Pickleball shoes are a crucial piece of equipment for any serious player, providing the necessary support, stability, and traction for optimal performance on the court. One such shoe is the Tyson McGuffin signature pickleball shoe, designed in collaboration with the pro player himself. This review delves into the features, performance, and overall value of these shoes, comparing them to other top contenders in the market.
Design and Features
The Skechers Viper Court Pro Shoe is an update on the classic Viper Court Shoe designed to provide you with more support, stability, cushion, and control.
These pickleball shoes are a big step in the right direction. Outside of player branding I really like this shoe. The shoe isn’t new, but this color way is.
I like shoes with personality. The bright color way on these kicks definitely stand out. And the neon pink color way that has yet to be released is HOT!
The wider design of this shoe allows you to evenly spread your foot over the Ultra Flight Foam midsole. This spreading of the foot promotes balance, encourages quicker cuts, and prevents fatigue during long matches. Meanwhile, the reinforced mesh upper pulls sweat off of your feet and keeps your feet from sliding when you change directions quickly.
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Comfort and Fit
I know sneakerheads are like “Skechers? Really?”. Yes really.
The shoes are comfortable and supportive which I partially attribute to the removable Arch Fit insole and ULTRA FLIGHT cushioning. Additionally the standard medium width toe box ensures a true to size fit.
Backing up the athletic platform is Arch Fit technology that provides much needed support to keep your feet fresh throughout rigorous practice sessions and long tournament days alike.
Outsole and Traction
The multicolored outsole is designed with a bidirectional herringbone pattern manufactured by Goodyear. The Goodyear rubber outsole provides good traction for both indoor and outdoor surfaces. Should get some great traction with these.
The reliable cushioned and supportive platform would be of no help without a tacky and durable outsole underneath.
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Performance and Comparison
The Skechers Viper Court Pro Shoe offers a relaxed fit and provides extra room at the toe and forefoot.
Billed as a highly agile and fast shoe, these kicks also boast impressive stability so that you can get into position before your shots. The upper material not only locks your foot in place with a light 4-way stretch fabric, but wicks sweat and breathes with ease. Diadem added flexible TPU overlays in key areas for toe draggers.
With the Viper Court Pro Pickleball Shoe, Skechers seems like they have thought of everything.
Here's how the Tyson McGuffin signature shoes stack up against other popular pickleball shoe brands:
Top 5 Pickleball Shoes for Indoor AND Outdoor Courts 2023/2024
DAPS Pickleball Shoes
The DAPS pickleball shoes were released to the public this spring, and already several pro players have switched to them, including the players on The Kitchen's MLP team -- the Nashville Chefs. DAPS come in men's and women's sizes.
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The DAPS out-perform the big brands in several key metrics, and you don’t just have to take my word for it - they have the data to back it up. They sent the shoe to the Heeluxe Performance Lab, which compared the DAPS to several other well-known shoes in the pickleball space.
The results favored the DAPS in several areas:
- Faster starts
- Quicker stops
- Better energy return
- More energy efficiency
If you’re coming to pickleball from a sport other than tennis - such as basketball, baseball/softball or football - you might be used to a shoe that comes much higher on the ankle than most pickleball or tennis shoes.
If that’s a style you’re used to and low-top shoes feel uncomfortable, or if you’ve had an ankle injury and want more support in that area, the DAPS Desi Mid pickleball shoes could be the perfect shoe for you.
As the name suggests, they’re a mid-top shoe that offers comfortable padding around the ankle and added support for even the hardest changes of direction.
Diadem Shoes
There are men's and women's sizes and various colors. Shop the full collection here.
HEAD Shoes
The latest pickleball-specific shoe from HEAD keeps up with our high standards for top-notch pickleball gear. These kicks introduce the precision of a BOA PERFORMFIT WRAP to the world of pickleball. This dual dial closure system avoids pinching while bolstering stability by preventing slipping and sliding inside the shoe when changing directions.
K-Swiss Shoes
K-Swiss has long been known for their comfortable tennis shoes, and now they've designed a shoe specifically for pickleball players. The responsive midsole offers great energy transfer to help us power through fatigue during the last points of the day.
Specifically engineered to support the repeated lateral movements of a pickleball player, the K-Swiss Pickleball Supreme shoe is well equipped to bolster your quickness and comfort on the court. New and improved court shoe designed to keep your feet supported and cushioned while you give your opponent the run around.
Additional Information
This shoe from Skechers was designed in conjunction with pro player Tyson McGuffin, providing breathability, stability and comfort.
The high-quality TPU shank offers rigidity and support for quick changes of direction, and the EcoFlight midsole backs up this stability with impressive cushion that fights fatigue.
This initial color way is the only indication that this is Tyson McGuffin’s signature shoe and that’s my confusion/problem with it. If the man himself doesn’t speak to his signature you would never know.
Special Policy for Shoe Returns, Exchanges, and Refunds
- A customer may try on shoes in a clean, indoor environment to assess sizing and comfort. Shoes cannot be worn outdoors or in active play which causes any wear, discoloration, dirt, or scuffs.
- Shoes that have been worn cannot be returned.
- Returned shoes must be in new condition. Shoes must include the original manufacturer’s box, packing tissue and tags. The original shoe box must be returned without any tape, labels, or other items degrading, altering, or damaging it.
- Eligible returns and exchanges can be made within 30 days from the date of purchase.
- Customers in the 48 continental United States are eligible for free postage on shoe returns within PickleballCentral return policy.