5 Best New Balance Tennis Shoes (2022)

New Balance has been a company for over 100 years, and a lot of people have depended on their shoes for many different activities. They are not the biggest name in tennis, but with Coco Gauff gaining notoriety thanks to her meteoric rise on the women’s side, more and more people are starting to pay attention to what they Bring to the table.

Milos Raonic is the other major name representing the company. He has been instrumental in making them well-respected by the current generation. He helped design the #1 shoe listed below and has nothing but great things to say about the company.

No matter what type of player a person is, New Balance has a great option for everyone. Some older players swear by models they have used for years, but some of the recent releases show that they are willing to take technological changes as well. These are the five best New Balance tennis shoes right now.

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1. New Balance MC806

Go to any tennis club and watch older people play, and chances are at least a couple of players will have these shoes on.

They have been a classic for years, and New Balance is smart to not mess with a good thing. They have long been trusted by players to provide amazing stability and support. Most older players want to make sure that they are not slipping and sliding anywhere, and the fit is very true.

Most people also love the aesthetic of the old-school tennis shoe. It is not only available in classic colors, but the full-grain leather upper is something you don’t see too often in tennis shoes today. They do tend to be a little heavy at 15.5 ounces, but that’s still pretty lightweight compared to tennis shoes just a decade or so ago.

New Balance offers this shoe in many different widths, so finding the perfect fit isn’t too much of a challenge. The company has always been huge on giving people ample options even if their foot is a bit wider than the norm.

It is deservingly on this list, even though a tennis newcomer likely will not make this choice for a new pair of shoes. There are just too many seasoned veterans wearing the shoe and swearing by them to completely overlook it.

Pros

Largely unchanged over the years
Available in different widths
Full-grain leather upper

Cons

Lacks current-age tech
Too bulky for most players

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2. New Balance Fresh Foam Lav

It is hard for brands to shake certain reputations. Most people think of New Balance as a very classic example of a shoe company, but not one willing to take many technological risks. The Fresh Foam Lav shows that this is simply not the case any longer. Thanks to Milos Raonic helping out with the design, New Balance puts a lot of tech into their top-rated model.

At its core, New Balance is always going to be about comfort, and that doesn’t disappoint in that department either. The midsole is made of Fresh Foam, and it provides great comfort during the entire match. It’s able to stay strong throughout a match thanks in large part to the rubber outsole the company uses to protect players as much as possible.

The shoe is comfortable as soon as a person tries it on, and it doesn’t lose its comfort after a couple of hours of play. Some tennis shoes run into that issue, and it’s annoying for players who spend a lot of money on a pair of shoes.

Some people might worry about the 15.4 ounces that the shoe weighs on average, but it doesn’t feel that heavy on foot. Players will still be able to move around with ease, and the shoes breathe well enough that it never feels clunky or heavy. It’s the best overall shoe they offer right now, and worth it for anyone to try out.

Pros

Very easy to get a great upper fit
Extremely comfortable even late in matches
Durable outsole

Cons

Ankle collar takes time to feel right
Most expensive New Balance tennis shoe

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3. New Balance MC 996 V3

This is the top lightweight performance shoe offered by New Balance, and that makes it a perfect solution for people who want a responsive, low to the ground feel on the court. It doesn’t way too much less than The Fresh Foam Lav, but it’s enough for most people to see a small amount of difference.

How does it cut the weight? The midsole is part of the reason, as the company uses ProBank Technology to protect the foot when doing any type of aggressive cuts. The midsole is very light in general, but strong and responsive for any type of play.

The sole isn’t quite as thick as the Fresh Foam Lav, but it still comes with a six-month guarantee. That’s huge news for players who might be worried that they run through these a little bit faster. If the sole does wear out, New Balance provides a new pair if it happens within six months.

As great as the shoe is, it just feels like the Fresh Foam Lav is a bit more premium right now. It does cost more on average, but those upgrades are worth it for many players. It doesn’t make this speedier option worse, but when picking between the two, try the Lav out first.

Pros

Lightweight when on foot
Extremely comfortable upper
Responsive feel on cuts

Cons

Lacks much durability
Still heavy compared to lightweight shoes from other brands

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4. New Balance MC896 V2

Part of the 896 series, this is the best value shoe out there from New Balance right now. It has a lot of qualities that come in the performance models, but they retail for a very reasonable price.

The first thing a person should realize is that they are not going to get a truly direct comparison between this pair and the main performance options above. They are meant for different players, and it’s unfair to compare directly.

What the 896 V3 does very well offers a lightweight shoe with plenty of support and stability. It weighs 12.8 ounces, allowing newer players to speed around the court with relative ease.

Players also like the NBICE technology which helps to control the temperature inside the shoe during hot days. This is a perfect solution for anyone who finds themselves sweating a bit too much and retaining water in other pairs of shoes.

For the first pair of shoes, those looking to save a little bit of money should try these out early on. They are a modern tennis shoes, but just a cut below the performance models. If a player is pretty lightweight themselves and doesn’t play too regularly, a performance model might be too much of a shoe to invest in early on.

Pros

Lightweight, minimalist design
Feels like a more expensive tennis shoe on foot
Perfectly affordable

Cons

Lightweight build reduces durability
Lacks proper arch support

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5. New Balance 796 V1

As tennis players get ready for the 2020 season and beyond, many are wondering if they made enough adjustments to justify trying them out.

This shoe is extremely lightweight, and the new HypoKnit upper takes some getting used to. Some people love the lightweight feel and breathability of the upper, while others feel like it’s a step behind in maximizing support.

Another thing that takes a little getting used to is the low ride of the shoe. There is still a good amount of cushioning thanks to the fuel cell meds all, but players need to get used to a slightly different ride every time they play.

This shoe is a significant improvement from a pure weight perspective. It comes in at just 12.4 ounces now, which puts it in competition with all brands as the lightest performance tennis shoe available. It’s still too early to see how long they will last, but the feeling early on is amazing for those who rely on speed when playing.

Pros

Weighs considerably less than the 996 V3
HypoKnit upper is very comfortable
A little more responsive thanks to low ride

Cons

Could use a little more support
Expensive

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Best New Balance Shoe Overall

The best general recommendation for a New Balance shoe right now has to be the Fresh Foam Lav. Yes, there are going to be some people who feel like these are too heavy, but try them on at least once and see just how they feel on foot. The numbers certainly say one thing, but when they are in use, they feel lighter than 15.4 ounces.

Besides the weight concerns, everything else is great with the shoe overall. Players can find these models on sale, and a lot of different colorways. New Balance seems to be very committed to putting the best technology in the shoe, so even if a new model releases, this is still going to be a very popular option.

Above everything else, there is a guarantee that comes with the shoe if the sole wears out. It is designed to last a long time, so players feel like they can get a good amount of use out of the shoes. You can check the current price on Amazon here.

Every other option has a few more flaws, and while the Fresh Foam Lav is not perfect, it’s a great option from New Balance.

It will be interesting to see as the new spreads whether or not this becomes a more popular shoe at the club level. New Balance still is fighting for market share in the tennis world, but with more releases like this, they are bound to gain some more notoriety.

Final Thoughts On New Balance Shoes

A true tennis shoe search shouldn’t just be limited to a few brands. New Balance has worked hard to include themselves in the conversation of great shoes out there.

Not only do they have some classics that older players still enjoy this day, but they have shown a commitment to new technology to keep them in the conversation for years to come. All five options serve different types of players, but they are the best offered by the company right now.

Here is the full list of the best New Balance tennis shoes