tinmy 2021
i love this gametinmy 2021
i love this gameNew Balance Two WXY V3 Performance Review
The New Balance Two WXY V3 is a shoe we can easily recommend, and it appears on several of our best basketball shoe lists. We hope people give it a chance.
Colorway: Black with blue
Release Date: 2022
Price: $120
New Balance is still climbing up the basketball footwear ladder. Going toe to toe with Nike, Jordan, and adidas isn’t easy for any brand, even for one with a history as big as New Balance. However, we have in our hands a basketball performance model that feels like one of the best of the year: the New Balance Two WXY V3. The previous two models were great, and these take the on-court performance features a notch higher.
The New Balance Two WXY V3 is also featured in overall Best Basketball Shoes, Best New Balance, Best for Shooting Guards, Best for Small Forwards, Best for Power Forwards, Best Outdoor Basketball Shoes, and Best for Ankle Support.
Traction
Bryan: Two areas of the Two WXY V3 absolutely hold ground against any shoe on the market, and the first one is traction. An abstract pattern based around circles in the high-contact spots, the traction absolutely stuck to anything I played on. The circles actually make a suction-cup “POP” sound when walking (you can hear it) and that’s exactly what they feel like on court. The rest of the pattern is lines running mostly laterally around the circles, and in most cases, this would be a problem when sliding on defense (you want the pattern to be perpendicular to the movement to grip), but with the circles in the middle, they just feel smooth and easy. The grooves are spaced wide enough that dust was not an issue and honestly I am not sure I wiped even one time during the three weeks I have been playing in them.
Outdoors? Honestly, I don’t know. The rubber isn’t really hard, and the grooves aren’t really deep, but they feel like they would last as long as they weren’t an every day, three hours per day on rough concrete shoe (rotate your shoes!). But, I did say “I don’t know,” so don’t blame me if I am waaaay wrong on this.
Stan: The Two WXY V3 takes queues from the Two WXY V2 with a wide-based rubber outsole. While the rubber is thin just like the V2, the whole outsole covers you on every movement you make. The circular cored-out portions of the shoe along the heel and forefoot (right below the ABZORB DRS – Dynamic Response System) almost act like suction cups to the floor. However, it doesn’t prevent movement once you go through your foot-lift transition. These would also work outdoors well but don’t expect them to last long on the rigors of the blacktop.
Cushion
Bryan: Probably my least favorite aspect of the shoe and even then I still liked it. New Balance is using a FuelCell midsole with ABZORB inserts in the heel and forefoot. This isn’t the FuelCell from the runners (DAMMIT!!!! – that stuff is AWESOME), but it still absorbs impact and bounces back underfoot quickly. The ABZORB feels quick and stable and, again, not a lot of soft compression but the stiffer setup feels quick and agile. If you are looking for a soft, pillowy feel from NB, look at the Two WXY V2. The V3 feels much more like the V1 or the Kawhi 2. Again, these are great for players looking for that extra quick first step and quick changes of direction, and I loved the stability coming off screens and planting for jumpers or elevating in the paint on drives – whatever move I wanted to make the shoe was RIGHT THERE with me, but if you are looking for that extra bounce or pillowy feel on landings definitely look somewhere else like the Nike LeBron 20 or Nike KD 15.
Stan: A combo of FuelCell Foam and ABZORB pillars at the heel and forefoot provide ample responsiveness in all facets. This shoe is literally made for those who want the ultimate court feel. For my part, I prefer the cushion setup from the V2 over the V3 due to my size (so if they do make a variety of cushion setups between the V2 and the V3 to select from that would be dope), but it’s nothing a Move Game Day Pro insole can’t fix. But that’s beside the point, this shoe gives you all the nooks and crannies.
Materials
Bryan: Weird. That’s the best way to describe it, and the tongue logo kind of ties in – the material looks like a brain, especially the colorways with the added hits in the upper. It’s a soft textile with added padding in areas around the midfoot lacing and medial arch area. It’s super flexible and comfortable and lets the shoe wrap your foot without getting in the way. It doesn’t exactly feel durable, except for the big toe area with the fuse layer, so beware of toe drags outdoors. The way it feels on foot is amazing. The heel and tongue areas are medium padded – not overly thick (like the Trae 2 from adidas) or super thin (Jordan 37), just a nice amount to hug the foot and keep lace pressure away.
Stan: The materials of the shoe are comprised of a Textile wrap-around upper, midfoot TPU shank plate for torsional rigidity, FuelCell midsole combined with ABZORB cushioning, and depending on your pair either solid or translucent outsole. Not bad New Balance…not bad at all.
Fit
Bryan: The second-best aspect of the New Balance Two WXY V3. One thing New Balance has always had on lockdown is fit. I mean, they do offer wide shoes for basketball, so fit is on their mind. I already talked about the upper and how the material feels wrapping your foot. Taking it further, the N logo is integrated into the lacing, forming a strap system over the foot and pulling you into the shoe. It’s honestly one of the best uses of a logo I have ever seen – functional, sleek, and still branded.
I am a semi-wide footer (I’ve been going up to an 11 in Nike’s recently because of it) and these in a 10.5 (TTS) fit me perfectly. The heel is locked in using the padded ankle, and the top lace comes back far enough to lock you in completely. The lacing system reaches right to the toebox and holds you tight. Enough said – the fit is perfect.
Stan: I was gifted a pair by the good people over at NB in my true-to-size, and I highly suggest staying true-to-size. If you wear an ankle brace – I suggest bringing them with you to try the shoe one, or if you can’t go to the store, I definitely suggest 1/2 size up. Anything other than true-to-size would be both a disservice to the shoe and your foot.
Support
Bryan: Wide base. Great lacing. Lockdown in the heel. The foot sits down in the midsole. Solid heel counter. Midfoot shank. All of the above are aspects of a shoe with great support and stability, and the New Balance Two WXY V3 has them all. Yes, it is cut low (although it’s not as low as it appears) but by now, surely we know, it’s not the ankle height that matters. With the wide base and stiff cushioning, elevating for jumpers while moving is easy (a stable base equals better form – now you know). The stiffer heel cushioning isn’t as easy on impacts but doesn’t compress and deform under pressure, so if you land on your heels, you won’t roll those ankles over.
Stan: The New Balance Two WXY V3 has been great as far as support goes. I never had any stability issues, and I played my normal game without any hesitations. The bite from the traction really helped maintain my movements and balance, while feeling totally locked down in the shoe. The minor caveat I have with the shoe is the lacing structure. Because of its unique lacing structure, I find that area of the midfoot where the New Balance N wrapped up along the top of my foot – if I lace too tight – really start to dig into the top of my foot. That definitely felt uncomfortable. The other thing for me is the lack of enough cushioning just based on the way I play and what I need. This is strictly compared to how much I love the way the V2 feels. This is not a total knock at all, I just wish the V3 had the same plush feel.
New Balance Two WXY V3 Overall
Bryan: New Balance has been soooo close to making “the shoe” over the past couple of years. The Omn1s was the beginning and was a serious shoe, but they were too new. The Kawhi 1 was too stiff for the masses, and the Two WXY 1 was a top shoe for me. I still even see them at the gym today. The Two WXY 2 was waaaaay under the radar, and the Kawhi 2 was DOA because he didn’t play last year. The New Balance Two WXY V3 is different. With the Murray’s rocking some clean PEs (Jamal and Dejounte) and Lavine wearing these in the classic Chi-Town black/red/white, this is THE shoe to break out for New Balance. Easy to wear, easy to play in, and easy to look at – it has it all. Priced at $120, it’s accessible to all consumers, and with the colorways we have already seen, there’s something for everyone. If you are looking for a do-it-all shoe on every level, then you found it. The only reason NOT to try them is if you just don’t like the letter N, and that’s just weird.
Stan: The shoe has all the bells and whistles to be named one of the top ball shoes of the year. Yeah. I said it. No hesitation whatsoever – even with the minor gripes I detailed in the support section. It’s honestly one of those shoes where you grab it knowing you’re ready to do battle. I highly recommend the shoe without hesitation. Cheers New Balance, you have a winner here.
Puma Playmaker Pro Performance Review
Great traction and materials for $80. Cushioning offers little in the form of impact protection, but a good basketball shoe for the price.
Release Date: 2022
Price: $80
The Puma Playmaker Pro is Puma Hoops’ current most-budget model and one more piece of evidence that Puma actually puts some TLC into the design of every single one of their hoop shoes.
Nowadays, you, unfortunately, can’t ask for much from an $80 basketball shoe, and there isn’t much in the Puma Playmaker Pro, to be perfectly honest. But the design team for this shoe really did get the most out of this model. The Puma Playmaker Pro is currently being worn on NBA courts by the Boston Celtics’ top defensive weapon, Marcus Smart, so keep that in mind. If it works in the NBA, it can work for you.
Spanish review
The pair I tested was provided by the good people over at Bouncewear, one of the top online basketball stores in Europe, with physical locations in Belgium, France, and Luxembourg, with more locations soon to come. So with all that being said, let’s jump into the performance review
Traction
The traction would be this shoe’s top feature if it hadn’t been for the materials, but more on that later. This shoe features a solid rubber outsole, with a diamond-shaped matrix traction pattern, which personally reminds me of a basketball net.
This matrix configuration grips the court very well and has excellent multidirectional coverage. The diamonds along the sole deform depending on the section of the shoe to give you a better grip for the specific moves you make with that portion of your foot. They stretch out vertically on the lateral side of the shoe (to aid in defensive slides and such) and horizontally in the forefoot (to help with moves like stepbacks, hard plants, etc.).
Now, I would not suggest using this shoe outdoors. The rubber is too soft, and the pattern on my pair already has signs of fraying after just a couple of outdoor sessions. The pattern is somewhat deep set, so it should take some time to wear down, but again, if you are asking me, this is an indoor shoe.
Cushion
The cushioning on the Puma Playmaker Pro was the most disappointing feature of the shoe for me, but that was mainly because of my preconceptions regarding Puma’s ProFoam.
The Playmaker Pro features a full-length slab of ProFoam for cushioning. I have tested ProFoam before in one of my favorite basketball shoes of the year, the Puma TRC Blaze Court. That shoe is super bouncy underfoot and just feels great. It features a ProFoam midsole and Trinomic cushioning in the heel and forefoot.
So when I saw that this shoe had ProFoam, I figured the cushioning would be similar. But it’s definitely nothing alike.
The Playmaker Pro’s impact protection is minimal, and the ProFoam feels very neutral, almost to the point of being “dead.” The setup isn’t terrible, it’s very stable and reactive and feels agile, but again this is not a shoe for outdoors, or even a slightly hard indoor court. Parquet and mushy PVC courts only for these guys.
Materials
This is easily my favorite part of the shoe. There is nothing premium about the materials, but similar to another great Puma model from this year, the Puma Court Rider 2, the choice of materials and the implementation make the shoe feel great in hand.
We have a primarily textile upper with some synthetic leather overlays and some hits of actual suede. The “leather” overlays are placed in sections of the shoe to add durability and containment to the shoe, and just make you feel like your money is well spent. I can’t explain it any other way.
It also gives the shoe serious, early-2000s vibes, which is all I want from a shoe materials-wise.
Support
The shoe really doesn’t feature any groundbreaking tech support-wise, but everything on the shoe works together to offer a really secure feeling ride. The traction is grippy and offers a very wide and stable base to the shoe. The cushioning, though lacking in impact protection, is super stable as the materials give structure and containment to the upper. Finally, we have a couple of lace cables and a run-of-the-mill heel counter for extra lockdown.
Again nothing remarkable, but no complaints either.
Fit
The Puma Playmaker Pro fits true to size, so go with whatever size you usually use with Puma. The shoe doesn’t have that perfect performance you will find in the LeBron 20 for example, but it isn’t a sloppy fit, nor does it negatively affect performance.
On a positive note, however, the extra space should accommodate wide footers well, and the decoupled tongue should allow ankle brace users to adjust the fit easily.
Overall
To keep it short and sweet, I don’t think there is a better shoe that retails for $80. Is it the best shoe I have ever tested? No. But I did like the shoe, and if you are looking for a reactive shoe with great traction for indoor use that won’t break the bank, this is a good option.
Now, I will say that if you can get a good deal on a better performance model, that would be the best move.
Nike Zoom GT Cut 2 Performance Review
The Nike Zoom GT Cut 2 is a much-anticipated basketball shoe because of the first edition’s awesomeness. We think it will do well as a successor.
Colorway: Summit White/Metallic Summit White/White
Release Date: 2022
Price: $150
The Nike GT Cut was a hit for everyone as far as performance went and made our Best Basketball Shoes list. It was so much of a hit that people started to hoard the shoe, and resell prices skyrocketed. Some pairs now go upwards of $1000. Its successor, the Nike Zoom GT Cut 2, keeps many features people loved about the previous iteration and upgrades others. Stay tuned for the upcoming performance review.
Traction
Stan: The Nike Zoom GT Cut 2 is an upgrade over its predecessor. That ‘Smear’ traction wrapped around the forefoot area really grips the ground well along with the heel and toe nubs. However, don’t expect it to last long on outdoor courts because it’ll wear down quickly.
Cushion
Stan: Full-length React midsole cushion with a small embedded hex heel zoom air pod and full-length Zoom strobel – what a combo. Slightly different from the 1st gen model, but the amount of impact protection the shoe provided allows me to ball for a good period of time without the knee pain after. Solid implementation and upgrade even while the React felt a little firmer. I felt low to the ground, had control of my movements, and never had really to second guess my movements, minus one caveat I’ll get to later.
Materials
Stan: Um.. wish I could skip this, but I wouldn’t mind that if Nike added more neoprene padded material to the upper along the tongue and toe box again. Because of the change to a more breathable textile mesh, you want to subtract the weight. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I’d expect better materials for the Nike Zoom GT Cut 2’s high price point.
Fit
Stan: I went true to size with the Nike Zoom GT Cut 2, and lengthwise it fits great. I do prefer a thumbs length worth of room, and that’s what I got. I’d say the fit would be great, minus the lack of wrap-around material on the tongue. The lack of material allowed my foot around the ankle area to shift too much, not providing ample lockdown until I wore ankle braces to fill in the dead space. Not only was it dangerous on the initial play, but it also made me second-guess my lateral movements and foot pressure on pivots while being afraid of a potential ankle sprain. If the tongue material were wrapped around more like the original GT Cut, the problem would be solved.
Support
Stan: The support comes mainly from the fit, which, again, if you’ve read above, the lack of material /dead space really threw me off my game until I wore braces to fill in the space. The traction and the cushion of the Nike Zoom GT Cut 2 were all fantastic, so there are no questions or doubts about those parts.
Nike Zoom GT Cut 2 Overall
Stan: Is the Nike Zoom GT Cut 2 a possible successor? I’d say yes with a huge asterisk. Again, the issue I have may not affect everyone, however, when I start to second guess my moves, it’s a red flag for sure. And for those suggesting double socks, that would affect the length of the shoe with additional material as well as adding more heat retention.
Nike had a good thing going for them, if they only stuck with that wider tongue wrap-around from the first version to fill in the gap around the ankle, I’d say we’d have an absolute top 2 or 3 performance shoe of the year. It takes a lot for me to give such high praise for a shoe (I mean, take a look at the 6 pairs of the Nike GT Cut 1 that I own, that says something). Here’s to hoping Swoosh pays attention to those little details that make a world of a difference. I’m anxious to see the next iteration of the GT Cut (with proper modifications) don’t make me wait too long… I’m ready.
Nike Zoom GT Cut 2 Performance Review
The Nike Zoom GT Cut 2 is a much-anticipated basketball shoe because of the first edition’s awesomeness. We think it will do well as a successor.
Colorway: Summit White/Metallic Summit White/White
Release Date: 2022
Price: $150
The Nike GT Cut was a hit for everyone as far as performance went and made our Best Basketball Shoes list. It was so much of a hit that people started to hoard the shoe, and resell prices skyrocketed. Some pairs now go upwards of $1000. Its successor, the Nike Zoom GT Cut 2, keeps many features people loved about the previous iteration and upgrades others. Stay tuned for the upcoming performance review.
Traction
Stan: The Nike Zoom GT Cut 2 is an upgrade over its predecessor. That ‘Smear’ traction wrapped around the forefoot area really grips the ground well along with the heel and toe nubs. However, don’t expect it to last long on outdoor courts because it’ll wear down quickly.
Cushion
Stan: Full-length React midsole cushion with a small embedded hex heel zoom air pod and full-length Zoom strobel – what a combo. Slightly different from the 1st gen model, but the amount of impact protection the shoe provided allows me to ball for a good period of time without the knee pain after. Solid implementation and upgrade even while the React felt a little firmer. I felt low to the ground, had control of my movements, and never had really to second guess my movements, minus one caveat I’ll get to later.
Materials
Stan: Um.. wish I could skip this, but I wouldn’t mind that if Nike added more neoprene padded material to the upper along the tongue and toe box again. Because of the change to a more breathable textile mesh, you want to subtract the weight. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I’d expect better materials for the Nike Zoom GT Cut 2’s high price point.
Fit
Stan: I went true to size with the Nike Zoom GT Cut 2, and lengthwise it fits great. I do prefer a thumbs length worth of room, and that’s what I got. I’d say the fit would be great, minus the lack of wrap-around material on the tongue. The lack of material allowed my foot around the ankle area to shift too much, not providing ample lockdown until I wore ankle braces to fill in the dead space. Not only was it dangerous on the initial play, but it also made me second-guess my lateral movements and foot pressure on pivots while being afraid of a potential ankle sprain. If the tongue material were wrapped around more like the original GT Cut, the problem would be solved.
Support
Stan: The support comes mainly from the fit, which, again, if you’ve read above, the lack of material /dead space really threw me off my game until I wore braces to fill in the space. The traction and the cushion of the Nike Zoom GT Cut 2 were all fantastic, so there are no questions or doubts about those parts.
Nike Zoom GT Cut 2 Overall
Stan: Is the Nike Zoom GT Cut 2 a possible successor? I’d say yes with a huge asterisk. Again, the issue I have may not affect everyone, however, when I start to second guess my moves, it’s a red flag for sure. And for those suggesting double socks, that would affect the length of the shoe with additional material as well as adding more heat retention.
Nike had a good thing going for them, if they only stuck with that wider tongue wrap-around from the first version to fill in the gap around the ankle, I’d say we’d have an absolute top 2 or 3 performance shoe of the year. It takes a lot for me to give such high praise for a shoe (I mean, take a look at the 6 pairs of the Nike GT Cut 1 that I own, that says something). Here’s to hoping Swoosh pays attention to those little details that make a world of a difference. I’m anxious to see the next iteration of the GT Cut (with proper modifications) don’t make me wait too long… I’m ready.
Nike Air Max Impact 4 Performance Review
The Nike Air Max Impact 4 is the best budget basketball shoe on the market today, a great outdoor option, and just a great performance basketball shoe.
Release Date: 2022
Price: $90
The Nike Air Max Impact 4 is like that dorky-looking kid on the local courts that you think you can clown but who ends up dunking on you and sends you home packing. This budget model is an unassuming banger, and it gets extra points precisely because of this. I’m a sucker for a hoop shoe that looks like a plain jane and then comes in and knocks it out of the park.
The Air Jordan 3 was already an awesome performance basketball shoe, and the Air Max Impact 4 brings back everything that was great from that shoe and incorporates a couple of improvements. And it does all of that at a cheaper price than its predecessor! I live in Spain, and the Air Max Impact 4 is 6 bucks cheaper than the Air Max Impact 3. In the US, they’re the same price, but still…
In any case, let’s dive into the performance review to see why I’m so hyped about this shoe.
Traction
The traction makes you wonder why Nike ever uses a different pattern and rubber compound. We have an aggressive and deeply set full-length herringbone traction pattern that gives you really great multi-directional coverage. It’s the same exact setup as on the Impact 3, so if you had that shoe you know exactly what I am talking about. The rubber compound is grippy and tough and worked great indoors and outdoors.
This combo also makes the Air Max Impact 4 a really wonderful outdoor option as well as far as traction goes (spoiler alert, everything else on the shoe also makes it a great outdoor option). The rubber gripped very well when I played outdoors, and that strong rubber and the thickness of the pattern all added durability while playing on the blacktop.
Cushion
The cushioning setup is, again, the same as on the Impact 3, which is great news. The cushioning on that model was amazing for a budget model, and the same is true on the Air Max Impact 4.
You get a full-length phylon foam midsole, and a large Air Max Unit in the heel. But this isn’t your run-of-the-mill phylon. It feels much closer to Cushlon than in other setups. It feels bouncy and reactive underfoot, which is great for forefoot heavy moves like sprints or changes of direction.
The Air Max Unit in the heel feels great if you make it work, but I personally don’t use my heel much when I play, so I really didn’t feel it too much. But I’m happy that it’s there just in case I need that extra bit of cushion I might not be 100% aware of most of the time.
Materials
In my reviews, I’m normally negative when brands overuse cheaper synthetic materials. I always try to be fair and say that performance wise it worked well yada, yada, yada…but in this case, I’m not even going to do that.
The Air Max Impact 4 is a budget model, so it has budget-appropriate materials that worked very well. Nike even improved the materials from the Impact 3 to the Impact 4. They used a tighter weaved textile along the upper that improves lockdown and added some fuse overlays on the lateral side of the forefoot to boost lateral containment.
Support
Support on the Air Max Impact 4 is also on point. You have 4 rubber lateral containment pieces: 2 in the heel and 2 in the forefoot. Also, you have an internal web (that is visible through the outer mesh of the shoe on the more colorful colorways) that keeps your foot securely on the footbed. For a little added support and containment there are two lace cables, as well as two outriggers.
Everything about the support is enhanced by the use and placement of the materials as well as the fit.
Fit
This is one of the better-fitting shoes I have tested recently. The Nike Air Max Impact 4 offers a great 1-to-1 fit and requires little to no break-in time.
Overall
The Nike Air Max Impact 4 is just a great performance basketball shoe, and it improves on an already great shoe, the Nike Air Max 3. It’s definitely my favorite budget basketball shoe so far this season as well as my go-to outdoor option. I’m having a hard time at the moment keeping it out of my current top 5.
I personally enjoy the fact that the shoe is so plain and “under the radar” and packs such a performance punch, and it does have the “what are those?” factor.
If you are looking for a great performance basketball shoe that won’t break the bank, there’s no better option.