The top two shoes of the 2011 tennis season have been products by Nike and Adidas. These two brands have been locked in a competitive struggle for the name of best tennis shoe producer for years now. While this year hasn’t shown a clear cut winner yet, both companies have added considerable improvements to their best selling tennis shoe lines. Here are some of the strong points of these two pairs of shoes.
Tennis Shoes Built to Last: Durability and High Performance
The Adidas Barricade 6.0 is in a league of it’s own for durability. There really isn’t another shoe that can stand against it in a straight play test based on the amount of time it will last on the court. The Court Ballistec 3.3 is the closest any shoe has come to matching it though. Play tests have shown that on average, Barricades will last about 2-3 weeks longer than a Nike model. For a tennis player this is quite a big deal considering some tennis shoes don’t even last that long in the first place.
In terms of on court performance, both shoes fall a bit short in the weight category. The Nike shoe is actually the heavier of the two, but its well constructed design makes it almost feel lighter. The Barricades feel a bit clunky, especially around the toe. This is probably the biggest complaint that needs to be addressed by Adidas in the coming generation of Barricades. Despite the weight though both shoes operate very well on court providing wonderful traction and stability for all movement. The Adidas “claws”, which are reinforced material that stripe the side of the shoes, offer an extra line of support during hard lateral push offs and stops. This gives the Barricade a slight one-up over Nike in the support and stability category.
Comfort and Style
As far as comfort goes the Barricade tennis shoes win hands down. Even with some problems around the toe area, the extra cushioning all throughout the shoe is an incredible benefit. Nike simply doesn’t have the same level of cushioning and can hardly compare. Where they do excel though is in the style department. The design and look of the Court Ballistec 3.3 is far superior to the Barricades. From the overall construction, shape, and color style, the Nike model crushes Adidas in terms of the best looking tennis shoes.
After looking at all of the above you’ll probably reach the same conclusion as many other tennis players. If you want a shoe that will last longer, support better, and perform best on the tennis court, look for the Adidas Barricade 6.0. If you can sacrifice some of that comfort and support for style, Nike is the shoe brand for you. Either one of these competitive models will help you take your tennis game to a new level. The game of tennis requires a pair of shoes that can support a player through a tough match. If you choose either of these brands you won’t be disappointed by the performance you see on the tennis court.