Wilson Rush Pro 3.0 Men's Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 4.0

If there were one area where the Rush Pro 3.0 noticeably improved, it would be the overall comfort. The 3.0 feels softer and lighter than its predecessors, but this shoe definitely remains a real piece of performance footwear. Jason, who tested the previous version, was impressed with adjustments made in this update. He said, "I thought these shoes were more comfortable than the Rush Pro 2.5s. The most obvious improvement was the ventilation. These shoes definitely felt more breathable. The underfoot cushioning was more responsive than plush, but I thought it provided a nice ride. Both the fit (slightly wider) and arch support (slightly lower) were a nice fit for my foot type."

Sean could appreciate the comfort of the upper as well as the underfoot feel, but he struggled with the ventilation and toe jamming. He explained, "From the first wear, the step-in comfort was above average in these shoes. The heel felt very padded, and I appreciated the way the upper flexed and formed around the top of my foot, though it was a little snug. Underfoot, I noticed the heel padding was fairly plush, and that comfort tapered toward the toe, where it felt more responsive. It wasn't all positive, though; I experienced below-average ventilation, and the stiff toe cap caused a bit of toe jamming."

Like Sean, Erik thought the cushioning fell on the responsive end, but he agreed with Jason when it came to the ventilation. He added, "The Rush Pro 3.0s have a very responsive cushioning throughout. The fit was a medium width, and these shoes were extremely comfortable right out of the box. The mesh material was quite breathable as well. When I wore two pairs of socks the shoes would become pretty warm, but that was to be expected."

Troy agreed that the fit was comfortable, but some serious toe jamming marred the overall experience for him. He said, "The way the uppers contoured to my feet felt very comfortable. The midsole cushioning was minimal, and these shoes had a very low-to-the-ground ride. However, I never felt like my feet were slapping on the court, and there was enough material under the balls of my feet to protect them on hard landings. Ventilation was decent, with a similar level of breathability to the adidas SoleCourt Boost and New Balance Fresh Foam Lav shoes. The arch support was sufficient for my foot type, although I wouldn't have minded if it were a bit higher. There was one downside for me when it came to comfort, and it is something that I have experienced with previous versions of the Wilson Rush Pro, Wilson Kaos and Wilson Amplifeel shoes. This was the toe-jamming issue, which is caused by the very pronounced and rigid toe guard. I experienced the toe jamming at the end of full sprints toward the net, when I was chasing down drop shots and coming to a sudden stop. It was definitely evident, and it was not a comfortable experience, but maybe not as harsh as the toe jamming with older versions of the adidas Barricade."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 4.2

The Rush Pros have always had a reputation for offering top-notch support to players who demand the most from their shoes. The pronounced TPU shank and robust upper lock your feet in, no matter the movement. Sean prefers his shoes to have premium stability, and this update definitely didn't disappoint him. He said, "These were among the more stable shoes I have tested in my time at Tennis Warehouse, which was surprising given their 13.2-ounce weight. The underfoot shank combined well with the snug fit to make me feel locked in and stable. Although the uppers stretched a tiny bit throughout the playtest, the multiple layers of material were sufficient to keep my feet from ballooning over the edges on hard lateral cuts and slides."

In a variety of scenarios, Jason's shoes were up to the task and remained secure. He noted, "When I was moving from sideline to sideline and quickly changing directions, the shoes felt really solid and stable. I didn't notice any instances when I felt the shoe starting to roll over, so that was a great feature. Albeit small, the main issue for me was the support. When I tried to stop my movement, my foot would slide forward, causing a little bit of toe jamming. Luckily the toe bumper is fairly soft, so it wasn't too painful."

As one of our most aggressive movers, Erik needs shoes that can handle slides and powerful cuts. He responded, "These shoes gave me really nice foot support from the ground. I felt pretty locked in whenever I was sliding out to the ball, but it was nothing amazing. Sometimes the mesh would stretch, and I wouldn't feel quite as secure. I had a little heel slippage at times, but I could fix that by wearing two pairs of socks, going down a size, or using a runners knot. I also experienced a bit of toe jamming with these shoes, but it was nothing major."

All aspects of the stability were up to par for Troy, who explained, "As with previous iterations of the Wilson Rush Pro, the support and stability of these Rush Pro 3.0s were top notch. The combination of the very low-to-the-ground ride in the forefoot and the 4D Support Chassis helped achieve a high level of stability. When I was making aggressive lateral changes of direction I felt as confident in my movements as I do with my go-to shoes, the Asics Gel Resolution 7s. I would have assumed that these Rush Pro 3.0s, which are lighter than any of the previous versions, would have sacrificed support and stability, but I was very pleased to find that these shoes locked my feet in place and supported my movement under maximum force. The thicker laces and the reinforced eyelets allowed me to cinch the shoes tightly and lock my feet down."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 4.2

In addition to offering superb stability, the Rush Pro 3.0s have you covered in the durability department. The Duralast rubber proved to hold up very well for the duration of the playtest, and our testers were happy to see the six-month durability guarantee carried over into this generation. Troy commented, "The overall sole durability was better than average considering the weight of the Rush Pro 3s. The Duralast rubber outsoles felt a little softer, which translated into a grippier feel on the court, but the rubber outsoles wore down a bit faster. As with most Wilson shoes that I have tried over the years, the toe guards on these shoes are substantial. The toe durability was very good and provided a lot of protection whenever I dragged my toes."

Erik was satisfied with the durability on both the outsole and the toe guard. He said, "These shoes are quite durable, especially on the lateral side. The sole and toe were extremely tough and didn't see much, if any, wear on the outsoles. The toe durability was also very impressive thanks to the toe guard."

Lighter and just as durable? Jason was a happy camper, stating, "Impressive once again. The shoes are lighter than before, yet the durability was just as good as the previous model. Between playing pickleball and tennis, I put 15 to 17 hours on the Rush Pro 3.0s, and there are only slight indications of tread wear."

This Rush Pro update met Sean's strict durability standards. He explained, "Because I tend to wear through outsoles very quickly, it is imperative to me that a shoe is either very durable or comes with an outsole warranty; the Rush Pro 3.0s meet both of those criteria. After 10 hours of play I experienced scant signs of wear and tear on both the toe and right under the toe — the usual suspects. They are probably not quite as durable as Gel Resolutions or Barricades, but I would still expect these shoes to last me at least a month or two of serious play."

Traction - Score: 4.4

Adding to the mini-tank image of the Rush Pro 3.0s, the grippy tread complemented their stability and durability by providing a reliable base to push off of. Even though the traction on his pair was on the grippier side, Jason thought the traction was great and didn't come at the cost of durability. He elaborated, "The outsoles did a good job providing traction on hard courts. They definitely felt more on the sticky side to me, and I found it a little difficult to slide in them. The traction held up for the duration of the playtest."

Although Sean agreed that his pair had great traction, he still found enough give to suit his style of movement. He said, "My initial impression was that these shoes were going to be very grippy, especially since they felt sticky and squeaked loudly while I was moving. To my surprise, I was occasionally sliding and found pivoting out of shots very easy. If I were nitpicking, I might want a tad more give, but that will come with more wear anyway."

Troy found that his pair gripped the court reliably, even after extended use. He described, "I found the Duralast rubber outsoles to grip the hard courts very well. The outsoles felt very grippy, almost gummy in a sense. This provided me the confidence to dig into the court and change directions with a lot of force. The modified herringbone tread pattern started to wear down a bit after a couple weeks of playtesting, and this resulted in a bit more give in the traction. Even with a little more give, there was still plenty of grip, and I had no issues with slipping."

Erik dissented from the rest of the team somewhat. He felt that the balance of traction landed right between grip and give. He commented, "The traction was my favorite part of these shoes; I felt like I could slide effectively and stop on a dime whenever I wanted. I had an excellent blend of give and grip, and these are among my favorite shoes in that regard. I could slide the perfect amount without slipping uncontrollably."

Weight - Score: 4.4

The Rush Pro 3.0s weighed in about an ounce and a half lighter than the 2.5s, and our testers enjoyed the quicker ride. That reduction in weight was noticeable to Troy, who thought the blend of weight and stability was right up there with his go-to shoe. He stated, "From the first time I played in these Rush Pro 3.0s, I could tell that Wilson reduced their weight compared to previous models. There was a fast feel to these shoes, which correlated to the actual weight on the scale. There was minimal break-in; they felt very soft and supple after just one hitting session. This allowed me to move freely throughout the court, and the heel-to-toe transition was smooth. The court feel was enhanced by the low-to-the-ground ride in the forefoot, which also translated to a speedier feel and a lot of responsiveness. The stability of these shoes is right up there with my Gel Resolution 7s, but they have a faster feel and flex easier out of the box."

Comparing the Rush Pro 3.0s to Nike's flagship lightweight model was surely a compliment coming from Erik. He said, "These shoes are quite light, and they remind me of the Nike Air Zoom Vapor in the weight department. I felt like the Rush Pro 3.0s were heavy enough to feel stable and light enough to really pick my feet up. I very much enjoyed the weight of these shoes."

Sean was thoroughly impressed with the attention to detail. He commended Wilson, saying, "The blend of comfort and performance was exceptional for a 13.2-ounce shoe. Besides the impressive durability and stability, the fact that I could continue to wear the Rush Pro 3.0s off the court really speaks to the craftsmanship and thought put into the design of these shoes. I'm very impressed with what Wilson has done here."

For Jason, the sign of a successfully light shoe is indicated by how little he has to worry about them when they're on his feet. He explained, "The use of mesh in the uppers not only made these shoes a lot more breathable, but it also really lightened up the feel compared to the Rush Pro 2.5s. They felt nice and light on court and were an afterthought once I had them on, which is a good thing."

Overall - Score: 4.2