Babolat Jet Tere Women's Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 3.4

The Babolat Jet Tere shoes were comfortable both on and off the court for our playtesters. However, Brittany needed to adjust her size at the beginning of the playtest to get a better fit. She said, "When I first slipped the shoes on my feet I noticed they were running short in length, and I found the best fit to be a half size up. I typically wear a size 8, and the 8.5s fit perfectly both length and width wise. Once I adjusted the size I was able to head straight to the court. The uppers are soft and flexible, so there was no rubbing or discomfort. The cushioning was plush around the ankle collar and tongue, and there was sufficient cushioning underfoot. The shoes were breathable even on warmer days. As with almost all Babolat shoes I have playtested, the arch support from the insoles did not work with my feet. I ended up replacing the insole with a customized version for a better fit, and this relieved some pressure."

Michelle agreed with Brittany about the fit, but unfortunately, she was unable to find a size that worked better. She said, "I do have to note that these shoes fit short, as many of the Jet shoes have for me. Since Babolat doesn't make them bigger than a 10, I was not able to size up. These shoes look great, so I started wearing them around the office before taking them to the court. The upper is soft and comfortable, flexible and breathable. Underfoot cushioning was pretty minimal, which was OK for shorter hitting sessions. I was hoping that these shoes would open up and expand a bit as the playtest went on, but my toes were always smushed at the end throughout the weeks of wearing them, causing some discomfort. After an hour or so of wearing these shoes, my feet were feeling it. While I felt the cushioning did a decent job of absorbing shock, it just wasn't soft enough underfoot for tough days of drilling or movement. I did enjoy them when working out, but I still struggled with the length."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 2.5

After some time on the courts, our playtesters were left wishing for a little more support and stability from the Jet Teres. Michelle did not feel confident moving aggressively in these shoes. She critiqued, "I would say the Jet Teres are quick and light, but they’re not the most supportive shoes. The upper was comfortable, but I didn't always feel locked in. There was some give, and I cinched up my shoes pretty tightly to get as much support as I could. Stability-wise, it took a few hours to trust that the shoes would hold up to aggressive movement. I never rolled over the shoes or twisted an ankle, but I was still wary of moving too aggressively out wide."

"I will preface my comments by saying I had a major ankle injury a few years ago, and my need for support and stability has increased over the years," continued Brittany. "When it came to support, the knitted upper did not hold my feet in place as well as I would have liked. When I was moving aggressively I could feel my feet shifting within the shoes in every direction. I tend to have a pretty good idea of a shoe's stability level based on how my ankle feels the night or morning after playing. My first couple of hits in these shoes were light, with more controlled movements, and I didn't have any issues. However, the first time I played points with more intense movements, I had some soreness and pain that night and the next day. So for me, these shoes were not stable enough for playing every day."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 3.3

The playtest team agreed that although the Babolat Jet Teres are light, the outsoles held up remarkably well. Brittany was pretty impressed with the overall durability. She said, "While I didn't get as many hours on court as I would have liked, for a variety of reasons, I was able to hit on a couple of different hard courts, including our very gritty indoor court. The outsole has held up well without showing any signs of major wear. Now they won't be as durable as your typical outsole-guaranteed shoes, but they held up extremely well for their weight."

Considering how light these shoes are, Michelle was surprised her pair held up so well. She said, "That Michelin rubber is always a positive for Babolat shoes. I am happy with how durable they were. I can't imagine them outlasting some of the more durable options on the market, but they held up well for speedy shoes."

Traction - Score: 4.0

The Jet Tere's outsoles were on the slicker side, especially toward the end of the playtest. Our playtesters have different preferences when it comes to traction, but they were both able to make these shoes work for them. Michelle, who typically prefers stickier outsoles, said, "There were no traction issues for me. I felt like there was more give than stick here. That paired with a lack of support isn't always a good thing. I did note a few slips here and there, but nothing too detrimental. I think someone looking for speed would be happy with the traction."

On the other hand, Brittany likes a little more give. She said, "With my custom insoles, I found my feet sitting nice and low in these shoes. This paired with the traction to help me feel connected to the court. For me, the traction started off on the stickier side, but not so sticky that I felt stuck.The traction smoothed out slightly as the playtest wore on. This added just a little give, which I prefer, but not so much that I was slipping."

Weight - Score: 4.2

The Babolat Jet Tere is definitely a contender for the extremely lightweight category. Brittany felt speedy in her pair. She described, "I like lightweight shoes, and boy are these light! I felt quick around the court and never once found the shoes holding me back. That being said, I actually wouldn't have minded a little more weight to increase the support and stability of these shoes."

Michelle was in the same boat as Brittany. She added, "These shoes were super light! I definitely felt speedy with them on, and I easily kept them on well past the hitting session because they look great and are light and breathable. I personally prefer my tennis shoes to have a bit more weight and stability, so these shoes were great for a less serious hit or for filming videos."

Overall - Score: 3.3