Subscribed. Finally someone who also thinks about tennis shoes thoroughly! I refuse to buy shoes that don’t protect the laces on the medial side so I really dig what this shoe does to combat shaving laces off on slides
Wow, this is the most detailed review of tennis shoes I have ever seen. Thank you very much for taking the time to do this and I hope your channel grows. I have narrow feet so I am using the Asics court FF Novak which seems to fit my feet a better than others, even though I have to go 1/2 a size down now in Asics since all their new stuff seems to run long.
Thank you! Yes I've noticed with Asics they have changed their lasts to make them a tad wider an just bulkier/bigger/longer - id love to talk to some of their engineers to see their thought process behind it- maybe an idea for another video so thanks!
I’ve asked the question of Rene Zandbergen who is in charge of tennis shoe design for ASICS. “The lasts change every few years by a few millimetres based on user feedback.” The construction of the upper and midsole design plays much more into the fit and sizing. Depending on what they are trying to achieve with the shoe may tweak the fit and last.
I just picked up a pair of these that were a weartest sample for a former World No 1. Found they are possibly half a size long and needed a couple of hours break in for my larger foot. Great shoe so far : built like a tank.
They are uber durable and the upper padding is unmatched by any shoe I’ve worn- would just like a bit more responsiveness when having to make cuts otherwise I thought they were built very well
I just tried these shoes on yesterday. They have a very long and narrow last. These are the last shoes I'd recommend to someone with a wide foot, personally.
@@FootDoctorZach K Swiss pretty much have the caveman tennis player market covered, at the expense of their traditional market. I wish they didn't abandon their old lineup. I just read they were acquired by a big Chinese company. No wonder they've gone to crappola. :-(
I haven’t heard that - I still like certain models I just don’t like the heat trapping - which is what would prevent me from recommending them before anything else
You made a comment about buying a shoe if you have Achilles tendinitis or tight hamstrings. What characteristics in a shoe should one look for if that is the case? Any specific rec? Thanks for the videos!
You can check out this video, I have time stamps for all categories just search for what you need in particular and a few shoes should match, you’ll get a decent list of shoes to try for your individual foot : ruclips.net/video/SR184Qa2Ado/видео.html
Great video. Got a new pair and I've noticed that after wearing for about 5 minutes I'm getting pain on the outside of one of my feet that you describe in the video. I've had this with soccer cleats before, but it goes away after a few wears. Should that be the case with these? Because of a soccer injury, i normally get pain in the ball of one foot/big toe so I went with these that have more cushion in front vs the much lighter ubersonic 3's. Are there any other shoes you recommend that have the cushioning I'd need for my bad foot but maybe aren't as clunky or are these Nike's the best option?
Thanks! For ball of foot pain these are pretty good in terms of foam but not great in terms of the pinching - my favorite shoe for ball or foot pain is the Nike GP turbo followed by the SoleCourt boost - you also may want to throw in an orthotic just to redistribute the pressure along your forefoot
Thank you for replying! Not yet...I currently use Nike Vapor Zoom X and I like them now but I have to replace them very quickly so I find myself wasting a lot of money on these. So I was looking into this version hearing that they are similar but more durable...I very recently tried Adidas adizero shoes for about two or three weeks and they started giving me a weird pain on my right knee so I started looking at Nike again. Although I am very curious about ASICS more specifically the gel 8 and ff2. Odd thing is that when I first used vapor zoom x I had the worst blisters and chin splint pain but I kept using the shoe and I believe my legs got accustomed to it..I don’t know why I did that..
The vapor x have a lot of give in the arch so it can cause some straining in he legs- I like the court ff2 a lot- vapor cage 4’s weren’t my favorite just because of the bulk
Thanks for the review! I deal with HALLUX LIMITUS/RIGIDUS in both big toes. These shoes seem to have a somewhat stiff toe/forefoot area. Would these be a good tennis shoe for that issue? Thanks!
Great review! Would you recommend a EU size 45 or 46 (US 11 and 12 I believe) for a player with a wider foot? I change size depending on the shoes. Will a 46 be too long perhaps?
Thank you! So if you’re wide then go up the size just because of the lacing system it may give you issues at the 45- the shoe will be a tad long but you won’t want to be too wide for this shoe as the off center tongue will really bother you if you go smaller
I keep getting some kind of nerve pain in one of my toes on my right foot every time I wear nike tennis shoes whether they are the stability or speed ones. When i wear adidas tennis shoes like the barricades I don't get any pain. Do you recommend just to keep wearing Adidas tennis shoes
This is a all court shoes or just play in “hard court”? It’s possible play with shoes in saibro (clay court)? Thanks for the video, and sorry for my English (I’m Brazilian).
I wouldn’t use them for clay unless the clay is very well maintained- there are much better shoes you can get to play on clay even in the Nike family like the Vapor X
Yes, the only problem would be if the shape of your foot just doesn't match up with the shape of the shoe- especially this one because it has those midsole pieces that come up right over the pinky toe which may be the reason its aggravating your toe- if you go up a half size and it still is annoying your pinky toe either get a more padded sock, you can see my specific recommendations here: ruclips.net/video/KoeIxN_SmtI/видео.html , you can also stick some moleskin where its rubbing you inside the toe box, or if its still annoying you then switch to a shoe with a wider toe box- you could also just try stretching the toe box out by stuffing it with some tennis balls for a few days to loosen up the materials before you buy a new shoe- hope this helps!
I know this is an old video Zach. But would these work on basketball courts? I’ve always seen BBall shoes used for tennis. But what about Tennis shoes that can be used for Bball. 🍻
It’s 1.5 yrs since the review so the model has been updated i think twice - the Rafa is now all black I believe and theres also a blue and white but this one is out I’m pretty sure
Hello, I have huge problem with shoes i tried NikeCourt Air Zoom Vapor X but my foot/ankle go to center ( right foot go to left side) and its so uncomfortable, i also ordered NikeCourt Air Zoom GP Turbo in same size but its way to narrow. Do you think Nike Air Zoom Vapor Cage 4 will solve the problem ? or do you have another recomenadion? Thanks for video alot!
I have been playing the gp turbo but find it fits long in my regular size 11....I love the cushion ing my question is does the cage 4 cushion compare to the turbo? I nostly play on my toes ....thank for the great content Doc!
Hello doc, Im glad that we have your knowledge! I had the gp for 2 month amazing shoe love the plush, the problem was the durability (aggressive toe dragger). Now have the court ff 2, very good shoe but they low to the ground for me. (Have Achilles problem) Looking for shoe that have the comport and the height of the gp turbo, and the durability of the court ff 2? Any suggestions? K swiss ultra shot 3? Vapor cage 4? Something alse? Thanks for everything
Yeah i should have watched these before.Bought these shoes but it is impossible to get inside. they are so thight because of the 3 way tongue. Thanks for the video. I will stick with my GP turbo
Alright, brutal honesty time. I tried on every pair of Asics and all of them had the toe box crunch over on the top. I love the tongue and feel on the Cage 4’s but I have a narrow foot. I haven’t tried the Yonex comparable but am interested in it. Thoughts?
It seems like its the polyurethane thats bothering you, the Yonex has a similar upper so you may be annoyed by it but I certainly like them for narrow feet- the GP turbo has a softer upper which may not give you that crunch you're describing
For tennis shoes: adidas solecourt boost or court ff 2 - for orthotics check out my best orthotics for tennis video and for customs I recommend a deep heel cup and reinforced medial arch platform - hope that’s what you were looking for
I order these and after playtesting them my feet hurt. I have a wide foot but it looks like the two piece tongue killed my feet. My nerve hurt and my heel hurts. Such a sad thing because I love the styling of the shoe.
Yeah that two piece tongue puts quite a bit of pressure on certain foot types- sad because they are nice looking shoes with some other thoughtful features
Yeah it’s sucks :( I have played for a bit with the Ubersonic 2 and so far they are my favorite but I wanted to go back to Nike. Do you think the Air Zoom GP turbo are more forgiving? @@FootDoctorZach
The Tennis Pro Doc So I went ahead and ordered the GP turbo and I totally agree with your review of that shoe. They are bouncy, quick and comfortable! In my opinion one of the best Nike shoe since the original Vapor :P. Thanks for your replies and for the videos. Great channel!
Thanks for the feedback and follow up! I love hearing how shoes perform with different players- I was ready to not like these when I bought them and now they’re a favorite of mine
hate that nike are rolling out this new look tennis design. they look like f**king basketball shoes and from reading the comments below they seem to be clunky and uncomfortable. Bring back the old vapor designs, those were the best
Unfortunately I tend to agree I like the GP turbo and the Vapor X but the vapor cage 4’s to me look like they tried EVERY piece of technology they could find and just blended it up and it just plays clunky and slow
@@FootDoctorZach It was stupid of me to not buy a 2nd pair of air zoom vapor x when they were cheap. I'm literally looking on every tennis site to see if they have my size 😓 . I might have a look at the adidas ubersonics they look pretty good
Just get a pair of basketball shoes. I wouldn't play in these shoes unless you only play outdoors. If you play indoors, get a shoe with a outsole for indoor surfaces.
I have had 6 pairs of these shoes, they are phenomenal, no cramping at all as mentioned at the beginning. Cushioning is awesome, stability perfect, comfortable shoes all around. And durability is exceptional. I'm so sad these shoes are not available anymore. I stocked myself with 4 more pairs so I can play with those for 2-3 years. This is from my experience, each player can have different foot shape.
Check out the Teardown of the Vapor Cage 4 here: ruclips.net/video/BKvm_zQPz3c/видео.html
Good to see a detailed review from a foot doctor. It really helps when deciding on buying a pair. 👍🏽👍🏽
Thanks for the kind words- glad you enjoy the content- if there are any shoes you’d like to see just let me know
The Tennis Pro Doc Asics Court FF 2 Novak next please 👟👟😎
They’re coming this week sometime so should be within the next 2 weeks
The Tennis Pro Doc 🙏🏽 Will be waiting for more reviews 😎
Subscribed. Finally someone who also thinks about tennis shoes thoroughly! I refuse to buy shoes that don’t protect the laces on the medial side so I really dig what this shoe does to combat shaving laces off on slides
Thanks welcome to the community! Yeah the hard court sliding Is a new problem all these companies are going to need to deal with in the coming decade
Wow, this is the most detailed review of tennis shoes I have ever seen. Thank you very much for taking the time to do this and I hope your channel grows. I have narrow feet so I am using the Asics court FF Novak which seems to fit my feet a better than others, even though I have to go 1/2 a size down now in Asics since all their new stuff seems to run long.
Thank you! Yes I've noticed with Asics they have changed their lasts to make them a tad wider an just bulkier/bigger/longer - id love to talk to some of their engineers to see their thought process behind it- maybe an idea for another video so thanks!
The Tennis Pro Doc I’m on a zoom call tomorrow with Asics head of tennis shoe marketing/design and Alex DeMinaur. I’ll see what I can find out.
Very cool!
I’ve asked the question of Rene Zandbergen who is in charge of tennis shoe design for ASICS. “The lasts change every few years by a few millimetres based on user feedback.” The construction of the upper and midsole design plays much more into the fit and sizing. Depending on what they are trying to achieve with the shoe may tweak the fit and last.
Awesome that you got the info right from the source
Mildwest tennis called and they want their video back 😉. Great channel tho. Super underrated. I hope you get the attention you deserve.
Haha thank you!
I love the look of this shoe. What do you think about using it to hoop?
I just picked up a pair of these that were a weartest sample for a former World No 1. Found they are possibly half a size long and needed a couple of hours break in for my larger foot. Great shoe so far : built like a tank.
They are uber durable and the upper padding is unmatched by any shoe I’ve worn- would just like a bit more responsiveness when having to make cuts otherwise I thought they were built very well
I’d love to see a comparison between the cage 4’s and the adidas stycon
They are vastly different shoes but both very heavy so it could be a fun video I’ll look into it
I just tried these shoes on yesterday. They have a very long and narrow last. These are the last shoes I'd recommend to someone with a wide foot, personally.
Yep especially if you are wide in the midfoot more than forefoot
@@FootDoctorZach K Swiss pretty much have the caveman tennis player market covered, at the expense of their traditional market. I wish they didn't abandon their old lineup. I just read they were acquired by a big Chinese company. No wonder they've gone to crappola. :-(
I haven’t heard that - I still like certain models I just don’t like the heat trapping - which is what would prevent me from recommending them before anything else
You made a comment about buying a shoe if you have Achilles tendinitis or tight hamstrings. What characteristics in a shoe should one look for if that is the case? Any specific rec? Thanks for the videos!
You can check out this video, I have time stamps for all categories just search for what you need in particular and a few shoes should match, you’ll get a decent list of shoes to try for your individual foot : ruclips.net/video/SR184Qa2Ado/видео.html
Great video. Got a new pair and I've noticed that after wearing for about 5 minutes I'm getting pain on the outside of one of my feet that you describe in the video. I've had this with soccer cleats before, but it goes away after a few wears. Should that be the case with these? Because of a soccer injury, i normally get pain in the ball of one foot/big toe so I went with these that have more cushion in front vs the much lighter ubersonic 3's. Are there any other shoes you recommend that have the cushioning I'd need for my bad foot but maybe aren't as clunky or are these Nike's the best option?
Thanks! For ball of foot pain these are pretty good in terms of foam but not great in terms of the pinching - my favorite shoe for ball or foot pain is the Nike GP turbo followed by the SoleCourt boost - you also may want to throw in an orthotic just to redistribute the pressure along your forefoot
This is a great informative and organized video
Thank you! Are you playing in these now?
Thank you for replying! Not yet...I currently use Nike Vapor Zoom X and I like them now but I have to replace them very quickly so I find myself wasting a lot of money on these. So I was looking into this version hearing that they are similar but more durable...I very recently tried Adidas adizero shoes for about two or three weeks and they started giving me a weird pain on my right knee so I started looking at Nike again. Although I am very curious about ASICS more specifically the gel 8 and ff2. Odd thing is that when I first used vapor zoom x I had the worst blisters and chin splint pain but I kept using the shoe and I believe my legs got accustomed to it..I don’t know why I did that..
The vapor x have a lot of give in the arch so it can cause some straining in he legs- I like the court ff2 a lot- vapor cage 4’s weren’t my favorite just because of the bulk
Do tear downs of nadals past shoes! Specifically the courtballistecs... I’d love to see the cushion setup
I actually may be getting one of his old shoes he was using on court so hopefully that comes through
Thanks for the review! I deal with HALLUX LIMITUS/RIGIDUS in both big toes. These shoes seem to have a somewhat stiff toe/forefoot area. Would these be a good tennis shoe for that issue? Thanks!
Great review! Would you recommend a EU size 45 or 46 (US 11 and 12 I believe) for a player with a wider foot? I change size depending on the shoes. Will a 46 be too long perhaps?
Thank you! So if you’re wide then go up the size just because of the lacing system it may give you issues at the 45- the shoe will be a tad long but you won’t want to be too wide for this shoe as the off center tongue will really bother you if you go smaller
@@FootDoctorZach Cheers mate, and thanks for the quick response!
👍👍👍
@FootDoctorZach
I have worn these for a couple years. I am having some hamstring tightness. Would this shoe be adding to the problem?
This ok for Padel ?
very informative video especially since i am suffering from a chronic achilles tenonditis and i will avoid those shoes.
Thank you 👍That’s probably a good call
Do they work on a basketball court ?
I need to know this as well they look just like the Kyrie 4 low
I keep getting some kind of nerve pain in one of my toes on my right foot every time I wear nike tennis shoes whether they are the stability or speed ones. When i wear adidas tennis shoes like the barricades I don't get any pain. Do you recommend just to keep wearing Adidas tennis shoes
This is a all court shoes or just play in “hard court”? It’s possible play with shoes in saibro (clay court)? Thanks for the video, and sorry for my English (I’m Brazilian).
Ps.: in Brazil don’t sale the clay version :(
I wouldn’t use them for clay unless the clay is very well maintained- there are much better shoes you can get to play on clay even in the Nike family like the Vapor X
The Tennis Pro Doc thank you.
Any time👍
Do you recomend this shoes por a Padel Court (its similar to a clay court)
I got blisters on my pinky toe because I went half size down with these would u recommend me going back up half a size? Thanks
Yes, the only problem would be if the shape of your foot just doesn't match up with the shape of the shoe- especially this one because it has those midsole pieces that come up right over the pinky toe which may be the reason its aggravating your toe- if you go up a half size and it still is annoying your pinky toe either get a more padded sock, you can see my specific recommendations here: ruclips.net/video/KoeIxN_SmtI/видео.html , you can also stick some moleskin where its rubbing you inside the toe box, or if its still annoying you then switch to a shoe with a wider toe box- you could also just try stretching the toe box out by stuffing it with some tennis balls for a few days to loosen up the materials before you buy a new shoe- hope this helps!
Id guess if you got blisters then, yes, durr, go up half a size
As soon as you start sliding in these on hard courts the durability is gone...
Yep no one has cracked the code for ultimate rubber durability + sliding ease without going too sticky or too slick yet- Asics is close
@@FootDoctorZach Air Zoom Zero handled it quite well, except I had to change the laces frequently...
Im gonna cut the nike swoosh on my nike shoes now to looks like they rafa limited
I know this is an old video Zach. But would these work on basketball courts? I’ve always seen BBall shoes used for tennis. But what about Tennis shoes that can be used for Bball. 🍻
Don't reccomend it for actual playing but u can just shoot in them for abit
Would love to see a review on Yonex Fusion Rev 4..please!
👍
Can’t seem to find these anywhere can I ask what was the exact model bame
It’s 1.5 yrs since the review so the model has been updated i think twice - the Rafa is now all black I believe and theres also a blue and white but this one is out I’m pretty sure
How do you know if they are limited edition?
They are the French Open colorway - Nike made the colorway a limited edition
Thanks👍
Do you think these could be used for basketball out of curiosity
Yup- outdoors
Hello, I have huge problem with shoes i tried NikeCourt Air Zoom Vapor X but my foot/ankle go to center ( right foot go to left side) and its so uncomfortable, i also ordered NikeCourt Air Zoom GP Turbo in same size but its way to narrow. Do you think Nike Air Zoom Vapor Cage 4 will solve the problem ? or do you have another recomenadion? Thanks for video alot!
I have been playing the gp turbo but find it fits long in my regular size 11....I love the cushion ing my question is does the cage 4 cushion compare to the turbo? I nostly play on my toes ....thank for the great content Doc!
GP has more if you look at both teardowns
Would these be a good shoe for indoor squash courts ?
Not IMO
@@FootDoctorZach do you have a shoe that you would recommend for indoor squash courts?
Hardwood?
Do you know what orthotics are best for these for flat arch?
Hello doc, Im glad that we have your knowledge!
I had the gp for 2 month amazing shoe love the plush, the problem was the durability (aggressive toe dragger).
Now have the court ff 2, very good shoe but they low to the ground for me. (Have Achilles problem)
Looking for shoe that have the comport and the height of the gp turbo, and the durability of the court ff 2?
Any suggestions? K swiss ultra shot 3? Vapor cage 4? Something alse?
Thanks for everything
The best fit for that would be the ultrashot 3- I’m not a huge fan of the VC4
@@FootDoctorZach thank you ! You are the best
👍👍
Yeah i should have watched these before.Bought these shoes but it is impossible to get inside. they are so thight because of the 3 way tongue.
Thanks for the video. I will stick with my GP turbo
Yeah it ruins the fit unfortunately
Alright, brutal honesty time. I tried on every pair of Asics and all of them had the toe box crunch over on the top.
I love the tongue and feel on the Cage 4’s but I have a narrow foot. I haven’t tried the Yonex comparable but am interested in it. Thoughts?
It seems like its the polyurethane thats bothering you, the Yonex has a similar upper so you may be annoyed by it but I certainly like them for narrow feet- the GP turbo has a softer upper which may not give you that crunch you're describing
Any recommendations for overpronation?
For tennis shoes: adidas solecourt boost or court ff 2 - for orthotics check out my best orthotics for tennis video and for customs I recommend a deep heel cup and reinforced medial arch platform - hope that’s what you were looking for
@@FootDoctorZach Thanks!
👍👍 any time
Can I use this for cross fit as well?
I don’t see why not
I order these and after playtesting them my feet hurt. I have a wide foot but it looks like the two piece tongue killed my feet. My nerve hurt and my heel hurts. Such a sad thing because I love the styling of the shoe.
Yeah that two piece tongue puts quite a bit of pressure on certain foot types- sad because they are nice looking shoes with some other thoughtful features
Yeah it’s sucks :(
I have played for a bit with the Ubersonic 2 and so far they are my favorite but I wanted to go back to Nike. Do you think the Air Zoom GP turbo are more forgiving? @@FootDoctorZach
For sure- GP turbo is a three piece tongue plus very light and stretchy upper materials- definitely not as forgiving as the Ubersonics though
The Tennis Pro Doc So I went ahead and ordered the GP turbo and I totally agree with your review of that shoe. They are bouncy, quick and comfortable! In my opinion one of the best Nike shoe since the original Vapor :P. Thanks for your replies and for the videos. Great channel!
Thanks for the feedback and follow up! I love hearing how shoes perform with different players- I was ready to not like these when I bought them and now they’re a favorite of mine
Ate they good for basketball?
As good as tennis shoes come
@@FootDoctorZach thanks
Are these shoes okay for me if i have a broad foot?
Cheers!
Not in my opinion, no
Can you test the air zoom zéro please
Thanks for all
If Nike continues the line into 2021 ill pick a pair up- not sure if they will keep selling them now with the GP Turbo out
hate that nike are rolling out this new look tennis design. they look like f**king basketball shoes and from reading the comments below they seem to be clunky and uncomfortable. Bring back the old vapor designs, those were the best
Unfortunately I tend to agree I like the GP turbo and the Vapor X but the vapor cage 4’s to me look like they tried EVERY piece of technology they could find and just blended it up and it just plays clunky and slow
@@FootDoctorZach It was stupid of me to not buy a 2nd pair of air zoom vapor x when they were cheap. I'm literally looking on every tennis site to see if they have my size 😓 . I might have a look at the adidas ubersonics they look pretty good
Can you play basketball in these?
I’m sure you can , they may be a little soft for basketball though
Just get a pair of basketball shoes. I wouldn't play in these shoes unless you only play outdoors. If you play indoors, get a shoe with a outsole for indoor surfaces.
Maximalist tennis shoes are good for outdoor basketball but yeah indoor hardwood usually needs an actual basketball tread to make cuts
What about lotto mirage
They’re on my list - probably after the French open
I have had 6 pairs of these shoes, they are phenomenal, no cramping at all as mentioned at the beginning. Cushioning is awesome, stability perfect, comfortable shoes all around. And durability is exceptional. I'm so sad these shoes are not available anymore. I stocked myself with 4 more pairs so I can play with those for 2-3 years. This is from my experience, each player can have different foot shape.
I play basketball they look like a kyrie 4 low I might buy them for basketball 😂
Rafa has not been wearing these shoes.
Yup- made a video on it: ruclips.net/video/Q4Wh9omt8mI/видео.html
why doesnt a single pro use this shoe?
Check the date on the video
Should I get vapor cage 4 or gp turbo for outdoor basketball?
I actually made a video on that - hope it helps ruclips.net/video/sD1nSJgK96Q/видео.html
@@FootDoctorZach so the gp turbo then