6 Best New Balance Tennis Shoes in 2023

Brenton Barker
Brenton Barker on
6 Best New Balance Tennis Shoes in 2023
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Like other sports performance shoes produced by New Balance, its tennis shoes are the go-to options for players with broad feet. And though New Balance tennis shoes are pretty underrated compared to other big labels like Nike, ASICS, and Adidas, some of these kicks excel on the court. 

We took time to scrutinize and actually playtest heaps of NB court shoes meant for rocking it on the hardcourt and multiple tennis surfaces. We spent no less than 16 hours a week to find out which NB shoes land among our top picks. From the two-week drill test, we had the chance to sift out which tennis shoes are superbly cushioned, light and agile, and the cheapest. Check out our verdict below.

How we test tennis shoes

Coming up with unbiased reviews takes effort. Here is the procedure we follow before providing our top picks:

  • New Balance didn't supply us with the shoes. We buy ALL the shoes from our funds; we examine and playtest them objectively.
  • We assess them based on performance, playability, comfort, durability, and traction.
  • We also collate ALL available reviews from regular users and legit tennis shoe experts.
  • We rate each shoe from 1-100 using our automated Corescore tool.
  • Finally, we consolidate the result of our two-week wear-test with the ratings taken from the aggregate reviews to roll out these top choices.  

Best New Balance tennis shoes overall

What makes it the best?

Airy, light, and responsive are some of the top-selling attributes of the New Balance FuelCell 996 v4. By utilizing the Hypoknit cover, the shoe turns out to be lighter and quicker than the previous models.

Pros

  • Excellent stability
  • More rebound and cushioning
  • Comfortable right out of the box
  • Lightweight
  • Excellent ventilation
  • Excellent traction

Cons

  • Not flexible
  • Narrow
Full review of New Balance FuelCell 996 v4

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
White/Pink Glo/Glacier (CH996N4)
White/Vibrant Orange (CH996J4)
Egg Yolk/Energy Red/Bright Lapis (CH996X4)
White/Citrus Punch (CH996P4)
White/Grey (CH996W4)

Best New Balance hard court tennis shoes

What makes it the best?

A ton of underfoot cushioning meets top-notch stability in the Fresh Foam X Lav V2 from New Balance. No matter which direction you jump or slide into while reaching for the ball, this tennis shoe is ready to pick you up and get you back into the starting position. As long as you don’t mind taking some time to break in the shoes.

Pros

  • Plenty of responsive cushioning
  • Off-the-charts stability
  • 6-month durability warranty
  • Excellent grip (hard and clay)
  • Spacious toebox
  • Feels light on the foot
  • Visually appealing
  • Good for plantar fasciitis

Cons

  • Requires a break-in period
  • Not durable for the price
  • Lacks breathability
  • Too high up the ankles
Full review of New Balance Fresh Foam X Lav V2

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Black/Heritage Blue (MCHLAVB2)
White (MCHLAVL2)
True Red/Egg Yolk/Bright Lapis (MCHLAVU2)
Raw Sugar/Neon Dragonfly/Black (MCHLAVT2)
Cosmic Pineapple/Cosmic Rose/Black (MCHLAVC2)
White (WCHLAVL2)

Best New Balance all court tennis shoes

New Balance 1006
85
Great!

What makes it the best?

New Balance kept the MC 1006 sleek and clean, which got the interest of players searching for supportive and stable court shoes. Its innovative midsole minimizes impact, making it one of the most comfortable New Balance tennis trainers in the market.

Pros

  • No break-in period
  • Supportive
  • Lightweight
  • Provides ample traction
  • Breathable
  • Sleek

Cons

  • Too sturdy
Full review of New Balance 1006

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Black White (C1006BW)

Best stability New Balance tennis shoes

New Balance 806
84
Great!

What makes it the best?

The New Balance 806 didn't fail the expectations of consumers who need a trainer packed with tons of support. It isn’t only equipped with a torsional control mechanism in the forefoot but a responsive cushioning too that wears off pressure underfoot during foot strikes.

Pros

  • Exceptionally stable
  • Amply cushioned sole
  • Excellent court grip
  • Adorable classic design
  • Long-lasting outsole
  • Durable

Cons

  • Heavy
  • Long break-in time
  • Too narrow
Full review of New Balance 806

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
White (W2560WH)

Best cushioned New Balance tennis shoes

What makes it the best?

Flexing your tennis skills on cross courts using shoes that come light on the budget? 696 v4 got you covered. It allows you to tackle and perfect those backhand, forehand, and groundstroke shots with much-needed support. It won’t drag your foot down as it comes even lighter than the third-generation model.

Pros

  • Offers decent support and stability
  • Comfortable to use
  • No long break-in time
  • Extremely light
  • Excellent value for money

Cons

  • Tighter than expected
  • Doesn’t have enough space in the toe box
Full review of New Balance 696 v4

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
White/Pigment (CH696W4)
Victory Blue/White (CH696J4)
Virtual Sky/Black (CH696H4)
Egg Yolk/Bright Lapis/Energy Red (CH696Y4)
White/Vibrant Orange (CH696L4)
White/Navy (CH696G4)

Best lightweight New Balance tennis shoes

What makes it the best?

Yep, this one is light but don’t dismiss it yet when you are after that “steady-as-she-goes” support and stability, because guess what? New Balance 796 v3 got those! What’s good about this is it’s firm even in the absence of a shank, giving way to flexibility. Accessibility-wise in terms of budget? This one, thankfully, doesn’t make the buyers scratch their heads because it is available at an inexpensive value.

Pros

  • Provides support
  • Gives excellent stability
  • Allows trouble-free movement changes
  • Zero break-in
  • Super lightweight
  • Superb indoor and outdoor court traction
  • Affordable price

Cons

  • Unexpected tight fit
  • Skimped on padding and cushioning
Full review of New Balance 796 v3

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Nb White/Rain Cloud/Vibrant Orange (CH796W3)
Team Navy/Electric Jade/Light Gray (CH796E3)
Magnet/Black/Vibrant Pink (CH796B3)
White (CH796P3)

Comparison of the 6 best New Balance tennis shoes

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Best
CoreScore
Users rating
Experts
Best price
Ranking
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# of colorways
Author
Brenton Barker
Brenton Barker

Brenton is an Australian with 20 years of experience coaching WTA and ATP professional tennis players, whom have won a total of 10 international professional Tournaments. Brenton holds a Degree in Sports Coaching and was the former Head Tennis Coach at the Japanese Government Sports Science Institute. Brenton was also a former Manager & Head Coach of Australia’s Governing Sporting Body, Tennis Australia, and has been a Dunlop International Advisory Board Member since 2010. Additionally, Brenton was the Head of Player development for World No 7 and two-time Grand Slam Champion Johan Kriek.