New Balance Fresh Foam X CT-Rally v2 review

Considering the strong points of the Fresh Foam x CT-Rally v2, we think that it would make a perfect match for players who:

• need a ton of shock absorption for long matches, training sessions, coaching, or taking care of past injuries and painful conditions (i.e., plantar fasciitis or joint pain)
• are willing to pay the premium price in return for premium quality and abrasion resistance
• play aggressively at the baseline and need solid side-to-side stability
• could use a wide width option in a tennis shoe

This New Balance tennis shoe is a no-go for agile players who need a lightweight shoe for explosive scrambles to the net.

For a lighter and more dynamic experience, consider the ASICS Solution Speed FF 3 or the Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 6.

New Balance promises its 'most cushioned Fresh Foam experience for incredible comfort,' and it surely delivers!

As the thickest tennis shoe platform in our catalog, the CT-Rally v2 even surpasses the Coco CG 2 in the amount of cushioning it provides. Our machine recorded an exceptionally high shock absorption reading of 116 SA at the shoe's heel and some of the highest measurements of 78 SA in the forefoot.

Very few tennis shoes provide that much impact protection! So if you seek extra comfort for long rallies and less fatigue the next day, this Fresh-Foam-packed shoe is your best bet!

But please keep in mind that the Fresh Foam X is not the most responsive compound, so its rebound will be merely average. We recorded the shoe's energy return at a standard 49.0% in the heel and 52.4% in the forefoot.

Measuring the CT-Rally v2's heel stack with a caliper, we got some of the highest readings of 33.3 mm. So expect plenty of material to buffer your heel from the court.

The forfefoot, on the other hand, proved to be more down-to-earth and on par with the average at 20.2 mm.

This leaves us with a pretty steep heel-to-toe drop of 13.1 mm, which may not sit well with some players. You've got to be sure you have a secure lockdown through the heel and midfoot to avoid toe jamming.

Yet again, the Fresh Foam X shows its plush nature in our durometer test. With a low reading of 20.1 HA, it is one of the softest tennis shoe foams we've experienced.

But please keep in mind that the foam takes a few hours of breaking in before it reveals its true softness and molds to your foot.

What can we say? New Balance is one of those brands that remain consistent with the fit and sizing of all their shoes, and that stands true for the CT-Rally v2 as well.

Measuring the one-to-one gel mold of the shoe's interior, our caliper showed a solid medium-width reading of 94.2 mm at the widest point.

Meanwhile, players with wide feet or bunions can also opt for the wide option (2E for men and D for women).

The toebox of this NB shoe is also wide enough to fit all five toes comfortably. Applying our caliper to the mold's big-toe area, we measured 71.3 mm. That makes it one of the more accommodating tennis shoes in our roster.

The only potential problem with the CT-Rally v2's fit is its low toebox height.

At only 23.1 mm, some players may lack vertical space and experience mild pressure from the shoe's sturdy NDure overlays.

Measuring the shoe's friction coefficient in the forefoot, where the gum rubber is dominant, our machine recorded a moderate reading of 0.60.

This means a moderately sticky experience on the hard court, allowing for smoother pivots and transitions, and even a bit of sliding.

Unlike most other tennis shoes, the New Balance Fresh Foam X CT-Rally v2 chooses gum rubber as its primary outsole compound. But it still keeps a patch of regular rubber in the medial area of the heel.

The lack of aggressive treading and the fact that both rubbers are non-marking make this shoe versatile enough for playing tennis and pickleball on both hard courts and hardwood.

The slits in the shoe's protective NDure coverage help make the CT-Rally decently pliable in the forefoot and don't hinder foot bending, especially after some breaking in.

Measuring the force required to bend this NB shoe by 30 degrees, we obtained a standard reading of 16.0N.

Unfortunately, the shoe's generous cushioning also comes with a weight penalty. The added stack height, plastic overlays, and upper protection increased its weight to as much as 14.3 oz (405g) in a men's US size 9.

It's almost as heavy as the ASICS Gel Resolution X at 14.7 oz (417g), but we deem it reasonable given the benefits.

New Balance takes upper durability seriously in the CT-Rally v2, but it comes at the cost of breathability.

While the smoke manages to escape through the slits in the NDure rubber, we can see that its billows are fairly thin.

But because it's not as suffocating as some other tennis shoes, we bumped up the breathability score to 2 out of 5.

Looking at the mesh layer beneath the rubber covering, we can see that it's not too tightly woven to block the airflow completely.

The CT-Rally v2's abundant cushioning is made possible thanks to its highly stable construction. Nearly every part of this New Balance shoe features a stabilizing element, making the shoe's side-to-side support as strong as it gets.

Even in the upper, the Fantomfit technology comprises 6 webbed eyelets that connect the laces to the base of the shoe. It feels so secure around the midfoot and ankle that we never thought of the missing pair of extra eyelets in this New Balance shoe.

Embedded in the midsole, a stiff TPU shank is responsible for this NB shoe's torsional rigidity. Wrapping both the medial and lateral sides of the midfoot, it allows no wobbling or spillovers on aggressive cuts and hard stops.

Not being able to twist the shoe even one bit in our manual test, we gave its torsional stiffness the highest score of 5/5.

We also found that the shoe's rearfoot has double reinforcement with both an internal heel counter and external molded overlays. As stiff as it gets, we gave it a maximum score of 5/5.

This solid structure allows zero shifting inside the shoe, locking the heel and ankle securely in place.

Aggressive movers and baseline players are sure to appreciate the extended lateral outrigger of the New Balance Fresh Foam X CT Rally v2.

We felt confident putting maximum load on the outer edge of this shoe, as the widest area of its forefoot measures an above-average 115.7 mm.

The heel's contact area felt reliable as well, but its width is closer to the category average at 89.7 mm.

The entire upper of this New Balance shoe is covered in a rubberized NDure shell, which significantly increases its wear resistance.

Applying our Dremel to the high-wear area on the inner side of the shoe's upper, we were amazed at how minimal the damage was! That earned its toe guard durability a high score of 4/5.

The CT-Rally can survive some heavy toe drags!

The top of the shoe's toebox also showed excellent abrasion resistance, scoring a maximum of 5/5!

On the downside, the interior textile of this NB shoe tore up in a matter of seconds in our Dremel test, lowering its durability score to only 2/5.

So, this part of the shoe is most likely to give up first.

Initially concerned about the shoe's gum rubber component, our doubts evaporated as soon as the Dremel session was over. With a moderate dent of 0.8 mm, we expect its longevity to be on par with the average.

The shoe's outsole thickness also looks reassuring with a caliper reading of 4.6 mm.

The insole of this New Balance shoe is well-padded, measuring 5.5 mm in thickness at the heel. It makes the initial step-in feel pleasant and cozy.

Made of polyurethane on the bottom, it is easily removable.

The CT-Rally v2's tongue is extremely well-padded, with a whopping thickness of 16.1 mm in its puffiest area! This generous piece of foam enhances step-in comfort, leaving no chance of lace bites!

A semi-gusseted tongue minimizes the risk of it sliding during intense movement and also makes the overall containment feel more secure.

We believe that the New Balance Fresh Foam X CT-Rally v2 is reasonably priced, given the comfort and quality it offers.

The lack of a finger loop can make putting the shoe on a bit fiddly.