I have been testing a lot of tennis shoes lately and one that I was extra excited about is the Lacoste AG-LT 23.

Lacoste AG-LT 23

The Lacoste AG-LT 23 is Lacoste's premium shoe for support and stability, according to Tennis Warehouse Europe. Like most things Lacoste, it is very stylish.

The shoe is used/endorsed by Daniil Medvedev and has his logo and name on the shoe, which is a cool detail for Daniil fans. I have only tested it once on Plexipave courts but enjoyed it quite a lot. It felt fast, yet supportive. I am not yet sure about the cushioning/dampening part, which is one of the most important considerations for me, who struggle with some knee issues.

I will need more time to investigate that part, but the combination of speed and support with great looks is so far a winner. The durability is another area that remains to be seen.

Let's look at some specifications of the Lacoste AG-LT 23. Stay tuned for a full review here on Tennisnerd and on my YouTube channel. You can purchase a pair at Tennis Warehouse.

It will be interesting to compare these to the Nike Vapor Pro 2, for example.

Specifications

The stability of this shoe is achieved through a combination of the chassis in the midsole, a heel stabilizer, as well as the cage system integrated in the upper. The lightweight and speedy aspects are accomplished through the woven mesh upper, lightweight foam in the midsole, and the dual midsole construction, which cuts down on mass in the mid-region of the sole. A molded rubber toe guard helps to provide protection from dragging, while the grip-enhancing rubber compound on the outsole supplies excellent traction and durability on various surfaces.

Upper: Lightweight leno weave TPU mesh upper for support, durability, and comfortable fit.
Midsole: Lacoste Super Responsive Foam (LSR) made from Lightweight Pebax ETPU under the forefoot provides comfort and energy return.
Outsole: Modified herringbone pattern with Linegrip rubber compound for multi-directional traction and durability on various court surfaces.
Color: White / Red / Navy

Fit

Length: Slightly short. I ordered a half-size up and it worked great.
Width: Medium
Arch: Medium
Break-in: None
Weight: 421 grams (US size 10.5)

This can be confusing to some consumers, but why is there a Nike Vapor Pro 2 and a Vapor 11? Find out more in this Nike Vapor 11 Review.

Nike Vapor 11 Review

For this Nike Vapor 11 Review, I tried the clay court version on the Spanish clay. Before we dive into the review, I want to thank my friends at Tennis Warehouse Europe for sending these for test (at the time of writing these shoes are on sale over there).

First of all, how are these different to the Vapor Pro 2? Well, these seem more stable and heavy to me, while the Vapor Pro 2 is faster but offers a little less in terms of stability and cushioning.

Fit

Components

• Upper: Breathable and durable mesh upper material provides support, durability, and ventilation. The inner layer for extra support where needed, and the outer provides a thin overlay to help with durability—half inner sleeve for easy on and off.
• Midsole: Zoom Air unit for comfort and added spring into your step—molded sidewall to enhance lateral support and stability.
• Outsole: A data-informed outsole supplies a nice blend of grip and give and is built to withstand the force of sliding. Thicker tread in high-wear zones for added durability.
• Color: See below for color options.

Options

The lineage of the Nike Vapor carries on, and is back better than ever with the Nike Zoom Vapor 11! This evolution of the Vapor blends the perfect balance of feeling low and connected to the court, while also providing a significant amount of cushioning underfoot, to help provide the comfort for those long grinding matches. Compared to the Vapor Pro 2, this Vapor 11 feels a bit more stable due to the molded sidewall, allowing for more aggressive cuts and push-offs. A forefoot Zoom Air unit helps to spring you forward, while a breathable upper helps to keep you cool for the long matches. A data-informed outsole supplies a nice blend of grip and give, and is built to withstand the force of sliding.

How do they play?

First of all, they feel very solid. My semi-arched foot felt happy straight away. You feel locked in, in a similar way to the Pro 2, but the overall package feels sturdier. I feel like these react less well to aggressive movers (Alcaraz-style) that move fast and slide around but work better for the average player. I think most higher-level players will prefer the Vapor Pro 2.

However, these seem more durable. There are lots of foam and reinforcements, and I think most players will break the Vapor Pro 2 faster than the 11.

These are quite similar to the Vapor Pro 2 in several ways but seem sturdier with more foam and better durability. These also make them more expensive, which is a bit peculiar considering that when you use the word “Pro”, you most often relate it to a higher price point/performance.

Summary

Ultimately, I am unsure which shoes I like the most, the speedier, more low-to-the-ground feel of the Vapor Pro 2, or the sturdier, more stable, and comfort-oriented Vapor 11. In the end, the Vapor Pro 2 ended up not working so well for me, and I did have some stiffness in my legs after using them. I am not exactly sure why, it could be that I have the wrong foot type for the Vapor Pro 2 or that they lack some form of cushioning. This has not happened for me with the Vapor 11, so I consider them a better alternative overall for most players.

Stability and durability are both excellent on the Vapor 11, but you sometimes feel like the shoes lack a bit of bounce and spring to them. If you move side to side and even slide on clay, the shoes perform very well, but I am not sure I would go for these on a hard court as they don't seem to absorb shock under the foot well.

Overall, these shoes are good; I will keep using them on the red dirt. I think they do most things well, but nothing exceptional. If they had a bit more bounce and cushioning to them, I think they would be excellent, but they fall just short of that.

The Vapor 11 is a solid shoe release from Nike and I think many players will find a lot to like. But I lacked a bit of wow factor and speed on the court.

The Vapor series progresses. If you like the Nike Vapor Pro, you will love its predecessor. This is my Nike Vapor Pro 2 Review.

Nike Vapor Pro 2 Review

The Vapor series is going strong. Nike now have three models in the line-up: Nike Vapor Pro, Vapor 11, and Vapor 9.5. I have tested both the Vapor Pro 2, which in my mind, is a significant improvement, and the Vapor 11. This focuses on the Nike Vapor Pro 2 Review.

Although I liked it a lot, I struggled with the Nike Vapor Pro a bit. I lacked some cushioning and dampening and felt very close to the court surface. This can be good to some, but with my sensitive knees, I lacked a bit of support and comfort with those shoes. I liked the design and used them at the gym for a year or so, but I wasn't as happy with them on the tennis court. On the new Vapor Pro 2, they have added an Air Zoom unit in the forefoot, which is a game-changer for the Vapor Pro.

Construction

Upper: Stretchy internal sleeve and mesh for two layers of support; breathable. Asymmetrical lacing hugs feet during lateral movements.
Midsole: Air Zoom unit in the forefoot and soft foam midsole for responsive cushioning and a low-to-the-ground feel. A full-length foot frame on the lateral side adds stability.
Outsole: A data-informed herringbone tread pattern for a good balance of grip and give. Rubber has been removed from low-wear areas to reduce weight.

Fit Details

Length: True to size
Width: Snug Medium
Arch: Medium
Break-in: Slight
Weight: 405 grams (size 10.5 US)

How do they play?

In my opinion, these are a significant improvement from the first Vapor Pros. The cushioning, dampening and comfort is much better. The previous ones felt a bit hard on my feet, but these are softer and I have so far had no complains from my knees.

For my feet, the heel feels not quite snug enough for max stability. That would be my only peeve with these shoes. Otherwise, they are the best Vapors I have tried since the 9.5, but I have not used the 9.5 in many years, so hard to compare. They also look great in my opinion.

The Nike Vapor Pro 2 feels like a real winner to me, but check other reviews, because our feet are all different.

You can purchase them or other shoes or tennis gear from my friends at Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe, and Tennis Only.

Confession: I've never been a huge fan of Adidas tennis shoes. But this Adidas Cybersonic Review can change my mind.

Adidas Cybersonic Review

The full name of these shoes is Adidas Adizero Cybersonic, but product names are so long these days so I shortened it for simplicity. The Adidas Cybersonic is a lightweight shoe made to maximize player speed. Like with all tennis shoe marketing copy, the advertising says it does everything well, but I would say it is a shoe made for speed, not for dampening.

What is interesting about the Adidas Cybersonic shoes is the Energyrods placed in the heel of these shoes to provide an energy return while you sprint without adding a lot of weight to the shoe. Let's look at the construction of the shoe, courtesy of Tennis Warehouse and Tennis Warehouse Europe (they are also available from Tennis Only in Australia).

What tennis shoes should you get? The choice is seemingly endless. But this Babolat Propulse Fury 3 review impressed me.

Babolat Propulse Fury 3 Review

I am always on the lookout for a shoe with great comfort and stability. My knees are a bit worn down after playing tennis on hard courts for most of my life and many years of running, including marathons. So I am often looking for max support.

The Babolat Propulse Fury 3 impressed me with its comfort. They have increased the EVA Foam in the midsole, which, in addition to the Ortholite comfort foam insoles, creates some great cushioning for your foot.

I also could move fast in these shoes with good stability thanks to the Michelin premium rubber formula on the outsole that offers great traction. The durability also seems excellent and a six-month outsole durability guarantee backs the shoe.

Technical details

Upper: Power Belt technology locks in the heel and midfoot with an external shell for stability.
Midsole: EVA midsole has been increased from previous versions for good cushioning, support, and responsiveness under the foot.  KPRS-X offers increased shock absorption.
Outsole: Michelin's premium rubber formula, with dense zones in high-wear regions and less density in strategic areas to cut down on weight.

Fit Details

Length: True
Width: Generous Medium
Arch: Medium
Break-in: Slight
Surface: Hard (all court
Durability Guarantee: Yes
Weight: 14.4 ounces (US size 10.5)

Summary

The Babolat Propulse Fury 3 has become my new favorite hard court tennis shoe. The cushioning is excellent. I get good grip on the tennis court and even after a two hour session my knees does not hurt. This shoe surprised me with awesome playability and fit for my feet. The break-in was pretty immediate and they also look great.

I don't have anything negative to say about the new Babolat Propulse 3 all-court tennis shoes. They are just top notch for my feet and allow me to play pain-free.

You can purchase the Babolat Propulse Fury 3 tennis shoes at our friends at Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe, and Total Pickleball.

Check out other new and exciting tennis shoes here. More tennis shoe reviews to come!

There are loads of new tennis shoes on the market at the moment. We hope to be testing a bunch of them! Here is an overview.

New Tennis Shoes

The tennis season has started, and there are loads of new shoes on the market. Let's have a look at some of them. I'm keen to hear from you, fellow tennis nerds, what you think about these (if you have tried them).

Nike Vapor 11

New Vapors! Most tennis players know this line of shoes from Nike. But tennis shoe nerds seem to love the Vapor 9.5s the most. However, it's always a big deal when a new generation is released. Check out the new Nike Vapor 11.

This is what Tennis Warehouse writes: Cushy midsole, and speedy design; a more stable and supportive option in the Vapor family.

How are these different from the new Vapor Pro 2? Compared to the Vapor Pro 2, this Vapor 11 feels more stable due to the molded sidewall, allowing for more aggressive cuts and push-offs.

Vapor Pro 2

I enjoyed the Vapor Pro, but lacked cushioning to play with them regularly. Read my Nike Vapor Pro review.

Nike has kept what you loved about the previous Vapor Pro and added an Air Zoom unit in the forefoot for added comfort.

Find out more about the Nike Vapor Pro 2.

Asics Gel Resolution 9

Another iconic tennis shoe line getting an update is the Asics Gel Resolution 9. I have been a fan of some of the previous generations like the Asics Gel Resolution 7, for example, and I also tested version 8. Tennis Warehouse writes this: High performance stability, and durability, with improved flexibility and comfort compared to previous versions.

I hope to test these shoes at some point. But despite reading reviews, remember that shoe is a lot about the personal fit.

Asics Court FF 3

If you want to slide around on a hard court like Novak Djokovic, the Asics Court FF 3 can be your friend. It has a speedy feel, loads of support, and perfect for hard court sliders! 

I've gotten a lot of questions about the shoes I've been playing in lately. Here is my Yonex FusionRev 4 Tennis Shoe Review.

Yonex FusionRev 4 tennis shoe review

I rarely get questions about the shoes I wear to the court, but these have gotten some attention. The Yonex FusionRev 4 is a pretty funky-looking shoe. It's the shoes I used for my latest ITF Masters tournament (watch the video here), and they have been pretty kind on my knees, which is the most important part for me. They also feel quite light and fast with a low-to-the-ground feel. I think it's a well-balanced shoe, light but with above-average stability for the category.

The fit is snug, and the shoes are easy to get into. Thanks to the unique tread pattern, you feel stable as you slide toward the ball on a clay court. The shoes had no break-in period and I would say the length and sizing are true.

In short, it's a very good clay-court shoe, and I've been using it confidently and comfortably for five weeks of clay-court tennis, and it looks to hold up well in terms of durability. It lands in the middle of a speed-focused and a comfort/stability-focused shoe, so I think it will have a wide appeal.

Not everyone will enjoy the slightly different look, but it performs well on the court!

Specifications

Technical info from Tennis Warehouse Europe. The shoe weighs 414 grams in 10.5 US size.

Check out the Yonex Fusionrev 4 at Tennis Warehouse.