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I was perusing the Reddit pickleball subreddit for the “best pickleball shoes”, and the Babolat Jet Mach 3’s showed up twice on the thread, so I decided to click purchase.
If you are just joining me, I am a pickleball shoes fanatic owning around 10 different pairs of shoes I used for pickleball. I’ve recently written reviews on Asics, Adidas, K Swiss, and Reebok pickleball shoes.
I have been on a quest to find the best pickleball shoes money could buy, so I want to share with you my experience with the Babolat Jet Mach 3.
First Impressions
Given my previous research, I had high hopes for the Babolat pickleball shoes, and I was not let down.
Firstly, I really liked the colors I chose, which is a mesh of red, white, and blue. The box that the shoes came in was nice, and I felt right away that the shoes were made well.
When I put the shoes on, I felt that the shoes were quite comfortable, similar to my Asics pickleball shoes, and not discomfortable like my Adidas pickleball shoes.
I also felt that there was quite a bit of bendability in the shoes itself, giving me more confidence that I would get more speed on the court.
As I always do, I weighed these shoes, and the men’s Babolat shoes weight 13.0 ounces, which is one of the lightest shoes that I could find.
In addition, I like that Babolat adds that they use Michelin rubber. Michelin is one of the top car tires brands, so I appreciate seeing shoes utilizing the same type of rubber.
Let’s discuss how these Babolate pickleball shoes plays on the court.
How The Shoes Performed On the Court
I review pickleball shoes for grip, speed, and durability, so let’s start with grip.
Grip
Firstly, I thought that the grip was excellent. It may be due to the Michelin quality rubber on the grip of the shoes, but I thought that my lateral movements and my runs up to the kitchen line were easy for these shoes.
In addition, I felt that when needed, I could run from both sides of the court easily and that the shoes would allow me to stop and start quickly.
Speed
Speed is such a crucial aspect of singles (and doubles) pickleball, so I really wanted to see how well these did with speed.
I play mostly singles pickleball, which makes it so important to get to the kitchen line quickly.
The Babolat pickleball shoes performed well here, but I did not feel that the shoes performed as well as my Asics shoes.
For example, it felt as if the grip of the shoes were actually holding me back from getting the speed momentum to get to the line.
That said, I still believe that these shoes provided ample speed compared to other pickleball shoes in my closet.
Durability
Based on my experience, I believe that these shoes will be very durable. I would argue that these shoes should last you around 6 months of play, playing around 3 times per week in moderately comparative play.
That said, I will plan to report back on any findings if my findings are different.
Cost Considerations
While the list price of the Babolat pickleball shoes are $149, you may be able to find these on Amazon for around $100. For that price, I would definitely consider purchasing these shoes again.
If you are looking for a more budget option, you may consider purchasing the Reebok pickleball shoes which I just wrote about or compare these shoes to the Asics pickleball shoes that I mentioned earlier in this article.
Specifications
An important aspect about pickleball shoes is what the shoes are made of. If you’re interested, here are the Babolat Jet Mach 3 pickleball shoes specifications. Some of these words do not make sense to me, but hopefully they will to you.
- Lightness: Uses ultra-light Matryx Evo material featuring PAHT and Aramid fibers for stability and wear-resistance.
- Comfort & Shock Absorption: KPRSX system with EVA foam in the heel for cushioning and a rocker heel for smooth foot movement.
- Sole Durability: Redesigned Michelin Premium sole with enhanced tread in high-wear areas for durability and reduced strain in less-used zones.
- Rubber Forefoot Protection: Protective rubber piece covering the forefoot and toes for added durability.
- Ortholite Molded Insole: Molded to the foot’s shape, providing exceptional comfort, breathability, and durability.
- Active Flexion Technology: Patented sole design segmented into 9 pressure points for maximum responsiveness.
- Michelin Premium Tennis Rubber: Durable composition with optimal grip for high-performance tennis movements.
Conclusion
Overall, I really liked using my Babolat pickleball shoes. I could see why multiple people raved about how these were the top pickleball shoes out there.
I thought the speed and grip were solid, and I am excited to see what shoes Babolat comes out with next.
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