The Gel Resolution 9s are built with layers of cushioning for plenty of comfort for long hours on the court but also to provide good responsiveness while chasing down balls. For Michelle, these shoes really checked all the comfort boxes. She said, "This playtest started right where the Gel Resolution 8 left off! Having worn five iterations of the Gel Resolution, I can say the shoes continue to evolve, and I always have a few pairs in my closet because they are always good go-to shoes. The cushioning of this update felt very similar to the shoe it replaces — comfortable and responsive yet not plush and mushy. They fit my medium width feet just fine, and unlike previous versions, I did NOT have a painful break in with the new diamond-shaped upper. I felt it to be a snug medium, but the upper remained supportive and snug and didn't really loosen up with wear, which I liked for my feet. I also appreciated the updated upper design and liked how flexible it felt when on; it allowed me to not feel at all restricted. These were also shoes that I could put on and play in and found myself wearing them in the gym for workouts and beyond the tennis court."

After a short break-in, these shoes offered Brittany a smooth ride. She noted, "Having playtested the Gel Resolution model dating all the way back to the 3s in 2012, I had a good idea what to expect for this update. The first thing I did was slip the shoes on my feet and wear them around for an hour before hitting the courts. Just like with past models, I experienced a small break-in period of one to two hours. During that break-in period, I experienced some slight numbing of my toes in both feet. This wasn't painful or uncomfortable, just noticeable and also something that had happened with previous generations. After the short break-in period, I was good to go. The shoes offered plush cushioning underfoot from the heel all the way to the forefoot. There was also a nice padded tongue and ankle collar. As far as fit, I found these to be a snug medium, perfect for my narrow feet. Toward the end of the playtest, I did notice the uppers opened slightly but not as much as expected. However, I did find the shoes narrowed a little early in the forefoot, leaving me wanting a wider toe box. I had no issues with ventilation or arch support."

Zsofi also noted a slightly narrower fit and opted to wear the wide version. She described her experiences, saying, "I was a big fan of the Gel Resolution 8, so I was super pumped to be on this playtest! When I first put on the Gel Resolution 9s, I right away recognized the similar overall fit and comfort level. However, the first thing that stood out to me was that the new version is definitely a bit narrower, and because of that, I actually decided to pick the wide version Asics offers, which was helpful. As the playtest went on, I was hoping the shoes would open up a bit more and would be a bit less narrow around the midfoot area (because even with the wide version I felt like my feet were a bit too tight), but unfortunately the shoes did not open up too much, so this is just something to keep in mind for players with wider feet."

Although the fit was not ideal for Tiffani's wide feet, she loved the cushioning. She explained, "The regular Asics Gel Resolution 9 has a snug fit for me, and I wanted to try the wide, but at the time of testing, my size was not available in the wide version so I wore the standard width Gel Resolution 9. These shoes didn't open up much like the previous model did so they felt snug throughout the playtest, especially through the midfoot. The support feature at the midfoot doesn't allow the uppers to relax enough to accommodate my wide feet. There was also a bit of a break-in for me to get a nice heel-to-toe flex, but this is a common side effect when shoes are super stable. What took no break-in time whatsoever was the cushioned feel underfoot. That was present throughout the review and much appreciated. My feet felt protected from the demands of hard court tennis."

The high levels of support and stability in the Gel Resolution 9s instilled confidence in the TW playtesters as they moved around the court. Past injuries mean Brittany is always concerned about protecting her ankles. She gave these shoes the thumbs up, saying, "I am happy to report that the Gel Resolution 9s maintain the high levels of support and stability that the past couple generations offered. I did utilize the last eyelet for a snug fit around the ankle, but I had no issues with movements within the shoes. My feet were also nicely supported during aggressive movements. Additionally, the stability received top marks from me. With a past ankle injury, I now look for high levels of ankle stability, and even after a tough singles set, my ankles were feeling fresh and secure."

Offering similar feedback, Tiffani added, "I suffered two ankle sprains last summer so now more than ever I want extra ankle stability on the court. The Gel Resolution 9s definitely delivered in this department. I have been using the extra eyelet on all my shoes to up the feeling of stability, but I didn't feel the need to do that in these shoes. They felt plenty stable for me, and the uppers really held my feet in place so there was no slipping or sliding inside these shoes. The Gel Resolution 9s are leaders in this category."

It was positive feedback all-around in this category, as Michelle shared, "These shoes are always top-notch when it comes to support and stability and the ninth iteration was no different. For sure this is one of the standout strengths of these shoes for me. The updated Dynawall offered even more stability, which for me translates into confidence for me. The support of the uppers allowed me to feel locked in, and I appreciated how the new upper shape was flexible and kept me snug within the shoes. Stability is one of the features I need in shoes, and I can always rely on Gel Resolutions for that."

Our TW playtesters put the all-court Gel Resolution 9s through their paces, and the shoes were up to the challenge. Tiffani said, "This is another standout area for the Gel Resolution 9s. I see very little wear on my shoes and toes. I smoothed the texture at the toes, but I haven't really worn through any of the rubber after about 10 hours of play on hard courts. For those who are hard on their shoes, there is a six-month durability guarantee."

"Durability wise, I see barely any wear on my shoes," added Zsofi. "I have absolutely no issues here."

According to Michelle, fans of the line won't be disappointed. She said, "I think these shoes have a good reputation because of how stable and supportive they are but also because of how durable they are! Pair that with the outsole durability guarantee, and these shoes are some of the better options for players who spend a ton of time on the court. The outsole rubber and pattern are very similar to the previous one, and I found the wear to be comparable."

Count Brittany as another happy playtester. She said, "I easily put 10-plus hours on a gritty indoor tennis court (along with a couple hours outside as well). As I looked at my outsole at the end of the playtest, besides them being dirty, I saw hardly any wear even in the high wear areas under my toes. Additionally, the toe bumpers looked in great shape. There's plenty of material that will last well past the lifetime of the shoes."

The outsoles of the Gel Resolution 9s have a segmented design that is meant to provide stable landings and allow the most aggressive movers to slide on hard courts. For Zsofi, this update had a noticeable effect on traction. She explained, "Another slight difference I noticed between the Gel Res 8 and this new update is the outsole and how the Gel Resolution 9 feels slightly more slippery on court. Honestly, I did not really mind since sometimes I do like to slide on hard court as well; it is just something to keep in mind."

Michelle also appreciated the new design, although for different reasons. She said, "With the updated outsoles, the forefoot remains very similar to the previous version, and there is a split on the heel making the shoes more dynamic. While I am not a big hard-court slider, I can appreciate the technology. It allowed me to put weight on the outside of my feet when getting to tough balls, and the outsole did feel a bit slicker than tacky but not too slippery. I didn't ever worry about traction through the playtest, which means it worked great for me!"

It's about quick transitions for Brittany, and these shoes allowed her to move smoothly. She said, "Even though I don't slide on hard courts, I like my shoes to offer a little bit of give after planting. This allows me to transition into my next shot without feeling 'stuck.'

Tiffani agreed, adding, "This is the area I think Asics made a noticeable improvement. The Gel Resolution 9s were much quieter on the hard court, so I wasn't distracted by any squeaking on the court, which was a problem for me with the 8s. I also thought the outsoles allowed for a little bit more give than the previous version. I don't slide in or out of my shots, but I did like it and liked how the shoe would allow me to quickly pivot to my next move."

Although the Gel Resolution 9s aren't meant to be lightning quick around the court, our TW playtesters had no issues moving in them. Michelle described their performance, saying, "These shoes aren't bulky or heavy, but they also are not light; they are just right, especially for high performing shoes. They feel like they have some weight to them, but that is to be expected with how stable, cushioned and durable they are. They are in the same weight range as other shoes that offer similar qualities so nothing surprising here. We have started to see a lot more light tennis shoes, but I am OK with these being a bit heavier and offering loads of support."

"I would categorize the weight of the shoes as a little above average," added Brittany. "However, this was to be expected for such high levels of stability and durability. I didn't mind the weight, and the shoes did not feel clunky. In fact, the longer I wore the shoes there was a better heel-to-toe transition, which actually helped make my movements feel smoother and quicker."

Tiffani shared similar sentiments, noting, "Although these shoes are not light, they also don't feel clunky or cumbersome. I moved with confidence and felt like these shoes delivered me plenty of other performance features that I wasn't bothered by the weight at all."

Agreeing with the rest of her team, Zsofi also thought the weight was in line with what she would expect. She said, "I would say the Gel Resolution 9s are in the mid-weight range when it comes to shoes, but they definitely do not feel heavy on your feet, even after many hours of playtime."