Novak Djokovic lost his way after winning the French Open in 2016. He moved on from Uniqlo to Lacoste, and switched his footwear of choice from Adidas to Asics. In 2018, he has rediscovered his form and hauled in two major titles along with two Masters Series events wearing a special edition Asics Gel-Resolution 7 Novak shoe. Similar to Novak's game, the Resolution 7’s greatest strength is its lack of a perceived weakness. It does many things really well, and doesn’t struggle in any particular category. Asics has taken this shoe to a new level by updating its technologies and adding Gender Specific Cushioning. As a longtime user of this shoe, I was excited to put it to the test.

Fit
When Asics tennis shoes arrived in the US, running enthusiasts correctly predicted their infiltration into the tennis market. The Resolution had everything to do with it. From the first fitting, the shoe cradles your foot in all the right places. It fits true to size, and prevents your heel, forefoot, and toes from excessively moving around. The arch is not too high or too low, and the cushioning is solid and ample throughout the foot bed.

Manufacturers have had some success building tennis shoe “tanks” for several years now, and though their durability is something to behold, they generally feel stiff, wide, and clunky. The Gel-Resolution 7 is the most nimble outsole-warranty shoe in its class. There is some weight to it (13.4 oz Size 9), but it doesn’t feel nearly as cumbersome as other warranty shoes.

Cushioning & Flexibility
For a shoe that can take a beating, the Gel-Resolution 7 maintains Asics’ great reputation for dynamic flexibility, and holds up well to aggressive, hard-court moves and cuts. If you look up for a second, you feel as though you are wearing a well cushioned running shoe, not a durable tennis shoe.

The cushioning is solid throughout the shoe, but anchored by Gel technology in the rearfoot and forefoot. The midsole features SOLYTE™, which slightly reduces weight and aids in durability and comfort. Sometimes you see performance tennis shoes where all the cushioning is focused in the heel, and drastically reduced in the forefoot and toe box. The Resolution does a good job of comforting your entire foot bed, while still being responsive enough to react and change direction on a dime. The hidden gem on the Gel-Resolution 7 is the P.H.F. (Personalized Heel Fit) collar lining. Two layers of memory foam mold to your heel’s shape to provide a personalized fit. This feature makes the shoe feel like an extension of your foot so you can confidently focus on the task at hand.

Durability
In addition to comfort and responsiveness, the Resolution 7 is an excellent durability shoe. Powered by AHARPLUS™, the Resolution 7’s outsole has strategically placed rubber that is 50% more durable than Asics’ previous high abrasion rubber. You also get the benefit of a six-month outsole warranty.

Overall
For my money, the Asics Gel-Resolution 7 is the best tennis shoe on the market at the moment. It’s comfortable, durable, and nimble. I have used the shoe extensively on hard courts, as well as in the gym for agility workouts and short runs. The Resolution 7 comes in several color variations, not to mention the Novak Djokovic Special Edition versions. Asics uses a slightly different density of cushioning in their Women’s Gel-Resolution 7's so female athletes can get specified midsole compression to help with movement and comfort.

About the Reviewer: Sam Jones currently works at Tennis Express on the Content Marketing team. He previously played at Southwestern University, taught tennis for 10+ years and earned his Master Racquet Technician Certification in 2011. He is an active USTA League and Tournament player.