Best Babolat Tennis Shoes
Wearing the perfect tennis shoe for your game style can make a huge difference to your confidence on the tennis court. In a sport where footwork and movement are so important, having a well fitted pair of tennis shoes is a key element of gliding around the court with ease.
There are a few factors that go into finding your perfect tennis shoe however, and with so many brands competing for your eye it can sometimes be difficult to decide which tennis shoe is best for you.
Not only do you need to find a shoe that fits your foot perfectly, but you also need to consider your game style, the surface you are playing on, durability and the technology that a particular brand brings to the table.
When it comes to major players in the tennis world, there are few bigger and more recognisable than Babolat. They have been a powerhouse in the world of tennis for almost 150 years and their products are used by some of the greatest professional players of all time.
The French brand is most widely renowned for their tennis rackets and strings, as they have a rich history of producing these for the world’s best athletes. But, they have also expanded into apparel, accessories and tennis shoes.
Babolat now sits alongside the likes of Asics, Nike and Adidas as one of the most reputable and popular tennis shoe brands on the market today. That’s why we have put together this guide to help you navigate the wide array of Babolat shoes out there.
But, what exactly should you look for in your next pair of tennis shoes? Well, let’s find out!
Popular Babolat Tennis Shoes
What to Look For in a Tennis Shoe
There are a few things to consider when you are looking to buy a new tennis shoe. It is not as simple or easy as picking the ones your favourite professional player wears, as they are more than likely a heavily modified and strengthened version of the one you see on the shelves.
The most important thing when deciding on a new set of kicks is the fit and feel of them. Ultimately, the key is to be comfortable and well supported on the tennis court. Therefore, it is imperative that you choose a tennis shoe that has the correct fit, level of stability and will support your feet optimally when you are moving around the tennis court.
Fit
Fitting a tennis shoe to your foot is a very personal experience. A great fitting shoe for one player could be an absolute nightmare for another!
More specifically, a well fitted tennis shoe is one that is snug around your foot, but is not restrictive or pinching around the toes or ankles. A perfectly fitting shoe should also be the correct width for your foot. This is generally something that varies between different makes and models, so it is definitely worth trying out a few different shoes before you settle on one.
It is definitely better to have a shoe that is slightly too snug than too loose, as the last thing you want is your foot moving around in the shoe as you are trying to run around the tennis court. That being said, you should take into account a shoe’s fit and size if you use inner soles or shoe fitters, as this can of course alter how much room you will need inside the shoe itself.
Finally when it comes to the fit of a tennis shoe, you need to make sure the shoe is well cushioned and supports your foot around the ankle area in particular. This is the hinge point of the foot and is often under a lot of stress when you run around a tennis court, as there is a lot of twisting and turning involved in tennis movement.
Some tennis shoes have a higher heel area than others, and the height of the heel tab can vary based on the cushioning of the shoe. A low heel tab tends to carry less padding and favour a lightweight design, whereas a high heel tab with a lot of cushioning would tend to be associated with a bulkier and more supportive shoe.
Overall, it is well worth trying out new tennis shoes as the fit and feel of them can differ from person to person depending on foot size, shape and personal preferences.
Stability
A good tennis shoe should be stable and supportive, helping you to push off and change direction with confidence. There are a few variables when it comes to the amount of stability that a tennis shoe has. Generally speaking, this will be determined by the amount of cushioning on the shoe’s heel area.
A higher heel tab with more cushioning will tend to add weight to the shoe, but will also improve durability and support around the ankle area, helping your foot feel more secure in the shoe.
Conversely, if you go for a lighter shoe that is designed for speed, you will naturally sacrifice some stability and support around the ankle and side of the shoe. This will improve your speed around the court but give you less stability and support.
So, the choice is yours! Do you favour stability and durability, or speed and agility?
Weight
The weight of a tennis shoe is again quite a personal choice to make. It is related to the stability and speed argument, as a bulkier shoe that has more cushioning will tend to be heavier in weight. These shoes will also generally be more durable than a lighter weight shoe, as there is simply more robust material making up the shoe.
So again, when it comes to weight the decision comes down to whether you prefer a more stable feel around your ankle area, or a less intrusive fit that helps you move with more agility around the court.
Why Babolat?
Whilst babolat are most famous for their tennis rackets and strings, they also produce some of the best tennis shoes on the market. They have worked with players up and down the professional rankings to develop some of the most reliable and well performing tennis shoes out there.
Babolat offers shoes ranking in weight, durability and stability, so whatever you need you will likely be well catered for if you choose Babolat.
They have been manufacturing tennis shoes for a number of years now and have worked with some of the best players in the world to develop them, such as Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters.
The first pair of Babolat Tennis shoes were launched in 2003 in collaboration with Michelin. This was a historic venture and really gave the new kid on the block a sprint in its step! So, let’s explore some of the best Babolat Tennis Shoes you can buy!
The Best Babolat Tennis Shoes
Babolat Propulse Rage
- Great Durability
- Absorbs Hard Impacts
- Extremely Comfortable
Babolat’s Propulse line of tennis shoes offer the most stability and durability possible from the French brand. They focus on being as robust as possible, allowing you to move with confidence and absorb hard impacts with ease.
The Propulse Rage is the most sturdy looking shoe in the Babolat range, with a very high heel and tag to help you pull them on, they almost look more like a boot than a shoe! Your foot and ankle will feel completely strapped in when wearing the Propulse Rage, since the shoe effectively encases your ankle, making it one of the most secure feeling shoes on the market.
This shoe is built for durability and will stand up to the harshest treatment. It is not the most comfortable shoe Babolat produces, but it is the most robust. They are the most expensive shoes that Babolat sells so make sure you try them on before you make the investment!
Babolat Propulse Blast
- Designed For Stability
- Light
- Excellent Value For Money
Whilst the Propulse range of shoes from Babolat are definitely designed for stability, the Blast version is a lighter and less sophisticated version of the Fury shoe. It is a better value option than its bigger brother, but also comes with less of a solid feel and less high tech materials.
If you are looking to emulate the stability of the Propulse Fury but want to save a few dollars, the Blast could be a great option. Moreover, if you are someone that does not have to worry about churning through shoes then these are again a great choice. However, if you struggle with durability when it comes to your tennis shoes then the more robust Fury model could be the more appropriate choice.
Babolat Propulse Fury
- Highly Durable
- 6 Month Guarantee
- Great Stability
The Propulse Fury is the most durable offering from Babolat today. It comes with a 6 month guarantee which is very impressive for a modern tennis shoe. The Michelin rubber that forms the outside of the shoe is incredibly durable and difficult to burn through, making this the ideal Babolar shoe for baseline grinders.
The ‘powerbelt’ technology does a great job of locking your foot and heel into the shoe, helping you move around the court with even more confidence. Whilst these shoes feel very solid, they do take some breaking in and can feel a little stiff when you first try them on.
Babolat Jet Mach 3
- Lightweight
- Help Reduce Fatigue
- Stylish
On the other end of the scale, the Babolat Jet line of shoes are lightweight and ideal for players that want to move around the court with lightning speed. These are great if you struggle with fatigue at the end of a match, these shoes could make the difference between making that last drop shot or not making up the ground.
Whilst these shoes may not last that long compared to the Propulse line from Babolat, the Jet Mach 3 will stand up to a good amount of punishment. If you don’t play tennis too regularly but like to glide around the court quickly when you do, these could be the ideal choice for you!
Babolat SXF3
- Great Value For Money
- Wider Shoe Design
- Comfortable & Light Feeling
One of the more affordable options in the Babolat line, the SXF3 shoe caters for players with wider feet extremely well.
Some players complain that Babolat tennis shoes are generally too narrow, so Babolat has responded to their customers and widened the SXF3 model. This is a comfortable and reasonably light shoe, meaning you can wear this model for hours on end and not feel any discomfort on the court.
It is certainly not the most durable shoe that Babolat makes, so you may well be better off going for a Propulse model if you’re after a rugged shoe that will stand the test of time. However, the SXF3 is a solid alternative that offers a good middle ground between the light weight Jet Mach 2 and the Propulse range.
Takeaways
Overall, Babolat tends to be associated with producing tennis rackets and strings. This is no surprise since they have been manufacturing these popular products for almost 150 years! However, their tennis shoes are very well put together and have become a mainstay in the market.
They offer a range of different models, catering for both narrow and wide feet, players that want a robust and durable shoe, and players that need a light weight, fast shoe to get them around the court.
Therefore, Babolat tennis shoes are well worth a try, so consider play testing them when you are searching for your next new pair of kicks!
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