K-SWISS Ultrashot 3: Shedding The Old-Man Identity
Debuting at the 2021 ATP Cup by the one and only Fabio Fognini, the 2021 K-Swiss Ultrashot 3 is K-Swiss’ flagship tennis shoe. It’s aims to elevate the intersection of cushioning, speed, durability… and style. Yes, style. In K-Swiss shoe.
Fit: Wide
Stephen’s experience:
This shoe had very similar fit around the bottom side of the foot as the Ultrashot 2, giving a very comfortable contact between foot and ground. The upper seemed tough and not as comfortable to start, but that may just be needing more breaking in.
As a Federer-like athlete, I have slightly wider feet, so the wide fit with the Ultrashot line of shoes works well for me. In general I feel it’s easier to make shoes fit tighter with lacing than it is to make shoes loosen up with lacing. So I was ok with the wider fit, but I understand that that might not be everyones experience.
Beckett’s experience:
The Ultrashot 3 fits wider and shorter than I’m used to. For reference, I typically wear the Nike Vapor line on clay, and the Zoom Turbo GP on hard court. Both are a comfortable width and length for me in a US 9.5. The Ultrashot 3 was too wide for me throughout the foot, from the toe box to the heel. Using the extra eyelets (very useable due to the rather long laces) I was able to achieve a fit secure enough for a practice session, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable playing a tournament match in them. While I felt they fit a bit short, I was impressed on how well the shoe negated toe-jamming. The laces do a good job in tightening the entire fit, so my foot would not slide forward aggressively on abrupt stops. The entire upper is moderately stiff. The break-in period is pretty minor. I didn’t experience any foot-cramping in the initial hours of testing. That said, the upper didn’t exactly soften up. This is reassuring in that it suggests the shoe won’t get sloppy over time. Unfortunately, it means the shoes just aren’t the most comfortable. I prefer a plusher upper, at the expense of breathability, especially for longer hits.
TL;DR: The wider fit and stiff upper hold this shoe back.
Cushioning: thick
Stephen’s experience:
The cushioning stands out as the main reason why someone should go after this shoe. If you prefer a soft feel on every step as you play, this shoe will deliver that.
Sometimes a soft cushioning can make you feel unstable on court, making a rolled ankle seem inevitable, but these shoes marry soft feel and stability in a way that is really nice.
I liked the idea of being comfortable in these laced down, walking around after a match. Some tennis shoes, in contrast, would be really uncomfortable to walk around in.
Beckett’s experience:
The cushioning is the best part of this shoe. The stack of foam underfoot is one of the thickest on the market. The only shoe that comes close is the Zoom Turbo GP. The feel of the cushion is much firmer than the GP. If you prefer a more responsive feel underfoot, but need a lot of cushioning, this is a great option. The Ultrashot 3 is one of those shoes that offers a huge amount of cushioning, without riding too high. The firmer cushioning and upper make sure that your never feel like you might roll over the taller stack of cushioning. This effectively removes the downsides of having more cushioning, a very respectable feat.
I weigh about 170lbs and the cushioning was more than adequate for me. I think if you are are heavier (over 250lbs) the cushioning would remain one of the best choices. Not only is it thick, but it’s firm and supportive. If you have knee or back problems that enflame from impact or lack of supportive cushioning, I’d recommend these as well.
TL;DR: Top tier, extremely thick, firm, responsive and support.
Stability: thick
Stephen’s experience:
As mentioned above, I felt very secure in these shoes. That comes down to stability. Do I feel confident sliding out to wide balls, or pushing hard on a change of direction? Good shoes should give you the confidence to go for anything on court, without worrying about if the shoe will hold up under your feet.
These shoes do that for me.
Beckett’s experience:
The stability was quite good. The firm upper does a very good job of holding you in. The laces tighten up the shoe very effectively. Unfortunately, the stiffer upper prevented me from achieving the glove-like fit required to maximize stability. I was never scared of rolling my ankle, but tennis shoes are so good now that rolling an ankle should NEVER be a consideration. For me, the thing that separates a great shoe from a good shoe is how confident I would feel sliding on a hardcourt. I did not feel confident sliding in these. The stiffer material on the upper was sufficient for general use, but there was enough material to give me that unwavering confidence necessary to slide on the hardcourt. The problem is that the stiff, thin upper does not give even support throughout the shoe. If there was more padding, it would help disperse the support evenly to areas that you need it most.
TL;DR: Good, not great.
Overall: a looker with great cushioning
Stephen’s experience: 7/10
Overall, solid shoe. I’m going to be wearing this more on court as I feel confident moving around like the elite athletic specimen that I am.
My favourite things about this shoe:
Look - fresh in the white, especially paired with some nice white socks.
Stability / cushioning - very soft + stable. A rare combination.
Things I didn’t love:
Feel of the upper on my foot - too brittle.
The little folds along parts of the outside of the seem to get dirty very easily.
Beckett’s experience: 6/10
Overall I give this shoe a light 6. The look and the cushioning stand out, however the fit, comfort, and support weren’t up to speed. This is certainly the best looking, modern K-Swiss shoe. It looks great in TV, worn by Fognini, and in-person.
The cushion is immensely supportive. These are both trends that I’d like to see K-Swiss continue. Unfortunately, the wide fit did not work for me at all. If you have a narrow foot, and want good cushioning, go for the Nike Zoom Turbo GP. I wish the upper was softer, plusher, and contoured more gently to hold the foot tightly throughout. Sadly, the thin, stiff upper prevents this from happening. It is not uncomfortable, per say, it’s just not what I demand from my shoes in 2021.
If you’ve tried the Nike Vapor Cage 4, and wish it was lighter, try the K-Swiss Ultrashot 3.
