Joyce
Firstly, please note that the Asics COURT FF NOVAK is a tennis shoe, so if you’re not interested in wearing tennis shoes for badminton, feel free to skip this.
After recovering from my ankle injury to about 80%, I switched to the Victor 9200II and played two sessions. The main reason I chose the Victor was its good lateral support for protection. My actual experience: decent cushioning, average starting responsiveness, better lateral support than the Hawk 4, but the overall wear felt a bit bulky, and the appearance was just average. Sometimes, I’d still switch back to my trusty 65Z. Being a fan of higher-cut shoes, I looked for another pair with strong lateral support and decent looks. After much deliberation, I stumbled upon the Asics COURT FF NOVAK while browsing for the BLAST FF 2. Its appearance ticked all the boxes.
Some people might argue that tennis shoes aren’t suitable for badminton courts, but I reasoned that tennis, with its demanding lateral movements, requires even higher lateral support (given my ankle injury, this was my top priority). Furthermore, tennis shoes cater to different surfaces like hard courts, clay, and indoor rubber, so for rubber badminton courts, they should suffice. I checked the specs and concluded it was fine.
I placed my order and after two games, I was surprised to find that the tennis shoes weren’t as heavy as I anticipated. In fact, they didn’t weigh much more than the Victor 9200II. However, the visual difference is striking – the COURT FF NOVAK is far more appealing. For reference, here are the weights (both Asics and YY are size 41.5, while Victor is 40.5, all with an insole length of 260MM):
- COURT FF NOVAK: 368.9g
- Victor 9200II: 345.3g
- 65Z: 294.5g
Wearing experience: Truly impressive. I’ve always associated Asics running shoes with their famous “walking on clouds” feel, but I experienced it in these tennis shoes too. The sole material is slightly firmer than the Victor 9200II but significantly better in terms of torsion control. I could twist the Victor’s sole, but the COURT FF NOVAK was rock-solid. Clearly, tennis places a premium on anti-rollover protection. The shock absorption is superior to the Victor 9200II, and I felt quicker starts, possibly due to the lack of a bulky feel (or maybe it’s just my mind playing tricks). Here’s a comparison of the soles, including the 65Z for reference.
A few additional visuals comparing their appearances:
In summary, tennis shoes can indeed perform well in badminton, provided you choose ones suitable for rubber courts. As for appearance, personal taste varies, but to me, tennis shoes outshine current badminton shoes hands down.
As a side note, with the COURT FF NOVAK in my arsenal, the Victor 9200II is likely to be sold on the secondhand market (in near-mint condition, 98% new, with original insoles unused, replaced with XD’s). If interested, feel free to reach out.
