The standard insoles/inlays in tennis shoes provide mild shock absorption and absorption of perspiration, and they are practically all very flat, even in the top models of the major brands. Quite strange when you pay €120 to €150 for a top shoe, right? Tennis is a sport that puts extreme strain on your feet (depending on your level of course). The many sideways movements, sliding and jumping and landing cause an impact that can be up to 5 times your body weight! So it's nice to have something good at your feet! Footbalance tennis soles can be a solution. Read on for an extensive test report.
Specifications:
Brand: Footbalance
Model: 'Game' insoles (specifically suitable for high-impact activities such as tennis and indoor sports)
Size: 44 (with shoe size US 10=44)
Weight: approximately 60 grams
Damping: grade 5 out of 5, this is the Footbalance inlay with the best damping capacity
Sole stiffness: 2 out of 3. This ensures lasting stability of the sole
Tested by:
Name: Mike
Playing strength: 4/4
Shoe: New Balance Minimus 60, light, fast shoe with a height difference from heel to forefoot (drop) of 4 mm. Click here for more information about the New Balance Minimus 60 . The soles are also used in the ASICS Gel Resolution 5 Omni, a more traditional tennis shoe in terms of construction
Test duration: 12 hours
Fitting Footbalance inlays:
Footbalance tennis soles are 100% custom made, so made to your feet. It takes 10 to 15 minutes to have this measured professionally (including foot analysis). After a static foot analysis, the soles are heated, whereby the thermoplastic material of the sole (this is in the heel and midfoot part) becomes moldable. You then stand on a special foam cushion and the inlays are placed under your feet. After about thirty seconds the soles are perfectly shaped to your feet. It is very nice that the soles can be tried immediately and any adjustments to the soles can be made on the spot.
Judgement:
I personally have a lot of pressure on the forefoot, which unfortunately often results in blisters on the ball of the forefoot when playing tennis and tired feet after a long tennis session. The first thing I noticed about the Footbalance Game tennis soles is the support in the arch of the foot and in the midfoot part of the foot. A real relief for my foot type! Because the foot is extra supported in the midfoot area (it feels as if the foot is lifted here, as it were, compared to the standard insoles), the forefoot is spared and a much more even pressure distribution is created. In addition, the sole also offers much more medial support, which is very nice for all the sideways movements you have when playing tennis. The sole has slightly more volume than the standard insole of the New Balance Minimus 60. This is very pleasant for me as I have a somewhat narrower forefoot. With the Footbalance Game tennis sole, the shoe fit my foot better. The cushioning in the sole is also very pleasant: extra cushioning material has been placed in both the heel area and the forefoot, which is also a clear added value compared to the standard inlays. All in all, the Footbalance Game tennis soles ensure a much more even pressure distribution of the feet and therefore a much calmer feeling of the feet. The soles also provide clearly more stability in combination with good cushioning. This combination of support and cushioning works very well for me personally!