slip at all and seemed to hold tension well. This is one area where my Adidas barricades frustrate me. There was a definite decline toward the end of the play test when the shoes were very loosened up. At that point, they were still comfortable, but did not provide the support that I would’ve liked to see.

-ventilation: 10/10
The shoes breathed really well. Even after playing in the hot Florida humidity, my socks never got soaking wet. During the entire play test, I never had an instance where I felt that my feet were warm because the shoe did not allow airflow. At first glance, I worried about this because of the outsole of the shoe. But while using these issues, I really enjoyed the breathability that the outsoles provided.

-sole durability: 9/10
I thought the soul durability was exceptional throughout the play test even after so many hours on court and wearing off and on throughout the day, it still looks like it’s holding up. I have not noticed any major wear in any specific areas other than right at the heel where I normally see where on any shoes that I use. Throughout this play test I played mostly on hard-courts with a few outings on clay. Other lightweight shoes, even some more bulky support focused shoes, did not show the durability I saw with these.

-toe durability:
This is an area that’s hard for me to comment because this has never been an area of the shoe where I experience wear and tear. I am not a toe dragger.

-traction: 10/10
I would say this area was the strongest attribute of the shoe. Traction on this particular shoe was on point. Considering most of my playtime is on hard-courts, I really appreciated the level of traction that I got. Even with my time on clay, I never really had to worry about my feet slipping.

-weight:10/10
The shoes felt very light, not the lightest that I have tried but I am okay with that. You could feel that they were there but they never in any way felt clunky or bulky.

General reaction/comments on overall performance
I was extremely happy with these shoes. I had really given up on Babolat shoes after a few different ones did not fit comfortably or the durability became an issue. I would consider buying more of these. I enjoyed the comfort, along with the durability. I even loved the blue color scheme, not too boring but not overly flashy either. Only thing I would change would be the padding in the heel needs to be increased. I probably would use these as every day sneakers after about 25 hours on court as the lightweight structure kind of breaks down after that many hours of play time. But thanks TW and Babolat for the opportunity to playtest, I think you have a solid shoe here.

 

[dharloff]

Tennis experience/background: Late arrival to tennis, have only been playing for about 3 years. Played many sports growing up, lifelong soccer player, and racquetball on/of for about 15-20 years. USTA 3.0, almost exclusively doubles, though I will rally with singles for practice.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): Aggressive baseline play, though love playing at the net and look to get to the net whenever possible

Current shoe: Diadora B.Icon 2 or K Swiss Hypercourt Supreme on hardcourt, Diadora Blushield Fly 4 on clay

How many hours did you play with the shoe? 14-15 hours

Normal Size: 9.5

Playtesting Size: 9.5

Comments on shoe performance (3-5 sentences per category):

-comfort: I found the shoes extremely comfortable right out of the box, no or very little break-in required. The mesh upper was soft and accommodating, almost felt like putting a pair of glove liners on your hands. I anticipated them feeling flimsy, but instead they felt nice and snug, and I barely noticed they were there. The sole also felt nice and cushiony, which I did not anticipate because they feel significantly lighter than what I'm used to. Overall a very soft feel.

-arch support: I don't have problems with arch support and did not notice anything with these either way. So I guess the arch support was good but not intrusive or noticeable.

-stability/support: The soft upper felt less stable when on the foot and walking around. I would get the feeling that I needed to tie the shoes tighter. However, on the court, the shoes were just as stable as my Diadora and K-Swiss shoes for my style of play. I cover a lot of ground and get to just about everything, however I do not slide into shots on hardcourt and rarely slide on clay. So for my style of play, these shoes were very stable and supportive for all court movements. Lateral stability was great when planting for a shot or recovery after a shot. Forward and backward movement was also good. I think my foot would move slightly in the shoe in and around the toe box, but the mesh upper allowed this movement and because I'm not sliding/dragging this was not a problem for me.

The foam cushioning was excellent and reminded me of the feel of a running shoe. Very light and fluffy. I'm seeing some minor creasing in the cushioning, but very minor reduction in feel after 15 hours. I'd put the foam cushioning at about 85% of new still.

-ventilation: Definitely better ventilated than my Diadora or K-Swiss shoes, but it has not been that hot in Florida the last month, so they did not get tested in 90+ degree weather. My feet do feel noticeably cooler during and after a hitting session in these. They're also comfortable enough to continue wearing after playing, where typically I change out of my court shoes pretty quickly.

-sole durability: After approximately 15 hours of hitting in these, all on hardcourt, there is barely any wear to the soles. I drag my toes a little bit on serves and volleys and I am only seeing minor indications of wear.

-toe durability: Virtually no indication of wear on the toes, but I'm not a big toe dragger. The toe drag guard I would rate as good as my current shoes.

-traction: Traction is excellent. I have not slipped once on court. Traction has held up whether moving laterally or vertically on the court no matter how hard I've hit the brakes. I'm also able to change direction quickly without worry of slipping, and recovery at the baseline or the net after moving for a ball has not been an issue.

-weight: I don't know the actual stats, but they feel lighter than my current shoes, both when they're on my feet and when I pick them up. I don't think I'm at a level of athleticism where the few ounces make a difference in my speed on the court, but they do feel lighter. The lighter weight has not resulted in a decrease in comfort, either.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: Overall I'm pleasantly surprised. I received the blue and white version, and I love the colors. It goes well with white shorts and provides a nice clean look. I was initially concerned that the lighter weight and mesh upper would reduce comfort and stability compared to my normal shoes. This was 100% not the case. The shoes are extremely comfortable, the foam provides more than adequate support, and despite a little less of a secure feeling when strapped in (compared to my Diadora's or K-Swiss), there was not a noticeable decline in performance.

The sole and the shoe as a whole definitely feel less durable in the hand and on the feet than my Diadora or K-Swiss, but for my style of play that does not seem to be a concern in the short term. I've worn them in practice and match play and I will be adding them to my rotation. I will probably use them more as a practice shoe, but I think that's mostly psychological and because I get a more secure feeling from my other shoes due to a more durable upper material, not because of anything related to performance. I also think these will make a great summer shoe in Florida due to the improved ventilation.

 

[Icsa]

Babolat Jet Tere 2 Shoes Playtest

Tennis experience/background:
With over a decade of tennis experience, including recreational play and participation in USTA leagues, primarily on hard courts, tennis has become my main hobby that keeps me active and healthy while maintaining friendships.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
I adopt an all-court strategy with a focus on placement and court coverage. Predominantly, I engage in singles matches, with occasional doubles mainly during the mixed doubles season.

Current shoe:
Babolat SFX Evo AC

How many hours did you play with the shoe?
I have logged over 20 hours of play, primarily on indoor hard courts, participating in both singles and doubles matches.

Normal Size:
10

Playtesting Size:
10.5

Comments on shoe performance (3-5 sentences per category):
-comfort:
These shoes provide excellent comfort, fitting like a glove from the very first wear with no break-in necessary. The Michelin rubber offers a cushioned feel, although additional heel cushioning would be beneficial for high-impact landings. Opting for a half-size larger and using double socks proved to be an excellent choice for added comfort, ensuring a snug fit without any discomfort.

-arch support:
The arch support in the Babolat Jet Tere 2 shoes is commendable. I experienced no issues with arch support throughout the extensive playtesting period. The design effectively supports the foot's natural arch, providing stability and preventing fatigue, even during prolonged matches.

-stability/support:
The Babolat Jet Tere 2 shoes offer robust stability, thanks to the extra rubber side wrap. This feature in addition to the side extensions of the outsole ensure excellent support during quick lateral movements. Utilizing a runner’s knot further enhances the secure fit, preventing any slippage, and maintaining stability during rapid direction changes and abrupt stopping on the court.

-ventilation:
The shoes excel in ventilation, maintaining a cool environment for my feet even during intense matches. The breathable mesh design and the bottom vent effectively mitigates overheating, ensuring comfort during extended play.

-sole durability:
The outsoles have demonstrated impressive durability, showing minimal wear despite rigorous use. Based on previous experience with Michelin outsoles, I anticipate a lifespan of at least 4 months under my regular play conditions.

-toe durability:
As a player who does not drag their toes, the shoes have remained in pristine condition, appearing nearly new even after extensive use.

-traction:
The Michelin rubber provides exceptional traction, ensuring a stable grip on the court. This feature is particularly advantageous for my playing style, allowing confident and quick movements.

-weight:
The shoes are lightweight yet deliver comprehensive support and comfort. The minimalist design does not compromise on performance, making them ideal for prolonged use with agility and speed.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:
My first encounter with Babolat shoes was with the SFX Evo earlier this year, and I was thoroughly impressed. Naturally, I was eager to try the new Jet Terre 2, and they exceeded my expectations. These shoes are lighter, yet offer greater stability and responsiveness. They breathe exceptionally well, sit lower to the ground, and provide good support without sacrificing comfort. They embody everything you would want in a performance tennis shoe.

I'm a fan of their blue color and I received numerous compliments from my teammates. Babolat is steadily gaining popularity in my area, and I like to think I'm playing a part in that. Thank you, TW, for the opportunity to test these shoes and for all you do for the tennis community.

 

[Yiuh]

Dang seems like I’m the only one who felt any durability issues! Maybe I’m a harder/more aggressive mover than I thought…