Adidas, a leading sportswear company, is the latest to enter the burgeoning pickleball market. Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. It is played on a court with a net and paddles, and the game can be played singles or doubles. According to the USPA, there are now over 3 million pickleball players in the United States. And the sport has always been particularly popular among seniors, but that trend is changing and the sport has been spreading down to the younger generations because the game came to be found in parks and universities now instead of just country clubs and retired living facilities.
Adidas is no stranger to tennis, of course. The company has been a major sponsor of the sport for decades, and it has produced a line of tennis apparel and footwear for many years. But pickleball is a different animal altogether. The game is played on a smaller court, and the net is lower than in tennis. Pickleball paddles are also much smaller than tennis racquets. And the game is generally considered to be less strenuous than tennis, making it more appealing to seniors and those who are looking for a more relaxed game.
But while the game may be less strenuous, it is still a very competitive sport. Tournaments are held all over the country, and there are even professional pickleball players and a number of leagues that are competing for them. Adidas is obviously hoping to tap into this growing market. The company has released a new line of pickleball shoes that are designed to provide the ultimate in comfort and performance on the court.
Adidas has always been at the forefront of sports footwear technology, and their new pickleball shoes are no exception. The shoes feature a unique combination of materials that provide superior support and cushioning, while also being extremely lightweight. This makes them ideal for the quick movements and sudden stops that are common in pickleball. The shoes are also designed to provide excellent traction on the court, helping players to make quick starts and turns. The herringbone pattern on the sole of the shoe provides excellent grip, while the deep grooves allow for easy release when making sudden changes of direction.
Adidas has also included their signature three-stripe design on the sides of the shoes, giving them an iconic look that is sure to remind people of the brand’s history and status. The new line of Adidas pickleball shoes is sure to be a hit with players of all levels, from beginners to pros. They offer the perfect blend of comfort, style, and performance, and are sure to help take your game to the next level!
Adidas cares about the environment
Adidas has long been a leader in sustainable practices and environmental conservation. From using recycled materials to manufacturing products with less water and energy, Adidas is constantly innovating ways to reduce its impact on the planet. Most recently, Adidas has announced a new partnership with Parley for the Oceans, an organization that works to protect our oceans from plastic pollution. As part of the partnership, Adidas will produce a line of sneakers made from recycled ocean plastic.
The shoes will be released later this year, and all proceeds will go towards funding Parley’s ocean conservation efforts. Furthermore, all but one of the pickleball shoes in our review guide use 50% recycled materials. This is just one example of how Adidas is working to make a difference for the environment. With so many products that rely on natural resources, it’s important for companies like Adidas to take responsibility for their impact and work towards solutions that will help preserve our planet for future generations.
Adidas Courtjam Control
Women / Men
The Adidas Courtjam Control is a high-quality tennis shoe that provides excellent support and comfort during any kind of pickleball play. The shoe’s upper is made of breathable mesh to keep your feet cool and dry, while the TPU overlays provide extra durability in high-wear areas. The full-length EVA midsole offers cushioning and support for long hours on the court, and the non-marking rubber outsole ensures traction and stability when making quick movements.
It is nice to see giant companies that dominate, but also care about the environment. This shoe is made with at least 50% recycled materials, which helps reduce pollution and conserves resources. Recycling can help reduce the amount of waste that is sent to landfills, and it can also help conserve natural resources, and thus biodiversity to keep our ecosystem intact. Of course, this is not all that Adidas does to reduce their footprint.
The Courtjam uses their bounce cushioning that is extremely flexible and it almost feels like you are bouncing on a cloud ( similar to a lot of the new road running shoes that are on the market ) but it’s not too soft to where you can’t pivot on the court safely due to the reinforced upper mesh.
Warranty: The shoe comes with a 12-month warranty against manufacture defects; stitching, adhesives, and how the shoe fits.
Specifications:
- Product color: Core Black / Cloud White / Core Black
- 50% recycled content
- Engineered mesh upper with medial TPU abrasion resistance Textile lining
- Torsion System
- Bounce midsole
- Adiwear outsole
- Hybrid U-throat
- Lace protection
Defiant Generation Multicourt
Women / Men
The Adidas Defiant Generation Multicourt shoe is a great choice for pickleball players. It offers excellent traction and support, while still being lightweight and comfortable. The shoes have a herringbone pattern on the sole that provides excellent grip, while the EVA midsole ensures cushioning and comfort. The upper is made from a breathable mesh material that helps keep your feet cool and dry for the most part. The Defiant shoe is an ideal choice for any level of pickleball player.
This shoe is also made with 50% recycled content as part of their efforts to end plastic waste. The Defiant also includes the Bounce Cushioning that in the Courtjam Control, but has a “sock-like” feel with a tongue on the front and back around the ankle area. The outsole bottom of the shoe uses two different designs for different types of hard courts. Although one side is not designed specifically for pickleball players, you can easily get away with these. However, it would not be my go to choice if you know that you are only going to be playing pickleball with them.
Warranty – The shoe comes with a 12 month warranty against manufacture defects; stitching, adhesives, and how the shoe fits.
Product color: Pulse Aqua / Core Black / Altered Blue 50% recycled content Adituff toe Adiwear outsole Bounce midsole Support system Heavy-duty canvas upper Standard laces Sock-like fit
Adizero Ubersonic 4
Women / Men
When it comes to pickleball, there is no doubt that Adidas has one of the best shoes on the market with their Adizero Ubersonic 4. These shoes are designed with speed and agility in mind, and they come equipped with a number of features that make them ideal for pickleball players. First and foremost, these shoes feature a lightweight design that helps you stay quick on your feet. They also have a low-to-the-ground construction that provides excellent stability and balance, which is essential for making quick cuts on the court.
Additionally, the Adizero feature a comfortable fit that will keep your feet feeling good all day long. In terms of technology, the Adizero shoes feature their Lightstrike cushioning in the mid-sole that is supposed to give you an extra push feeling when you rush to the net, but I have not tested these shoes yet. I can see how it would provide exceptional energy return and cushioning that would help you stay comfortable even when playing for long periods of time. The shoes also have a herringbone outsole pattern that offers superior traction on hard court surfaces.
The shoes have a “sock-like” fit with a lace closure. The woven mesh upper has internal reinforcement, and the textile lining provides heel stability. The upper contains a minimum of 50% recycled content. This is part of how they are reducing landfills and their carbon footprint.
Warranty: The shoe comes with a 12-month warranty against manufacture defects; stitching, adhesives, and how the shoe fits.
Specifications:
- Woven mesh upper Textile lining Lace closure Heel stability clip
- Lightstrike cushioning Rubber outsole
- Product color: Cloud White / Core Black / Silver Metallic
Avacourt
Women
This is their top of the line performance pickleball shoe, and still is reasonably priced compared to other high level shoes that are on the market. The non-marking rubber outsole gives you the traction you need on the court, and the perforated toe area allows for ventilation. The shoes also have a sleek, feminine design that looks great on or off the court. And one of the color schemes they have, you can’t miss.
They took the average size of a female and placed the cushion around the mid-sole of the shoe accordingly to prevent friction. This shoe was optimized to increase flexibility using their TPU Torsion system. The shoe does not feel too heavy on any side and they used a more narrow design so that the shoe would not feel bulky on women’s feet. They are also durable and have a toe cap if you are a player that often slides their feet.
This shoe does not use the 50% recycles materials that most of their pickleball shoes are using FYI. But they have some sweet color options!
Warranty: The shoe comes with a 12-month warranty against manufacture defects; stitching, adhesives, and how the shoe fits.
Specifications:
- Breathable mesh upper
- Regular fit
- Lace closure
- Torsion System
- Bounce Pro midsole
- Translucent rubber outsole
- Product color: Almost Lime / Core Black / Pulse Lime
Adidas History And Brothers Feud
Adidas is a German multinational corporation that designs and manufactures shoes, clothing, and accessories. It is the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe and the second largest in the world. Adidas was founded in 1948 by Adi Dassler, who began making sports shoes in his mother’s kitchen. The company has been a major sponsor and supporter of various sporting events and athletes over the years, including the FIFA World Cup, the Olympics, and athletes like Muhammad Ali and Jesse Owens.
Today, Adidas employs over 60,000 people worldwide and its products are sold in over 160 countries. Adidas has its roots in Herzogenaurach, Germany, where founder Adolf “Adi” Dassler started making his first sports shoes in 1920. Dassler was an inventive man who had a number of ideas for improving athletic footwear; for example, he added spikes to running shoes to help runners achieve better traction on soft surfaces such as cinder tracks. In 1924, Dassler partnered with his brother Rudolf to form the Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory (Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik). The two brothers were estranged after World War II ended; Rudolf went on to found Puma AG while Adi remained with what would become Adidas AG. The name “Adidas” is derived from his nick name ( Add ) and the first three letters of his last name ( Dassler ).
The company logo features three parallel stripes that are meant to represent the 3 landmasses where they sold their product. In 1936, at the Berlin Olympic Games, Adolf Hitler gave a speech at the opening ceremony during which he spoke about Aryan superiority. American Jesse Owens won four gold medals that year; Hitler reportedly refused to shake Owens’ hand because he believed that a black man could not be superior to an Aryan Caucasian man. The meeting between Adi Dassler and Jesse Owens is widely credited with helping establish Adidas as a premier maker of athletic footwear and apparel. After WWII ended, relations between Rudolf and Adi soured due to each man’s political affiliations; Rudolf was sympathetic to communism while Adi supported capitalism. In 1947, Rudolf created his own company called Ruda – later rebranded as Puma – just down the road from where Adidas was headquartered. Competition between Adidas and Puma was fierce is known as “Dassler Brothers Feud”
By 1960s Adidas had outcompeted Puma internationally after signing some high-profile athletes like Pele (who wore Puma at the 1958 World Cup but switched allegiances before 1962), Stan Smith (the tennis player for whom Adidas’ most popular shoe is named), and track superstar Joaquin Phoenix (whose brother River also wore Puma before defecting to Adidas). This period also saw great success for other German brands like BMW and Mercedes Benz as well as the German economy in general, which was enjoying a period of postwar prosperity and growth. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Adidas continued to expand its product line and solidify its position as a premier sporting goods manufacturer.
By 1970s sales were starting to slump for both Adidas and Puma as American brands like Nike began making serious inroads into European markets. In an effort to stay competitive, both companies embarked on ambitious expansion plans that saw them open new factories and offices around the world. This period also marked a shift in focus for Adidas away from performance-oriented gear towards more fashion-conscious items like leisurewear and streetwear. This strategy paid off handsomely; by 1980s Adidas was once again posting healthy profits thanks largely to its successful fashion lines. In recent years Adidas has been embroiled in several high-profile scandals involving accusations of sweatshop labor practices at its overseas factories. The company has also been criticized for using child labor in some of its supply chain operations. Despite these controversies, Adidas remains one of the most popular brands in sportswear with strong global recognition among consumers.