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(Picture Richard Livornese Jr.)
Verdict
This shoe is so good! It has lasted longer than any I have had before and is very comfortable. I think it is a great shoe overall. Although it is a little heavier than the other shoes I wear, specifically heavier than the Babolats I reviewed before, it’s not heavy per se. It is medium width—not super wide but not too narrow either, making it fine for anyone unless you have very wide feet. One downside is its very low cut, meaning it doesn’t offer much ankle support. However, this shoe is very good for all manners of players because it is comfortable and lasts for a long time, plus it comes in nice colors which people really like.
Additionally, this shoe has awesome reviews by many pros, as it is one of the most used shoes in pickleball. Despite being slightly on the “more expensive” side, it’s cheaper than many others and often found “on sale,” making it absolutely worth the money it costs.
Specs
Description
True to Size
Run slightly large
Heel Width
Normal
Midsole Width
Normal
Toe Box Width
(83mm)
Attached Tongue
Yes
Removable Insole
Yes
Weight
13.4 oz
First Look
First off, the colors of these shoes are pretty cool. I got myself the white ones, and right out of the box, they looked super clean. They fit me comfortably right from the start, and they’ve got this nice cushion in the heel that I haven’t really felt with other shoes.

(Picture Richard Livornese Jr.)
My Experience
Comfort
Now, from what I’ve experienced playing in them, these shoes are super comfortable. No rubbing or hurting even after playing for hours.
Performance
When it comes to performance, they’ve been great on every surface I’ve played on, with solid grip and ankle support. Plus, I’ve been wearing them for weeks and they’re still in very good shape, which is more than I can say for most shoes at this point.
Durability
Durability-wise, it’s probably the best thing about these shoes. They last a long time and the bottoms and sides don’t wear out quickly. So, yeah, I’d say they’re high quality.
Maintenance
These shoes are not high maintenance. They clean up well and the laces are holding up strong.

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Comparison
The Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour Shoe’s have the best durability of any shoes I have tried so far. I have worn Babolats, Nikes, Adidas, and all of them have worn out quickly. They are similarly priced to these competitors with the price usually between $100 and $150. If you search, you can sometimes find them for even cheaper. The biggest thing to think about with this shoe is that they are very comfortable and very durable. This to me is what makes the shoe such a good get.
Conclusion
My final verdict is that these shoes are awesome. The only area for potential improvement could be in finding a shoe that’s lighter. For me, the durability and comfort of the shoe are the key characteristics that stand out. If you’re in the market for a new shoe, this one is a great option worth trying for anyone.
- Overall: 8/10
- Comfort: 9/10
- Durability: 10/10
- Stability: 7/10
- Grip: 7/10
Please let me know if you have any questions and share anything you have personally experienced with these shoes.

About Richard Livornese Jr.
Pickleball Portal Contributor
Richard Livornese Jr. is a contributor to Pickleball Portal, sharing insights and expertise to help players of all levels improve their game.
2 comments from our community
These comments were originally posted on our WordPress site and have been preserved here. New commenting coming soon.
The article is titled “Mizuno Wave Enforcer.” Mizuno makes the Wave ENFORCE. That’s close enough to understand, but your photos are of the Mixuno Wave EXCEED. This is a potentially helpful article, but just ends up being confusing due to the jumbling of model names.




