Adidas tennis fans were in for a surprise when the company launched an update to their Men’s Ubersonic shoe line. NextGen stars, Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas, have been wearing the Ubersonic 3 throughout the summer hard court season and though the shoes don’t have a drastic redesign, some subtle technical updates should increase the shoes’ user base. Let's take a look at the subtile differences between the Ubersonic 2.0 and 3.

Cushioning & Stability
The cushioning has been improved in the Ubersonic 3, but you still feel the stability and explosiveness that made the 2.0 such a trailblazing shoe. The polyurethane midsole offers improved softness and returns energy well for players who stay on the balls of their feet. In the 3, the designers kept the same level of heel cushioning, but they beefed up the forefoot and toe-box for more stability. Overall, the foot sits a little closer to the ground but slightly flatter than the previous version for increased stability in all directions.

Movement
On court, the Ubersonic 3's do a better job of protecting your feet with a fabric that breathes more naturally than the older, double-layer mesh. The mid-sole combines with the outsole to provide a cushioned ride while still feeling close to the court surface. The tread has changed slightly from the previous version as it flexes and supports well during dynamic movements like sliding or sprinting for drop shots. The full-length polyurethane mid-sole has some good bounce and energy return with a more plush feel than in the 2.0. After a couple of sets in the heat, the shoes showed a remarkable improvement over the 2.0 because they hadn’t absorbed a lot of sweat.

Breathability & Fit
With the Ubersonic 3, the sock liner has better wicking properties, and my foot was stabilized without feeling constricted. The sock liner is built more in tandem with the shoe in the 3 and doesn’t feel disconnected like it did in the previous generation. It pulls moisture to the outside of the shoe substantially better than in the 2.0, allowing it to dry out faster. I had issues wearing low-cut and no-show socks with the Ubersonic 2.0. The sock liner would rub the back of my heel and Achilles, so I was forced to wear crew or quarter crew socks. This was an issue in the intense heat because the more material you have on your feet, the more sweat the shoe seems to absorb.

The Ubersonic 3 makes this shoe family a solid entry for a larger group of players with a little more room in the forefoot and toe-box. There will be an adjustment period for people moving from the 2.0 to the 3, but they will find the 3 to be an excellent evolution of the Ubersonic family. The upper material works in tandem with the sock liner to give a solid all around fit. With the 2.0, I felt the sock-liner’s tight fit in some ways negated the shoes laces as it was already fairly snug.

Durability
The upper in the Ubersonic 3 is comprised of Dyneema® yarn in contrast to the dual layer mesh on the 2.0. This material is tough, durable, and more substantial than the mesh in the 2.0. The upper also handles scrapes and scratches from hard court play as well as or better than the 2.0.

Overall
The Adidas Ubersonic 3 is one of the best performance tennis shoes available. These shoes offer a perfect balance between support, style, and breathability that professional players have come to know and love.

PRO TIP: You wouldn’t fill up your Ferrari with regular unleaded gasoline, so don’t expect excellent performance wearing older 100% cotton socks in shoes like the Ubersonic 3. Polyester-based socks will improve the shoes ventilation and give you more predictable movements which are integral in a dynamic sport like tennis.

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.