So, I got my hands on these so-called ‘concept tennis shoes’ a while back. Wasn’t something I bought. A buddy of mine, working at this little sports tech place, gave them to me. Said they were trying out some wild ideas and wanted real feedback from someone who actually plays, not just lab tests.
First time I pulled them out of the box, I just kinda stared. They looked… well, different. Not ugly, exactly, but definitely not like my usual Asics or Nikes. The shape was a bit off, the materials felt strange. Almost too light, you know? Made me wonder if they’d even last a couple of hard sets.
Putting them to the Test
Anyway, I thought, what the heck, might as well give them a proper go. Laced them up the next Saturday morning. Felt weird on my feet right away. Not uncomfortable, just… unfamiliar. Like my feet didn’t quite know where they were supposed to sit.
Went out to the local court. Started with some warm-ups, just moving around, feeling them out. They were definitely light, I’ll give them that. Felt like I was barely wearing anything. But the support felt kinda flimsy, especially around the ankle when I made quick side steps.
Played a couple of sets with my regular hitting partner. Here’s what I noticed:
- Grip: It was inconsistent. On some movements, it felt super sticky, almost too much. On others, especially quick pivots, I felt a little slip. Very strange pattern.
- Cushioning: Felt okay under the heel, but the front part? Almost nothing. After about an hour, the balls of my feet started to feel it.
- The ‘Concept’ part: They had this weird mesh thing on the side. Supposedly for ‘dynamic ventilation’ or something. Honestly, I didn’t feel much difference in cooling, but I did feel my foot push against it awkwardly on hard lunges. Seemed more gimmick than function.
Compared them to my trusty old pair I had in my bag. My old shoes felt heavier, yeah, but way more solid. Predictable. I knew exactly how they’d react. With these concept ones, it was always a bit of a guess.
Final Thoughts
So, after a few more tries over the next couple of weeks, I went back to my friend. Told him straight up. They’re interesting, but not practical. At least not yet. They felt like someone designed them on a computer without spending enough time actually playing in them. Too focused on being ‘new’ and ‘different’ and forgot about the basics of what a tennis player needs: reliable support, consistent grip, decent cushioning.
It’s cool that companies are trying new things, pushing boundaries. We need that. But you gotta nail the fundamentals first. These concept shoes? They weren’t quite there. Maybe the next version will be better. For now, I’m sticking with what works.
