Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Babolat Propulse All Court 2016

TW Staff

TW Staff

Administrator
Attention Talk Tennis Members:

We will be sending out a very limited number of the new 2016 Men’s Babolat Propulse shoes for a playtest. The 2016 version has a new fit with better ankle cushioning and stability, and the heel now fits more snugly. The shoe also has a wider fit than the previous model and it should fit true to size. We will have several Women’s Propulses available to playtest as well. They are cosmetic updates of the previous version. Playtesters will be responsible for wearing the shoes for the given time and writing a thorough review of the shoes. Playtesters who are picked will be notified via email. This playtest is open to both men and women in the USA only.

The application period has ended. We will notify the selected playtesters by email early next week.

We select playtesters based on a number of factors, including past performance on playtests, user history, posting in topics similar to playtest, etc. Due to the very limited number of samples, we will not be able satisfy the large majority of requests. It is absolutely essential that everyone who receives a pair of shoes posts a review.

***This playtest is free of charge. Your review is due by March 25, 2016.***

If you do not post a review or if your review is clearly lacking effort, you will be excluded from future playtests.

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:
-comfort:
-arch support:
-stability/support:
-ventilation:
-sole durability:
-toe durability:
-traction:
-weight:
General reaction/comments on overall performance:

As always, we ask that this thread to be used only for questions, discussion and playtest reviews. Extraneous comments will be deleted.

Thanks,
TW Staff
 
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Emails have been sent out to the selected playtesters. If you were selected, please email back confirming your participation. Thank you to all that applied, we had 50+ users sign up for a very limited amount of shoes. If you weren't selected, we have more shoe playtest opportunities coming up.

Thanks,
Brittany, TW
 
Thank you participants for confirming. Your shoes will be sent out tomorrow from Babolat's warehouse in Colorado. Keep an eye out for them next week.

Thanks,
Brittany, TW
 
ShahofTennis,

The tread pattern on the outsole was designed for all court surfaces.

Thanks,
Brittany, TW
 
TW Staff said:
The tread pattern on the outsole was designed for all court surfaces.
Click to expand...

image.jpg
 
TW Staff, and perhaps Mansoor/@Babolat Official who could also be of some assistance here, through which company were the playtest shoes shipped?

Thanks.

EDIT: Through which shipping company were these shoes shipped?
 
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Haven't received mine yet, either. Usually only 2-3 business days for me to receive things from CO with ground shipping.
 
As a head's up, Topaz shoes were sent from Tennis Warehouse so her shoes are independent of the male playtester shoes being sent from Colorado.

Thanks,
Brittany, TW
 
Cool, I just got an email that mine should be arriving Wed. I'm registered with UPS My Choice, so they send me an email to notify me of any deliveries.
 
TW Staff said:
As a head's up, Topaz shoes were sent from Tennis Warehouse so her shoes are independent of the male playtester shoes being sent from Colorado.

Thanks,
Brittany, TW
Click to expand...

Ladies first! ;)

Played one match so far...had never worn Babolat shoes before! They are getting their second go 'round tonight.
 
I have never worn Babolat shoes-Asics Res and KSwiss as I have slightly wide feet. These were comfortable during first wear and workout. Hitting again tonight and footwork and cardio work Saturday with no racquet. My forefoot felt comfortable. Space as foot heated up and shoe became a little pliable-we'll see how that progresses over time.
 
First Impressions:

Definitely an improvement over last years model. Fast feel in the forefoot, and my ankle feels supported. Traction is what stands out the most on the first couple wears. Comfort is ok, but I was a bit sore after teaching for 3 hours, which doesn't happen when I teach in my Gel Resolutions. The footbelt does a good job, as usual. Before the BPM, I hadn't truly put a Propulse through its paces since the 2s, but these feel more like the older version. Once they break in and hug my foot a little more, I think I'll be quite happy!
 
Tennis experience/background:

I'm a USTA NTRP rated 3.5. I play a lot of 8.0 mixed, singles, and these days, more women's dubs. I've been playing USTA over ten years.

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

I love the baseline. That being said, I can and will volley when necessary. But baseline rallying is my comfort zone and I never get tired of hitting backhands.

Current shoe:

Before this playtest, I participated in the Adidas Bounce playtest, and I've been playing in that shoe since. I had previous issues with foot pain caused by narrow shoes (specifically the Nike Vapor Court), though my old standby was the old Nike Cage Free. I've been playing pain free in the Adidas Bounce the past few weeks though.

How many hours did you play with the shoe?

One mixed match of approximately 80 minutes, and one 90 minute clinic.

Normal Size:

I vacillate between 6.5 to 7.5. My Adidas Bounce shoes are 7.5.

Playtesting Size: 7

Comments on shoe performance:

-comfort: Yeesh. This is a stiff shoe to me, and I abandoned my playtest after wearing the shoe twice. It gave me similar pain to the Nike Vapor Court, an aching pain on the top of my left foot. I think it was just too narrow for me, but I also think that players who find a better fit will also need to break this shoe in first as well.

-arch support: I have high arches and found the support adequate, I did not feel the need for different insoles.

-stability/support: Very stable. No issues with slipping, though for me, I'm not sure the strap over top the foot made any difference. This shoe gives a very snug, close fit.

-ventilation: I only played with it indoors, though it was lighter than the Bounce, and I think it will do quite well in higher temperatures.

-sole durability: I can't give an honest review here, as I'm not a toe dragger and I don't think I played in them long enough to fairly evaluate durability.

-toe durability: N/A as again, not a toe dragger.

-traction: The shoe was very stable in a hard court, and I had no issues changing directions, and no slipping.

-weight: Nice and light, which is why I think this shoe would be a good choice in hotter weather.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: This is an attractive, light weight shoe best suited for those with narrow feet. I felt it ran true to size. I really wanted to like the shoe, since aesthetically it reminded me so much of my old Nikes, but the fit just didn't work for me. I do think it will work for others, and that this is a solid, durable, stable light weight shoe.
 
Tennis experience/background: 4.0 male player in my late thirties. Played a bit when I was younger, then picked it back up again within the past 5 years or so. Currently play in a variety of settings from casual hits to tennis clinics and league matches.

Describe your playing style: I play mostly doubles these days, though I do really enjoy singles. I’m a baseliner at heart, relying mainly on my forehand, though all this time playing doubles has improved my net game. I’m still relatively fit, and don’t mind grinding and covering a fair amount of court, so I’m probably tougher on my shoes than the average 4.0 approaching his 40’s.

Current shoe: Lotto Raptor/Lotto Evo

Hours played with the shoe: 12
Normal Size: 11 (except Asics Gel Resolutions I wear 10.5)
Playtesting Size: 11

Comments on shoe performance:


comfort: Out of the box the shoes seemed comfortable with their softer uppers and nice cushioning around the heel collar, but that didn’t fully translate to the courts. I have narrow feet so was concerned about the “new wider fit”, but I would say these still fall in the medium range. I did wear thicker socks with them, but had to cinch down on my laces a bit more for a more stable fit, so that negatively affected comfort levels. I think that is part of the reason why my feet were a bit sore after wearing them. They are adequately cushioned in the heel, but lacking in the forefoot. Not quite on par with my Lotto Evos, and certainly not in the realm of the likes of the Asics Gel Resolution or Wilson Rush Pro. I didn’t feel like these shoes required much in the way of break-in time.

arch support: I have normal arches, if a little towards the flatter side. So I’ll usually never complain about the arch support in shoes, unless it’s too high, or too forward or rearward. So after a very quick break in, I had no issues here.

stability/support: As previously stated, I had to cinch the laces quite a bit, but I found the lateral support and stability to be pretty solid. Despite the soft uppers, I still felt comfortable making quick lateral movements, though not enough to consider the rare slide. I did have a little issue with my feet sliding forward in the shoes when coming to hard stops. The straps and using the last eyelets for the laces seemed to help a bit, along with keeping the laces tighter than I would have liked. I wasn’t quite jamming my toes, but my feet didn’t feel completely locked in.

ventilation: It’s still a little cold here, so it’s hard to tell. But it seems like ventilation in these shoes is pretty good.

sole durability: Wish I had a little more court time with these shoes to fully critique this area, but these shoes seem to be up to the task in terms of durability. No premature wear, and seemingly provide the longevity you’d except from a premium tennis shoe with a 6 month sole warranty.

toe durability: I’m a major toe dragger when I serve, so the toe of my right shoe takes a beating. These seem to be quite robust in this area, with a thick toe guard that comes up quite high and even curls up a little over the top. This is a strong point of these shoes.

traction: Out of the box, I felt very confident these shoes would stick well to the hardcourt throughout, even when making quick changes of direction. Somewhere at the 10+ hour mark, I felt like a little of the stickiness went away though there was minimal wear on the tread.

weight: I’m accustomed to shoes on the heavier side of things, usually wearing a brand’s flagship shoes with the 6 month warranty. So these shoes actually felt pretty light comparatively speaking. It’s rare that I find a shoe to feel sluggish or clunky (I’m looking at you Prince T-22s).


General reaction/comments on overall performance: First, I must say I like the colorway, and the “red” is definitely more of a bright red orange. I feel like for some these shoes could be quite comfortable, but for fit and support it required me to crank down too much on the laces for them to be a fully comfortable ride (to note: the only shoes that have perfectly fit my narrow feet are the Lotto Ultra Raptor IV’s and the Prince T10’s). And I'd prefer more cushion in the forefoot. I thought the strap might be gimmicky, but it really does help. Overall, an attractive design that for most part performs admirably, but not quite enough of a locked-in fit and feel, which in turn affected comfort.
 
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Tennis experience/background: 4.0 singles player in my mid 40s. i'm 5'11" and weigh 168 lbs.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): all court player but prefer to play from the baseline

Current shoe: Nike Zoom Cage 2

How many hours did you play with the shoe? 10 hours so far. This winter has seen more rain than usual in SoCal which affected my court time

Normal Size: 9.5 D

Playtesting Size: 9.5 D

Comments on shoe performance: The new Babolat Propulse All Court, performance and feel wise, splits the difference between a full on max durability shoe such as the Nike CB 4.3s and a full on lightweight shoe such as an adidas adizero Feather. It’s heavier than the featherweights and not as bulky or clunky feeling as the max durability shoes. It offers a good combination of support, stability, traction and outersole durability. I have no complaints about fit. The new Propulse All Court is a bit less roomy in the toebox than the old Propulse 4 and the Nike Zoom Cage 2 but is considerably wider in the forefoot than the old Nike CB 4.3. This didn’t pose any problems for me as I feel the Zoom Cage 2s are a bit too roomy. The midfoot area was perfect for me and my hard prescription orthotics. Nikes tend to be too snug through the midfoot area which doesn’t allow my orthotics to seat completely flat in the shoe. Babolats are wider through the midfoot area so my orthotics settle into the footbed nicely. I like that the new Propulse did away with the rear heel strap that graced the prior versions and installed a rigid heel counter instead. This helped the fit of the heel cup for me. Finally, there was no break-in required. They fit very comfortably right out of the box.

-comfort: I really enjoyed the fit and comfort of the new Propulse. I’ve been a fan of the Propulse since the 2s through the 4s. Every new version has seen improvements over the outgoing model – granted I never had a chance to try the Propulse BPM All Courts so I can’t speak to how this updated model compares. The new Propulse felt lighter and more nimble than the Nike Zoom Cage 2.

-arch support: Since I wear hard prescription orthotics, arch support generally isn’t a big issue as long as the heel and midfoot sections are wide enough to allow the orthotics to seat properly in the footbed. The Babolats worked fine for my orthotics.

-stability/support: Stability was great for me. I feel that the footstrap helps a lot in providing a snug and secure fit. The new rigid heel counter provides improved rear foot stability. Forefoot cushioning is not too thick causing the foot to roll on hard stops and change of directions.

-ventilation: During the winter, ventilation is not an issue in So Cal. Because the mercury did not high enough yet, I can not offer any comments on ventilation for the hotter climes.

-sole durability: Propulse durability has always fallen between 3-4.5 months. After 10 hours of court play, I believe these will also hold up in the same fashion.

-toe durability: Propulse toe durability has always been a strength for me and these are holding up the same way as prior versions.

-traction: I love the traction of the Propulses. They grip extremely well, but they offer a bit of give allowing for a predictable release and slide which is friendlier on my ankles and knees.

-weight: Lighter and less clunky than the CB 4.3s and Zoom Cage 2s. A little lighter than the old Propulse 4s.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:

I really enjoy these shoes. They feel fast and stable. Having worn the Babolat Propulse shoe since the 2s through the 4s, the new Propulse All Court offered a similar fit albeit a bit less room in the toebox – not an issue for me. They are a bit more low profile than the 4s in the forefoot. If I had 1 desire, it would be to ask for more forefoot cushioning. Heel cushioning is plenty good for me. I like that Babolat added dual shoelace loops on the tongue to prevent the tongue from shifting around. I also like that Babolat has now added 2 eyelets for lace locks to help secure your heel from slipping out. Durabilty appears to be good at this stage – similar to the 4s.

Thank you Babolat and TeeDub for selecting me for this playtest!
 
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Tennis Experience/Background: I've been playing tennis for about 16-17 years since I was 5. I don't know my rating and I haven't checked as of late, rated 4.0 in Summer 2012(hopefully I've gotten better since then).
Playing Style: I play an all court game so I view balance/stability, and footwork as being my top priorities. I go for long strokes on the SemiWestern forehand, have an OHBH, and I like to patrol the baseline but actively look for opportunites to get inside the court and dictate play/overpower my opponent. My net game is decent, although I often overplay my hand and go for difficult touch shots when I could just volley. Gotta get better right?
Current Shoe: I'm all over the place, and It doesnt help that my interest in shoes has transferred over to the tennis game, it also doesn't help that my alot of my siblings and cousins work in shoe stores. Barricade 7's, 8's, Novak Pros, Featherlite 3's, Vapor 9's, 9.5's, and Courtballistec 4.3's(Bring these back. SRSLY), I've saturated my mind with shoes I can't complain about, at least not anymore. Most recent shoe purchase was a Vapor 9.5, so I'll run with that since It'll be getting some attention over the next few weeks.
Hours Played with Shoe: Approximately 25 hours(Including time spent teaching clinics/lessons, etc.)
Normal Size: 9.5
Playtesting Size: 9.5

Comfort: I intentionally left the insoles intact for this playtest, and after racking up as many hours on them as possible, I can say that these are comfortable enough where they don't ever mess with you on court. Part of this is due to the spacious fit. If I compared it to a Featherlite 3 for example, this Propulse doesn't squeeze the arch, and clamp down upon the top of the foot. I will say my experience with the Featherlite 3 has improved, but the Propulse is the more comfortable ride. Comparing it to the Vapor 9.5(with changed insoles), I'd say they're quite even, even moreso with the Barricade 7/Novak Pro.
Arch Support: Very comfortable and wide on the arches, in fact this shoe may be of detriment to me since every other shoe in my rotation is just a little bit or a lot narrower. My arches cry if I run around in something else. Curse you Babolat! You've corrupted my arches with your spacious and comfortable fit!
Stability/Support: The Velcro Strap above the foot, as well as the panels layed lateral to the sides of the foot help to lock the balls of the feet securely, which is great for confidently executing footwork. The ankle area was weak in this regard, yes the shoe kept up with the back of the heel, but it lagged at the bottom and also gave way when I pivoted my heels out.
Ventilation: I've never ran into a shoe that did not have a ventilation that I did not like. Suffice it to say I never felt inclined to wear different socks, or air them out while taking a water break.
Sole Durability: From what I could tell initially the outsole was rather dense, similar to a Barricade 7/NP. After 25 hours, I dont see any wear on the outsole, and I suspect that It'll hold up similar to a Barricade. Hell, with rotation this shoe ought to last me longer than the Barricade 7's I bought in August 2013, which are still going strong although they've been decently worn out behind the toe region.
Toe Durability: I don't see anything in the toebox indicating wear after 25 hours. If I were to compare this toe box to other shoes, I can tell that its not as tough as a Barricade 7. But it stacks up almost evenly and may have an edge on the Vapor 9.5.
Traction: I made a point to use this shoe on different surfaces in order to keep the review up to speed with the shoes "All Court" designation. Fast Hard Courts, Slower Hard Courts, Grey Clay, and Synthetic Outdoor Grass. On Slower HC, and Clay this shoe performed its best. It gripped the court well, and I didn't find any region of the outsole slipping that was directly underneath my body weight. On Fast HC's and synthetic grass, the shoe was still able to find traction even though I moved much quicker, the shoe squeaked and squealed but still stuck to where I landed and never let go. Babolat knows what they're doing on clay, and while this may not be a dedicated herringbone pattern, it performs just as well as one.
Weight: This shoe fell inbetween Vapor's and Barricades. Vapor 9.5<Propulse BPM<Barricade 7/Novak Pro. In my experience however, its weight was just as manageable as either the Vapor 9.5 or the Barricade 7/NP, and while it outshined the Barricade in over all quickness, it stacked evenly with the Vapor 9.5.
General Reaction/Comments: Thank you Babolat and Tennis Warehouse for the opportunity to be part of this playtest, I hope you'll let me get in on many more playtest opportunities in the future. Kudos to Babolat as this shoe's got a great design and a great color scheme.
 
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Tennis Experience/Background:
I am a solid 4.0 player in early 40s’. I play 4 to 6 hours in any given week, and participate both 4.0 men and 8.0 mixed double USTA leagues. It is almost certain that both of my teams will enter the playoff this season.

Playing Style:
I play double most of times and tend to get to net as soon as possible. Nonetheless, I also have decent footwork from years of playing soccer, I tend to have long strokes at baseline, and often rally with 4.5 players.

Current Shoe:
After having tried many shoes, I kind of settle down with Asics Gel Resolution 5 for now.

Hours Played with Shoe:Approximately 12 hours.

Normal Size:9.5

Playtesting Size:9.5

General Comments:
When I first pulled out the shoes from the box, I was actually quite impressed by the design. They feel like a pair of typical well-made, high premium tennis shoes. After putting them on and walking around in the house, they are like customized gloves, soft uppers squeezing the feet tightly, but comfortably. I was very happy with it.
My experience with Bablat shoes was not all that happy. The first pair I had was propulse 2, but it didn’t go well. My toes were hurting after playing for 2 hours, and I felt that it would be my toes sticking out of shoes that provided the traction.
Looking at the bottom of this pair, I am quite confident that they will do just fine on the hard court, which is actually the case.

Comfort:
The shoes are very comfortable, even though they initially appear to resemble the feature of some of Adidas shoes, but the material and cushioning around the heel collar made them comfortable right out of box. There was no break in period for these shoes

Arch Support:
Very comfortable. I have normal arches, and had no issues with the shoes.

Stability/Support:
I have mixed feeling about it. The rear foot was locked and supported nicely. Initially, the shoes gave that snug and close fit feeling, but the material, especially the material made of upper seem to be pliable. As I played on the court, I felt my feet began to move within, even as I retied the lace. The second time I went out, I actually wore two pairs of socks and hope to solve the issue, but I could still feel that “rubber being stretched” when sliding.

Ventilation:
I thought that Babolat did a great job with this design. I never felt my feet overheating throughout the playtest, and thought that plenty of air movement through the shoes. I could almost feel that my feet were breathing at each movement…

Sole Durability:
I would say it is actually above average tennis shoes. After roughly 12 hours, the outsoles shows very little balding. The rubber compound on the outsole seem to hold quite well.

Toe Durability:
I feel that it still has plenty of life left. I have worn two pairs of socks since my first outing. I would say there is so much improvement has been made since the Propulse 2. I can’t really say that it is comparable to Adidas Barricade certain models, well known for its durability, but it is well above my expectation.

Traction:
Another great improvement from Babolat. The level of the traction was great. When coming to an sudden stop or sliding, the shoes offered sufficient give to allow me to control my movement. It would be even better if the upper robber was not that elastic.

Weight:
Among all the tennis shoes, I thought the weight of it is toward lighter scale. It does give me that fast feeling while wearing them. I didn’t feel any clunky on my feet while playing.

General Reaction/Comments:
The new Propulse All Court shoes are very comfortable to wear and offer great traction. These shoes are great improvement from Propulse 2. If I had not had this playtest, I would have overlooked all the improvement that Babolat has made with shoes in general. Thank to Babolat and TennisWarehouse for this opportunity. I really enjoyed it.
 
just thought of this now, but it might be helpful for us to include our height and weight in the reviews as someone who is 225 lbs might very well have a completely different experience than someone who weighs 150 lbs. i've added mine above.
 
Before I get into the meat of my shoe review, I want to thank Babolat and TW for including me in this shoe play test. I am absolutely thrilled to test shoes I have never worn.
Tennis experience/background: I am a 49 year old, 4.0 tennis player. I was a SW ranked junior (about a thousand years ago) and played at the college level. I play 2-4 times per week, competitively, in clinics and for fun. I am not currently active on my USTA team as TE stung me a week ago and I have shelved my racquets. Up until that moment, I was playing 6-9 hours per week on hard courts.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): My style is best described as throw back, serve-and-volley. That is probably the reason I prefer doubles. I would rather get points over quickly. I am not a grinder or baseline player.
How many hours did you play with the shoe? I have worn the shoes for almost 20 hours. 6 hours of match play, 6 hours of clinic and a few hours of conditioning.
Normal Size: 12.5
Playtesting Size: 12.5

Comments on shoe performance:
-comfort: i took these shoes right out of the box and took a long stroll through my neighborhood to the park courts near my house (they are almost always vacant). They felt more comfortable than I had anticipated. I have wide feet and I was under the impression that Babolat shoes were narrow. That was not the case for me. The shoes broke in after the walk and I ran around the courts for awhile mimicking serve and volley and point play. They were cushioned in all of the right spots, my foot felt cradled, not cramped so that was good. I always wear whatever socks I grab, and the thicker socks didn't work as well in this shoe. I will have to use thin socks. My feet were sore after the first time I wore them in match play. I played doubles for almost two hours, and couldn't wait to free the feet. However, the next day I wore them at night for a 1.5 hour clinic and I had no such problem. They are not as cushioned as the Res 6 I usually wear, but I really liked the profile, snugness and strategic cushioning, tongue heel and ankle. Overall 9/10
-arch support: I have never had a problem with my arches in shoes. They are normal, and with an insole---PERFECT!!!
-stability/support: In my experience, the stability of the shoes was great. The foot strap helped me get a more customized and secure fit. After using them a bit, I found they felt like a shoe glove on my foot. I prefer a more rigid heel that helps protect an old Achilles injury. Overall 9/10.
-ventilation: I play where it is eternally hot and the courts baked to a slippery, hard polish. To that end, the ventilation was on point. Even if I had played in cooler (our winter) weather, these would have been fine. My son played in SFX a while ago and he hated their lack of ventilation, Babolat seems to have addressed the ventilation problem. Overall 10/10
-sole durability: I am not very hard on shoes with the exception of the toe-more later. After nearly 20 hours of play, there is noticeable wear in the appropriate areas. The hard courts in AZ destroy all shoes though. I am sure that people who play more often than me and who move will take advantage of the durability guarantee. My son only wore Propulses as a junior and Babolat ALWAYS came through with their durability guarantee. N/A yet
-toe durability: This are of the shoe was a pleasant strength. I am a heavy toe dragger on serve and split steps and I have never found a shoe that could mitigate this type of wear. It is not normal. To that end, the All Courts still look good after 20 hours of toe dragging. The shoe is not in need of reinforcement, yet. N/A yet
-traction: This is another area where the All Courts excelled. The level of the traction was great. I was able to stop on a dime, with nearly no slippage. I don't slide so no testing data available. Even use of a slightly dusty public park court proved that the grip was improved. I think the stability helped with this characteristic. Changing direction on the run, super! 10/10
-weight: These are the lightest shoes I have ever worn. It is like playing on angels' wings...I only wish I were a better player. I could have done the shoes justice. I was a little concerned that, being a big guy-6'3" and a shade over 200 that I might "wear" the shoes prematurely-but that doesn't seem to be the case right now. I now know what the fuss about light shoes is-will I ever go back to my Res 6? Probably for clinic, but match play---it is all about the All Courts. 10/10
General reaction/comments on overall performance: I have loved these shoes for the first 20 hours. Can't wait for my arm to heal and then I can get back into the saddle again, or should I say shoe. When they have worn through, I would definitely considering buying another pair. The standout features are the ventilation, stability, strategic cushioning, traction and weight. 10/10
 
Tennis experience/background: 4.5 NTRP former college player and current teaching pro

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

Current shoe: Head Nitro Pro and Asics Gel Resolution 6

How many hours did you play with the shoe? 20

Normal Size: 10

Playtesting Size: 10

Comments on shoe performance:
-comfort: Liked the shoe from the first wear. It's not a plush comfort around my foot like my current shoes of choice, but it formed to my foot well. The strap got in the way at first...I felt the plastic piece where it attaches to the shoe for the first hour or so, then it went away. Being able to lock the shoe in a bit more was welcome. Under foot, there was plenty of cushioning in the heel, but not quite enough in the forefoot. Court feel was great, but the forefoot cushioning was firm and unforgiving on hard landings and stops.

-arch support: Nothing to complain about here! The strap, as I remember, does a great job locking my foot into the shoe. I'm not really one to worry about arch support all that much, though.

-stability/support: My ankle sits lower in this version than it did in last years, which was a welcomed change. I felt like if I didn't cinch the strap tightly enough, though, I was going to slide around in the shoe. It's still fairly high off the ground in the rear, but I never felt like I was going to roll an ankle. It takes a nice balance between a lighter and faster shoe like the BPM from last year or an Adidas feather and a Barricade or Gel Resolution. I felt very confident moving side to side in these shoes once I got the fit right, and had no problems sliding into and out of my shots.

-ventilation: I tested these shoes exclusively indoors, so I couldn't really put the ventilation to the test, but I did not experience any issues. The open mesh in the forefoot seems to be sufficient enough to cool my feet down and keep them comfortable.

-sole durability: 20 hours, and I'm just starting to see some foam under my big toe. About normal for me. The rest of the tread still looks good and has plenty of life left. I'd say they're on par with most of the other durability-guaranteed shoes on the market.

-toe durability: The plastic-like material for the upper does its job here. I can't really complain. I haven't ever dragged my toes enough to wear through the top of a shoe, though, so I'm probably not the best barometer for this quality of the shoe.

-traction: The outsoles were almost sticky during the first couple of wears for me. I didn't have much trouble sliding, though, and once I wore them a couple of times, I could change direction quite easily, and I don't recall slipping at all throughout the duration of the test. I'd say that the traction is the standout feature to me.

-weight: A little clunky on the first couple of wears. This went away once they molded to my foot, but I still feel like there's a lot of shoe under me, especially in the heel. I'm no stranger to Barricades and the old Courtballistecs from Nike, and these are definitely lighter feeling than those, but not as light as a Gel Solution, Feather/Ubersonic, or Vapor.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: Babolat absolutely improved this year's model over last year's. It's lighter than earlier Propulses, but not as light as most of the speed shoes on the market. While I wouldn't say that it excels in any category except maybe traction, it's a durable, comfortable, and stable shoe that can be customized to offer varying levels of support for different foot types. A step in the right direction for Babolat!
 
Tennis experience/background: I am 43 years of age (5’-6” and on the husky side). I started playing tennis seriously when I was 13 years old. I took a couple lessons at a local park but basically I am self-taught. I would tape pro tennis matches on ESPN and use the slow-mo function on our VCRS. I played High School Varsity for 2 years then I stopped playing when I started college (1991). By 1999, I picked up tennis again playing weekly until about 2004. I started playing seriously in 2010. I had my rackets stolen from my car and I had decided why not pick up tennis again. I have been playing ever since with even more dedication and enthusiasm!

Describe your playing style (e.g., serve & volley): I am baseline/counterpuncher who likes to hug the baseline. I am not afraid of the net however. I like playing singles but I can play doubles if needed.

Current shoe: Air Max Cages Size 12

How many hours did you play with the shoe?: Roughly 8 Hours

Normal Size: My foot measures at 4E 10.5 Men's But the last two shoes I have worn were Babolat SFX Size 12 and Nike Air Max Cages Size 12. Both of them run large.

Playtesting Size: Size 13. I had tried this shoe at a local shop even before the playtest was available. I knew that Size 13 fit me comfortably.

Comments on shoe performance:

-comfort: The one thing that should stand out for me is comfort. I have really wide feet. Its hard for me to find tennis shoes that are very comfortable where my sides of my feet ( closer to the small toe) do not hurt during and after plan. All the other characteristics shown below are just extra. I really don't care of the show is longer than it should be I am used to it.



-arch support: I have flat feet. The arch support seems to be low on this shoe. On the other hand the Air Max Cages have a high arch support. I typically like low support. It took me awhile to get used to the high support on the Nikes. But overall I am not too fickle about it.



-stability/support: I notice on real aggressive lateral moves where I have to go back the other way real quick I notice that the shoe doesn't have enough support. I can feel my feet trying to break out of the shoe. I did have to use the last eyeholes to make sure the shoe was locked at my ankle. The strap helped out with that as well. Also, the shoe felt that it was low to the ground which felt good.



-ventilation: I feel the ventilation is great. My feet didn't feel real hot after playing. My socks were not soaking as usual after playing.



-sole durability: Just to preface, it usually takes me about 2-3 years until I feel I need to get another pair of shoes based on wear of the sole and cushioning. After 8 hours play and walking around with it casually, the soles look relatively brand new.



-toe durability: this is the same is sole durability. I do drag my toe on the serve but I don't wear it out real quickly as compared to a friend who can wear out to the toe midsole in 2 months. The toe area look relatively brand new.



-traction: The traction was good for the shoe. I can feel the shoe grip the ground well. Not once did I feel the shoe "slip"



-weight: The shoe didn't feel heavy to be but then again I am used to heavy shoes. It may be heavy for others who use lighter shoes. I never felt like the show was weighing me down



General reaction/comments on overall performance: I really liked this shoe! It really reminded me of a lighter Babolat SFX. The comfort really stands out for me. If my feet do not hurt after playing tennis, then I know I have the right shoe. All the shoe stands out in the other characteristics ( support, durability, traction, weight) then its just gravy for me.



Thanks for Babolat and TW for the playtest opportunity!
 
Tennis experience/background: Last seven years, I have played in single and double two or three times a week. I had plantar fasciitis two years ago and have researched many shoes for the comfortable ride and arch support whenever I need a new pair of tennis shoes. I have worn tennis shoes from Nike, Asics, Babolat, Prince and K Swiss. I have never worn Adidas (Barricade) due to its narrow fit and toe jamming issue. I usually purchase new shoes every 4 to 6 month because the outsole around heel area is worn out easily.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): I am a 4.0 baseline player with heavy top spin. I use a semi-western forehand grip with fast swing and hit a one-handed backhand.

Current shoe: Asics Gel Resolution 5 (size 8) and Nike Zoom Cage 2 (size 8)

How many hours did you play with the shoe? 18 hours on hard courts

Normal Size: Size 8 for wide fit and Size 8.5 for narrow fit

Playtesting Size: 8

Comments on shoe performance:
-comfort: These shoes required little break-in period. The initial fit was too tight and upper part was a little bit stiff for first 2 hours. They became snug and comfortable after fully break-in. The forefoot area is comfortable and roomy for my wide feet. The cushioning was adequate & soft but the insole was thin with a spongy feel.

-arch support: Good. It is the most important for me because I have plantar fasciitis. The arch support is better than Zoom Cage 2 but Gel Resolution 5 is better than PP All Court.

-stability/support: Excellent. I was worried the stability because of its thin and light structure. The instep strap supports a secure fit even though it is thin and small. Lateral movement is very stable and secure as well. I couldn’t find the heel slippage and sliding issue of Propulse BPM (last year model) on PP All Court.

-ventilation: Good. My sweaty feet stayed comfortable during play. The ventilation is better than my other two shoes. However it will be great if there is ventilation on the center of outsole like Propulse 3.

-sole durability: Excellent. PP All Court has one of durable outsoles in the market guaranteed by Michelin. The outsole durability is as good as Barricade. There was no wear and tear after 18 hours of play on hard courts.

-toe durability: Excellent. I am not a toe dragger but the tip of toe and material look durable.

-traction: Excellent. The tread pattern has a great traction and grip on hard courts.

-weight: Very Light & Fast Feel. These are the lightest tennis shoes I have ever worn.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: I worn Propulse 3 before. It had a nice design and comfort for my wide feet except forefoot support. I miss the design of PP3 which was muscular and bulky. PP All Court is sleeker and quicker around the court. If you need fast feel, light, and stable shoes, PP All Court will be perfect for you. However you might look for others if arch or plantar support is your priority.

I appreciate TW and Babolat giving this opportunity.
 
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Tennis experience/background:
I had never played tennis until high school but played all four years up to graduation in 2000 at a 3.0 or 3.5 level. Played sparingly from 2000 to 2007. At the end of 2007, I started playing USTA and I'm between a 4.0 and 4.5. I was a 4.0 from 2011 through 2013, bumped up to 4.5 for 2014, back to 4.0 in 2015, and now 4.5 for 2016 again. Getting ready to be destroyed again at the higher level unfortunately.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
I try to get to net as quickly as possible before my opponents do. I mainly play doubles so I serve and volley a lot or chip and charge on the second shot but I'll do the same in singles. Mainly slice on the forehand but will hit a semi-western with an uppercut swing on sitters or if I decide to be aggressive with a second serve return. Backhand is usually a driving flat slap shot.

Current shoe:
adidas Barricade Team 2 (for practice) and Babolat Propulse 4 (for matches). I really liked the Propulse 4, I'm on my second pair, and will be comparing and referencing it throughout this review.

How many hours did you play with the shoe?
15 hours, we actually got some rain here in California since I received the shoes about 3 weeks ago so didn't get to play as much as I would have liked.

Normal Size:10.5
Playtesting Size:10.5

Comments on shoe performance

- Comfort:
Shoe was comfortable right away but I still wore it for two days before bringing them onto the court as is my normal custom. Cushioning was great in the heel but I could have used some more in the forefoot. There were times the front of my foot was sore due to the lack of cushioning but it wasn't painful or anything. Hopefully that won't be the case when it is closer to the end of the life of the shoe. I did have some minor issues with the tongue sliding down slightly and then it would dig into my ankle but tugging at it quickly solved the problem. It didn't happen often and it didn't require me to untie the laces or velcro strap so not a big deal overall. These beat the Propulse 4 in comfort but Asics GR4 is still my #1. Propulse 2016 is #2 currently.

- Arch support:
I have a fairly normal arch and had no issues in this area.

- Stability/support:
Absolutely no issues for me. The shoe was a perfect fit and comfortably snug so no issues with my feet moving around or a need to wear two socks. Ankles didn't feel like they would roll when changing directions on a dime. If the shoe stays like this the whole time, I'll be very happy.

- Ventilation:
Better ventilation compared to the Propulse 4 (which were fine too) so no complaints. I haven't had ventilation issues with any of my tennis shoes so thought maybe my feet just didn't get hot but I bought some cheap waterproof Khombu boots from Costco recently and when I take those off, it feels like I had been suffocating my feet!

- Sole durability:
The Propulse 4 lasted the longest for me out of all the tennis shoes I've worn at almost 6 months total. The Propulse 2016 looks like it will last just as long so after only 3 weeks of play testing, the tread shows little wear since it's too early to tell. For comparison, my Propulse 4 lasted 168 hours. My Asics GR4 lasted 118 hours but those were the softest, most comfortable, and light shoe I ever wore. The Asics GR5 wasn't that comfortable to me but lasted 133 hours. If these Propulse 2016 beat the GR5, I'll be ecstatic.

- Toe durability:
I've started dragging my left toe when hitting backhands in the last year or so. But so far so good as the toe guards seem pretty thick. The heel is where the midsole starts to appear first for me anyway.

- Traction:
This was the best aspect of the Propulse 4 for me and the new Propulse 2016 continues that great traction except there are barely any screeching sounds now. The previous screeching didn't bother me but it was always there when I slid to a stop. I don't know if it bothered the others on the court but these new Propulses are very quiet so that's always a plus.

- Weight:
Felt very fast and light. The Propulse 4 felt so much heavier than this shoe. I think Babolat did a good job lowering the weight without appearing to affect the durability (hopefully, we'll know in a few months). It didn't affect support either, maybe just the forefoot cushioning was affected for me.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:
This shoe was a definite improvement over the Propulse 4 in terms of fit and weight. The same size in the Propulse 4 had a bit more toe box room than I wanted. I'm hoping for the same durability but if it even approaches 140 hours, I'll be happy with that since it was lighter. I have a new pair of the Propulse BPM in the closet but I didn't get a chance to try them on the court yet but would be a better comparison. I didn't have any issues with them just walking around though.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy another pair of the Propulse 2016.

The red on the shoe is very bright and flashier than my normal tennis shoes but still looks great. Hope to see more colorways in the future!

Thanks Babolat and TW!
 
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