Johnsonian 11/26/2009





First, a few positives. This shoe provides out of the box comfort, provides a good fit (including for those with wider feet) and has a tread that grips hard courts nicely. But as a serious tennis player who plays predominantly on hard courts, I can tell you two serious drawbacks. First, the outsole, particularly in the heel, is quite thin and doe not last very long. Second, and most importantly and disappointingly, the 803 provides little cushioning. (Oddly, the 1004 provides too much cushioning so that the shoe loses some responsiveness. Somehow NB needs to find, well, a better balance between the two!) This was most apparent in the pain I experienced in my bottom heel, which I've never experienced after wearing myriad other shoes. In short, a shoe that could be very good with a few modifications.