KSwiss Ultrashot 3 Women's Review

Comfort - Score: 4.0

KSwiss has a reputation for making comfortable shoes, and for our team, the Ultrashot 3s didn't disappoint. Tiffani, who has wider feet, commented on the brand's reputation for catering to that foot type. She explained, "I can't think of any KSwiss shoes off the top of my head that haven't fit my feet well. They typically have a generous fit that works well for my wider feet. When I first slipped on the Ultrashot 3s, they felt a little more true to medium than the Hypercourt Express 2s and even the Hypercourt Supremes, which also have a slightly sleeker fit but more supple uppers. The fit wasn't too constricting and opened up after just a couple of hours. The uppers formed to my feet nicely, and the cushioning was there but offered a lower ride than the Hypercourt models. The arch support didn't feel high, and the ventilation was adequate. I could wear these shoes comfortably after my hits, but I think during hotter weather I would likely remove them after my court sessions."

The updated fit was a bonus for Michelle. She said, "For me, the KSwiss brand goes hand in hand with comfort, and these shoes are no exception. Having worn the previous versions, I was excited to see that the Ultrashot 3s weren't as wide as past models, fitting my feet better and allowing me to feel comfortably snug in the shoes. I felt very connected to the court but still found a good amount of cushioning and rebound underfoot. The upper was super soft and flexible, and the heel counter was comfortable as well. I recall having issues with the tongue in the past, and I was really happy with the new padding and how well the tongue stayed in place with this update. I had no rubbing or blisters throughout the playtest."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 4.2

With a healthy midfoot shank, the Ultrashot 3s are built to be the most stable shoes in the KSwiss lineup. Michelle was pleased all around in this department. She described, “The uppers on these shoes add a solid amount of support, and the stability was what I look for in my tennis shoes. I felt more locked in compared to previous versions and wasn't sliding around as much, which helped keep me more stable when I was pulled wide and recovering. The low-to-the-ground feel allowed me to feel better connected to the court and to my movement. It also seemed like the shoes came up a bit higher in the heel, allowing me to feel more locked in, whereas I felt like I was coming out of the back of the Ultrashot 2s."

After a slight adjustment, Tiffani found her stride as well. She said, "I felt really secure on court in these Ultrashot 3s. They are pretty low profile in the forefoot and stiff enough through the chassis to keep my feet and ankles protected. I did initially have some rubbing at the ankle, and I ended up using the last eyelet to shore up the fit around my ankles to stop that issue. I had some quick stops in these shoes and happily experienced no toe jamming."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 4.3

With a six-month guarantee, these Ultrashot 3s promise top-notch durability. If you ask Tiffani, KSwiss succeeded here. She said, "The outsole tread looks pretty deep on these Ultrashot 3s. They're holding up better than the Hypercourt series shoes, and I have no worries about them wearing out prematurely. I've got about 10 hours on my outsoles, and they look really fresh. The toes are also holding up well. I wore a white-based color, and the textured finish on the toes is looking dirty, but they aren't in danger of wearing through."

After playing 15 hours on hard courts in these shoes, Michelle reported, "I was very happy with the durability from these shoes. They come with a six-month outsole guarantee, so I expected them to hold up well. The added durability features are holding strong against wear as well."

Traction - Score: 3.9

The outsoles of the Ultrashot 3s have a fairly traditional herringbone pattern to provide traction. For Michelle, they were a bit slick at times. She explained, "If I had to be picky with these shoes, I would critique the traction. It didn't happen often, but there were a handful of times when I did slip a bit on the court, and it caught me off guard. I am by no means a hard court slider nor a graceful mover, so it just surprised me more than anything. I could see players who like sliding into their shots appreciating the give from the outsole."

On the other hand, Tiffani thought the traction levels were just right. She said, "Right out of the box, the outsoles of these Ultrashot 3s were pretty squeaky. It was really just a minor annoyance because I didn't experience any issues with the traction. I felt in control of my movements and got the level of grip I like on the hard court. The shoes also allowed for smooth transitions from shot to shot, so I have no complaints about the traction."

Weight - Score: 4.0

Shoes that are as stable and durable as these Ultrashot 3s tend to be on the heavier side. Luckily, our team thought KSwiss managed to avoid this pitfall. Tiffani described, "These shoes aren't the lightest offering from KSwiss, but I didn't feel weighed down. I think this is the area where I saw the biggest improvement over the Ultrashot 2s. These Ultrashot 3s have a sleeker fit overall, so I just felt faster."

Michelle agreed, adding, "For being so stable and durable, these shoes never felt heavy. I was still able to pick up the speed when I wanted or needed to. I never felt weighed down, and they didn't feel bulky at all. While not a speed shoe, the Ultrashot 3 felt solid in this category, and I was happy with the features that are included at this weight."

Overall - Score: 4.3