Breakdown

Comfort: 8.3

A redesigned padded tongue and Fresh Foam X cushioning help make the New Balance CT Rally 2s stand out in the comfort department. After a short break-in period, Michelle noticed the comfort level improving over time. She said, "I thought the CT Rally 2s were very comfortable. When I wasn't sure at first, but the longer I wore them, the more comfortable they felt. The fit was perfect for my feet -- true in length and medium in width, with good support for my higher arches. With a little break-in (about an hour playing and drilling in them and then three or so hours wearing them around the courts), they were good to go. They did run a tiny bit hot, but that wasn't too much of an issue for me. As I start my coaching season for the next six months, I want shoes I can jump in and hit with my players and that I can wear throughout a practice or match day, which means they are comfortable from an hour to six hours at a time. The CT Rally 2s were just that for me! The styling also looked nice and clean, which was another positive."

Being familiar with the previous model, Tiffani was looking forward to testing the updated CT Rally 2s. She said, "The original CT Rallys are some of my favorite court shoes, so I anticipated good things from these CT Rally 2s. I wore the D width for toe original CT Rally review, but we got these CT Rally 2s early and only the standard B width was available. Although I would opt to wear the D width, the model I tested didn't squeeze my feet too much. Like the first version, these CT Rally 2s felt a bit firm underfoot when I first tried them on, but the cushioning came alive as soon as I started playing in them. It felt soft, yet responsive, so my feet weren't sinking too much into the shoes. Although I didn't have any issues with arch support, these shoes did feel warm. It wasn't a distraction while I was playing, but I definitely wanted to change socks after any court session in these shoes."

"The last version of the New Balance CT Rally was a huge hit, so I was really curious to see how the CT Rally 2s performed," Zsofi added. "I like the design of this update; I think they look pretty cool! Out of the box they felt a bit stiff, but they started flexing more after a couple hours of break-in time, which allowed them to mold around my feet better, which was nice."

Although she appreciated the CT Rally 2s' ample cushioning, Brittany had issues with the level of comfort the shoes provided. She explained, "I was happy to find the fit for the CT Rally 2s was a medium width and standard length, so I was able to stay in my true size. I needed a lengthy break-in period of at least five hours before the uppers started to flex and the shoes molded around my feet, and I had an even longer break-in period with the arch support. The arch support hit too far back and on the lateral side of my feet, which made them uncomfortable and caused some soreness after playing. The arch compressed slightly and wasn't as big of an issue by the end of the playtest, but I could still feel it. I thought the cushioning was great. I found the perfect amount underfoot and around the ankles and tongues. I found that the CT Rally 2s ran quite warm. My feet were definitely heating up, and I wanted to take them off as soon as I was done with a hitting session."

Foot Support / Stability: 9.0

Our playtesters felt very secure moving on the court in these New Balance CT Rally 2s. Having dealt with ankle injuries in the past, Brittany was very impressed by the stability of the CT Rally 2s. She said, "The highlight of the playtest for me was both the support and stability. I felt the CT Rally 2s held my feet solidly in place even when I was moving around aggressively. There wasn't much extra room, which kept my feet secure within the shoes no matter which direction I was moving. The stability receives just as high marks. My ankles felt locked in, and I never felt like I was going tip over or roll an ankle."

The CT Rally 2s had better support and stability than many of the other tennis shoes Michelle has tried out recently. She described, "I've been testing some shoes lately that just have not been as supportive, so I was excited to find out that these shoes were very supportive and stable. I really enjoyed how confident I felt moving in them. This, paired with the comfort, makes these CT Rally 2s some of my favorites as of late."

Support and stability got high marks from Tiffani as well. She added, "For me, the CT Rally 2s were outstanding in this category. The eyelets don't go too far back, but once laced up I never had any worries of an ankle roll. I also felt plenty supported and didn't once experience toe jamming. I'm very happy in this category."

After adjusting her laces, Zsofi felt comfortable on court. She explained, "I did struggle a bit in the beginning with locking my heels in, but eventually I was able to find the optimal tension with my shoelaces that was just tight enough to make me feel locked in. Otherwise, support levels were top notch. I felt safe moving in all directions, and the shoes provided great stability. The uppers held my feet nicely in place (besides the mild heel slippage I experienced in the beginning)."

Overall Sole Durability: 8.3

Utilizing NDurance rubber on the outsoles gives the New Balance CT Rally 2s reliable resilience on hard courts. New Balance backs this up with a six-month durability guarantee, a feature our playtesters are always happy to see. "I wore my shoes for about a dozen hours, and I'm not seeing too much wear," Tiffani said. "It's a bit hard to see because the pair I tested had a translucent outsole in the forefoot area. I can't tell if the tread has worn much, but I can see there's still plenty of rubber left. Plus, there's the outsole durability guarantee, so I don't have much to worry about when it comes to durability."

The CT Rally 2s' outsoles held up well for Michelle. She noted, "I thought the durability was good. I am not seeing any crazy wear, and I expect to get several more months out of these shoes. The New Balance rubber tends to be a resilient compound, and NDurance was no different."

Zsofi saw some abrasion on the soles of her CT Rally 2s, though it was nothing all that concerning. She described, "When it comes to durability, the uppers will hold up great, but I was a bit surprised by how much wear I saw on the outsoles. However, the outsoles are thick, so I think they will last quite a while even with the wear I've seen so far. Plus they do come with a six-month durability warranty, which is a nice plus!"

While the CT Rally 2s fared well in her usual problem areas, Brittany spotted some unusual damage. She explained, "I competed 10-plus hours in these CT Rally 2s on our gritty indoor court. The colorway of the shoes we playtested has translucent outsoles, and I didn't have any excessive wear in my high-wear areas. However, I did have some abnormal wear at the very tip of the shoes underneath the toes. The outsole material is starting to peel off on both shoes. The toe bumpers look to be in great condition, though, and I am seeing no wear there. The only other wear I am seeing on the uppers is on my left shoe where the midsole cushioning meets the front of the toe bumper. There I am seeing some smoothing of the material, but it looks to be cosmetic only and is not affecting the performance."

Traction: 8.3

Traction was another highlight of this playtest for our team. The New Balance CT Rally 2s utilize a herringbone pattern arranged in pods for optimal traction. Michelle generally prefers grippier outsoles, and the CT Rally 2s fit the bill. She said, "I always like an outsole that isn't too slick, and I thought these outsoles had good tack to them. I have no complaints here!"

Zsofi found that the balance of grip and give evened out nicely after some time on the court. She said, "The traction started out a bit too sticky for me, but it became optimal after a few hours. I have no complaints."

Like Zsofi, Brittany appreciated the traction more after breaking the shoes in. She said, “The CT Rally 2s offered stickier traction at the beginning of the playtest, and they were definitely gripping the court well. By the end of the playtest, the outsoles had smoothed slightly and were giving a little bit more. I preferred the traction at the end, when it settled into a nice blend of give and grip."

Tiffani didn't have to give the CT Rally 2s' traction a second thought. She described, "If push came to shove, I would say these shoes erred slightly on the sticky side, but I didn't think much about it when I was playing. I could move around the court smoothly. If I'm not thinking about the traction, I'm happy."

Weight: 7.5

Weighing in at 12.7 ounces (size 8.5), the New Balance CT Rally 2 falls in the middle range for court shoes. It's hard to achieve a significant level of comfort, support and stability without adding features that contribute to the overall weight. Michelle thought these CT Rally 2s felt speedier than their predecessors. She said, "I would say the CT Rally 2s felt more streamlined and less bulky than the previous version. I wouldn't say these are speedy shoes, but they never felt heavy or slow; they felt just right for shoes that offer a good amount of cushioning, support and stability."

Comparing the CT Rally 2s to other shoes she recently tested, Tiffani said, "These CT Rally 2s definitely aren’t the lightest shoes, and they weigh more than the previous version. However, I didn't find them any more cumbersome or bulky than the original model. We've been testing some heavier, sturdier shoes lately, and the CT Rally 2s feel more nimble than the KSwiss Ultrashot 4s and Skechers Baseline Bullies. Those both weigh more, but the New Balance shoes feel just as stable. I like the weight-to-performance ratio of the CT Rally 2s."

On the other hand, Brittany prefers lighter tennis shoes. She explained, "The CT Rally 2s are a little on the heavy side for me. I didn't feel as fluid and quick moving around the court, and I definitely noticed them on my feet at the beginning. As the playtest wore on the uppers started to flex better, and that helped create a smoother transition from heel to toe, which allowed me to feel a little faster on court."

"I do wish the CT Rally 2s were more on the light side," Zsofi added. "They felt a bit too heavy for my liking. In the beginning, I felt a little sluggish on court, but I got used to the weight as the playtest went on. It also helped that the foam underfoot molded around my feet better as the shoes broke in."

Breakdown Summary