Our verdict

Mizuno may not be the very first brand you think of when looking for a pair of tennis shoes. But if you give the Wave Enforce Tour a try, we promise that you will be pleasantly surprised. This pair kept our feet supported through the entire session with zero ankle slips and rolls. We felt connected to the court while being pampered with a good amount of cushioning. Very aggressive players will probably wish for better support and durability, but we think that most athletes will find a great match in the Enforce Tour.

Pros

  • Fantastic impact protection
  • Responsive cushioning
  • Doesn't drag the foot
  • Comfortable even after long sessions
  • Great stability
  • Super grippy
  • Amazing lockdown

Cons

  • Not for narrow feet
  • Upper lacks durability

Audience verdict

91
Superb!

Who should buy

Based on our extensive playtesting and over 20 lab measurements, we believe that the Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour will suit:

  • athletes who want it all from a tennis shoe (cushioning, stability, comfort)
  • players who want it in a reasonably lightweight setup
  • people with wider feet

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour review

Who should NOT buy

We didn't find anything awfully wrong with the Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour. It is the type of shoe that can easily match most tennis players.

However, if you are a seasoned player who has developed more specific demands, here are some reasons why you may need a different shoe:

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour lab test

Breathability

After 30 minutes of vigorous playtesting, our feet weren't really yearning for air in the Wave Enforce Tour. But they didn't feel extra fresh and ventilated either.

Taking the shoe back to our lab, we ran it through our smoke-pumping test. Turns out, that it is indeed only moderately breathable as the smoke failed to pass through the shoe's toebox.

You can see how the Solution Speed FF 2 lets the smoke escape quite effortlessly compared to Mizuno. Thus, we rated the Wave Enforce Tour's breathability with an average score of 3 out of 5.

Hovering the half-cut upper over a bright light, it is obvious that the shoe's most aerated part is the tongue. It is made of highly porous mesh.

In an attempt to find at least a hint of breathability, we looked at the shoe's toebox through our microscope.

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour microscope

As you can see, ventilation holes are practically non-existent in the densely woven fabric of the Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour.

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour microscope upper

Test results
Wave Enforce Tour 3
Average 3.3
Compared to 28 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

For all the hard-court sliders out there, we made sure to put the upper of this Mizuno shoe through its paces. Equipped with a Dremel set to 5K RPM speed, we drilled the toebox for 12 seconds at a consistent speed of 3.2N.

And even though we weren't as impressed with the result as in some other shoes from ASICS, it wasn't a disappointment at all! The Dremel only got through the topmost synthetic layer and didn't leave a see-through hole. For that, we rated the shoe's toebox durability with an average score - 3 out of 5.

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour Toebox durability

Another essential part of the shoe's toebox longevity is the rubber reinforcement on the medial side. After a session full of sliding, we saw no signs of wear! 

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour medial protection

Test results
Wave Enforce Tour 3
Average 3.8
Compared to 26 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

Sadly, the inner lining of the shoe fared much worse against the Dremel. It is a pretty delicate part, to begin with, and Mizuno didn't seem to try hard to reinforce it.

Only 4 seconds of drilling at the speed of 5K RPM went right through the fabric meeting no resistance.

We had no choice but to rate this shoe's heel padding durability with the lowest score - 1 out of 5. That is a very poor performance compared to the average of tennis shoes.

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour Heel padding durability
Test results
Wave Enforce Tour 1
Average 3.2
Compared to 26 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

Measuring the shoe's rubber hardness with a durometer left us quite hopeful about the outsole's durability. The tool returned 89.1 HC which is a bit harder than the average reading.

It is a good sign as you certainly don't want soft rubber to deal with hard court.

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour Outsole hardness
Test results
Wave Enforce Tour 89.1 HC
Average 85.7 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 28 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
73.4 HC
Outsole hardness
92.0 HC

Outsole durability

And the Wave Enforce Tour showed pretty good results! Even when we sped up the Dremel to 10K RPM and applied it for a longer time of 22 seconds, it left relatively insignificant damage on the outsole.

Using a tread gauge, we measured the depth of the dent at 0.8 mm. Even though it is a tiny bit deeper than average, it is still below the risky 1 mm for a tennis shoe.

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour Outsole durability
Test results
Wave Enforce Tour 0.8 mm
Average 0.7 mm
Compared to 26 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

We also checked the amount of outsole rubber to make sure there was enough material to resist the rigors of the hard court. And the news is great! There is 4.4 mm of outsole which is perfect for a tennis shoe.

Not to mention that the Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour comes with a 6-month durability guarantee for the outsole. So if you burn through your tennis shoes in a matter of weeks, you are up for a replacement pair!

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour Outsole thickness
Test results
Wave Enforce Tour 4.4 mm
Average 4.1 mm
Compared to 28 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
3.0 mm
Outsole thickness
5.1 mm

Weight

A tennis shoe that feels amazingly stable, cushioned, and doesn't weigh you down? Yes, please!

Mizuno managed to keep the weight of the Wave Enforce Tour at a reasonable level. Putting the shoe on our scale, we got 13.1 oz (370g) in a men's US size 9. That's a nice, standard weight for a men's tennis shoe. Especially given the shoe's slightly taller-than-average stack height.

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour Weight
Test results
Wave Enforce Tour 13.05 oz (370g)
Average 12.84 oz (364g)
Compared to 28 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
10.30 oz (292g)
Weight
14.71 oz (417g)

Cushioning

Heel stack

The Wave Enforce Tour is a real sandwich of a shoe! This has got to be the first time we see so many cushioning layers in a tennis model.

And all of them combined make up 33.0 mm of stack height in the heel, according to our caliper. This is by far the tallest heel cushioning we've come across in our lab, as far as tennis shoes go. We loved how it turns hard landings into the most pleasant experience!

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour Heel stack
Test results
Wave Enforce Tour 33.0 mm
Average 29.3 mm
Compared to 28 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
25.3 mm
Heel stack
33.0 mm

Forefoot stack

As for the forefoot cushioning, it is not the tallest we've got but feels quite well-cushioned for staying up on our toes. Based on our caliper, the forefoot stack is 21.1 mm thick.

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour Forefoot stack
Test results
Wave Enforce Tour 21.1 mm
Average 19.6 mm
Compared to 28 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
17.0 mm
Forefoot stack
23.4 mm

Drop

Looking at the heel-to-toe drop, we see a difference of 11.9 mm. This makes the Enforce Tour's cushioning slightly more biased towards the heel.

We felt like it was a fine balance because it wasn't excessive and yet helped our feet transition from heels to toes effortlessly.

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour Drop
Test results
Wave Enforce Tour 11.9 mm
Average 9.7 mm
Compared to 28 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
6.3 mm
Drop
12.4 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

There is a whole lot to unpack in the midsole of the Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour!

Starting with the primary (green) Mizuno Enerzy foam that runs full length from heel to toe, we measured its softness at 32.7 HA. This translates to firm but not brick-like. This firmness is just enough to create a stable and reliable carrier for the rest of the cushioning to fall back on.

And it felt quite responsive too!

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour Midsole softness primary
Test results
Wave Enforce Tour 32.7 HA
Average 29.0 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 28 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
20.0 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
34.0 HA

Secondary foam softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

On top of the firmest Enezry foam is a slightly softer (blue) one. According to our durometer, it is only 4% softer than the primary foam at 31.5 HA.

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour Secondary foam softness

Finally, we have two incredibly soft pieces of (red) cushioning sandwiched between two main foams. One is under the heel and the other one is under the ball of the foot.

These components showed the absolute plushest reading on our durometer - a barely-there 3.5 HA! It is barely even caught by the tool and quite literally feels like a marshmallow.

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour plush Enerzy foam

So the basic mechanics of the Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour is that the plushest cushioning creates compression while the two firmer foams keep in under control, adding stability and responsiveness. This tennis shoe is nowhere near mushy on the court!

Test results
Wave Enforce Tour 31.5 HA
Average 25.6 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.

Insole thickness

Last but not least, a well-padded insole completes the cushioning ensemble of the Enforce Tour. Using a caliper, we measured its thickness at 4.8 mm which is standard for a tennis shoe.

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour Insole thickness
Test results
Wave Enforce Tour 4.8 mm
Average 5.2 mm
Compared to 28 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
3.9 mm
Insole thickness
8.5 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

If you are in search of a stable tennis shoe that won't let your ankle roll at the next crossover step, we can guarantee that the Mizuno Enforce Tour does the job!

Don't expect it to be the same monster as the ASICS Gel Resolution 9 or the Adidas Barricade 13 though! There are no stiff TPU stabilizers or raised sidewalls here.

Torsional rigidity

In our manual stiffness test, we found the Wave Enforce Tour to be quite forgiving, Like we said, there is no solid support system in the midfoot or on the sides of the shoe.

On a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the stiffest, we rated the shoe's torsional rigidity as 4. It is more flexible than most tennis shoes (ASICS especially).

Test results
Wave Enforce Tour 4
Average 4.3
Compared to 28 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

No one likes that annoying ankle slipping and sliding inside the shoe, but you are totally safe with the Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour! The rear of our foot felt so securely locked inside its heel cup, that we never once had a problem with undue ankle play.

The shoe's heel counter felt nice and structured and it had a welcome stiffness to it, offering a firm heel hold.

Test results
Wave Enforce Tour 4
Average 3.9
Compared to 28 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width in the forefoot

The Enforce Tour draws plenty of stability from its wide and steady platform. In the widest part of the forefoot, our caliper measured 113.0 mm which is a few millimeters wider than average.

There is also an outrigger on the outer side of the forefoot which granted an amazing stopping power, especially on sharp lateral moves.

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
Wave Enforce Tour 113.0 mm
Average 111.7 mm
Compared to 28 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
105.3 mm
Midsole width in the forefoot
117.4 mm

Midsole width in the heel

The shoe's wider base is especially pronounced in the heel. Measuring the distance between its widest points gave us 99.7 mm. This is about a whole centimeter wider than the average tennis shoe.

No matter how awkward our landing angles were, this large landing area was always there for us.

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour Midsole width in the heel
Test results
Wave Enforce Tour 99.7 mm
Average 89.8 mm
Compared to 28 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
82.4 mm
Midsole width in the heel
99.7 mm

Foot containment

Sealing up the shoe's stability is the unique Dyna-Heel Lock support around the ankle. It features an internal sleeve that is very intricately connected to the lacing system.

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour dyna heel lock

Once the whole setup was cinched up, we experienced an amazing clasp around the ankle. What's more, people with narrow feet can also make use of the extra eyelet to achieve an even tighter fit.

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour laces

Flexibility

Stiffness

The absence of a stiff shank inside the shoe's midsole offered notably more freedom to bend the foot. Compared to the average tennis shoe, our lab test showed that the Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour is 10% more flexible.

How did we measure? Having fixed the shoe to the table, we bent it to a 90-degree angle with the help of a force gauge. The latter showed how much force it took to perform that action. It was 26.9N for the Enforce Tour.

Test results
Wave Enforce Tour 26.9N
Average 30.2N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 28 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
18.8N
Stiffness
44.9N

Grip / Traction

The Enforce Tour mixes a sharp herringbone pattern with triangular multi-directional lugs, resulting in a highly effective grip.

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour outsole

Testing its limits on a hard court, we were quite happy with the outsole's ability to stop on a dime and at the same time, slide with ease when needed.

Size and fit

Toebox width at the widest part

Players who have long wished for a more spacious tennis shoe, your prayers have been heard!

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour fit

We found the Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour a little too roomy for our medium-width feet which means that wide footers are going to enjoy themselves a lot!

Checking the shoe's toebox width at the widest part, our caliper showed 104.0 mm which is a few millimeters wider than average.

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour Toebox width at the widest part
Test results
Wave Enforce Tour 104.0 mm
Average 101.1 mm
Compared to 28 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
97.8 mm
Toebox width at the widest part
105.0 mm

Toebox width at the big toe

The Enforce Tour remains adequately spacious towards the toes too. We measured the toebox width at the big toe mark at 77.3 mm. This is the typical width across tennis shoes.

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour Toebox width at the big toe
Test results
Wave Enforce Tour 77.3 mm
Average 76.7 mm
Compared to 28 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
74.8 mm
Toebox width at the big toe
79.8 mm

Tongue: gusset type

The shoe's tongue is partially attached to the upper on the sides. Paired with the Dyna-Heel Lock, it creates some of the most secure lockdowns we've experienced in tennis shoes! Unless you have narrow feet, of course.

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour Tongue: gusset type
Test results
Wave Enforce Tour Both sides (semi)

Comfort

Tongue padding

The in-shoe comfort is incredible in the Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour! From the tongue to the collar padding, it feels like a soft padded slipper against the foot.

Interestingly, the tongue padding doesn't extend full length and is only present in the topmost part, to protect the instep from lace bites. Nice way to trim down the weight and help breathability!

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour Tongue padding
Test results
Wave Enforce Tour 8.3 mm
Average 7.9 mm
Compared to 28 all court tennis shoes
Number of shoes
2.5 mm
Tongue padding
13.1 mm

Heel tab

Heel tabs are not present on the Wave Enforce Tour but we were able to hold onto the extended part of the heel collar when getting the shoe on.

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour Heel tab
Test results
Wave Enforce Tour None

Removable insole

Those who want to elevate comfort with an aftermarket insole or orthotic can easily swap the stock one.

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour Removable insole
Test results
Wave Enforce Tour Yes