Adidas Solematch Control 2 review

The Solematch Control 2 is a solid option from Adidas that can benefit players who:

• want a mid-range tennis shoe with excellent value for money
• prioritize stability and don't mind the extra weight and heel width
• need an accommodating fit in their tennis shoes

This Adidas shoe is likely a miss for nimble players seeking a lighter, more streamlined silhouette. We recommend that these folks turn to the Adidas Defiant Speed 2 or the more premium Adidas Adizero Ubersonic 5 instead.

And if you want an equally stable tennis shoe at the same price point but with better shock absorption, consider the Wilson Rush Pro 4.0 or the Nike GP Challenge Pro.

Somehow, despite the added Boost foam and the extra millimeters of stack height, the Solematch Control 2 ended up with slightly lower shock absorption measurements than the v1!

Even though we can't complain about a lack of impact protection, the shoe's below-average 96 SA in the heel and 58 SA in the forefoot made it less about cushioning and more about stability and underfoot control.

We are not so sure about 'an extra spring in [our] step' because the energy return of this Adidas shoe turned out to be moderate-to-low at 47.7% in the heel and 40.0% in the forefoot.

While it's not completely dull, we can't call the shoe's ride propulsive either. It felt controlled and predictable during our playtests.

Even though Adidas revamped the Solematch Control 2's midsole to include both Boost and standard EVA foam (supposedly Bounce), its heel stack didn't grow taller than average, stopping at a moderate 30.1 mm.

The forefoot, on the other hand, felt more grounded with a below-average stack of 17.1 mm. That explains the shoe's lower impact protection in the ball of the foot area.

Based on our stack height measurements above, the shoe's heel-to-toe drop is rather steep at 13.0 mm. Achieveing a proper fit and secure lockdown is therefore important in the Solematch Control 2 to avoid toe jamming.

A thick slab of Boost occupies a large portion of the midsole in the heel and midfoot. Pressing our durometer against it returned a rather soft reading of 19.6 HA, making it cushier than the average tennis shoe foam.

Meanwhile, the shoe's secondary foam is made of a firm EVA compound to cradle the Boost and keep the ride stable. It showed a notably higher reading of 30.5 HA on our durometer, falling into the firm range.

Even though the brand's product description promises a Regular fit for the Adidas Solematch Control 2, we found it quite accommodating for a men's US 9.

Having created a one-to-one gel mold of the shoe's interiors, we measured its widest area at 96.3 mm, confirming its above-average width.

Its toebox shape is also fairly rounded, showing another above-average width of 73.0 mm in the big-toe area.

Its toebox height, however, is a smidge lower than average at 23.6 mm.

But it should not be a problem for players without toe deformations or toenail issues.

With a slightly lower friction coefficient of 0.52, the Solematch Control 2 allows for smooth pivots while still feeling quite grippy on hard court.

Adidas makes a safe choice by opting for a classic herringbone tread pattern on the shoe's outsole, and it simply works. Deep channels in its forefoot and heel areas improve pliability.

A crevice in the shoe's midfoot area helps reduce weight while offering a peek at the Boost foam inside.

Our stiffness test showed that the Solematch Control 2 requires a moderate force of 15.9N to bend by 30 degrees, which is slightly less than it takes for an average tennis shoe.

The shoe's lower forefoot stack and flex grooves in the outsole certainly help make the platform more pliable.

Regrettably, the changes to the Solematch Control 2's overall design increased its weight over the previous iteration. With a scale reading of 13.7 oz (388g), the new version got 1.6 oz heavier and is now nearly on par with the Adidas Barricade 13 (13.9 oz/394g).

We didn't see any improvements in the Solematch Control 2's breathability either. As light and airy as its topmost mesh layer looks, a thick padding beneath it blocks most of the airflow.

You can see how much smoke struggles to pass through the shoe's toebox in our breathability test above.

What's more, our transparency test revealed no additional ventilation channels in the upper.

On a positive note, a microscope shot of the mesh revealed some thinner chainlinking that allows at least some heat to escape from the interior.

But overall, it's hardly enough to raise the shoe's breathability any higher than 1 out of 5.

Now is the time to talk about the Solematch Control 2's strongest points. The addition of a more pronounced Torsion System shank in the midfoot of this Adidas shoe inspires even more confidence for lateral movements.

We also noticed that its upper received a new asymmetrical lacing, with more eyelets for a highly customizable lockdown.

The flanges of the shoe's new Torsion System are reminiscent of the support system found on the Barricades 12 and 13, only shorter.

Our manual test confirmed that its torsional rigidity is, in fact, comparable to that of Adidas's flagship stability silhouettes! The Solematch Control 2 scored the maximum 5/5!

The rearfoot portion of this Adidas shoe also boasts a sturdy structure and plenty of internal padding to lock the heel and ankle in without heel slippage. On a 1-5 stiffness scale, we gave it a high 4/5.

The midsole dimensions of the Solematch Control 2 look nothing like those of the previous version. Measuring the widest part of its forefoot with a caliper, we got a slightly narrower reading of 110.8 mm.

The heel proportions, on the other hand, exploded in v2, reaching a whopping 98.1 mm! That's one of the broadest heels we've seen in a tennis shoe!

It brings stability to the next level but certainly detracts from the shoe's speed and agility.

Like most other Adidas tennis shoes, the Solematch Control 2 features a protective Adituff overlay for added wear resistance during sliding.

However, it takes a rather unusual shape in this shoe, with a micro-dotted rubber texture on the medial side of the upper.

Gladly, these nobs resisted our Dremel test just as effectively as most other toe drag guards. Showing minimal wear, it earned a high durability score of 4/5!

The Adituff also occupies a large portion of the shoe's toebox, covering the area we typically test for toebox durability.

With no holes or serious damage, the Solematch Control 2 gets a maximum durability score of 5/5 in this part of the upper.

The shoe's interior mesh lining proved more susceptible to abrasion. Scuffing up in only 4 seconds, it lowered the heel padding durability score to 3/5.

But most importantly, the Adiwear outsole of this Adidas shoe did not disappoint. After an 18-second drilling session, the dent in its surface was only 0.6 mm deep. This is an excellent result for a tennis shoe!

We expect solid long-term durability from the Solematch Control 2's outsole as it's both wear-resistant and thick (3.8 mm).

The insole grew thicker in this version of the Solematch, reaching 7.1 mm in the heel area.

The insole is not glued to the midsole, so you have the option to replace it with a custom orthotic if needed.

Adidas didn't skimp on padding in this iteration of the Solematch Control, as its tongue thickness increased from 3.1 mm in v1 to as much as 9.6 mm in v2! There is way more in-shoe comfort in the newer version.

The tongue is non-gusseted in this shoe, but we didn't experience much impromptu shifting.

This Adidas tennis shoe doesn't have any loops or pull tabs.

We believe the Solematch Control 2 offers great value for money compared to competitors at the same price point.