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I have been on the quest to find the best pickleball shoes you can buy, and have explored the top shoes that pickleball pros wears, but I have always been interested to try some of Mizuno’s top pickleball / tennis shoes.
So, I got to try the Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour.2 and compare them to the Mizuno Exceed Tour 7.
First Impressions
The Wave Exceed Tour 7’s reminded me a lot of the Aasics Gel Resolution X, which is a premium pickleball shoe, and I loved the look right out of the box. I got red and white for the Wave Exceed Tour 7’s, but you can get these in multiple designs.
I felt that these shoes were a true fit, and very snug right away. I didn’t feel any discomfort, and honestly the shoes really fit perfectly. When you flip the shoes upside, you see this really nice grip on the shoes that feels high quality.
The Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour 2 also did not disappoint when I opened up
Here’s a side view of the shoes. The shoes look somewhat similar to the Exceed Tour 7’s, but when I put the shoes on, they felt different. These felt a bit less snug as the Exceed Tour 7’s, but still true to size. I wear and 11.5 and have more narrow shoes.
When you look on the bottom of these shoes,
Both of these shoes look and felt awesome, but how did these shoes play on the court? I played a lot comparing these shoes, so I wanted to share how these shoes played on the court as that’s what really matters.
How The Shoes Performed On the Court
First impressions are important, but I really don’t care how good a pickleball shoe looks if it doesn’t perform on the court.
I played quite a bit in both the Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 7 and Wave Enforce Tour 2, and I thought both shoes performed really well.
That said, there was definitely a winner for me.
Grip
Grip was probably the biggest difference I noticed between these two shoes.
The Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 7 had outstanding grip.
I play mostly outdoor pickleball, and I also play quite a bit of singles where I am sprinting, stopping, changing direction, and putting much more pressure on the outsole.
The Exceed Tour 7 gave me a lot of confidence moving around the court. I could make hard cuts from one side to the other, stop quickly at the kitchen line, and push off without feeling like the shoe was going to slide underneath me.
The shoe just felt very connected to the court.
Mizuno has traditionally designed the Wave Exceed Tour line around quick footwork and change of direction. The shoes use technologies such as the D-Flex Groove to help transfer your movement through turns and directional changes, while Mizuno’s DuRubber outsole is designed to provide durability and court traction.
I could actually feel that when playing.
The Wave Enforce Tour 2 also had really good grip. I never felt unsafe or like I was slipping around the court.
However, when I switched back and forth between the two shoes, the Exceed Tour 7 just felt better.
The grip felt a little more aggressive, and I thought I could move around the court more effectively in the Exceed.
For grip, I would give the advantage to the Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 7.
Speed
Both shoes did really well when it came to speed.
The Wave Exceed Tour 7 again stood out because the shoe felt very quick when making smaller movements around the court.
Pickleball requires a lot of short bursts rather than just running in a straight line. You may be moving forward to the kitchen, taking two steps backward for an overhead, and then immediately having to move sideways.
The Exceed Tour 7 felt awesome during these movements.
I especially liked how quickly I could plant my foot and move in another direction. The snug fit probably helped here as well because my foot didn’t feel like it was moving around inside of the shoe.
Mizuno has specifically positioned its Wave Exceed line as a lightweight, fast shoe designed around explosive movement and change of direction.
The Wave Enforce Tour 2 was also surprisingly quick.
I thought it felt like a little more substantial of a shoe, but it never felt heavy or slow.
Mizuno designed the Enforce line with MIZUNO ENERZY cushioning and Wave technology to combine cushioning, stability, and transitions around the court. Mizuno has historically described the Enforce as more suited for players who want stability and support when generating powerful movements.
For pickleball, though, I preferred the quicker feeling of the Exceed Tour 7.
If speed and quick changes of direction are your biggest priorities, I would choose the Exceed Tour 7.
Durability
Durability was excellent on both shoes.
This is an area where I really didn’t notice a huge difference between them.
I play primarily on outdoor hard courts, which can destroy pickleball shoes pretty quickly, especially if you play several times per week.
After playing in both Mizuno shoes, I didn’t notice anything that made me concerned about their long-term durability.
The outsole felt substantial on both shoes, and the upper materials also felt much more durable than what you get with some lightweight athletic shoes.
Mizuno uses its DuRubber outsole technology on its premium court shoes specifically to improve resistance to wear, and previous Wave Exceed Tour models have even carried a six-month outsole warranty.
The Enforce line is also designed heavily around durability. Mizuno has highlighted the DuRubber outsole and reinforced upper construction as part of the shoe’s durability and stability package.
Based on my experience so far, I would expect both of these shoes to hold up very well for someone playing pickleball multiple times per week.
I would probably call durability a tie.
Cost Considerations
Neither of these is what I would consider a cheap pickleball shoe. These are premium court shoes, so you are paying more than you would for some of the budget pickleball shoes I have tested.
However, I don’t necessarily think paying more for a pickleball shoe is a bad thing.
Shoes are one of the areas where I am willing to spend a little more money because they directly impact my movement, grip, comfort, and potentially even my ability to avoid injuries.
If I am playing pickleball three or four times per week, I would much rather spend more on a pair of shoes that gives me great grip and lasts longer than constantly buying inexpensive shoes that wear out quickly.
Between these two, I think the Wave Exceed Tour 7 provides the better value for me simply because I enjoyed playing in it more.
The Enforce Tour 2 is still a very good premium court shoe, especially if you want a little more stability and cushioning.
But if both shoes were sitting in front of me at similar prices, I would take the Exceed Tour 7 every time.
Specifications
Here are some of the main technologies you will find in these Mizuno court shoes.
I always find shoe technology names slightly ridiculous, so the important thing is really what each technology is trying to accomplish. Let’s look at the specifications.
Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 7
- MIZUNO WAVE: Designed to disperse impact while creating a more stable platform underneath your foot.
- MIZUNO ENERZY: Mizuno’s cushioning technology designed to combine softness with energy return.
- D-Flex Groove: A groove through the midfoot designed to help with quick turns and changes of direction.
- DuRubber Outsole: A more durable rubber compound designed to handle the wear you get from hard-court play.
- Performance Focus: Lightweight movement, acceleration, and quick changes of direction.
Mizuno has consistently positioned the Wave Exceed Tour family as one of its faster court-shoe lines, with technology focused heavily on turning movement into speed. Let’s look at the specifications.
Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour 2
- MIZUNO ENERZY: Cushioning designed to provide softness and responsiveness underfoot.
- MIZUNO WAVE: Provides additional stability while helping distribute impact.
- DuRubber Outsole: Designed for durability during aggressive court movement.
- Dyna-Heel Lock: Designed to improve heel and ankle fit and keep the foot more secure during movement.
- Stability-Focused Construction: The Enforce line is designed to provide additional support through lateral movement and powerful changes of direction.
Mizuno describes the Enforce family as the more stability-focused option, with cushioning and outsole construction aimed at players who put a lot of force through the shoe.
Which Shoes Would I Choose?
This one is actually pretty easy for me.
I would choose the Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 7.
I really liked both shoes, and I don’t want that to get lost in the comparison. The Wave Enforce Tour 2 had excellent durability, good speed, good grip, and felt like a very high-quality court shoe.
I could easily play pickleball regularly in the Enforce Tour 2 and be happy with it.
But the Exceed Tour 7 was on another level for me.
The biggest difference was the combination of grip and movement.
I felt like I could move around the pickleball court more effectively in the Exceed Tour 7. Whether I was sprinting forward, moving laterally at the kitchen, or trying to track down a ball in singles, I trusted the shoe.
I’ve tested quite a few pickleball shoes at this point, and I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if the Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 7 ends up being one of the best pickleball shoes of 2026.
The fit was excellent for my narrower feet, the grip was outstanding, the shoe felt fast, and I didn’t feel like I was sacrificing durability to get that speed.
The Wave Enforce Tour 2 would probably make more sense if you prioritize a slightly more substantial, stable shoe with plenty of cushioning.
But for the way I play pickleball, I want grip and speed first.
And between these two shoes, the Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 7 is the clear winner for me.
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