The 3.3 is the newest Nike tennis shoe in the Court Ballistec line. This is the shoe choice of top professional player Rafael Nadal. Nadal is known for his aggressive movement and speed around the court that will really tear up a shoe. This model provides a durable, cushioned, and supportive footwear option.
The improvements are mainly in the area of stability, but added weight and stronger upper materials have also improved the shoe’s overall durability. With this Court Ballistec, Nike has developed one of the highest performing shoes for professional players.
The following is a shoe review by a competitive tournament player from TennisShoeView.com.
Player’s Review of the Nadal Tennis Shoes
After playing for a few weeks in these shoes I’ve had time to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the Nike Air Court Ballistec 3.3. I’ll go over the different parts of the tennis shoe and discuss what worked and what didn’t
- Upper – The shoe’s upper material is much stiffer and reinforced with stronger material than the 2.3. While it may have been done to help durability, this makes the top of the shoe extremely uncomfortable for a long break in period. The shoe is quite narrow and this combination can cause a lot of pain if you have a wide foot. Expect at least a week or so of break in period with this shoe before it really starts fitting well. Once the upper material loosens up a bit, the performance and feel is a lot better.
- Midsole – Cushioning in the midsole is great. Nike has consistently had great support and cushioning with the Court Ballistec series. This shoe is no different, offering a great blend of comfort and support.
- Outsole – This shoe’s durability is quite good, lasting weeks before showing any real signs of wear. The traction provided by the outsole is also great providing easy stopping and starting on the court.
- Heel – The Nike Max Air technology supports the heel. Shock absorption is very good and really decreases the amount of pressure you feel when coming down hard on the heel.
Overall the Rafael Nadal tennis shoes are a solid addition to the Nike line. The biggest drawback to the shoe is it’s weight. This is one of the heaviest shoes that Nike has ever produced, a testament to the durability and support that drove the shoes design.
While it will provide tremendous support, the shoe can easily weigh a player down. Nadal uses his tremendous strength to easily overcome the extra weight, but be aware this isn’t a shoe designed for speed.
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