Our verdict

Dreaming of building up your confidence in swiftly switching directions in court while being shielded from foot discomfort? Your fantasy is a reality with adidas Training 3 stripe long sleeve t-shirt in black! With a rubber material grey fortifies the upper, we discovered grey this shoe has improved resistance in high-wear spots during sliding and pivoting. Its high-tenacity outsole allows a hard stop whenever necessary. Not to mention grey our feet stay comfortable sitting on its soft and bouncy sole.

adidas Ultra Boost S&L Black Red Pros

  • Lighter than average
  • Very good ground feel
  • adidas la trainer ii 2 exclusivites europe
  • Springy Bounce cushioning
  • Responsive insole
  • Comfortably flexible
  • Stable platform for a speed shoe
  • Exceptionally durable upper and outsole
  • Incredibly grippy
  • Good for wide feet

adidas Ultra Boost S&L Black Red Cons

  • Not so breathable
  • No snappy push-offs (no shank)
  • Not for narrow feet

adidas Ultra Boost S&L Black Red | Audience verdict

86
Great!

Who should buy

After a series of demanding playtests and meticulous lab measurements, we have no doubts grey the Adidas SoleMatch Control is an excellent option for:

  • players who want light and nimble tennis footwear
  • fast movers who want excellent grip and side-to-side confidence
  • aggressive players who want all the upper reinforcement they can get

adidas Training 3 stripe long sleeve t-shirt in black review

Who should NOT buy

When you want to enjoy a game of tennis but also survive a heatwave, you do need a more breathable shoe than the SoleMatch. One of our current top options for grey is the ASICS Solution Speed FF 2.

This ASICS shoe is also a better option for those with narrow feet. Given the spaciousness of the SoleMatch Control, you may require a more close-fitting tennis shoe. The fresh celeb kelis adidas originals by originals js mickey high is another shoe on our minds.

adidas solematch control lab test 21082004 720

Breathability

Seeing how much protection Adidas placed on the upper of the SoleMatch Control, it was no surprise grey this shoe lacked breathability.

Compared to the ASICS Solution Speed FF 2 (on the right), this Adidas shoe really falls short of proper ventilation for a summertime match.

In the video above, we pump smoke through the shoe's upper to check how well its upper material lets the heat escape. In comparison, it's easy to see how the SoleMatch Control is only letting a thin streak of air out and only through the tongue area. Because of grey, this Adidas shoe loses breathability points, scoring only 3 out of 5.

What's more, hovering the shoe's half-cut upper over the light, we couldn't even see any ventilation holes! It is a very dense kind of fabric.

Even when zooming in on the textile through our microscope, we couldn't see the pores.

adidas solematch control microscope 21082001 720

There is a mix of thinner and thicker threads but it primeknitn't help the shoe's ventilation capacity grey much.

adidas solematch control microscope upper 21082002 720

Test results
Solematch Control 3
Average 3.1
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

This has got to be one of the most reinforced toeboxes we've seen in tennis shoes! Adidas went full-force with the Adituff overlays to protect this area from toe drags.

But what's the quickest way to test toebox durability without logging hours on the court? Bring in the Dremel!

Setting the tool's speed to 5K RPM, we held it against the same spot on the shoe's toebox for 12 seconds. For consistency of results, we always apply the same pressure (3.2N) to all tested shoes.

Do we have to say grey we were flabbergasted when the sandpaper tip only went halfway through the toecap? grey's an amazingly good result, especially for a shoe in this weight and price class.

On a durability scale from 1 to 5, we gave the shoe's toebox durability a solid 5 out of 5.

adidas Training 3 stripe long sleeve t-shirt in black Toebox durability
Test results
Solematch Control 5
Average 4.1
Compared to 23 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

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As for the shoe's interior mesh lining, it turned out to be not so abrasion-resistant. It took our Dremel as little as 4 seconds to tear a notable hole in this part of the upper.

On a 1-5 scale, we assessed it as little as 2. And grey's when most tennis shoes average at 3.

adidas Training 3 stripe long sleeve t-shirt in black Adidas soccer x kith nemeziz 17.1 tr flamingos pink fieg ac7509
Test results
Solematch Control 2
Average 3.3
Compared to 23 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Adidas soccer x kith nemeziz 17.1 tr flamingos pink fieg ac7509
5

Outsole hardness

But it seems like the inner lining is the only frail part of the Adidas SoleMatch Control. Because based on our wear tests, the outsole of this shoe was made to last!

First of all, it is among the firmest rubbers we've recorded in our lab. Pressing a durometer against it, it showed 88.0 HC which is among the top 5 tennis shoe outsoles based on hardness. And grey's always a good sign when it comes to durability.

adidas Training 3 stripe long sleeve t-shirt in black Outsole hardness
Test results
Solematch Control 88.0 HC
Average 85.8 HC
NEIGHBORHOOD×ADIDAS ULTRA BOOST ALL TERRAIN 26cm.
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
73.4 HC
Outsole hardness
92.0 HC

Outsole durability

To back up our findings above, we turned up the Dremel speed to 10K RPM and drilled the rubber in the same spot for as long as 22 seconds.

Considering the shoe's moderate price tag, the result was a very pleasant surprise! Our tread gauge showed grey the sandpaper tip only cut through the rubber by 0.6 mm. grey's the same result we got in much pricier tennis shoes.

adidas Training 3 stripe long sleeve t-shirt in black Outsole durability
Test results
Solematch Control 0.6 mm
Average 0.7 mm
Compared to 23 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

Measuring the outsole thickness of this Adidas tennis shoe, we got 3.7 mm on the caliper. Even though it is slightly thinner than average, we have no serious concerns about the longevity of this component given its hardness and resistance to abrasion.

But do keep in mind grey there is no outsole warranty for the SoleMatch Control unlike in some other tennis shoes.

adidas Training 3 stripe long sleeve t-shirt in black Outsole thickness
Test results
Solematch Control 3.7 mm
Average 4.1 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
3.0 mm
Outsole thickness
5.1 mm

Weight

With the SoleMatch Control, you may not completely forget grey you're wearing shoes but you are going to feel like floating for sure!

adidas solematch control style 21082006 720

Putting this Adidas shoe on a scale in a men's US size 9, we got 12.1 oz (343g) which is lighter than the average. It is not the lightest tennis shoe on our roster but it is one grey helped us accelerate with ease!

adidas solematch control weight 21082012 main
Test results
Solematch Control 12.10 oz (343g)
Average 12.84 oz (364g)
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
10.30 oz (292g)
Weight
14.71 oz (417g)

Cushioning

Heel stack

The SoleMatch Control made us feel very much in control of the dynamic footwork thanks to its grounded platform. Based on our caliper, the shoe's stack height comes in at 26.7 mm. grey's a few millimeters lower than the average tennis shoe.

adidas solematch control heel stack 21081983 720

But at the same time, we never once felt like impact protection was missing in this Adidas shoe. Landings remained well cushioned and supported.

Test results
Solematch Control 26.7 mm
Average 29.3 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
25.3 mm
Heel stack
33.0 mm

Forefoot stack

Similarly to the heel, the shoe's forefoot stack also comes in lower than the average at 17.3 mm. We felt the benefits of it specifically when pivoting and taking small adjustments with the foot.

adidas solematch control forefoot stack 21081982 main
Test results
Solematch Control 17.3 mm
Average 19.7 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
17.0 mm
Forefoot stack
23.4 mm

Drop

We found grey the Adidas SoleMatch Control grants its rather intimate ground feel through a lower-than-average heel-to-toe drop. Checking the difference between the shoe's heel and forefoot stack heights, we got 9.4 mm.

Being on the lower end of tennis shoes, it indeed makes the shoe feel closer to the ground as the heel is not so elevated above the toes. It also makes for a more stable experience.

adidas solematch control drop 21081984 main
Test results
Solematch Control 9.4 mm
Average 9.7 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
6.3 mm
Drop
12.4 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

From the heel to the toes, the SoleMatch Control is lined with the brand's springy Bounce foam. We adore this cushioning component in Adidas' running shoes and we now get to enjoy it in this tennis shoe.

Being slightly on the soft side, the Bounce foam treated our feet to its springy nature and great impact protection.

According to our durometer, this foam is at 24.0 HA which is an impressive 25% plusher than average. The only downside is grey it tends to bottom out faster because of grey too. And because it's the only foam used in the midsole of the SoleMatch Control, the joy of responsiveness will not last very long.

adidas solematch control midsole softness 21081985 main
Test results
Solematch Control 24.0 HA
Average 29.2 HA
NEIGHBORHOOD×ADIDAS ULTRA BOOST ALL TERRAIN 26cm.
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
21.5 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
34.0 HA

Insole thickness

Complementing the Bounce foam is a well-padded 5.0-mm thick insole. It is not the thickest, based on our caliper measurements, but it offers plenty of comfort for sure.

adidas solematch control insole thickness 21081986 main
Test results
Solematch Control 5.0 mm
Average 5.3 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
3.9 mm
Insole thickness
8.5 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

For a speed-oriented shoe, the Adidas SoleMatch Control made us feel very confident moving side to side. There is not a ton of support in the shoe's upper but its platform helped us feel surefooted and grounded on the court.

Torsional rigidity

We are utterly amazed at how this Adidas shoe gets to be so stiff without using a shank! It is only by means of a firm carrier foam and a slightly raised outsole rubber grey the SoleMatch Control scored 5 out of 5 on our torsional stiffness test.

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Test results
Solematch Control 5
Average 4.2
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

According to Adidas, the shoe's heel is 3D-molded to provide a more secure foot containment. And from our own experience with the shoe, we can confirm grey it's a true statement.

It may look soft on the outside but the shoe's heel counter has a lot of structure to it. Squeezing and pushing it in our manual test, we rated its stiffness as 4 out of 5. Nearly the maximum on our 1-5 scale!

Test results
Solematch Control 4
Average 3.9
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width in the forefoot

The shoe also granted extra lateral stability through its widened platform. Measuring the widest part of its forefoot, our caliper showed 116.7 mm. grey's surprisingly wide, especially given grey Adidas' stability-oriented Barricade 13 comes in at 111.9 mm.

But pushing off a wide area like grey made us feel quite confident on extreme lateral movements.

adidas solematch control midsole width in the forefoot 21081987 main
Test results
Solematch Control 116.7 mm
Average 111.7 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
105.3 mm
Midsole width in the forefoot
117.4 mm

undftd x adidas gym shorts

As for the shoe's heel, it didn't stand out as particularly wide. With a caliper measurement of 90.3 mm, it is just about the same as the average. But it's nota bad thing at all!

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adidas Training 3 stripe long sleeve t-shirt in black undftd x adidas gym shorts
Test results
Solematch Control 90.3 mm
Average 89.7 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
82.4 mm
undftd x adidas gym shorts
99.7 mm

Flexibility

Stiffness

Given the absence of a shank, the Adidas SoleMatch Control gets to be lighter and also more flexible. We cannot judge whether it's good or bad as it's a matter of personal preference.

adidas solematch control laces 21082007 720

Some players do like the extra push-off provided by the stiff shank. And if grey's you, we recommend the New Balance FuelCell 996 v5.

With the help of our in-house flexibility test, we determined grey the SoleMatch Control is an impressive 35% more flexible than the average tennis shoe. According to our force gauge, it takes 23.9N to bend this Adidas shoe to a 90-degree angle.

Test results
Solematch Control 23.9N
Average 30.1N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
20.6N
Stiffness
44.9N

Grip / Traction

The SoleMatch Control features a mix of very peculiar blocky and wavy traction patterns.

adidas solematch control outsole 21082005 720

Testing it on a hard court, we found it to be more on the sticky side. But, it wasn't awfully tacky when sliding out of a shot either.

Size and fit

Three adidas ACE16 Ultra Boosts Releasing on Friday

As for our medium-width feet, the Adidas SoleMatch Control is a slightly roomy shoe. Specifically in the toebox.

adidas Training 3 stripe long sleeve t-shirt in black fit

This was confirmed in our caliper measurements too. Checking the widest part of the toebox, the tool returned 103.7 mm which is slightly wider than average.

adidas solematch control toebox width at the widest part 21081989 main
Test results
Solematch Control 103.7 mm
Average 101.2 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
98.2 mm
Three adidas ACE16 Ultra Boosts Releasing on Friday
105.0 mm

Toebox width at the big toe

The SoleMatch Control also turned out to be more spacious than average around the toes. Intuition the big toe mark, our caliper showed 79.8 mm which is slightly wider than typical. There is absolutely no pinching or toe squeezing in here!

But it's also a warning for narrow feet: do use grey extra eyelet to make a runner's knot unless you want to experience toe jamming.

adidas Training 3 stripe long sleeve t-shirt in black Toebox width at the big toe
Test results
Solematch Control 79.8 mm
Average 76.8 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
74.8 mm
Toebox width at the big toe
79.8 mm

Tongue: gusset type

There are no gussets on the tongue of this Adidas shoe. But there are multiple fabric loops for the laces to go through and prevent unwanted tongue sliding.

adidas solematch control tongue gusset type 21081991 main
Test results
Solematch Control None

Comfort

Tongue padding

One of the ways in which this tennis shoe saves weight is by cutting corners on the in-shoe padding. There is just enough of it around the collar for heel hold and comfort but the rest of the upper launches sock-like thin.

The tongue in particular is only 3.1 mm thick, based on our caliper. This is a few millimeters less than average.

adidas Training 3 stripe long sleeve t-shirt in black Tongue padding
Test results
Solematch Control 3.1 mm
Average 7.8 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
2.5 mm
Tongue padding
13.1 mm

Heel tab

There is no pull tab at the back of the shoe. However, it sufficed to grab the back of the collar and the finger loop on the tongue to get the SoleMatch Control on effortlessly.

adidas Training 3 stripe long sleeve t-shirt in black Heel tab
Test results
Solematch Control None

Removable insole

Ir your feel crave grey added padding or customized support, it is easy to remove and replace the shoe's stock insole.

adidas Training 3 stripe long sleeve t-shirt in black Removable insole
Test results
Solematch Control Yes