adidas SoleMatch Control Tennis Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 4.2

The adidas SoleMatch Control offers Bounce technology, which created a comfortable ride for our playtest team. After opening up the shoe box, Brittany was excited to see another promising offering from adidas. She said, "The shoes look great and feel light, yet substantial. When I slipped them on my feet I took a quick walk around the office to check out the fit. I noticed that they ran a little short; there was not a lot of room for my toes, but it was not enough for me to size up. The width was a standard medium fit with a nice generous toe box. Walking around, I felt that the arch support was not hitting my arches in the correct place. It was noticeable, but not uncomfortable, and toward the end of the playtest they had compressed and I couldn't feel them as much. I thought adidas did a nice job with the cushioning; not only was it present under the heel and forefoot, but also around the ankles and tongue. It took a short one- to two-hour break-in period for the uppers to start to mold around my feet."

"I love the look of these shoes, so I was excited to get them out of the box and try them on!" Michelle added. "The first thing I noticed was that they felt much lighter than I was expecting, and they were very plush and comfortable underfoot. However, the toe box felt a little big in terms of volume, and it was tough to cinch them up. After the initial wear, I utilized that last eyelet in hopes of getting a snugger fit on my feet. I am super impressed that adidas continues to pave the way for sustainability in our sport, and I love that these shoes use recycled Boost materials to add durability to the upper. I found the shoes to be really comfortable underfoot, and the Bounce midsole continues to offer a great blend of cushion and response without feeling too mushy."

Jason compared the SoleMatch Control to some previous models, saying, "These shoes fit like the SoleMatch Bounces from a couple of years ago. I liked that they had a slightly wider toe box and a lower arch. I'm a big fan of the Bounce midsole because it provides a soft but responsive ride."

Chris' pair of SoleMatch Controls required only a slight break-in. He said, "I was able to play comfortably in them as they opened up. The cushioning was one of my favorite aspects of the shoes, and my feet felt very protected on tough landings. The fit was a smidge wide for me, and too short. I went up a half size to get the correct length fit, but there was no fix for the wide fit. I was sliding around inside the shoes more than I do in a Barricade, which did lead to some discomfort on the soles of my feet. The uppers flexed well and felt very comfortable. I would have liked a little better ventilation, but all in all, comfort was decent."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 3.9

While our playtesters found adequate stability in the SoleMatch Controls, they were all looking for a little more support. Michelle never felt locked into the shoes. She said, "I thought these shoes were fairly stable, but because of the looser uppers, they sometimes felt like they had a lighter level of support. The ride felt low to the ground, and that allowed me to feel connected to the court, while the base reminded me a bit of the SoleCourt Boost. I never felt like I was going to roll over the shoes, but the uppers were more flexible, and I preferred to teach in them for lighter hitting rather than using them for the more aggressive movements of drilling or playing a match."

"The SoleMatch Controls are solid and stable shoes," continued Chris. "I was never in fear of rolling an ankle, and I quickly learned that I could trust them on lateral cuts. My only gripe was that the fit was not as contoured as I find in the Barricades, so I never got a totally locked-in feel."

With most shoes, including the SoleMatch Controls, Brittany utilizes the last eyelets for a more secure fit around her ankles. She said, "My shoelaces were on the shorter side when I did this, and it was hard to double knot them. Regardless, I thought there was enough stability even for my previously injured ankle that needs extra stability. I never felt like I was going to roll an ankle or tip in my shoes, even on the most aggressive movements. However, I was looking for a little more support. The shoes did not hold my feet in place, and they were moving forward and backward within the shoes. This resulted in some toe jamming throughout the playtest."

Jason agreed with the rest of the team, adding, "I was impressed by the level of stability the SoleMatch Control provided. I was moving side to side and changing directions with confidence because the shoes felt so stable. Where these shoes fell short for me was the support, specifically when I was moving forward and stopping. I had to really tighten up my laces from bottom to top to get my feet to feel locked in. Otherwise, I would get a bit of toe jamming when moving forward."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 4.5

Commonly a standout feature in adidas shoes, it's no surprise that durability was a highlight of the adidas SoleMatch Controls. Jason had no complaints about his pair's durability when the playtest ended. He said, "These shoes really hold up well! I put about 15 hours on them, and the outsoles barely show any signs of real wear and tear. Sure, some of the colored outsole has flaked off, but there is more than enough rubber left. I could easily put another 15 hours on these shoes without a second thought."

"I was left impressed at the end of the playtest," added Brittany. "With lightweight shoes, I expect some compromise with durability. But after 10-plus hours on a gritty indoor tennis court, the durability of the outsole, toe bumper and upper exceeded my expectations. I have some slight smoothing in high-wear areas, but there's plenty of life left in the shoes. Are they going to be more durable than the Barricades? No, but I don't think they were designed for that. Nonetheless, I was very happy with the durability."

Chris definitely regards adidas shoes highly when it comes to durability. He said, "I have come to expect a good level of durability from adidas shoes since even their speed-oriented models seem to hold up better than most. The SoleMatch Controls did not disappoint. The outsoles held up well. Even the high-wear area under the big toe of my right foot still had ample outsole material at the end of the test. I did more damage to the tip of the upper. The toe bumper showed the most wear and would likely be the first area for me to wear through with continued use (not uncommon with my toe-dragging tendencies)."

The SoleMatch Controls left quite an impression on Michelle in this category. She said, "I wore these shoes for a solid month, and they are not showing much wear at all! I would say these might be the most durable adidas shoes I've worn in the past year. I'm sure they will last me quite a while."

Traction - Score: 3.8

With a uniquely designed outsole tread pattern, the SoleMatch Control offered our playtesters more grip than give. Michelle was the lone playtester who enjoyed the extra traction. She explained, "The traction is on the stickier side. I'm the playtester on the team who prefers sticky outsoles, so that worked for me! I didn't have any issues and appreciated the added tack, which helps me feel confident when moving."

However, the rest of the team found the outsole to be a little too sticky. Brittany needed a bit more give, saying, "The SoleMatch Controls offered a stickier response that lasted throughout the playtest. While the outsoles did grip the court well, I personally prefer a little less resistance to help avoid feeling 'stuck' when pivoting in a new direction."

Chris had similar feedback. He said, "The SoleMatch Controls offer a LOT of grip. I would have liked more give to help me slide out of quick stops, but I found the outsoles of the SoleMatch Controls too sticky to allow me to slide confidently. I also noticed the high level of grip during small adjustment steps and pivots, where I would have liked the outsoles to give and let me move more freely."

Jason was in the same boat, adding, "The outsoles are super grippy. In fact, in my opinion, they are too grippy. I prefer outsoles that have a bit of give to them so I can slide out of my shots when moving side to side. But if you want ultimate traction, these shoes are up there."

Weight - Score: 4.1

Weighing in at 10.8 ounces for women (size 8.5) and 13.8 ounces for men (size 10.5), the adidas SoleMatch Controls received mixed, but ultimately positive, reviews from our playtesters in this category. Brittany thought adidas did a great job of offering lighter shoes that still had some substance. She described, "These shoes helped me feel quick on the court during intense movement. It is hard to describe, but they don't feel (or look) overly lightweight, so I give adidas credit for distributing the weight effectively."

"The weight of the SoleMatch Control doesn't stand out one way or the other," said Jason. "It doesn't feel like a Babolat Jet, but it doesn't feel bulky or clunky either. The weight of this shoe is in my 'set it and forget it' category. I put them on and don't give the weight a second thought."

Michelle thought the SoleMatch Controls felt about average in terms of weight. She said, "As mentioned earlier, I assumed these shoes would be pretty hefty, but they were surprisingly light. However, I never felt incredibly speedy in them, and I would lean on the Cybersonics or Ubersonics if I were looking for the quickest shoes. However, they didn't feel bulky or heavy. I would put them in a mid-weight category."

Chris didn't really notice the weight throughout the playtest. He added, "I wouldn't call them speed shoes, but the SoleMatch Controls didn't feel heavy or clunky either. When playing, I think I was most cognizant of the shoes for other reasons (fit and grip) rather than ever feeling weighed down."

Overall - Score: 4.0