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Nike Air CourtBallistec 2.3 Men's Tennis Shoe Review

Sequels should always be better than the original.

Many consider the Godfather Part II to be better than The Godfather and Terminator II better than The Terminator.

Can a shoe manufacturer follow suit? Is the Nike Air CourtBallistec 2.3 better than the Air CourtBallistec 1.3?

Built to offer the ultimate in performance, the Air CourtBallistec 2.3 is the shoe of choice of Rafael Nadal, and features a cast of character(istics) that should make it worthy of an Academy Award.

Nike's DragOn X in the uppers increases durability and breathability. Lunar Lite foam in the forefoot combines with a Max Air Sole Unit in the heel to supply phenomenal cushioning throughout. The lightweight midfoot shank helps provide support and stability. A modified herringbone tread pattern helps the shoe securely grip the court. Nike has also managed to cut the weight by almost an ounce compared to the Air CourtBallistec 1.3.

Equipped with a lighter sequel, our crew hit the courts with the Air CourtBallistec 2.3 for a month-long screening. Read on to see if it received 2.3 thumbs up.

Comfort - Score: 4.6

The Air CourtBallistec 2.3 offers a level of comfort and cushioning that truly impressed our TW playtesters. Spencer loved how the shoe fit his feet. He said, "First off, the fit was right on. Length and width both seem to be a medium fit, while I could find a snug feel when tightening the upper. The breathable upper offered a lightweight, yet supportive feel. There was plenty of cushioning with Max Air in the heel. There was no need for a break-in period, and they offered full speed performance from the get-go. This shoe was an excellent fit for my feet."

"I liked the comfort in these shoes," said Chris. "The uppers felt more comfortable compared to the 1.3 version, offering lots of comfortable support. Again, the cushioning felt spot on with a solid blend of court feel and cushioned protection. I never had any issues with blisters, I think due to the shoes fitting me so well. With the glove-like fit, my feet were never sliding around inside them. Top marks from me."

Jason channeled his inner rapper, saying "I believe it was the great Snoop Dogg that once said, 'perfection has been perfected' in one of his lyrics. I think this is the best way to describe the comfort of the Air CourtBallistec 2.3s. I already loved the Air CourtBallistec 1.3s for their overall comfort. These shoes seem similar to the Air CourtBallistec 1.3s, but the uppers on this shoe seemed to be slightly softer and suppler. I think Nike took something that was already great and elevated it to another level. I was very impressed."

"In general, it's hard for me to justify a perfect score for any shoe," said Danny, who gave a score of 5 out of 5 for the first time. "There have been many shoes I have tested in the past that have had great comfort, but did not receive the score I am giving these. My reasoning relates to the whole package. The improved comfort from last year's model was one of the first things that I noticed. The tongue fit is longer and more comfortable. For me, I think comfort was the main improvement from last year's model."

"Comfort is improved in this updated Air CourtBallistec 2.3," said Granville, who loved taking them for a test drive. "It's not so much that there is increased cushioning (about the same), but the overall contouring of the shoe is improved. They provided a glove-like fit for my feet. To make a car analogy, they felt like deep bucket seats in a low-profile sports car."

Ventilation - Score: 4.3

The uppers of the Air CourtBallistec 2.3 provided more than adequate ventilation. Our team found plenty of breathability while on the court. "You won't have to worry about ventilation," said Danny. "The shoe is very perforated. Under the DragOn X is mesh, which allowed my feet to stay cool."

Both Spencer and Chris felt that the shoe was an improvement from the original. Spencer said, "Ventilation has been improved from the Air CourtBallistec 1.3, not only to provide more breathability, but to make for a lighter shoe as well. The perforated upper with the mesh uni-tongue made the warm days on the court much more bearable on my feet."

Chris added, "The ventilation was good. When running around in the shoes I could feel the air coming in through the uppers. My feet never got hot in them out on the court, and I felt the ventilation was better here than with the Air CourtBallistec 1.3."

Granville said, "While I did not notice exceptional ventilation, the shoe does not feel hot during play, although the weather was not particularly hot during the test."

Having no issues was Jason. He said, "From a distance, the shoes don't look to be breathable at all. But they were plenty ventilated for me. The tiny perforations that can be found throughout the upper and the mesh tongue kept my feet cool while on court."

Arch Support - Score: 3.9

The medium arch of the Air Max CourtBallistec 2.3 received mostly positive reviews from our TW playtesters. Although the arch support was a bit low for Chris, he had no complaints, saying, "The level of support was good, but it fit just a tad low for me. The shoes were nice and rigid laterally and the flex point felt perfect, which I put down to the sturdy shank. While the height was just off for me, I enjoyed good comfort and never felt the need to install aftermarket insoles."

Jason needed a day to break in the shoe. He said, "Do I wish it were a truly low arched shoe? Yes, absolutely. Since it's not a perfect world, the arch support on these shoes was more than adequate. They broke in nicely, and I did not experience any soreness after the initial wear."

The arch support worked out well for Spencer. He said, "The medium arch worked well with my feet. They offered enough support to not cause any issues. Hence, I didn't notice the arch support."

Danny said, "The shoe width through the midfoot fit my foot type (which is narrow/medium), and the arch support was good. I would describe the arch support as lower than medium height."

Granville beefed up the support in his shoes. He said, "Due to some plantar fasciitis, I have a new appreciation for this feature of each shoe. I always remove the insole and replace them with (off the shelf) orthotic-like insoles. In every case the shoes feel better with the improved insole - these shoes are no exception."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 4.8

Offering our playtesters even more support than its predecessor, the Air CourtBallistec 2.3s received high marks in this category. Finding perfection was Granville, offering, "I do not often give 5s on any shoe, but when wearing these test shoes it crossed my mind they are about as good a tennis shoe as I can imagine. They really have everything any reasonable player might require on court."

"I felt very solid and secure in these shoes," said Chris. "The fit was great, so I never had any sliding around inside them. The chassis felt very stable and the shoes resisted rolling well. I was able to play aggressively in them, chase down every ball and never have to worry about my feet."

Spencer loved these shoes for his game. He said, "I really enjoyed the support, as this shoe seemed to form to my feet, offering a secure, safe fit. The stability proved to be very good. With a defensive style of play, I really put the stability to the test with lateral movement and hard changes of direction (not to mention my heavy footed movement on a 180 lb frame). I was able to plant my feet confidently and securely in these shoes without worrying about rolling an ankle."

Danny had glowing reviews, saying, "Again, I have to give this shoe a high score. Just like the previous version, I thought the foot support and stability was rock solid. For me, the foot support really doesn't get much better than this shoe. The shoes fit my feet like a glove. They were nice and snug, but not too tight."

Moving well on the court was Jason. He said, "The slight heel slippage problem I had with the 1.3s was fixed in these shoes. From sideline to sideline, baseline to the net, I had no problems with stability, and was 100% confident in the support. Even with such great cushioning the Air CourtBallistec 2.3s had a low-to-the-ground ride."

Sole Durability - Score: 4.3

The outsole of the Air CourtBallistec 2.3 features Nike's XDR compound. Our team found the durability to be top notch. For Danny, these shoes set the bar for durability. He said, "I just don't know what other shoe is going to be more durable than this shoe. I am sure there are other shoes that are comparable in durability, such as the adidas Barricade V, but I am giving the nod to these as the most durable shoes I have worn."

"I thought the durability was in line and pretty standard for a durability guaranteed shoe," said Spencer, adding, "They did show some wear in the forefoot, on the ball of the foot and big toe. That's where I wear out my shoes, so no surprises there. I was happy with the level of durability, given the excellent traction."

Jason liked the durability, saying, "I would say these shoes wore out similar to its predecessor -- which is a good thing. It took a goodly amount of hours before I started seeing some real wear and tear on the outsoles. For me, the XDR rubber outsole offers plenty of durability, especially since it comes with a six-month durability guarantee."

Putting in plenty of time on the court was Chris. He said, "The outsoles started to wear down under my big toes. The level of wear was not bad for the amount of court time I logged in these shoes, and I was pretty impressed. I have worn the outsoles smooth under my toes on the right shoe, but there still seems to be ample rubber there. Overall they seem more durable than the 1.3 version."

Granville agreed, "This shoe is very durable and is a slight improvement over the previous version."

Toe Durability - Score: 4.7

The three toe-draggers on our playtest team found the DragOn X material to be quite durable. Chris loved how well these shoes held up to his toe-dragging. He said, "The toes held up perfectly. I can blow through the toes of shoes quickly, but found excellent durability in these. Both the tip and upper portions of the toe proved to be very durable. As with other areas of the shoe, I was very impressed."

Finding plenty of durability was Danny. He said, "The first sign of wear was at the toe on the outsole, but this is after many hours of testing. However, the upper and midsole look like they haven't been touched."

Granville had a similar wear pattern to Danny, adding, "There is good toe durability. If there is one point on the shoe I wear out first it is the toe, but this is a tough, durable shoe."

Traction - Score: 4.4

Our TW playtest team was impressed at how well the modified herringbone tread pattern gripped the hard courts. Jason had absolutely no slippage issues. He said, "Another area where I felt Nike upped the quality from the Air CourtBallistec 1.3s was here. Lateral changes of direction are when I can really assess the traction quality of a shoe, and the Air CourtBallistec 2.3s passed with flying colors. I think the multiple flex points on the forefoot of the shoe allow it to make maximum contact with the court, optimizing traction."

"If I have a shoe that has good foot support and stability, the traction is also good. The traction was phenomenal. I could stop on a dime," said Danny, adding, "Need I say more? Don't judge the traction on the Air CourtBallistec 2.3 by watching players like Rafa and Gael Monfils. Those guys slide on the court with any shoe. The traction on these shoes is awesome."

Granville felt confident in his footing. He said, "Excellent traction. Very sticky, but not so much that I was worried about not being able to slide if needed."

Spencer said, "The non-traditional tread pattern worked quite well on the hard court. The durable outsole had a somewhat soft feel, offering good grip on the surface, yet not too sticky. The outsole traction is certainly worthy of a top-end performance shoe."

"The traction was pretty solid," said Chris. "I had a couple of instances where I slid out, but for the most part found good traction. I found the sliding to occur when I was making a cut or trying to stop, rather than when pushing off. I was impressed by the fact that the shoes are still gripping even after areas of the forefoot have been worn smooth."

Weight - Score: 4.2

The Air CourtBallistec 2.3 weighs in at almost an ounce lighter than the Air CourtBallistec 1.3. A surprising fact considering all the improvements our testers have noted.

The shoe weighed in lighter than expected for Granville. He said, "Considering the features of this shoe, I expected it to feel heavy. It is just over my comfort threshold of a pound per foot, but I wouldn't have known had I not checked the specs."

"This will never be as light as, say, the Vapor line, but I don't think people expect it to be, especially considering how much cushioning, support, and durability it features," said Jason, who didn't mind the weight. "The weight was very well distributed throughout the shoe, so it didn't feel as heavy as listed. The Air Max unit must be filled with helium to make it even lighter than the Air CourtBallistec 1.3s."

Spencer agreed, "Though a big improvement from the previous version, it still has some substantial weight. That being said, I thought the distribution of weight was good, helping the shoe feel lighter on my feet. I didn't have any problems moving about the court."

"Not the lightest feeling shoes on my feet, but the weight never bothered me," said Chris, who was firing on all cylinders. "I felt like I was moving at full speed in them, and what weight there was felt low in the shoe, so it wasn't an issue. I think because the shoes flex and transition from heel to toe so well, I just never felt the weight. I felt very fast in them, and I think it came down to the distribution of weight, the fit and the way they moved with my feet."

Danny noticed the drop in weight. He said, "First of all, the weight of the Air CourtBallistec 2.3 is almost an ounce lighter then last year's Air CourtBallistec 1.3. The shoe plays lighter than what we list it at, which is 16.9 ounces. It felt evenly balanced and not clunky at all."

Overall - Score: 4.6

We feel the bar was raised for performance tennis shoes when the Nike Air CourtBallistec 1.3 was introduced back in 2009. With the Air CourtBallistec 2.3, we feel Nike has raised it yet again. Every aspect of the shoe has been improved; from the fit to the cosmetics and everything in between. The comfort and cushioning are spectacular, receiving a combined score higher than any other shoe in recent memory. On the court, the blend of traction, support and stability had our team planting, cutting, and stopping with confidence. Even the weight and ventilation received an update, as the Air CourtBallistec 2.3 is lighter and more breathable than its predecessor. All in all, we felt the performance of this shoe is worthy of a golden statue. And if you couldn't tell by now: 2.3 thumbs up. Way up.

Nike Air CourtBallistec 2.3 Scores
Comfort	4.6
Ventilation	4.3
Arch Support	3.9
Foot Suppot/Stability	4.8
Overall Sole Durability	4.3
Toe Durability	4.7
Traction	4.4
Weight	4.2
Overall	4.6

Playtester Foot Types:
Chris - Narrow width, medium arch
Jason - Wide width, low arch
Spencer - Medium width, medium arch
Danny - Medium width, medium arch
Granville - Narrow width, low arch

Review date: March 2010. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us.

All content copyright 2010 Tennis Warehouse.