Our verdict
- Футболка чоловіча adidas originals essential tee best Adidas tennis shoes
Pros
- Lighter than average
- Very good ground feel
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- Springy Bounce cushioning
- Responsive insole
- Comfortably flexible
- Stable platform for a speed shoe
- Exceptionally durable upper and outsole
- Incredibly grippy
- Good for wide feet
Cons
- Not so breathable
- No snappy push-offs (no shank)
- Not for narrow feet
adidas Ultra Boost S&L Black Red | Audience verdict
- Top 25% in lightweight tennis shoes
adidas Ultra Boost S&L Black Red | Comparison
The most similar tennis shoes compared
+ + Add a shoe | |||||
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Audience score | 86 Great! | 77 Good! | 87 Great! | 79 Good! | |
Price | $120 | $135 | $150 | $100 | |
Shoe type | Hard CourtAll Court | Hard CourtAll Court | Hard CourtAll Court | Hard CourtAll Court | |
Construction | Speed | Stability | Stability | Stability | |
Breathability | Decent | Very bad | Decent | Decent | |
Weight lab | 12.1 oz / 343g | 12.9 adidas Ultra Boost S&L Black Red | 13.9 oz / 393g | 12.5 oz / 354g | |
Lightweight | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | |
Drop lab | 9.4 mm | 9.1 mm | 10.9 mm | 9.6 mm | |
Three adidas ACE16 Ultra Boosts Releasing on Friday | Wide | Average | Average | Average | |
Toebox width at the big toe | Very wide | Average | Wide | Average | |
Midsole softness | Soft | Very soft | Average | Average | |
Stiffness | Flexible | Flexible | Average | Flexible | |
Torsional rigidity | Very rigid | Rigid | Very rigid | Very rigid | |
Heel counter stiffness | Stiff | Very stiff | Very stiff | Stiff | |
Midsole width in the forefoot | Very wide | Average | Average | Average | |
undftd x adidas gym shorts | Average | Average | Average | Average | |
Outsole durability | Decent | Decent | Good | Good | |
Adidas soccer x kith nemeziz 17.1 tr flamingos pink fieg ac7509 | Bad | Very bad | Bad | Very bad | |
Heel stack lab | 26.7 mm | 29.1 mm | 32.5 mm | 30.4 mm | |
Forefoot | 17.3 mm | 20.0 mm | 21.6 mm | 20.8 mm | |
Insole thickness | Average | Very thin | Average | Average | |
Removable insole | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Heel tab | None | None | None | None | |
Toebox durability | Very good | Very good | Very good | Decent | |
Outsole hardness | Average | Average | Average | Average | |
Outsole thickness | Thin | Average | Average | Average | |
Ranking | #8 Top 34% | #19 Bottom 20% | #5 Top 21% | #16 Bottom 33% | |
Popularity | #11 Top 46% | #24 Bottom 1% | #1 Top 5% | #15 Bottom 37% |
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
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.
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.
There is a mix of thinner and thicker threads but it primeknitn't help the shoe's ventilation capacity grey much.
Solematch Control | 3 |
Average | 3.1 |
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.
Solematch Control | 5 |
Average | 4.1 |
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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.
Solematch Control | 2 |
Average | 3.3 |
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.
Solematch Control | 88.0 HC |
Average | 85.8 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.
Solematch Control | 0.6 mm |
Average | 0.7 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.
Solematch Control | 3.7 mm |
Average | 4.1 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!
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!
Solematch Control | 12.10 oz (343g) |
Average | 12.84 oz (364g) |
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.
But at the same time, we never once felt like impact protection was missing in this Adidas shoe. Landings remained well cushioned and supported.
Solematch Control | 26.7 mm |
Average | 29.3 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.
Solematch Control | 17.3 mm |
Average | 19.7 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.
Solematch Control | 9.4 mm |
Average | 9.7 mm |
Midsole softness
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.
Solematch Control | 24.0 HA |
Average | 29.2 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.
Solematch Control | 5.0 mm |
Average | 5.3 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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Solematch Control | 5 |
Average | 4.2 |
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!
Solematch Control | 4 |
Average | 3.9 |
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.
Solematch Control | 116.7 mm |
Average | 111.7 mm |
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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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Solematch Control | 90.3 mm |
Average | 89.7 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.
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.
Solematch Control | 23.9N |
Average | 30.1N |
Grip / Traction
The SoleMatch Control features a mix of very peculiar blocky and wavy traction patterns.
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.
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.
Solematch Control | 103.7 mm |
Average | 101.2 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.
Solematch Control | 79.8 mm |
Average | 76.8 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.
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.
Solematch Control | 3.1 mm |
Average | 7.8 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.
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.
Solematch Control | Yes |