Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Prince Venom Shoes
- Thread starter TW Staff
- Start date
Got I hope not - will be a short playtest for me if this is the case as the original NB Lav's destroyed my feet
d-quik
Hall of Fame
Was it due that unpalatable heel to toe drop? Did you ever try the third generation of the 996 or have plans to try the 1007 by chance?
vndesu
Hall of Fame
Just chiming in but my friend got me started on the 996s and when he tried the Lav's he instantly regretted it and is always on the hunt for the older 996s. Luckily I wear a 13 so ive found a few for cheap.
d-quik
Hall of Fame
I assume you are also referring to the 3rd generation of the 996? If so, I am glad I found another advocate for the 996v3! Those were so good
vndesu
Hall of Fame
I assume you are also referring to the 3rd generation of the 996? If so, I am glad I found another advocate for the 996v3! Those were so good
Yup v3! I got lucky with someone on CG selling 2 pairs of the 996 and gel resolution 8 all for 100. Best come up for me haha.
I didn't mind the Lav so much, they were comfortable to me. I think the design kind of looks like the Lav. No idea about the support inside. But will find out soon!!!!
d-quik
Hall of Fame
vndesu
Hall of Fame
I was an avid vapor 9.5 user. but glad i still have my all red 996s. Gonna try and find more if possible. lol
StringStrungStrang
Professional
My Prince Venom Navy / Turquoise color scheme arrived last night! I only had a chance to slip them on and my first impression of the fit is - not bad at all! They do have a bit more cushion in the heel which tapers off in the front which feels pretty good. There is plenty of room in the forefoot / toebox (which is nice) and they seem to fit well, no hotspots and the TPU upper seems to conform nicely to my foot, which as we all know is not always the case !
Walking around on carpet can only tell you so much though. Tonight I'll get a chance see how they feel in doubles. Lately, I've been wearing Asics, FF Speed and the previous Court FF Novak, and Babolat, Fury and Jet Tere, all of which I like quite a bit, because they are are light and quick around the court, provide me with ample support and give me a nice connected feeling. How will the Prince Venom stack up? Stay tuned...
Walking around on carpet can only tell you so much though. Tonight I'll get a chance see how they feel in doubles. Lately, I've been wearing Asics, FF Speed and the previous Court FF Novak, and Babolat, Fury and Jet Tere, all of which I like quite a bit, because they are are light and quick around the court, provide me with ample support and give me a nice connected feeling. How will the Prince Venom stack up? Stay tuned...
d-quik
Hall of Fame
This is speaking height-wise or width-wise?
StringStrungStrang
Professional
Not bad either way, not cramping my toes. A touch more space than some narrow brands like some Nike models.
djNEiGht
Legend
what kind of foot profile do you have?
StringStrungStrang
Professional
High arch / instep a touch on the wider side, but mostly due to instep. Size 9. They seem to fit well, no annoying seems plenty of tongue and collar cushioning. Maybe a bit too cushiony, but will withhold judgement til this evening. That will answer many questions.
I put / generate a lot of lateral stress on shoes because of an all court game and the lack of wisdom I have in trying to run down as many shots as possible. So If these help me do this in comfortable way I'll be ecstatic.
djNEiGht
Legend
good luck with these shoes.
I'm wide/flat. Sometimes the "wide" listed shoes are a tad too wide that I have to really cinch on the laces. But I have to consider them. Oddly enough I can fit into what some list as a Medium with certain models. I often adjust with socks as well. Some I'm wearing a L3 Throlo and others a Nike DriFit L/R specific sock
bigserving
Hall of Fame
Got the white/green/black colorway. I am liking the look very much. The colors blend together quite nicely in person.
d-quik
Hall of Fame
did you go with your true size or your "blushield size"?
StringStrungStrang
Professional
First Impressions: I've got 5 hours on them and I have to say I am relatively impressed.
I play an all-court game and like to come in when I can, but regardless I generally try to run EVERYTHING down. Quickness is not only an asset, but critical for me and shoes do play a part in all of this.
Prince Venom are a bit more substantial than my regular shoes ( Asics Speed, Novak, Babolat Fury, Jet) and are a not quite as low to the ground as all of the aforementioned. Having said that they are relatively quick around the court, grip well, are stable, but above all else they are comfortable. What they give up in ultimate performance they make up for in comfort and stability. I've played some matches and they were very respectable and I they are shoes I wouldn't hesitate to play matches in again, but truth be told if it were a big match I'd play in something a touch lighter, looking for every advantage. However, for times when I know I will be out on the court for an extended period of time, drilling , practicing, playing points etc. the Venom are perfect! Comfortable, stable and the extra cushioning keeps my feet a little fresher and spares my body a little bit of wear and tear making recovery a bit easier. After 3 hours today I still feel ready to go. Nothing wrong with that!
Prince Venom are not flashy - but they are competent all-rounders that do everything well ! Most people I don't think will miss a thing wearing these and if you value comfort - this is a shoe you should consider. The fit is quite good and the lacing system snugs them up without any bad seams causing pain to my feet - even in 3-hours of blistering hardcourt heat.
Will keep you posted with a thorough review after I get some more court time with Venom !
I play an all-court game and like to come in when I can, but regardless I generally try to run EVERYTHING down. Quickness is not only an asset, but critical for me and shoes do play a part in all of this.
Prince Venom are a bit more substantial than my regular shoes ( Asics Speed, Novak, Babolat Fury, Jet) and are a not quite as low to the ground as all of the aforementioned. Having said that they are relatively quick around the court, grip well, are stable, but above all else they are comfortable. What they give up in ultimate performance they make up for in comfort and stability. I've played some matches and they were very respectable and I they are shoes I wouldn't hesitate to play matches in again, but truth be told if it were a big match I'd play in something a touch lighter, looking for every advantage. However, for times when I know I will be out on the court for an extended period of time, drilling , practicing, playing points etc. the Venom are perfect! Comfortable, stable and the extra cushioning keeps my feet a little fresher and spares my body a little bit of wear and tear making recovery a bit easier. After 3 hours today I still feel ready to go. Nothing wrong with that!
Prince Venom are not flashy - but they are competent all-rounders that do everything well ! Most people I don't think will miss a thing wearing these and if you value comfort - this is a shoe you should consider. The fit is quite good and the lacing system snugs them up without any bad seams causing pain to my feet - even in 3-hours of blistering hardcourt heat.
Will keep you posted with a thorough review after I get some more court time with Venom !
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Same
Arrived. Cannot wear on court until Saturday. Initial impression is they foy fairly well, but my hunch is they will lack enough forefoot cushioning and stability for me but time will tell. Theu remind me most just walking around of the Wilson Pro Rush Ace- although not as wide but from a shoe construction and spec side. Which I found functional but not perfect for me. Full review next week
Mine are the white, with orange detail and teal solesColorway?
Mine came too but I'm out of town
Those are the best looking so far, hoping for those but not that picky.
StringStrungStrang
Professional
Have any of you noticed how you feel AFTER playing in these?
I don't want to sway anyone's opinion, but the comfort of these shoes isn't just apparent on the court - it's noticeably helping my recovery after and the next day by cutting down on the wear and tear on my feet and body.
Without revealing too much of my upcoming review, but I feel better / recover better when I'm wearing the Prince Venom.
I don't want to sway anyone's opinion, but the comfort of these shoes isn't just apparent on the court - it's noticeably helping my recovery after and the next day by cutting down on the wear and tear on my feet and body.
Without revealing too much of my upcoming review, but I feel better / recover better when I'm wearing the Prince Venom.
d-quik
Hall of Fame
Pretty high praise there!
Good stuffA bit premature but: can you say anything about the traction? That traction pattern is something I am very curious about (other than the fit in the toebox) because I have never seen anything with that shape.
Understandable if you don't want to reveal yet.
StringStrungStrang
Professional
@d-quik the traction is excellent, and I put a lot of stress on shoes starting and stopping. I think its a combination of the compound (which is grippy) the tread design and the size of the sole which is a little wider and has more surface area than most. The toebox is another plus for this shoe, plenty of room for me. They are not narrow like so many shoes you find.Pretty high praise there!
A bit premature but: can you say anything about the traction? That traction pattern is something I am very curious about (other than the fit in the toebox) because I have never seen anything with that shape.
Understandable if you don't want to reveal yet.
The comfort / shock absorption is something that caught me by surprise and I didn't really put 2+2 together with these til about the 3rd time out. I was focused / obsessed with the performance, but each time I finished I kept thinking "I feel pretty good!" figuring I must not have pushed myself hard enough. Then it occurred to me maybe its the shoes, maybe they are contributing to this. They do ! It is something I never noticed before in a court shoe, but something I feel if I wear Adidas boost.
These should be just about perfect for me size-wise. My Uber 2's are a bit big, but I like that for hard court purposes.
I'd say the Venom are true to size, depending on what brand you're comparing.
These shoes weigh 435g (didn't have my phone when I weighed them)
Only tried them on, they feel a little tall but the back and forth movement feels natural, which is good. Width seems medium, my feet are on the narrow side but these don't feel excessively large or clunky.
On court tomorrow, my first test will be on clay. I intend to get as many hard court sessions as possible, but it'll provide a different perspective having both.
I think the tread will actually do ok on clay. Deep grooves, enough space to dig in and chunky tread.
I'd say the Venom are true to size, depending on what brand you're comparing.
These shoes weigh 435g (didn't have my phone when I weighed them)
Only tried them on, they feel a little tall but the back and forth movement feels natural, which is good. Width seems medium, my feet are on the narrow side but these don't feel excessively large or clunky.
On court tomorrow, my first test will be on clay. I intend to get as many hard court sessions as possible, but it'll provide a different perspective having both.
I think the tread will actually do ok on clay. Deep grooves, enough space to dig in and chunky tread.
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Full review to come. 2.5 hours this morning. Hard court - extreme heat here in Key West. Doubles with 30 minutes of singles. Good all around shoe. Fit is good for me. With runners knot (had to replace the very short laces) no heel slippage. Heel cushioning excellent. Not enough forefoot cushion for me. Had some discomfort under ball of left foot. For me, similar court feel (not fit) to Wave Exceed Tour from Mizuno. Excellent value
@FloridaAG wish I'd known you were in KW, I was there all last week for work.
Live here so hit me up any time you are back
I was forced to settle for pickleball
Higgs Beach park was nice though, beautiful back drop
If you're ever in Tampa give me a shout.
Also played two hours in my Venom's this morning.
These shoes CAN BE used on clay. Dug in very nicely and never had slippage on push off. I'm an aggressive mover and had to run down some droppers, no issues.
If you're a big-time slider, it could be an issue because the tread is so pronounced, but even a high rec-level, you're probably alright.
Comfort was great, toebox definitely a medium, not a ton of extra room. I'd say people in-between size probably want to size up.
This will probably be my conclusion on hard court as well. I like a little extra space so my toes don't jam, since the surface isn't as forgiving.
These shoes CAN BE used on clay. Dug in very nicely and never had slippage on push off. I'm an aggressive mover and had to run down some droppers, no issues.
If you're a big-time slider, it could be an issue because the tread is so pronounced, but even a high rec-level, you're probably alright.
Comfort was great, toebox definitely a medium, not a ton of extra room. I'd say people in-between size probably want to size up.
This will probably be my conclusion on hard court as well. I like a little extra space so my toes don't jam, since the surface isn't as forgiving.
lim
Professional
I’m a slider and I didn’t have any issues with them being too grippy. I think they got the rubber right with this one.
StringStrungStrang
Professional
PRINCE VENOM SHOE PLAYTEST Thanks
&
!!
Tennis experience/background:
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
I am a 4.0 / 4.5 player and like to play an all court game. I will serve and volley or play baseline, but generally looking for an opening to get to the net. I am usually very active on the court (and therefore pretty hard on shoes ) starting, stopping and trying to chase everything down. Quickness is critical to my game and my shoes are a big part of that. I am pretty physically fit (probably more from years of cycling than tennis) and tend to stay on the courts as long as my hitting partners will tolerate. I play singles and doubles 3-4 times a week if possible.
Current Shoe: Asics: Speed FF, Court FF Novak
Babolat: Jet, Fury
Hours Played w/ Prince Venom: 12+ and counting. I can usually tell in the first 15-20 minutes if a pair of shoes works for me or not. I thought from the fit and feel that these might work for me (no deal breakers) but I didn’t realize how well until after some time with them. My initial impression was pretty middle of the road, but as I continued to play and got accustomed to them they started to grow on me and won me over.
Normal Size: 9
Playtest Size: 9 These shoes fit true and comfortable. The build is a medium, not a narrow They required little to no break-in.
Shoe Performance :
Comfort: Excellent. I think comfort is where these shoes excel. They have much better comfort and cushioning than my regular shoes, which make Venom perfect for days when I know I’ll spend an extended time out on the courts. They are not big puffy pillows without feedback - they still provide a solid connected feel. You can feel that there is more cushion in the heel which tapers a little in the forefoot. I liked this design. It seems to position you just a little more in that athletic position helping you stay on the balls of your feet to be ready to move.
The extra cushion /comfort does come at a small cost in quickness / weight and being just a bit further away from the ground compared to my regulars. So if I were playing a match where quickness mattered, I’d probably opt for my regular shoes. which excel at 2 things, i) a slightly more connected low to the ground feel, and ii) a bit quicker movement.
Does this mean there is no place for Prince’s Venom? Absolutely not!
For many players this might be the perfect shoe with the scale favoring comfort over performance. In my case, and for most court time: drilling, serve practice, or playing a friendly match, the Prince Venom are ideal. I think this is how most people spend a good deal of their time on court. These shoes do perform well, but are comfortable, fit well, have ample cushioning and support which helps take a huge amount of stress and strain off of my legs and feet. When using the Venom my feet / legs are feel noticeably better after and I recover better as these shoes transmit less shock.
Arch Support: Very good plus. I played this shoe 2-ways, stock and with my own inserts. I did not have an issue either way. I have high arches and the feeling with inserts was more familiar, but either way the cushioning and support was above average and made me feel comfortable whichever way I set them up. I usually hesitate to play without my inserts but the Prince Venom was up to the task and supported me well without them.
Stability/Support: Excellent. Another strength of this shoe. I felt like the sole being a little wider provided a good solid base. For me that is a good thing and it enhances the stability and traction, and gave me a lot of confidence in both. I didn’t have the slightest concern that the shoe would slip or roll and believe me I pushed them. When I cinched these up I felt firmly secured / locked into the shoe and the shoe provided me with a very nice connection to the court. Lacing was easy to adjust and conformed nicely to my feet. These fit well and perform well without a lot marketing gimmicks and acronyms - they are simply GOOD.
Ventilation: Very Good. Recently here in SoCal we’ve been suffering through a heat-wave. While my body might be over-heating my feet have not, so Prince must have done something right on this front. I've been pushing these shoes pretty hard and they've been holding up well. It is cleverly designed in since I don't really notice at first glance - but it works. Last weekend in nearly 95% humidity the shoes performed flawlessly.
Sole durability: TBD (til now Very Good /Excellent). At 12+ hours all still seems well. I don’t seem to notice any wear anywhere (just had to say that!) and other than a little dirt they are holding up well. The sole compound is grippy and usually that means softer, but I don't see much if any wear. It seems Prince did a good job in selecting the wave design
Toe Durability: Excellent. I do like this design feature and it seems to hold up very well. I don’t drag my toe much on serves generally, but I can when I moving on the court, especially during ROS, to brake or stabilize myself and the Venom have held up well. There is ample toe protection built in and designed to cover a good area of the toe. It come up high enough to protect shoe as does the TPU shield of the forefoot. It is about all I could ask for without hampering your movement. Eventually any shoe will wear out, but it is easy to see that these are not overly delicate, rather thoughtfully designed to take a good deal of abuse. They feel good too. The toe box is not cramped – giving your toes some room.
Traction: Excellent. The sole compound is grippy (but not too much ) and confidence inspiring. The wave tread design is robust and flexes everywhere I needed - keeping me in contact with the court. The combination of 3 elements: tread design, compound and the soles being touch wider, worked well giving better traction and stability. Tennis is all about starting and stopping and these shoes can definitely handle the punishment with ease. I trust these more and more and haven't lost my footing once. Granted I am playing on hard courts (not Wimbledon) but I haven’t had to concern myself with unexpected slipping or sliding. Dirty public hardcourts can be slippery, but I had no issues. Additionally, even though the soles on mine are dark blue I haven’t noticed marking on the courts either.
Weight: Very Good. Not featherweights, but not an overweight clunky / burdensome either. I think the Venom strikes a good balance between weight and performance. They provide better cushioning than most, but are still quick enough around the court, grip well and easy to wear all day. At 14.7 ounces I can see where some players will actually prefer Prince’s more robust build to some more expensive high-performance shoes. In my experience the actual weight is not as important as how a shoe is designed and weight is distributed, here again Prince has done a good job - they play faster than I thought.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: Thumbs up!
When I started out I was afraid they might feel a little clunky – I was wrong. I can easily describe and recommend these as excellent all-around shoes! Sure there are some shoes that can do some things better – but you WILL pay a price that (both figuratively and literally) in terms of durability, comfort or both. Prince Venom provide a lot of bang for the buck.
I really like the wrap around toe protection. So many shoes don't provide enough . The uppers to provide nice protection at the inner fore-foot that flexes well with your foot.
Styling: Not bad just a little plain but don't let that stop you from trying these! This is a shoe that puts substance over style and the performance and comfort easily makes these a smart choice for many looking for a great all-around shoe.
Build Quality: Quite good:. No dangling threads or unglued areas – everything on my pair is as it should be. The upper conforms well to my foot and just as importantly there are no strange seams that put pressure on my foot.
After around 12+ hours playtesting my Prince Venoms, I wore my Asics Speed FFs again – lighter, more expensive and an excellent shoe. The Asics felt great, a bit lower to the ground and lighting quick, BUT and this is a big but (no jokes please) after playing my feet felt more beat up than if I had been wearing my Venoms. The Venoms do a better job absorbing shock and put much less stress and strain on my feet, ankles and hips. The result is that I felt better afterwards and definitely recover better wearing these. At first I didn't see the direct correlation, attributing it to just a good day. However, after a couple days I realized I was having less nagging pains in my lower extremities immediately after and into the next day. I deal with some arthritis in my feet, so my experience may not apply to everyone – but it sure applies to my feet. These shoes offer a level of comfort and support that makes a difference for me - allowing me to play more tennis without feeling horrible the next day. I am sure more than a few people can relate to that!
Thanks again TW and Prince – my feet thank you too!
Tennis experience/background:
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley):
I am a 4.0 / 4.5 player and like to play an all court game. I will serve and volley or play baseline, but generally looking for an opening to get to the net. I am usually very active on the court (and therefore pretty hard on shoes ) starting, stopping and trying to chase everything down. Quickness is critical to my game and my shoes are a big part of that. I am pretty physically fit (probably more from years of cycling than tennis) and tend to stay on the courts as long as my hitting partners will tolerate. I play singles and doubles 3-4 times a week if possible.
Current Shoe: Asics: Speed FF, Court FF Novak
Babolat: Jet, Fury
Hours Played w/ Prince Venom: 12+ and counting. I can usually tell in the first 15-20 minutes if a pair of shoes works for me or not. I thought from the fit and feel that these might work for me (no deal breakers) but I didn’t realize how well until after some time with them. My initial impression was pretty middle of the road, but as I continued to play and got accustomed to them they started to grow on me and won me over.
Normal Size: 9
Playtest Size: 9 These shoes fit true and comfortable. The build is a medium, not a narrow They required little to no break-in.
Shoe Performance :
Comfort: Excellent. I think comfort is where these shoes excel. They have much better comfort and cushioning than my regular shoes, which make Venom perfect for days when I know I’ll spend an extended time out on the courts. They are not big puffy pillows without feedback - they still provide a solid connected feel. You can feel that there is more cushion in the heel which tapers a little in the forefoot. I liked this design. It seems to position you just a little more in that athletic position helping you stay on the balls of your feet to be ready to move.
The extra cushion /comfort does come at a small cost in quickness / weight and being just a bit further away from the ground compared to my regulars. So if I were playing a match where quickness mattered, I’d probably opt for my regular shoes. which excel at 2 things, i) a slightly more connected low to the ground feel, and ii) a bit quicker movement.
Does this mean there is no place for Prince’s Venom? Absolutely not!
For many players this might be the perfect shoe with the scale favoring comfort over performance. In my case, and for most court time: drilling, serve practice, or playing a friendly match, the Prince Venom are ideal. I think this is how most people spend a good deal of their time on court. These shoes do perform well, but are comfortable, fit well, have ample cushioning and support which helps take a huge amount of stress and strain off of my legs and feet. When using the Venom my feet / legs are feel noticeably better after and I recover better as these shoes transmit less shock.
Arch Support: Very good plus. I played this shoe 2-ways, stock and with my own inserts. I did not have an issue either way. I have high arches and the feeling with inserts was more familiar, but either way the cushioning and support was above average and made me feel comfortable whichever way I set them up. I usually hesitate to play without my inserts but the Prince Venom was up to the task and supported me well without them.
Stability/Support: Excellent. Another strength of this shoe. I felt like the sole being a little wider provided a good solid base. For me that is a good thing and it enhances the stability and traction, and gave me a lot of confidence in both. I didn’t have the slightest concern that the shoe would slip or roll and believe me I pushed them. When I cinched these up I felt firmly secured / locked into the shoe and the shoe provided me with a very nice connection to the court. Lacing was easy to adjust and conformed nicely to my feet. These fit well and perform well without a lot marketing gimmicks and acronyms - they are simply GOOD.
Ventilation: Very Good. Recently here in SoCal we’ve been suffering through a heat-wave. While my body might be over-heating my feet have not, so Prince must have done something right on this front. I've been pushing these shoes pretty hard and they've been holding up well. It is cleverly designed in since I don't really notice at first glance - but it works. Last weekend in nearly 95% humidity the shoes performed flawlessly.
Sole durability: TBD (til now Very Good /Excellent). At 12+ hours all still seems well. I don’t seem to notice any wear anywhere (just had to say that!) and other than a little dirt they are holding up well. The sole compound is grippy and usually that means softer, but I don't see much if any wear. It seems Prince did a good job in selecting the wave design
Toe Durability: Excellent. I do like this design feature and it seems to hold up very well. I don’t drag my toe much on serves generally, but I can when I moving on the court, especially during ROS, to brake or stabilize myself and the Venom have held up well. There is ample toe protection built in and designed to cover a good area of the toe. It come up high enough to protect shoe as does the TPU shield of the forefoot. It is about all I could ask for without hampering your movement. Eventually any shoe will wear out, but it is easy to see that these are not overly delicate, rather thoughtfully designed to take a good deal of abuse. They feel good too. The toe box is not cramped – giving your toes some room.
Traction: Excellent. The sole compound is grippy (but not too much ) and confidence inspiring. The wave tread design is robust and flexes everywhere I needed - keeping me in contact with the court. The combination of 3 elements: tread design, compound and the soles being touch wider, worked well giving better traction and stability. Tennis is all about starting and stopping and these shoes can definitely handle the punishment with ease. I trust these more and more and haven't lost my footing once. Granted I am playing on hard courts (not Wimbledon) but I haven’t had to concern myself with unexpected slipping or sliding. Dirty public hardcourts can be slippery, but I had no issues. Additionally, even though the soles on mine are dark blue I haven’t noticed marking on the courts either.
Weight: Very Good. Not featherweights, but not an overweight clunky / burdensome either. I think the Venom strikes a good balance between weight and performance. They provide better cushioning than most, but are still quick enough around the court, grip well and easy to wear all day. At 14.7 ounces I can see where some players will actually prefer Prince’s more robust build to some more expensive high-performance shoes. In my experience the actual weight is not as important as how a shoe is designed and weight is distributed, here again Prince has done a good job - they play faster than I thought.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: Thumbs up!
When I started out I was afraid they might feel a little clunky – I was wrong. I can easily describe and recommend these as excellent all-around shoes! Sure there are some shoes that can do some things better – but you WILL pay a price that (both figuratively and literally) in terms of durability, comfort or both. Prince Venom provide a lot of bang for the buck.
I really like the wrap around toe protection. So many shoes don't provide enough . The uppers to provide nice protection at the inner fore-foot that flexes well with your foot.
Styling: Not bad just a little plain but don't let that stop you from trying these! This is a shoe that puts substance over style and the performance and comfort easily makes these a smart choice for many looking for a great all-around shoe.
Build Quality: Quite good:. No dangling threads or unglued areas – everything on my pair is as it should be. The upper conforms well to my foot and just as importantly there are no strange seams that put pressure on my foot.
After around 12+ hours playtesting my Prince Venoms, I wore my Asics Speed FFs again – lighter, more expensive and an excellent shoe. The Asics felt great, a bit lower to the ground and lighting quick, BUT and this is a big but (no jokes please) after playing my feet felt more beat up than if I had been wearing my Venoms. The Venoms do a better job absorbing shock and put much less stress and strain on my feet, ankles and hips. The result is that I felt better afterwards and definitely recover better wearing these. At first I didn't see the direct correlation, attributing it to just a good day. However, after a couple days I realized I was having less nagging pains in my lower extremities immediately after and into the next day. I deal with some arthritis in my feet, so my experience may not apply to everyone – but it sure applies to my feet. These shoes offer a level of comfort and support that makes a difference for me - allowing me to play more tennis without feeling horrible the next day. I am sure more than a few people can relate to that!
Thanks again TW and Prince – my feet thank you too!
d-quik
Hall of Fame
Thank you TW and Prince for letting me be on this playtest. I enjoyed it even though the shoes are not perfect for me.
Tennis experience/background: 51 years old. Played since about 10 years old. Varsity High School (far in the rear view mirror). Play 4.5 (real 4.5 – not areas where recent D1 and current D2 players play 4.5 – so in an area where they play 4.5 – would be a 4.0)
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): Aggressive baseliner, move forward to finish points. Extreme movement and defense.
Current Shoe: Diadora Torneo 2
Hours Played w/ Prince Venom: 10 hours – 4 sets of doubles. The rest singles.
Normal Size: 10.5
Playtest Size: 10.5 I felt the fit was pretty good. No plastic over the big toe knuckle area where shoes often cause me pain. Fairly wide fit – sufficient room for my wide-ish high arched feet.
Shoe Performance:
Comfort: Reasonable but insufficient underfoot cushion for the forefoot for me. They are comfortable and fit my foot well. The positives are the heel cushioning is excellent. The tongue is well padded and comfortable and as I mentioned the fit was quite good for my foot. The bad – insufficient cushioning under the ball of my feet and midsole for me. I felt it some playing doubles but really noticed it playing singles. So better than many shoes but not ideal for me. Perhaps an insole/orthotic would fix this, but I wanted to test in stock form as I do not usually wear any specialty insole or orthotic. I also normally either wear the thick Thorlos or 2 pairs of socks and could only wear 1 pair with these.
Arch Support: Good. I had no issues with the arch support. Did not feel anything weird and only issue was under the ball of my feet but nothing near the arch. I will warn anyone who needs to use a runner’s knot to prevent heel slippage as I do (a good solution for high arches) – the included laces are very short and not long enough for a runners knot. I had to replace the laces
Stability/Support: Excellent. I agree that the shoe had good stability and support. Lateral stability was excellent – and my foot felt secure and the shoe did not bend or twist at all. I will say, the shoes lack explosiveness and bounce. My first step – both laterally and forward-backwards felt sluggish in these shoes
Ventilation: No issues. Was very hot and humid here in Key West for the play test and the shoes were unremarkable for ventilation – which is fine as if I do not notice an issue it means they are breathing fine.
Sole durability: Hard to say after 10 hours but holding up so far. I see some initial wear in the same place that I always wear through my shoes front instep.
Toe Durability: I am not an extreme toe dragger and had no issue. They are built up where they should be and as I mentioned, I like that there is no plastic or rubber over the part of my feet that often get irritated by shoes.
Traction: Excellent. I felt the traction is excellent. I was not sure about the tread pattern but I felt good but not too much stick. I am not a slider on hard courts so cannot comment for that.
Weight: Was surprised when I put them on the scale as they are actually slightly heavier than my Diadora Torneo. They feel lighter. Anyway, shoe weight is not a major issue for me – Speed shoes generally do not have enough cushion or support for me (and I destroy them too fast) – so I generally wear heavier shoes anyway.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: I think this is a pretty good all around shoe at a good price. My two issues with the shoe is the lack of forefoot cushioning and that they felt sluggish and not explosive to me. May be a court feel issue more than anything wrong with the shoe.
They remind me (not in fit) but in the feel on the court with the Mizuno Wave Exceed 4 – which many people love but I did not personally care for both due the fit and I did not like the way they felt on the court.
I had the white ones with orange accent and teal soles and I actually liked the look a lot and got a lot of compliments on them.
While they will not be my main shoe, I will definitely pull them out from time to time. I am looking to give them a try on clay the next time I play on it to see how they do off a hard court.
Happy to answer any questions anyone has.
Tennis experience/background: 51 years old. Played since about 10 years old. Varsity High School (far in the rear view mirror). Play 4.5 (real 4.5 – not areas where recent D1 and current D2 players play 4.5 – so in an area where they play 4.5 – would be a 4.0)
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): Aggressive baseliner, move forward to finish points. Extreme movement and defense.
Current Shoe: Diadora Torneo 2
Hours Played w/ Prince Venom: 10 hours – 4 sets of doubles. The rest singles.
Normal Size: 10.5
Playtest Size: 10.5 I felt the fit was pretty good. No plastic over the big toe knuckle area where shoes often cause me pain. Fairly wide fit – sufficient room for my wide-ish high arched feet.
Shoe Performance:
Comfort: Reasonable but insufficient underfoot cushion for the forefoot for me. They are comfortable and fit my foot well. The positives are the heel cushioning is excellent. The tongue is well padded and comfortable and as I mentioned the fit was quite good for my foot. The bad – insufficient cushioning under the ball of my feet and midsole for me. I felt it some playing doubles but really noticed it playing singles. So better than many shoes but not ideal for me. Perhaps an insole/orthotic would fix this, but I wanted to test in stock form as I do not usually wear any specialty insole or orthotic. I also normally either wear the thick Thorlos or 2 pairs of socks and could only wear 1 pair with these.
Arch Support: Good. I had no issues with the arch support. Did not feel anything weird and only issue was under the ball of my feet but nothing near the arch. I will warn anyone who needs to use a runner’s knot to prevent heel slippage as I do (a good solution for high arches) – the included laces are very short and not long enough for a runners knot. I had to replace the laces
Stability/Support: Excellent. I agree that the shoe had good stability and support. Lateral stability was excellent – and my foot felt secure and the shoe did not bend or twist at all. I will say, the shoes lack explosiveness and bounce. My first step – both laterally and forward-backwards felt sluggish in these shoes
Ventilation: No issues. Was very hot and humid here in Key West for the play test and the shoes were unremarkable for ventilation – which is fine as if I do not notice an issue it means they are breathing fine.
Sole durability: Hard to say after 10 hours but holding up so far. I see some initial wear in the same place that I always wear through my shoes front instep.
Toe Durability: I am not an extreme toe dragger and had no issue. They are built up where they should be and as I mentioned, I like that there is no plastic or rubber over the part of my feet that often get irritated by shoes.
Traction: Excellent. I felt the traction is excellent. I was not sure about the tread pattern but I felt good but not too much stick. I am not a slider on hard courts so cannot comment for that.
Weight: Was surprised when I put them on the scale as they are actually slightly heavier than my Diadora Torneo. They feel lighter. Anyway, shoe weight is not a major issue for me – Speed shoes generally do not have enough cushion or support for me (and I destroy them too fast) – so I generally wear heavier shoes anyway.
General reaction/comments on overall performance: I think this is a pretty good all around shoe at a good price. My two issues with the shoe is the lack of forefoot cushioning and that they felt sluggish and not explosive to me. May be a court feel issue more than anything wrong with the shoe.
They remind me (not in fit) but in the feel on the court with the Mizuno Wave Exceed 4 – which many people love but I did not personally care for both due the fit and I did not like the way they felt on the court.
I had the white ones with orange accent and teal soles and I actually liked the look a lot and got a lot of compliments on them.
While they will not be my main shoe, I will definitely pull them out from time to time. I am looking to give them a try on clay the next time I play on it to see how they do off a hard court.
Happy to answer any questions anyone has.
d-quik
Hall of Fame
Got about 5hrs on these so far, fortunately (or unfortunately) all on clay.
Good shoes, this is a very promising offering from Prince. More stylish than their other offerings and a decent price in todays hyper-inflated world.
Kind of a hybrid of a speed shoe and a stability shoe, IMO
Quick feeling, but very planted
Good shoes, this is a very promising offering from Prince. More stylish than their other offerings and a decent price in todays hyper-inflated world.
Kind of a hybrid of a speed shoe and a stability shoe, IMO
Quick feeling, but very planted
StringStrungStrang
Professional
I've been using mine on hard-courts and the extra cushioning is great. Clay seems to lessen the impact for me.
These Prince Venom do everything quite well, so I am quite pleased with these as an "everyday" shoe. They are holding up quite well too.
They've been excellent around the courts and seem to really protect my lower extremities (toes, feet, ankles and knees) from undue stress - which tennis seems to have in abundance!
The sole, traction, stability and durability have been impressive IMO.
