Every year during this time, when the weather starts getting perfect for tennis, normzplumbing I do what I usually do every new year, and make a list of things related to tennis that I want to do. Usually, this involves getting in better shape, playing more, getting well enough to play tournaments again etc., etc. etc. This year almost all of my new year’s resolutions have been broken but I actually have started to do something that I hope will help my tennis game. I have started taking a once a week plyometric and core training class in order to try and become more explosive on the court. Since I do work at All About Tennis, it is only natural that I would have to go and get some new shoes in order to help me attain this goal, the Adidas CYD Reflex Trainer!
The CYD Reflex Trainer is a new shoe from Adidas created in conjunction with Andre Agassi, and Agassi’s former trainer, Gil Reyes. The concept and purpose behind the shoe, is that Andre wanted a shoe that could comfortably transition from the court to the gym and back. To fulfill his request, worldwidetravel Adidas designed him a shoe that is basically a training shoe with a hard rubber sole created for the tennis court.
When you first pick up the Adidas CYD Reflex, most people will find that the shoe is extremely light weight. This is due in large part to the upper part of the shoe which is made almost entirely of mesh. The mesh make up of this shoe is one that will work well with our Arizona heat as it will help the shoe to breathe well in those tough summer months. The upper portion of the shoe also features Adidas’s Speedcut which is essentially strategically placed plastic pieces to help stabilize and support your foot during side to side movement. There is also a strap across the front portion of the shoe that helps you cinch up the CYD Reflex and get a comfortable supportive fit.
As I stated earlier, the CYD Reflex has a bottom that was designed for the tennis court. This consists of a large portion of herringbone pattern tread coupled with flat tough areas of Adidas’s Adiwear rubber for durability. Running throughout the middle of the shoe is the Adidas Torsion bar which adds stability and rigidity to the shoe. As far as the fit of the shoe goes, tennis class Singapore I find it to be very true to size. I have read some reviews where testers felt that perhaps it was a half size large, but I will leave it up to personal preference. The shoe has a medium to medium wide fit with a form fitting feel and good room in the toe box.
In the two months that I have been wearing these shoes, I have used them for a variety of tasks. First and foremost, they have been used for my Wednesday night plyometric and core-training class. Since this class is performed on a tennis court, these shoes are well suited to the surface and I actually prefer wearing them to my regular tennis shoes (Adidas CC Genius II) because they are lighter and more breathable. I have also used these shoes for light hitting after my workouts where we play predominantly rally games.
While the shoes seemed to hold up just fine, I prefer something with a little more support up top to keep me from moving around. These shoes also are well suited from going to the tennis court to the pavement as I have gone out jogging in them several times. One thing you might want to consider doing (if you do wind up using them to jog) is putting in some after market insoles. While I use the stock ones that came with the shoes, I typically prefer a firmer feeling shoe without a ton of cushion. The CYD Reflex definitely falls into this category.
One attribute of this shoe that I feel has possibly been overlooked is its use as a clay court tennis shoe. While I prefer something a little more rigid on hard courts, I believe that the CYD Reflex would be well suited for clay courts. The bottom of the shoe has a wide herringbone pattern which is typically easy to knock clay out of, and the limited durability of the sole shouldn’t be a problem for clay courters.
After wearing and working out in the Adidas CYD Reflex trainer for a good two months, I believe that Adidas has introduced a solid workout shoe that will help tennis players attain their fitness goals. While it is predominantly a work out shoe, its many attributes find it well suited for play on the tennis court. In fact, players who are not to hard on their shoes may find it a lightweight alternative to traditional tennis shoes. I plan on continuing to use it as my main workout and light hitting shoe and am interested in exploring its performance on clay courts.
