Tennis Warehouse Playtest: Wilson Rush Pro 2.5 Shoes

[TW Staff]

Attention Talk Tennis Members:

We would like to offer a very exciting opportunity for our users to playtest the new Wilson Rush Pro 2.5 shoes. Playtesters will be responsible for wearing the shoes for the given time and writing a thorough review. Playtesters who are picked will be notified via the email they provided. This playtest is open to both men and women in the USA only.

BONUS: As a thank you and extra incentive for reviewing the shoes, Wilson is offering a special prize package for the three reviews that are the most helpful and detailed. Reviews can include videos, pictures and detailed comments. Winners will be announced after all the reviews are turned in and will be notified via email.

Prize package includes: 1 Wilson Duffel Bag, Wilson Rush Pro 2.5 (another pair!), 1 set of Wilson NXT, 1 set of Luxilon ALU Power, 1 12 pack of Wilson Pro overgrip, 1 Wilson t-shirt and 1 Wilson hat!

Application period is now closed. Participants that were selected will be receiving an email in a couple days.

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 June 1st, 2018.***

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

PS: We request you not post "Email Sent" posts to this thread. All of those posts will be deleted. Feel free to post questions or comments.

 

[Faris]

Attention Talk Tennis Members:

We would like to offer a very exciting opportunity for our users to playtest the new Wilson Rush Pro 2.5 shoes. Playtesters will be responsible for wearing the shoes for the given time and writing a thorough review. Playtesters who are picked will be notified via the email they provided. This playtest is open to both men and women in the USA only.

BONUS: As a thank you and extra incentive for reviewing the shoes, Wilson is offering a special prize package for the three reviews that are the most helpful and detailed. Reviews can include videos, pictures and detailed comments. Winners will be announced after all the reviews are turned in and will be notified via email.

Prize package includes: Wilson Rush Pro 2.5 (another pair!), 1 set of Wilson NXT, 1 set of Luxilon ALU Power, 1 12 pack of Wilson Pro overgrip, 1 Wilson t-shirt and 1 Wilson hat!

Please submit your application to discussadmin@tennis-warehouse.com using the following:

Subject Line: Talk Tennis Wilson Rush Pro 2.5 Playtest

Full Name:
Shipping Address (One Line):
TT Username:
Email:
Gender (M or F):
Shoe Size (M: 7-12.5, 13, and 14 and W 5-10,11):

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 (please check back here in a week)***

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

PS: We request you not post "Email Sent" posts to this thread. All of those posts will be deleted. Feel free to post questions or comments.

Very cool playtest @TW Staff .... Question...

"Playtesters will be responsible for wearing the shoes for the given time and writing a thorough review"

Does tht mean shoes have to be returned after this playtest??

 

[TW Staff]

@Faris,

No. The shoes are for the playtesters to keep after the playtest is complete.

Thanks,
Brittany, TW

 

[djNEiGht]

@TW Staff

The product description http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Wil...range_Mens_Shoe/descpageMSWILSON-WMRPGBO.html on TW says it fits a 1/2 size large. Is it the same model that is in the play test?

 

[TW Staff]

I had all the playtesters retry on the shoes for a better fit description. All playtesters found they would stay in their true sizes. The only time I would recommend sizing a half size down would be if you have a narrow width foot and are in between two sizes. I am having the website updated right now. Once we select the playtesters (next week), we will confirm sizing with them.

Thanks,
Brittany, TW

 

[djNEiGht]

I had all the playtesters retry on the shoes for a better fit description. All playtesters found they would stay in their true sizes. The only time I would recommend sizing a half size down would be if you have a narrow width foot and are in between two sizes. I am having the website updated right now. Once we select the playtesters (next week), we will confirm sizing with them.

Thanks,
Brittany, TW

Thank you. I applied as my true size and I can always double sock or Thorlo lvl 3 sock. Crossing fingers to get into the play test.

 

[Faris]

Have the playtesters been chosen @TW Staff? Just checking....

 

[TW Staff]

Attention Talk Tennis Users,

We have sent out emails to those playtesters who were selected. If you were selected, congrats and make sure to read the email and respond! For those who were not selected, thank you for your willingness to participate. We will continue to offer more and more playtests so keep trying!

TW Staff

 

[djNEiGht]

congrats to the the play testers

 

[styksnstryngs]

I'll do my best guys

 

[RVAtennisaddict]

Exciting to get a chance to try these out. I have not worn Wilson in a number of years. In the past loved the shoes but the plastics between the soles started piercing through the shoe and into my foot (literally cutting my foot). Sadly it took me three outings to figure it out.

My shoe progression
Wilson
Prince T22
Adidas bounce
Addias barricade 2017
Addias barricade boost 2017
And just got 2018 boosts thanks to tennis warehouse. - happy to make a review thread. They are different for sure from 2017.

I am 245lbs former college football player who “is very quick, surprisingly so”. I wear 10 1/2 D normallly but like my shoes super tight (like Peterson)- enough to break strings frequently.

Ty for selecting me.

 

[styksnstryngs]

Exciting to get a chance to try these out. I have not worn Wilson in a number of years. In the past loved the shoes but the plastics between the soles started piercing through the shoe and into my foot (literally cutting my foot). Sadly it took me three outings to figure it out.

My shoe progression
Wilson
Prince T22
Adidas bounce
Addias barricade 2017
Addias barricade boost 2017
And just got 2018 boosts thanks to tennis warehouse. - happy to make a review thread. They are different for sure from 2017.

I am 245lbs former college football player who “is very quick, surprisingly so”. I wear 10 1/2 D normallly but like my shoes super tight (like Peterson)- enough to break strings frequently.

Ty for selecting me.

Your shoe progression is very similar to mine, but very different bodies.
Head nitro pro
2017 barricade
Head revolt pro LTD
2018 barricade boost

17yo, 155lbs high school tennis player lol

 

[RVAtennisaddict]

Your shoe progression is very similar to mine, but very different bodies.
Head nitro pro
2017 barricade
Head revolt pro LTD
2018 barricade boost

17yo, 155lbs high school tennis player lol

In my mind I am you

 

[Ronaldo]

In my mind I am you

But your strings don't lie

 

[styksnstryngs]

In my mind I am you

So, you're stressing out about how to pass AP tests and go to college on scholarship money and buy a car too?

 

[kvan]

Excited to be a part of this playtest as well! I used to have a lot of coworkers at the country club wear different Wilson models, but these 2.5s will be the first pair for me to try.

As for my shoe history, I've tried:
Lotto Ultra Raptor IV
Babolat Jet I
Babolat SFX I
Adidas Barricade 7
Vapor 9/9.5 Tour
Lunarballistec 1/1.5
Asics Gel Res 4, 7 (current)

I have a fairly medium width and medium-low arch and don't have to many issues with shoes fitting too badly. From what I can tell with the inside of the shoe, they remind me a good bit of the Lunarballistec 1.5s with the side vent and the toe-drag guard.

I'm currently a club college player with years of experience coaching and playing throughout my high school years. 6'2 and ~180lbs with ~11.5 shoes on average.

 

[Daddy's]

These were waiting for me on the porch when I got back from tennis this morning. First impressions: Colors somewhat subdued. I was wearing my Alexander the Great Barricades which are kinda loud. Size 13 half worn out Barricades weight 17.05 these weigh 16.40. Snugger fit than the barricades kind of molds to your foot but very easy to slip on and off. Lot of flexibility in the heel last making it easy to put on. Very comfortable out of the box won't be much break in. Heel feels a little taller easy to stay on the toes. Long laces will need double knotting. Hopefully get out to hit some tomorrow to see how they are on a court.

 

[mpournaras]

what colors are they?

 

[Daddy's]

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Wilson_Tennis_Shoes/catpage-MSWILSON.html
Mine look like this.
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipPV4ljNjD1mMHZCpLzQIUw-RWOdK4iyBi_INWJS

 

[Daddy's]

Sorry the grey/black/orange ones

 

[loosegroove]

Sorry the grey/black/orange ones

Sweet. Love this colorway!

 

[mmk]

Got my pair yesterday, just in time for a match on hardcourt. I weighed the right shoe along with the right shoes of the Fila Cage Deliriums that I've got about 20 hours on and my new, never worn GR7s, all size 11. So, in grams:

• Wilson Rush Pro 2.5 422 grams
• Fila Cage Delirium 471 grams
• Asics GR7 416 grams

Right out of the box the Wilsons were comfortable and seemed to fit well, but I did notice while playing that my right big toe did jam occasionally when i had to come to a hard stop. I had the same experience with a pair of 2015 Barricades, but not with the Filas or the Asics GRs that I normally wear.

Hardcourt traction was very good, somewhere between Barricades (maybe too much traction) and GRs. Since they have a herringbone tread I will also try them on har-tru.

First impressions are very good, although I wish the toe box was a tad longer. My wife really liked the looks of the grey/black/orange pair I received, and the head pro at my club noticed them right away and also really liked their looks. It so happened that my opponent was wearing one of the earlier versions of the Rush Pro, the ones that were blue and white. These are, to my eyes, much better looking.

Full write-up in the official format to follow after a few more matches. Thanks to TW and Wilson for the opportunity.

 

[appdach96]

Received my pair yesterday and tried them on. Immediately I noticed how plush the comfort is and how well it fit my foot.

I have 4 pairs of the Rush Pro 2.0, which I loved. I have to say I feel like these are going to be even better.

Looking forward to trying them out tomorrow during my match.

Thanks to Wilson and TW for this chance to playtest these shoes.

Katie

 

[Daddy's]

Well just finished up 3 hrs of doubles this morning and I'm really liking these shoes. So far 6 hrs doubles, 1 1/2 hrs singles and they feel great. They are light, supportive and comfortable without being to much. I've been trying to concentrate on how they feel as I play but they feel so right I just forget about them.
With Barricades you strap them on and you're ready to slide into you're shots leaving 3 ft skid marks on the court. These just slip on and cling to your feet giving just enough of what you need. I've got kids in college so I'm past the skid marks stuff. I am 6'4 and 230ish so support is important and these have it with out being cumbersome. I'll write up a review after some more hrs but so far so good.

 

[RVAtennisaddict]

First impressions:

Looks nice, wife liked them more than I did. Not sure about the lateral (outside) ridges of rubber/plastic but can't really feel them when I tried them on. Better heal support than my barricade and barricade boosts, but little less forward resting stance. The lacing system is very nice, can adjust and make tight (I like them tight to keep me from slipping).

Quick note first wear: even though less arch support than my usual shoes it is enough. Played 1.5 hrs hard, 1.5 hrs clay. Good traction, not to heavy. The slight more heal weight at base stance is noticeable for me but did not seem to slow me down. Knees a little sore after playing, different than usual.

 

[mmk]

I'll have to report back in a few months on durability, but here is my first cut at the review:

Tennis experience/background: Played in HS and college, and for a few years after college, then didn't play again for about 30 years, started up again about 8 years ago. Currently play singles against 3.5s and 4.0s on both hardcourt and har-tru.

Playing style: Grinder with a serve that is a weapon when it works. OHBH, with a way-too-flat forehand.

Comments on shoe performance:
-comfort: Comfortable right out of the box, no break in needed. However, I occasionally jam my toes, a problem I also had with Adidas Barricades.
UPDATE: Maybe not as much cushioning in the forefoot as GRs, I do notice the balls of my feet and my toes after a match, which I don't with GRs.

-arch support: Didn't notice any issues, so good arch support for my foot

-stability/support: Very stable. I wear ASO braces, so I can't really comment on support.

-ventilation: Ventilation about the same as Asics GRs, toes get a bit warm in both due to the rubber in the toe area, but not uncomfortable.

-sole durability: Remains to be seen, will need many more than 12 hours to determine. So far no noticeable wear.

-toe durability: I'm not a toe dragger, so I can't really comment other than to say that the rubber reinforcement looks substantial.

-traction: Really good traction on hardcourt, somewhere between Barricades which might have too much traction, and Asics GRs. I need to try them on har-tru
UPDATE - Finally played on har-tru, the traction on these was excellent. I actually prefer them on har-tru over hardcourt.

-weight: Right shoe weighed 422 grams, roughly the same as an Asics GR which weighed 422 grams, both of which are a fair amount lighter than the Fila Cage Delirium at 471 grams. I don't have Barricades any longer, but I remember them feeeling heavier than these Wilsons.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: These are really nice shoes, similar cushioning to Asics GRs. I received the grey/black/orange colorway, and a number of people have said they really like the looks of the shoe, as do I. The head pro at my club is going to buy a pair just because of the looks. I think the toe jamming I've experienced is due to the traction, which is a bit more than I'm used to with Asics GRs. Once I get a chance to try them on har-tru that may change. I thought I'd miss the heel-lock lacing that I use with Asics GRs and SSs, but my heel doesn't slip at all, the shape of the heel area and the material combine to keep my heel locked in.

Thanks TW & Wilson for this opportunity.

 

[styksnstryngs]

Any update on when the reviews are due, @TW Staff ?

 

[loosegroove]

Any update on when the reviews are due, @TW Staff ?

It was in the email we received notifying us that we were selected for the playtest.

Please post your review by June 1st, 2018. If you do not post a review or if your review is clearly lacking effort, you will be excluded from future playtests.

 

[styksnstryngs]

It was in the email we received notifying us that we were selected for the playtest.

Please post your review by June 1st, 2018. If you do not post a review or if your review is clearly lacking effort, you will be excluded from future playtests.

Thanks.

 

[Daddy's]

Thanks to TW and Wilson for a chance to test the Wilson Rush Pro 2.5

Tennis experience/background: Weak 4.0 Still have good strokes but mobility isn't what it used to be. I usually get in 6 hrs doubles,1.5 hrs drills, 2 hrs singles game and rallying in a week.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): I guess all court would be close. Doubles of course you have to volley and play the short ball. I have good serve and strokes but I'm weaker on backhand side. I am getting better on BH because people go there because going to forehand is usually a mistake

Current shoe:I usually have 2 to 3 pairs I rotate. Currently Barricades and Head Nzzzo

How many hours did you play with the shoe? Currently about 20 hrs.

Normal Size: 13 in almost everything

Playtesting Size:13

Comments on shoe performance:
-comfort: Extremely comfortable shoe. When I first slipped them on they felt like a slipper, easy on and off clinging to my foot couldn't believe they'd work for tennis. They have held up and remained some of the most comfortable shoes Ive used.

-arch support: Felt like it was a bit far foreword at first try on but have proved to be perfect for me.

-stability/support: Just right for me. No ankle twisting, no pounding or slapping on the court. Some shoes feel like your putting on a combat boot, very supportive but more than I need, these were just right.

-ventilation: Can't really speak to this I play mostly on the beach in OC and this time of year I don't think it was every more than mid 70's

-sole durability: Very good there's some grinding on the edges, right toe and the W on the left foot has all the color worn off. Maybe 15 % worn.

-toe durability: Visible wear to bottom of toe right foot. I'm not a toe dragger but there is some scuffing on the top of the toe box which seems taller than most but is reinforced well.

-traction: I only played hard court but had no problems with slipping or being grabby on the court. They dealt well with the morning dew on lines we get around here.

-weight: Felt lighter than what the scale showed. Felt as light as my Heads but with more substance. Not as heavy as Barricades. I guess some what of a middle weight.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:
I was very surprised at the comfort/support/performance combo that Wilson was able to put into this shoe. Ive been used to a choice of light weight low to the court performance shoes that gave my feet a pounding and felt like my foot was actually slapping on to the court. The other end of the spectrum is a shoe that feels like I'm strapping on a Motocross boot that molds your foot to be where it wants it to be not molding the shoe to where you want it to be.
I'm not a real shoe fanatic and I guess somewhat of a tightwad. I generally get last years model of a top of line shoe in what ever color was unpopular when they go on sale. I don't buy bottom of the brand entry level shoes because they don't work well for me. This is definitely a shoe I will look for in the future.
I'm getting this review in a bit early because I'm going to be in Cabo San Lucas the next couple weeks. We have a great court but he WIFI is a little spotty. I'll get back with a better opinion on how durable the shoe is in a while.

 

[appdach96]

Tennis experience/background: 4.5 doubles player, normally play 2-3 hours 3-5 days a week. This includes clinics, league matches and fun tennis

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): I am an all court player who has a fairly good serve to set up my partner and I do work my way into the net.

Current shoe:I have 5 pairs I currently rotate...3 pairs of Asics Gel Resolution Juniors (two are 7s and 1 are 6s) & 2 pairs of Kswiss Hypercourt

How many hours did you play with the shoe? Currently about 28 hrs.

Normal Size: 5.5 in juniors & 7 in ladies

Playtesting Size:7 ladies

Comments on shoe performance:

-comfort: Extremely comfortable shoe. I noticed right away the plush cushioning and glove like fit. I walked around my house and noticed how light yet stable they felt. I normally rotate my shoes if I play multiple days in a row but did not with this shoe and still noted how extremely comfortable the shoe is. After multiple uses the comfort level is still there.

-arch support: I have a slightly lower arch and did not experience any arch pain as I sometimes do with new shoes.

-stability/support: Stability was on point. I never felt any twisting or had any fear that my ankle(s) (which are weak) would twist. I especially noted how secure they felt when I was moving laterally.

-ventilation: Fair...definitely better than the Rush Pro 2.0. I played with temps in the upper 80s and feet got hot but not too bad. Still love the shoe.

-sole durability: Good. I play a lot on hard courts and am an aggressive mover and soles are still in great shape.

-toe durability: Good, I do drag my toes and although some wear is noted, it is nowhere close to being worn down.

-traction: Great traction, not too slick or to grabby. I played on hard, clay and turf in these shoes and liked the shoes on all surfaces.

-weight: Loved the weight...as light as my junior Gel Res and they did not feel heavy or nearly what they actually weigh.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:
This is an awesome shoe! I have 3 pairs of the Rush Pro 2.0 and this shoe is such an improvement and I loved the older shoe. I also love the pink colorway. I look forward to continuing to wear this shoe, especially as a match day shoe. I love the comfort, especially the plush cushioning. I will try to post photos soon. I took 3 after the first day I wore them, need to take more to compare.

Thank you so very much Wilson & TW for this opportunity to playtest an awesome shoe. This playtest has by far been the best one I have been able to participate in.

 

[TW Staff]

Attention Talk Tennis playtesters,

Just a friendly reminder if you haven't turned in your comments that they are due this Friday, June 1st.

Thanks,
Brittany, TW

 

[RVAtennisaddict]

Tennis experience/background: I am former nationally hs ranked wrestler (189lbs) and college football player (offensive right guard) whose true love is tennis. I play mostly singles ground and pound with a good first serve. I currently am a 3.5 but am constantly told I have 4.5 ground strokes and best practice player people know (so clearly I have mental issues). I play 6 to 10 hours a week indoors; outdoors and on clay.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): ground and pound. Singles.

Current shoe: barricade boost 2017/18

How many hours did you play with the shoe? Close to 30

Normal Size: 10.5 (width D)

Playtesting Size: 10.5

on shoe performance:
-comfort: comfortable out of the box, little break in required. For example foot would get tight enough to keep feet from excessive sliding in the shoe.

-arch support: I would say the arch support is low-medium. For me personally the shoes were very comfortable but when I am playing hard I need more arch support.

-stability/support: good lateral stability, no issues with rolling ankles. I felt arch support was comfortable but not quite enough. The lacing system isn’t my g better (tightens better) than the barricades. I like to play w my shoes tight. There was better ankle support than in barricades

-ventilation: good ventilation not to hot even here in the va heat and humidity (90s w 90 plus humidity)

-sole durability: excellent. Almost no wear, better than my barricades

-toe durability: excellent but I don’t drag my toe so never an issue for me

-traction: excellent on clay, maybe a little more than I would like on the indoor hard court

-weight: I thought reasonable. But then again when you weigh 250 an ounce is not that much.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: Overall, I like the shoes. I still prefer my barricade boost a little more, but it depend on what you are looking for. I found these to be more comfortable for most play. I did have two hard hard courts matches where my feet and knees started to hurt, but both were we aggressive with lots of running and quick turns. On the clay, never had an issue nor outdoor hard courts. I believe the traction may have been little high for indoor hard courts. I did feel like these shoes required me to shift my weight from heels to the toes vs barricades which were weighted a little more forward.

My best analogy is sports sedan vs sports car. The sedan is comfortable right away, performs well. The sports car is a little more uncomfortable for casual driving but shines a little more in hard use.

I know that most of the players here will think the bari add boost sounds like the better shoe for them, but really except for. Few hard matches the Wilson were as good and more comfortable.

Lately, w the older Wilson shoes with a split sole the plastic insole would literally cut through insole and into my foot during hard play. As such I had been avoiding Wilson because they were not designed for big athletic men, but this shoe clearly has fixed this problem.

These will be my clay court, doubles and hitting w my wife (beginner) shoes for the rest of summer. I will post a long term use review later.

Thanks again to Tennis Warehouse and Wilson for the playtest.

 

[imajica77]

First off, thank you to both TW and Wilson for doing the playtest.

Tennis experience and background: I have been playing tennis for forty years and am currently a lower level 4.0 player. I have had two knee replacements but mobility is still good. But due to the replacements I mostly play doubles.

Playing style: I am mostly a baseliner who likes to rip my groundstrokes. But have no problem coming to the net and putting away the volley. Specially in doubles.

Current shoe: I actaully have five pairs in rotation. Four of them are Yonex and and the other is Lotto. My favorite shoe is the Yonex Eclipsion 1. It has been my most repurchased shoe ever. I still use the FusionRev and the new Sonicage also.

Hours played in Wilson Rush Pro 2.5: I estimate between 26 to 28 hours. Three hours of singles and the rest doubles.

Normal size 8.5

Playtest size: 8.5

Comfort: The first two times I wore the shoes I had the little toes of both feet go numb. That was a little disconcerting. The first two times I wore them for only about 1.5 hours each times. By the third time I presume the shoes had stretched enough and didn't have that problem again. I will say that the shoes are tight in the forefoot to me. Almost to the point that it is uncomfortable to me. I do not have a wide foot; so I am shocked by this. My Yonex are very snug but not to the point of being uncomfortable. The cushioning of the shoes are good in the heel but I think could use some more in the forefoot area. I actually got a bruise on the ball of my left foot. It sounds like I am complaining a lot about the shoes. But I can truly say they have grown on me. I wouldn't say they are my favorites but I don't have a problem wearing them. It just took time to adjust to them.

Arch support: I found the shoes to have a lower arch suport. I have a medium to higher arch. I personally would have prefered a little higher arch; but it didn't really bother me. They still felt comfortable in the arch area.

Stability/Support: I found the shoes to have good stability. Being a baseliner; side to side mobility/stability is very important to me. I felt the shoes locked my foot in and gave me great support.

Ventilation: I think the shoes are average on ventilation. I have been playing in the upper 80's and lower 90's. The shoes felt kind of hot on the warmer days. Part of this could be the color of the shoes I received (Black and Gray). I think playing in the evening would have made a world of difference.

Sole durability: This is one area the shoes seemed to shine. The shoes are showing no real wear and tear. I generally notice wear in the forefoot/toe area where I push off a lot. There was none to notice. Very impressed.

Toe durability: I am not a toe dragger. Generally I wear the area around the big toe from pushing off. That generally wears out faster than my heel area. I am not noticing any wear. Super job there Wilson.

Traction: This is another area that the Pro Rush excelled in. I found the shoes to have great traction. I always felt in control and never feared to go all out. I knew there would be no slipping.

Weight: At almost 15 oz. the shoes are not the lightest. They seem to be average in the weight department but play like they are a little lighter than they are. I didn't feel like they weighed me down.

General reaction/Comments: I feel the shoes are a good shoe. I still feel it could have some more cushioning and a wider forefoot. But all in all if you are looking for a well rounded shoe then the Pro Rush could be the shoe for you. Stability and traction are superb. I also feel the shoe is a low riding shoe. That is important to me. Just make sure to give the shoes time to stretch and adjust to your foot. I think if your not use to Wilson shoes it might be better to try them on before buying as I think they had a unique feel/fit.

Thanks again for the opportunity to playtest these shoes.

 

[loosegroove]

Tennis experience/background: Played a bit as a kid and a year in high school, then returned to the game in my early 30’s. Now I’ve just hit my 40’s, but I am still relatively fit. Currently play rec and USTA matches at the 4.0-4.5 level.

Describe your playing style: From style of play to stroke mechanics, think of a vastly inferior David Ferrer, a 4.0 David Ferrer if you will. So a grinding, topspin heavy baseline game. I tend to cover a fair amount of court. Also play a lot of dubs, where I play more like an adapted singles player. I’m aggressive at net, but don’t frequently serve and volley or try to rush the net after returns, unless it’s really called for.

Current shoe: Asics Gel Resolution 7 (and occasionally Prince T22 Lites)

How many hours did you play with the shoe? 17

Normal Size: 11
Playtesting Size: 11

Comments on shoe performance:

-comfort: I initially requested a half size down at 10.5, since that was the original sizing recommendation of TW (although they amended that before the playtest and suggested sticking to your usual size). That was a mistake, as the shoes definitely run true to length. I would have been smashing my toes into the front of the toe box. Fortunately TW was great as always, and allowed me to exchange them for a size 11, which fit well. Slipping them on, I immediately was reminded of the comfort of the original Rush Pros courtesy of the integrated neoprene-like tongue and soft uppers; it was like slipping on a pair of booties. The Rush Pro 2.5’s offer a nice connected low to the ground feel, however as a trade off, there was not as much plush cushioning underfoot compared to the Asics GR7 or Prince T22 Lite. The cushioning was adequate, however I’d opt for a little more if given the choice. I could certainly feel the court more on the balls of my feet. The toe box was a comfortable medium fit, but initially I felt the midfoot was a little narrow, with the arch support a little too far back and high. This resulted in a little discomfort behind my arches towards my heel. Fortunately after a few outings on the court, they broke in, and it was no longer an issue. I did encounter some occasional toe jamming when coming to a hard stop, however it was not overly problematic.

-arch support: As I stated above, initially the arch support felt like it was completely in the wrong place for me. This resulted in some discomfort where the shoes’ arches were pushing into the flatter area of my feet, while providing a little less support for my actual arches. After the break-in and the shoes conforming to my feet, there was no longer any more discomfort, though I feel like I needed a smidgen more support under the peak of my arches.

-stability/support: Minus the arches, these shoes excelled in this department. After a brief break-in, the uppers and soles flexed nicely with my feet, all while providing the support and stability I expect in a premium shoe. The stability was further enhanced by the lower ride height. I felt confident with quick lateral movements on the court and jamming on the brakes when necessary. Though they are not as stable as my Gel Resolutions which feel more rigid.

-ventilation: The original Rush Pros may as well have been members of James Brown’s horn section, because they brought the funk! I never owned less breathable tennis sneakers, resulting in hot feet and stinky shoes. Fortunately the 2.5’s are certainly improved in this area, and it’s no longer like wearing mini saunas on your feet. Though they’re still not the most ventilated shoe if that’s a priority for you, as they still run a little warm.

-sole durability: It’s a little tough to say at this point in the playtest. However the the durability thus far seems very strong. I’m not noticing much wear at this juncture, even in my high wear areas under my big toes. I think sole durability is an improvement over the original Rush Pros for sure. We’ll see if these last as long as my Asics GR7’s, which have been taking me close to a full 6 months to get through to the midsole.

-toe durability: I’m no longer a ridiculous toe dragger on serve, so I’m putting less wear here lately. However, these shoes seem to be solid in the toe durability department as well. A definite improvement over the originals which exhibited wear on the toe guard pretty early on. I’d say they’re at least on par with what you’d expect from a typical 6 month durability shoe.

-traction: I’m not sure if it’s the rubber, the herringbone tread pattern, or a combination of both, but I find these shoes to be very grippy. Definitely more so than my Asics GR7’s or Prince T22 Lites. I was confident I would have traction when making quick changes of direction and I could stop on a dime. Though I was not fully accustomed to this level of grippiness, and prefer a little more give from my shoes and less required effort to ease into a slide. However the outsole grip was fairly consistent and linear in response, so the shoes felt predictable, and I didn’t find they were going from grippy to breaking traction unexpectedly at random thresholds. It just took a little getting used to. The extra traction may have also contributed to the minor toe jamming issue.

-weight: Although they weigh marginally more than my Asics GR7’s, I thought these shoes felt fast and relatively light, especially for a durability shoe. If I didn’t know any better, I would have guessed they weighed a tad less than my Asics. These definitely are not clunky feeling shoes.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:

The Wilson Rush Pro 2.5’s are a worthy consideration for the serious tennis player. I love the feel of the integrated tongue and soft uppers. They seem a little more performance oriented than the originals, and strike a nice balance of speed, stability, comfort, and durability in a low riding, aesthetically pleasing package. Though I would not recommend these to the player looking for maximum cushioning or superior breathability. I would be willing to sacrifice some of that fast feel and low ride, for a little extra cushioning myself; I’m not a spring chicken anymore. But I’m not generally a speed shoe guy, so take that into consideration. And given their attributes, I feel like these Wilsons could be my go-to Har-Tru shoes, but I’ve yet to have the opportunity to use them on anything but hardcourt.

 

[topspinlob]

Tennis experience/background: I am 45 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 (i.e. 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:Asics Court FF Size 13 with aftermarket insoles

How many hours did you play with the shoe? 6 hours

Normal Size: My foot measures at 4E 10.5 Men's But the shoes that fit me well were Babolat SFX Size 12 and Nike Air Max Cages Size 12. Both of them run large.

Playtesting Size: 13.0

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 play. With that being said, the shoe was not comfortable for me because of the width. I wish the forefoot was wider. The sides of my feet were hurting the whole time I was playing. Everyone keep asking me why I was limping and it was because of the jamming. As far as the overall cushioning, it was good, there was no aching of the bottoms of my feet after playing.

-arch support: I have flat feet. The arch support on this shoe is low which I prefer with really high arch support. I didn't have any issues with my arches after playing.

-stability/support: I notice on real aggressive lateral moves where I have to go back the other way real quick that the shoe has great support and stability. My feet were really locked in. I didn't feel like my foot was breaking out of shoe with aggressive moves. The shoes felt low to the ground which is always a plus.

-ventilation: For some reason, we haven't hit the usual weather where I live (70-80 deg). Either way even if there is good ventilation, my feet sweat regardless so I wouldn't have notice if there is good ventilation. It never felt like my feet were getting hot.

-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. I am not really hard on my shoes. After 6 hours play and walking around with it casually, the soles look relatively brand new.

-toe durability: this is the same for 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 I play with all the time. The toe area look relatively brand new.

-traction: The traction was great for the shoe. I can feel the shoe grip the ground well. My shoes were "chirping" a lot!

-weight: I am already used to heavy shoes so these shoes didn't feel heavy to me . 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 tried on the Rush Pro 2.0 in 12.5 for fun and it fit me well. I didn't buy them because I didn't need shoes at the time. I figured that Rush Pro 2.5 in 13.0 would fit me well. If the forefoot was wider I would still be using them. The shoes hurt by feet so bad that I stopped using a week early of the playtest end time. I have decided to give them to a fellow TT member to try out. Don't get me wrong this is great shoe it's just that the width hurts in the long run. Thanks to Tennis Warehouse and Wilson for allowing me to playtest this shoe!

 

[styksnstryngs]

Tennis experience/background:

High school tennis player, varsity on a high state-ranked public school team. I’ve been playing since about eighth grade, and I just finished school (today, actually) to end my junior year and begin my senior year. I live in Texas, so we play all year round, thus I get about 4 months more playing time a year than when I lived in Massachusetts. Currently, I’m about a 4.0 NTRP. A little to know about my background also is that I am injury-prone in my legs and hips, just because I wear out my joints from tennis and working out, so a good shoe is pretty important. I actually did a shoe review for New Balance and I ripped their shoe pretty bad, so I’m not afraid to give my honest opinion. Stability is more important to me than speed, as well as comfort since my aggressive movement often leaves me with blisters on my feet. I used to be a really bad toe dragger, and I still do drag my toe slightly, so if a shoe doesn’t have a lot of protection on the toes or the insides for sliding, they’ll show in about a week. I play around 12-14 hours a week.

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

I’m an aggressive baseliner and I also play a lot of doubles, since in the fall season for school, we play both in the same day. In the spring season, I played doubles.

Current shoe:

I am currently wearing the 2018 Adidas Barricade Boosts, and before that, I used the HEAD Revolt Pro 2.0 LTD.

How many hours did you play with the shoe?

I played in these shoes for 35+ hours on court, including about 2 hours on clay. I also ran in these shoes to test comfort for a few hours.

Normal Size:

Men’s 10

Playtesting Size:

Men’s 10


Comments on shoe performance:

-comfort:

These kicks were impressively comfortable for such a stable and durable shoe. However, compared to some lighter shoes like the Nike Vapors, they were slightly bulky and stiff. The lack of any stiff materials in the footbed or arch made my arches and achilles happy when I ran a lot, and I could actually run in these shoes with minimal pain, compared to other tennis shoes like the Barricades where running sprints killed my shin splints. These didn’t have that issue, especially with the good amount of cushioning under the heel and balls of the feet. 8/10

-arch support:

The arch support in these shoes were average. Before they were broken in (a relatively short period of only an hour or two), the support seemed to be a little far to the balls of the feet, but they settled in. However, I’d still like to see the arch moved back a tiny bit. The height of the arch was nearly perfect otherwise. 8/10

-stability/support:

Not as stable as a Barricade, but similar to the revolt pros. I did come close to rolling my ankle the first day I wore these, just because I wasn’t used to them and I was comfortable with the security of the Barricades. I’m not going to be sliding on purpose in these shoes unless I’m on clay, but they offer enough support that I feel confident moving normally. My only concerns were on the far reaches where I was deep in the court at a full sprint and stretching for a wide ball and trying to recover simultaneously— this extreme change in motion did put a little bit of pressure on my ankles, but that’s to be expected. Not a super wide base, but not too high off the ground, either. This was the only place I missed the plastic shanks around the arches that the Barricades and Revolt Pros have, because I could sometimes feel the shoe twisting, near the brink of deformation. The ankle support is a tad low, but lock my heel in completely, so no issues there. 7/10

-ventilation:

My biggest knock on these shoes. Ventilation was bad. My feet sweat in these without even working out, and noticeably, compared to my other shoes. The lack of real mesh (the mesh areas are kind of rubber coated with many tiny perforations for ventilation) is probably what troubles this shoe so much. In Texas springs and summers, not fun. 4/10

-sole durability:

Surprisingly good, especially for the softness of the sole. I would put the sole softness at near the level of the revolt pros, but they lasted about 125% better. After 35 hours of play, the herringbone was worn down near the toes and back of the heel, but no foam was showing under the rubber. I expect the foam to be fully visible after another 35-40 hours. Very good durability for the traction and comfort. Not as good as the Barricades, but comparable. As a side note, I wish I could have tested the durability further, but finals, AP testing, and upcoming SAT subject tests have put a severe limit to the time I have to hit. 7/10

-toe durability:

The toe durability was great, as I mentioned I used to drag my toes a lot. I still do drag a fair amount, and the thick rubber at the front of the Rush Pros did more than enough to protect that area of the shoe. The gray color did mark easily into a lighter color, but it’s a tennis shoe, it needs some battle scars. 9/10

-traction:

The traction on these shoes were beautiful, especially for the durability. These soles felt nice and soft, not skating on top of the hard courts or digging in too much, but striking a nice balance. At my club’s indoor courts, some shoes have a tendency to skate across the top instead of offering a nice bite, but that was not the case with these. The soles offered me a nice and consistent reaction, which is probably the most important part of traction. I could accelerate easily to chase down drop shots or tweeners, too. They were soft enough that I could use them comfortably on clay, but obviously I don’t recommend this shoe for that. 9.5/10

-weight:

This shoe weighed in pretty average— heavier than a speed shoe, but lighter than some tanks out there. It was noticeably lighter than the barricades, and similar the the rush pros. My sixe tens weighed in at a solid ounce lighter than my Barricade Boosts, 14 and 15 oz. for the Rush Pro and the Barricades, respectively. It was almost exactly the same as the Revolt Pro 2.0s. 7/10

General reaction/comments on overall performance:

Wilson put together a very nice all-around shoe for someone who may depend less on extreme lateral movement than Djokovic, but still needs good support for advanced movement and a modern baseline game. This shoe is a very good compromise of durability, comfort, weight and stability, but it does skimp on breathability with the lack of mesh. The only other small knock I had was that the shank could have been slightly stiffer for more explosiveness and torsional stiffness. My pinkie toes felt slightly tight on hard stops, but toe jam was not common at all, and even when it occurred, there is some cushion near the front to keep it from being bloody-toe painful, which is not fun. Laces are quality round laces, easy to tie and long enough to double knot easily. Cosmetics are also not great (5/10), and as a high schooler I think I’m qualified in this. I’d simply rather show up to a tournament with icy white Barricades or NB 996v3s on my feet. Hopefully, new colorways are in the making.

Overall score: 8/10


Thanks to TW and Wilson for providing me with these shoes and playtest opportunity. Now on to my Laserfibre JB100 Tour playtest review!

 

[tennis_nut]

Tennis experience/background

- I am a 33 year old guy and have been playing for about 8 years. Currently at the 4.5 level. Used to play basketball and run track so footwork and speed are advantages for me. Play mostly doubles but do enjoy singles every now and then. I usually get to play about three times a week. One practice day, a league match, and some casual mixed dubs with my wife.

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

- I would say I am more of a baseliner but am trying to incorporate more net play into my game. My serve is average for a 4.5 so I rely mostly on my solid groundstrokes and speed to be competitive. I like to hang back and trade groundstrokes till I get a short ball to attack and come in behind.


Current shoe

- I am pretty hard on shoes so the first thing I look for is durability. I’ve been through quite a few shoes over the years. Nike Vapors and Court Ballistecs, New Balance 996s, K-Swiss Hypercourt Express, Adidas Defiant Bounce, Babolat Propulses, and Asics Gel Resolutions and Speed Solutions. My favorite and also current shoes are the Asics Gel Resolutions. Using the GR7s now but I liked the GR4s the most because they seemed to fit my feet a little better. The combination of comfort, fit, and durability are tough to beat.


How many hours did you play with the shoe

- I’ve had the shoes for about 4 weeks. So going by my average playtime a week, I would estimate about 36 hours. Roughly ¾ of the time playing doubles.


Normal Size

- My normal size is a 10

Playtesting Size

- Playtest size is a 10. The fit seems to be right on. The Rush Pros fit my feet very well. There is no heel slippage like I have with the GR7s sometimes and there is ample room in the toe box so no toe jamming.



Comments on shoe performance:

Comfort

- I was pleasantly surprised by the comfort of these shoes. As stated earlier, I have tried a lot of shoes and thought that none quite matched the Gel Resolutions. Well, I am happy to say that these are just as comfortable as them and maybe even more so because of the non-issue of heel slippage. I play mostly on hard court so my knees take quite a beating. The impact shock is absorbed very well and my knees feel good after playing.

Arch support

- Arch support is great. I have somewhat flat feet with low arches and these shoes do a great job of supporting my arches but not too much as to cause discomfort.

Stability/support

- Stability is great. I felt very confident moving in these shoes. Pushing off and stopping felt very natural. Lateral stability was great. My right ankle is a little weak from having broken it playing basketball in high school but these shoes were great at locking them in and preventing any unwanted movement. I tend to slide into my groundstrokes when I’m playing aggressively and never did I feel like I was going to roll my ankle.

Ventilation

- Ventilation on the shoes was ok. Not the best and not the worst. I am assuming that Wilson went with more durability over ventilation because of the use of more durable but less breathable materials in the upper. I am ok with that. I am very hard on shoes so I don’t might giving up a little ventilation for durability.

Sole durability:

- I’ve only had the shoes for about a month so it is tough to judge the durability. But judging from the wear that I have put on the shoes so far, I would say that they are on par with the GR7s. Which is very good. The first set of GR7s lasted me about 5 months and I believe that the Rush Pros will be the same. I know that may not sound like a long time for some but I am very hard on shoes so for me this is good.

Toe durability

- Toe durability is great. I am a toe dragger so I was happy to see how much rubber Wilson used at the front of the shoe. I don’t think I’ll be able to wear through the toe guard on these.


Traction

- Traction is fantastic. Not once did I feel any slippage when pushing off or on sudden stops to change direction. The amount of traction was perfect for me. The shoes stuck when I needed them to but allowed me to slide a little bit when I needed to also.

Weight

- The weight of the shoes were ok. Not too heavy and not too light. Felt the same as the GR7s. A little clunky but I am ok with that for the added durability. These are not going to feel like Vapors or Speed Solutions but these are way more durable.

General reaction/comments on overall performance

- Overall, I am very happy with these shoes. If these shoes continue to perform as they have, I think I have finally found a worthy replacement to the GR7s. The Rush Pro 2.5s match the Gel Resolutions in comfort and durability but beat them in fit and playability (for my feet at least). Wilson has a winner on their hands here!


I would like to thank Tennis Warehouse for giving me this opportunity. I am not sure if I would have ever tried these shoes on my own because of them being less talked about. This playtest has opened my eyes to the fact that Wilson is a major player in the shoe segment and that anyone looking to try one of the best tennis shoes out there should give these a shot. Like me, you may be pleasantly surprised. Thanks again T-Dub and Wilson. You guys rock!

 

[kvan]

Tennis experience/background: I’m a ~4.5 college club player with two years’ experience in teaching at my local country club. I’ve played competitively throughout high school and through USTA. I love teaching the game as much as playing it. Moving aggressively with my feet, I tend to tear through shoes pretty quickly, typically under the big toe area.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): I am an aggressive baseliner that likes to dictate play with my serve. I hit fairly flat most of the time, but enjoy using variety on my backhand side to find openings. Right-handed with a one-handed backhand.

Current shoe: Asics Gel Resolution 7 (size 11.5)

Additionally, my shoe history (in no particular order) looks something like this, with my favorite shoe of all time being the Asics Gel Resolution 4:

Lotto Ultra Raptor IV
Babolat Jet I
Babolat SFX I
Adidas Barricade 7
Vapor 9, 9.5 Tour
Lunarballistec 1/1.5
Asics Gel Res 4, 7

How many hours did you play with the shoe? Currently, about 16 hrs

Normal Size: 11.5, although my true fit lies between an 11 and 11.5.

Foot type: Medium-low arch with a medium-narrow width. I find most shoes to fit without major issues.

Playtesting Size: 11.5

Comments on shoe performance (Please click on thumbnails for high-res images!)

Comfort: Generally, the Rush Pro 2.5 offers good cushioning below the sole. I didn’t suffer from any knee pain or pain under the ball of my foot, even from the first few hours of wear. The heel cushioning was ample and I didn’t feel like heel slippage was an issue, due to the plushness of the shoe behind the Achilles tendon. There’s a nice flex in the upper so my feet don’t feel confined in the shoe, either.



As for the downsides, the largest issue I found with the comfort of the Rush Pro 2.5s was with the tongue of the shoe, which is made of the same thin material as the front portion of the upper. The inside of the tongue is made of a neoprene-like material, which keeps socks from snagging and offers some cushion. Unfortunately, I’m used to thicker tongues like ones found on the Lunarballistec and Gel Resolution lines and found that the tongue pinched the front of my ankle, which lead to a bit of discomfort (see photo below). I believe this can be eliminated using a longer tongue or slightly more supple tongue material. Otherwise, wearing two pairs of socks alleviated some of the pinching.





Moreover, the toe box is a little roomier than I would have liked ideally, but I believe that this was a good move from Wilson considering this toe box will accommodate a larger variety of foot widths. I didn’t suffer from significant toe jamming and the space may have led to better ventilation overall.

All in all, these qualms were fairly minor and the ankle pinching was not very noticeable during play. I did like how the tongue stayed in place since it was attached to the upper (above). I think Wilson did a good job balancing comfort with the other aspects of the shoe.

Arch support: I have a medium-low arch and the Rush Pro 2.5 accommodated my feet very well in this regard. No discomfort and the arch allowed my foot to stay snug in the midfoot. Below is a photo of the included Ortholite insole for those interested.



Stability/Support: For how light these shoes seemed to feel, I had little issues with the stability of the shoe, even when making sharp cuts or slamming on the breaks near the net. The deeply-indented herringbone pattern initially made me think that the shoe would feel more like the Barricade 7s—disconnected from the court.

However, this wasn't the case and I experienced a much lower-to-the-ground feel, (which I enjoyed,) without sacrificing cushioning or comfort much at all. Moving laterally, I experienced no issues even with the slightly roomy toe box, although I did experience a small bit of toe jamming when making quick stops when moving into the court to the net. Wearing two pairs of socks helped in this regard.

Ventilation: The Rush Pro 2.5s offered better than expected ventilation. The thin mesh used in the upper around the toes was effective in allowing heat to escape quickly. My feet tend to get hot pretty quickly so this was a nice change from the Lunarballistec or even the Gel Resolution lines, where I think ventilation is one of their weaker points. Even on hotter days, the shoe performed well and I didn’t worry about foot slippage due to moisture.



Sole Durability: The Duralast material that makes up the upper squeaks quite a bit on court, but seems to be holding up nicely after 16 hours of wear. The deep herringbone pattern should give lasting traction and durability. There is some minor balding happening in my specific high-wear areas, (especially near the big toe on the left side,) but it is fairly normal for my kind of use.



Toe Durability: The toe guards on the medial side of the shoe has worn and results in a lighter gray color when scuffed. Similarly, the front of the upper has a similar rubber that prevents premature wear of the mesh. The material seems to be holding up well, but the material seems a bit thinner than some other shoes I’ve grown accustomed to.

Traction: These guys are pretty squeaky, reminding me of some older models in the Barricade line out of the box. The Rush Pro 2.5s offered a good mixture of give and grip throughout the playtest. Coming to a full stop offered no issues and some sliding was possible. Although I only played on hard court during the playtest, I believe the full herringbone would bode well on clay and hard-tru as well.



Weight: The size 11.5 Rush Pro 2.5s came in around 876 g. Since the weight of the shoe alone doesn’t tell the whole story, I always find this category a bit polarizing. The shoes felt light and fast on court, which is qualitative, but more important to me than any quantitative figure alone. The materials used seemed to be well thought out for the shoe, balancing weight and ventilation with stability and durability.



Cosmetics: The shoe looks better in person than what is shown online (and it doesn't look bad online!). The gray is much more welcome than something like a triple black shoe and the orange is nice and punchy with significant contrast with the gray and black on the outsole. The Rush Pro 2.5 has a really nice looking outsole and the profile of the shoe is really clean and "fast". As for downsides, there was some malformation of the front toe area rubber right out of the box, shown below.







The slight indent really didn’t affect how the shoes felt or preformed, but I hadn’t seen that kind of malformation before on a shoe. Moreover, I wish the “W” on the side of the shoe was a bit more stylized since I was especially impressed with Wilson’s attention to detail in the varied patterns used throughout the materials for the upper (below).



Other: The laces include with the shoes tend to be on the longer side, which I prefer. They are of good quality and are not flat laces. Double knotting the Rush Pro 2.5s is not a problem. The laces are so long, in fact, that you may end up damaging them when dragging your toe when moving laterally, which resulted in some minor fraying. Really not a big deal, but I just wanted to let people know switching the laces may be necessary after long-term wear.

General Reaction/Overall Performance: I did really enjoy this playtest because other than the few minor issues I came across, these shoes felt quick, performed well, and balanced many aspects making a tennis shoe elegantly. The attention to detail was apparent in the upper design. The only changes I would really recommend is making the tongue out of a spongier/thicker material or to make it longer and for the Wilson “W” to be a bit more stylized to match the otherwise very sleek and modern lateral side of the shoe. Lastly, I'd like to thank Tennis Warehouse and Wilson for making this playtest possible—and kudos to Wilson for a solid, balanced shoe that sacrifices very little and performs very well on-court.

 

[Thatshot]

Tennis experience/background: League player since 2009, I play at the 4.0/4.5 level, have 280+ matches under my belt. I spend 3 or 4 days a week out on court practicing, drilling, playing and coaching.

Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): I'm an all court player, big forehand, one handed backhand, aggressive from the baseline, hit with heavy spin, big serve with variety. In doubles I serve and volley most of the time.

Current shoe: Adidas Novak Pro (primary,) Babolat Propulse BPM, Asics Gel Resolution 7

How many hours did you play with the shoe? 50+ hours

Normal Size: 7.5

Play testing Size: 7.5

Comments on shoe performance:

-comfort: The Wilson Rush Pro was very comfortable right out of the box. As soon as I received them, the next day I used it in a match. The shoes did not take long to break in, I was very comfortable playing in them. Usually good comfort means less on performance but in this case the Wilson held up well. It has a good amount of cushion in it so I fell at ease playing on hard court. Compared to the Babolat BPM which has a very low to the ground feel and very hard on the knees and joints, the Wilson Rush Pro provided a very nice ride with plush cushion to absorb the shock of hard courts. It had a nice balance between comfort and stability. The Rush Pro had a high comfort level right out of the box, it was very impressive on lateral movements, sudden starts and stops. Vertical movements was very comfortable as well, my feet were never jammed against the shoes. After a 3 hour battle on court my feet were still feeling very fresh!

-arch support: arch support for these shoes feel about medium, my left foot was a perfect fit but the right feels it could use a little help. As I play with it more it got a little better but I'm still not quite as comfortable with the fit on the right side, maybe my feet are different. The left is perfect!

-stability/support: Once I saw how comfortable these shoes were and the great ventilation it had, I thought for sure the stability and support will suffer. In the matches that I've played in them, the Rush Pro proved they are worthy of being among the best of the performance shoes. Matches are the proving ground for gear and this is no exception, with all the split steps, sudden acceleration, deceleration, the Wilson performed superbly. Lateral movements felt solid with a excellent support, not once did I feel insecure with the shoes, it help up great to all the tough playing. The Rush Pro gave me the confidence in making all the moves I needed to make to compete under pressure.

-ventilation: Ventilation was excellent with the Wilson Rush Pro. In one of the intense matches I was in, all of my clothes were soaked and heavy with sweat but I noticed my feet still felt relatively dry and comfortable as compared to everything else. On hot days I was getting the same indication that these shoes had excellent performance in keeping my feet cool. I was quite impressed in how the shoes were able to keep my feet dry and the moisture manageable. This is definitely one of the strong points of the Wilson Rush Pro.

-sole durability: Sole durability is the one area which I felt these Wilsons could use a little help. It held up well with the court time I put into it and I can see a bit of wear in areas where I usually wear out the out soles. It may not be the all time most durable shoes in the market but it certainly held its own, with the 6 month guarantee that come with these shoes durability should not be an issue.

-toe durability: The toe durability is on par with other performance shoes in the market. I'm very hard on shoes and I don't see any excessive wear in the toe area. I like the extra protection Wilson added to areas where we see more wear and tear (side guards,) bottom line, toe durability is excellent!

-traction: Traction was excellent with these shoes, every time when I changed directions the shoes grab the court nicely, no slippage of any kind. The Asics GR 7 I had a problem with it sliding at times when I make a sudden move, the Rush Pro did not have any of those problems. In my experience, the Adidas Novak Pro (Barricade 7) is the best with traction performance, the Rush Pro is very close behind so good job here Wilson!

-weight: at 14.8 Oz compared to Adidas Novak Pro 15.3, Asics gel resolution 7 14.2 the Rush Pro have a nice solid feel to it and it does not feel heavy at all when moving around on the court, in fact it feels lighter than the stated weight. The high performance shoes sometimes feel a little too heavy and cumbersome but this wasn't the case with the Rush Pro. With the solid and stable feel it provided, the weight was just about perfect, not too heavy not too light.

General reaction/comments on overall performance: As soon as I received them, the next day I used it in a match in doubles. The match was a tough one and the shoes performed better than I had expected. I had great traction which gave me the confidence to play very aggressively with my movement, the shoes was very stable and the support was excellent so I know I will not hurt myself running around in these. Ventilation is very important to me, the Adidas had great support, excellent traction and all around play but ventilation is very poor which at times make the shoes very uncomfortable because my feet feels like it is burning up on a hot day. The Wilson Rush Pro did not have any of those problems, it was excellent in providing great ventilation which makes it a joy to wear on hot days. High performance shoes is a tricky business, its a fine balance to get everything just right and with the Wilson Rush Pro, Wilson has done a very fine job!

 

[Lack]

Tennis experience/background: Plays tennis everyday for fun and health
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): All court singles player

Current shoe: Nike Air Zoom Vapor X Wide
How many hours did you play with the shoe? 25+ hours on hard court only
Normal Size: 11 M
Playtesting Size: 11 M

Comments on shoe performance:

-comfort: 10/10 Initially, I've never felt this kind of comforting tennis shoes ever before. Without any break-in period, the toebox had good amount of space for my toes to feel very ease, unlike Nike Lunar Ballistec, which had narrow toebox and felt pain on my toes and top of my foot. This Wilson Rush Pro 2.5 has nice and soft cushion when landing split steps and even hard breaking for the wide balls. No blisters during the playtest.

-arch support: 10/10 I am slightly flat footed, and couple years ago, when I used to wear Ballistec, I felt some discomfort on the arch area. However, during this playtest, I didn't have any arch pain.

-stability/support: 9/10 Very nice tension on the midfoot to forefoot and feels snug and stable. The hill and ankle height area is too soft and flexible that it is easy to slip on and off; however, after tying the shoe laces tightly, they felt secured. One time I almost felt an ankle twist while playing with a Nike Vapor before, but currently I've had no problem playing with this Wilson Rush Pro 2.5.

-ventilation: 10/10 Weather here has been around 70s or below most of the time and my feet never felt sweaty during the matches.

-sole durability:9/10 Excellent durability. Outsole still looks great after over 25 hours of hitting. I usually wear out the outsole of Ballistec and Vapor after 2 - 3 months of playing tennis.

-toe durability: 9/10 I use my toes the most when playing tennis. Every single tennis shoes I've played with always wore out the toe part first to the point where it was making a hole.

-traction: 9/10 I only played on hard courts during the playtest. Quiet and soft shoes when moving around, but when breaking hard for the difficult shots, it holds tightly to my feet and makes loud squeaky sound. It is very easy to rotate your feet when swinging groundstrokes or slicing a ball.

-weight: 9/10 It is not a super light tennis shoes, like Nike Vapor, but closer to light weighted shoes.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:

Love the dark gray color and simple design. The shoe laces are long enough for a knot or two. I've only wore Nike tennis shoes since I have started playing tennis, but this Wilson Rush Pro 2.5 shoe feels and performs so much better than any Nike tennis shoes I've ever played with. I will be using Wilson Rush Pro 2.5 as my current shoe for tennis matches. Thank you Wilson and TW for this great opportunity to playtest an awesome shoe.

 

[133bp004]

Tennis experience and background: I've been playing for over 45 years, leagues, etc when younger. Mostly for recreation now.

Playing style: Primarily a baseliner.

Current shoe: Lotto Stratosphere

Hours played: Around 20.

Normal size: 8.5

Playtest size: 8.5

Comfort: Overall a comfortable shoe right out of the box. Plenty of cushion in the heel, but I would have preferred a little more cushion in the forefoot area. They do provide good court feel and a low to the ground ride. The materials on the upper where also comfortable, not at all stiff and conformed to my foot well.

Arch support: I found the arch support to be adequate. I have suffered from plantar fasciitis in the past and would have preferred a bit more torsional support in the arch area. That being said, it never bothered me.

Stability/Support: The shoes had good stability with no heal slippage. I felt locked in on all lateral moves and my foot never felt like it was shifting sideways out of the foot bed. Initially I did notice some forefoot slippage to the front of the shoe when stopping hard on forward movements and my toes did jam a few times.

Ventilation: I felt the shoes were on par for ventilation. My feet sweat a lot regardless of which shoe I'm wearing.

Sole durability: The sole appears to be very durable. Granted, I don't have the same aggressive movements as I did when I was younger, but so far durability seems to be a plus showing little wear.

Toe durability: After close inspection there is slightly more wear on the left shoe toe area, typically the area I wear through the fastest. However, it doesn't appear more than expected for hard court use.

Traction: Traction was very good, no slipping issues. Never made me feel hesitant on hard movements.

Weight: They seemed average for weight, never felt bulky or heavy. Felt like they played lighter than their actual weight.

General reaction/Comments: I found these to be a very good shoe. Liked the overall comfort and traction. Would have preferred a bit better arch support and more forefoot cushion. Overall, a solid well rounded shoe.

Thanks Wilson and TW for the opportunity to playtest these shoes.

 

[lidoazndiabloboi]

Tennis experience/background: 4.5 player that needs a lot more practice.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): All court player, I utilize my speed to try to take the ball as early as I can, and move into the net whenever the opportunity is there.

Current shoe: Nike Vapor 9/9.5/X
How many hours did you play with the shoe? 15-20hrs, about 7 sessions
Normal Size: size 9
Playtesting Size: size 9

Comments on shoe performance:

-comfort: These shoes felt stiff to me out of the box. I needed about 30 minutes of break in time. I wasn’t a fan of the paper thin tongue, as I am used to the more cushioned tongues from the Vapors. But the thin tongue wasn’t uncomfortable at all. Upper material felt a little plastic-y and tough to bend, but it was also sturdy and wrapped my foot up tightly. I didn’t like the one piece outsole as it lost a lot of flexibility. Felt difficult for my foot and toes to bend.

-arch support: I felt the arch support was neutral. It didn’t feel low like the Vapors or super high like Barricades. I had no pain in that area after using the shoe.

-stability/support: Once laced up, the shoe felt very stable. There was no movement inside the shoe from my feet. The upper wrapped around my foot very well. There was good support and cushion in the heel area.

-ventilation: I feel this shoe lacked in the ventilation area. I did not feel the mesh areas had much use. The uppers felt like it was trapping the heat inside the shoe, which wasn’t get on those hot days.

-sole durability: Not much wear on the outsole even after a few sessions. Seems like the rubber is long lasting

-toe durability: I am not much of a toe dragger, and not much wear was seen.

-traction: Above average traction. More than Vapors and not as much as Barricades. I personally like to slide on court, so these shoes have slightly too much traction for me.

-weight: A little heavier than I would like. I personally like shoes on the lighter side.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:
Overall, it is a decent shoe for all tennis players. I personally prefer the low to the ground, super flexible shoes like Nike Vapors, or the Babolat Jet. For players looking for something in between a super high performance speed shoe and a bulkier cushioned support shoe, I think this shoe is your answer. Also, this shoe comes with the 6 month warranty, so you wont have to worry about wearing down the shoes too early. There are also many great colors to choose from.

Thank you again to @TW Staff and Wilson for the opportunity to playtest!

 

[MadisonTennis]

Tennis Experience/Background: Have played tennis over 30 years in the SE and TX. 4.5 rated but now just play out of our club 3-4 times a week. Have spent the past 5 years volunteering to coach high school tennis where my son played. The boys team won a couple of state titles and the girls have been runner up. My son just graduated and is rated in the top 5 in the state but is not planning to play college tennis.
The boys team should win state for several years in the future. Most of the boys that will start are ranked anywhere from #1 to #5 in the state and they are all 7th-9th graders. The girls will be strong too.

Describe Your Playing Style: When I was younger I only played singles. Prefer to sit mainly at the baseline. Hit only topspin but will occasionally slice on the backhand side when stretched out wide. Now that I am in my 50s, I have moved to doubles which I have really enjoyed. I still prefer the baseline though. You will never see my serving and volleying unless I am up 40-0 or down 0-40.

Current Shoe: Anything my son decides not to wear. Actually I currently use Asics Speed 3 but I used the Babolat Purpulse 4 for years until I ran out of them. I tried several Babolat shoes since then but they just are not the same. I have a wide foot so there are several shoe brands that just do not fit my foot.

How Many Hours Did You Play With The Shoe: Well over 30 hours. Our club has hard courts, clay and indoor courts so I was able to use them on all surfaces as well as our school hard courts.

Normal Size: 9

Playtesting Size: 9

Comments On Shoe Performance

Comfort: 10/10 after an hour of break in. I will be honest when I first put them on, I was afraid they would not fit my foot well. The shoe felt too snug around the top where the tongue is located. However after a slight break in period, they really stretched to fit my foot well. They did stretch but not to the point where it took away from the performance. I feel very secure in the shoes and I now use them not only for tennis but for everyday wear. They are that comfortable to me.

Arch Support: 10/10 Again, they fit my foot perfectly. I have had issues in the past with certain brands that caused me to have to visit an orthopedic doctor and sidelined me for months. But I have had zero issues with the arch support in these shoes.

Stability/Support: 9/10 I have found this is my go to shoe on clay courts. Although I had no big issues on hard courts, I really think this shoe is perfect for clay courts in my opinion. They feel low to the ground and the herringbone design is perfect for clay courts. I never had any issues slipping on clay or hard courts but I just felt 100% confident in these shoes on clay.

Ventilation: 9/10 but also TBD. In the SE, it really gets humid this time of the year. I had no major issues with ventilation. I was a little concerned the dark color of the shoe would attract more heat but that was not the case. However, I really will have a better idea on ventilation in the upcoming months. I tend to sweat a lot so the next few months will give me a better read on ventilation but so far so good.

Sole Durability: 10/10 These shoes have great durability. I have to admit I have spent more time on clay versus hard courts but the soles are holding up very well. They should last well over 6 months for me. Great job Wilson.

Toe Durability: 9/10 I am a toe dragger on the serve so I am starting to see some wear on the right toe. Nothing major but there is some wear. I do not think this will be a long term issue though.

Traction: 10/10 on clay and 8/10 on hard or indoor courts. As previously mentioned, a great shoe for clay courts. On hard courts, it took me some time to adjust. They also feel like the grip the hard courts too much the first few weeks I used them. However I have found over time with some wear I feel more secure on hard courts.

Weight: 9/10 On clay courts, they are perfect. On hard courts, I would say they fit somewhere in between Asics Speeds and Babolat Propulse. They are faster on hard courts than Babolats but I feel like the Speeds are quicker on hard or indoor courts.

General Reaction/Comments On Overall Performance: I have to be honest I was a bit skeptical when I started the playtest. As mentioned earlier, the initial fit had me somewhat concerned. I have had a foot injury playing on indoor courts in the past and I really think it was because that previous shoe was too tight around the top of my foot. However after an hour of testing these shores out, all the concerns went away quickly. This is a great shoe and coming from someone that has not used Wilson shoes in a long time, I am very impressed with the performance of this shoe. I find it to be very supportive yet very comfortable to where I can use it for tennis or just everyday. Also I did not mention earlier but I have gotten lots of positive comments on the appearance of the shoe. I think Wilson did a good job with the outer color scheme to where players of all ages will find it to be a very nice looking shoe.

Thank you so much to Wilson and Tennis-Warehouse for this opportunity. I have been fortunate to be part of some playtests in the past but this was the most enjoyable one so far. Thanks again.

 

[TW Staff]

Thank you to all who participated in this playtest! We want to congratulate @kvan @styksnstryngs and @loosegroove for winning the special prize packages for their reviews! They have been contacted via email.

Thanks,
TW Staff

 

[styksnstryngs]

Thanks @TW Staff and Wilson for the stuff, I'll put it to good use this season.

 

[loosegroove]

Tennis experience/background: Played a bit as a kid and a year in high school, then returned to the game in my early 30’s. Now I’ve just hit my 40’s, but I am still relatively fit. Currently play rec and USTA matches at the 4.0-4.5 level.

Describe your playing style: From style of play to stroke mechanics, think of a vastly inferior David Ferrer, a 4.0 David Ferrer if you will. So a grinding, topspin heavy baseline game. I tend to cover a fair amount of court. Also play a lot of dubs, where I play more like an adapted singles player. I’m aggressive at net, but don’t frequently serve and volley or try to rush the net after returns, unless it’s really called for.

Current shoe: Asics Gel Resolution 7 (and occasionally Prince T22 Lites)

How many hours did you play with the shoe? 17

Normal Size: 11
Playtesting Size: 11

Comments on shoe performance:

-comfort: I initially requested a half size down at 10.5, since that was the original sizing recommendation of TW (although they amended that before the playtest and suggested sticking to your usual size). That was a mistake, as the shoes definitely run true to length. I would have been smashing my toes into the front of the toe box. Fortunately TW was great as always, and allowed me to exchange them for a size 11, which fit well. Slipping them on, I immediately was reminded of the comfort of the original Rush Pros courtesy of the integrated neoprene-like tongue and soft uppers; it was like slipping on a pair of booties. The Rush Pro 2.5’s offer a nice connected low to the ground feel, however as a trade off, there was not as much plush cushioning underfoot compared to the Asics GR7 or Prince T22 Lite. The cushioning was adequate, however I’d opt for a little more if given the choice. I could certainly feel the court more on the balls of my feet. The toe box was a comfortable medium fit, but initially I felt the midfoot was a little narrow, with the arch support a little too far back and high. This resulted in a little discomfort behind my arches towards my heel. Fortunately after a few outings on the court, they broke in, and it was no longer an issue. I did encounter some occasional toe jamming when coming to a hard stop, however it was not overly problematic.

-arch support: As I stated above, initially the arch support felt like it was completely in the wrong place for me. This resulted in some discomfort where the shoes’ arches were pushing into the flatter area of my feet, while providing a little less support for my actual arches. After the break-in and the shoes conforming to my feet, there was no longer any more discomfort, though I feel like I needed a smidgen more support under the peak of my arches.

-stability/support: Minus the arches, these shoes excelled in this department. After a brief break-in, the uppers and soles flexed nicely with my feet, all while providing the support and stability I expect in a premium shoe. The stability was further enhanced by the lower ride height. I felt confident with quick lateral movements on the court and jamming on the brakes when necessary. Though they are not as stable as my Gel Resolutions which feel more rigid.

-ventilation: The original Rush Pros may as well have been members of James Brown’s horn section, because they brought the funk! I never owned less breathable tennis sneakers, resulting in hot feet and stinky shoes. Fortunately the 2.5’s are certainly improved in this area, and it’s no longer like wearing mini saunas on your feet. Though they’re still not the most ventilated shoe if that’s a priority for you, as they still run a little warm.

-sole durability: It’s a little tough to say at this point in the playtest. However the the durability thus far seems very strong. I’m not noticing much wear at this juncture, even in my high wear areas under my big toes. I think sole durability is an improvement over the original Rush Pros for sure. We’ll see if these last as long as my Asics GR7’s, which have been taking me close to a full 6 months to get through to the midsole.

-toe durability: I’m no longer a ridiculous toe dragger on serve, so I’m putting less wear here lately. However, these shoes seem to be solid in the toe durability department as well. A definite improvement over the originals which exhibited wear on the toe guard pretty early on. I’d say they’re at least on par with what you’d expect from a typical 6 month durability shoe.

-traction: I’m not sure if it’s the rubber, the herringbone tread pattern, or a combination of both, but I find these shoes to be very grippy. Definitely more so than my Asics GR7’s or Prince T22 Lites. I was confident I would have traction when making quick changes of direction and I could stop on a dime. Though I was not fully accustomed to this level of grippiness, and prefer a little more give from my shoes and less required effort to ease into a slide. However the outsole grip was fairly consistent and linear in response, so the shoes felt predictable, and I didn’t find they were going from grippy to breaking traction unexpectedly at random thresholds. It just took a little getting used to. The extra traction may have also contributed to the minor toe jamming issue.

-weight: Although they weigh marginally more than my Asics GR7’s, I thought these shoes felt fast and relatively light, especially for a durability shoe. If I didn’t know any better, I would have guessed they weighed a tad less than my Asics. These definitely are not clunky feeling shoes.

General reaction/comments on overall performance:

The Wilson Rush Pro 2.5’s are a worthy consideration for the serious tennis player. I love the feel of the integrated tongue and soft uppers. They seem a little more performance oriented than the originals, and strike a nice balance of speed, stability, comfort, and durability in a low riding, aesthetically pleasing package. Though I would not recommend these to the player looking for maximum cushioning or superior breathability. I would be willing to sacrifice some of that fast feel and low ride, for a little extra cushioning myself; I’m not a spring chicken anymore. But I’m not generally a speed shoe guy, so take that into consideration. And given their attributes, I feel like these Wilsons could be my go-to Har-Tru shoes, but I’ve yet to have the opportunity to use them on anything but hardcourt.

Dang, just realized today that the pic I posted for this playtest didn't show for other peeps since it wasn't set to "share" on my Google photos. Guess that makes me pretty neurotic since I feel the need to edit it almost a year after the fact. But hopefully it also serves as a PSA, highlighting that pics which show fine for the poster (logged into their accounts on their respective devices), might not be visible to others.

 

[d-quik]

Lotto Stratosphere

Which generation of the strats have you used? Did the 4th generation get any wider than the previous ones?