Model: Motion Pro Pickleball

Manufacturer: HEAD

Fit: True to size

Width: Standard - Wide

Weight: Light - Standard

MSRP: $139.99

✅ Pros

• Fantastic step-in comfort
• Wider toebox great for most players
• Unique shape great for getting on your toes
• 30-Day Fit Guarantee

❌ Cons

• Slipper tongue limits fit fine tuning
• Pivoting from heels not as stable as with traditional court shoes

Shop the Women's Motion Pro in white/blueberry

Shop the Men's Motion Pro in white/red

Starting from the ground up, the biggest change and difference between the Motion Pro and traditional court shoes is the flexible curved “last shape” on the sole. Traditional court shoes are flat on the bottom to provide maximum traction and stability keeping your weight close to the ground while providing stability when changing direction, while running shoes for example have a curved last that allows for easier access to the balls of the feet for forward movement.

While we are on the sole, we have to talk about the unique DNA tread pattern HEAD uses on the Motion Pro. Inspired by the honeycomb structure seen throughout the pickleball space, we see an open cell form on the center of the shoe, and a reverse tread on the predicted wear points of the shoe. HEAD engineers studied the movements of pickleball players and bolstered the areas they saw the most wear, and when we compare the shoes we get back from the HEAD sole warranty program, quite a few of them match the bolstered areas exactly.

Last on the Outsole, you can’t miss the enormous vent HEAD included that is woven into the shank that gives great breathability and helps keep your feet as dry and cool as possible during long play sessions. To maintain the integrity of the shank that protects' players arches, the team at HEAD built it from two stacked pieces of plastic to get the best of both support and breathability.

Unlike the traditional EVA foam midsole seen in most court shoes, HEAD uses their “Dynafoam” material that has a unique aesthetic thanks to small air bubbles added to the material during manufacturing. HEAD engineers used this material to make a lighter more responsive layer of cushioning, and they claim that it will be more durable than traditional EVA. One detail to note is how much the midsole extends out the back of the shoe. That’s a ton of heel cushioning that’s going to really protect against shock on heel strikes and in day to day wear makes these easy to live and walk in when you’re off the court.

On the lateral side of the shoe, we get a stiff rubber support that runs from the midfoot all the way to the toe that provides that lateral stability needed without compromising the unique last shape of the outsole.

On to the uppers of the shoe starting from back to front, we get a slightly forward shaped heel counter and supportive Ankle collar that make it easier to get on the balls of your feet while still feeling locked in. The Motion Pro features a comfortable slipper tongue as opposed to a 3-piece tongue which does cater more towards comfort than lockdown. To help add some of that stability back in, HEAD included their rubber lockdown strap that extends from the heel all the way around the eyelets and laces to help keep your foot securely in place.

On to the forefoot, we see a nice wide toebox which I absolutely love that’s going to give most players a comfortable fit, but those with narrow feet may have more room to slide around in the shoe than they like and may prefer a shoe like the Sprint Pro.

HEAD engineers found that players lunge a lot in pickleball and were wearing out the medial (inside) side of the shoe, so they included what they call “Drift Defense”, an extension of the rubber toepiece around the vamp to protect the integrity of the shoe in that zone, also featuring that reverse DNA tread pattern we see on the outsole.

The Motion Pro vamp is composed of a two part system with a highly perforated layer underneath that is reinforced and supported by a breathable mesh material over the top. The components working together create a hybrid of support and breathability designed to keep your feet secure and dry, and paired with the huge vent in the shank, these become some of the coolest (pun intended) shoes on the market.

I’m the type of player that wears their shoes to and from the court, I don’t like to have to change shoes every time I get there, so the wider toebox, slipper tongue, and very walkable last shape on the outsole all work together to make these ideal shoes for my lifestyle. The breathability is fantastic which helps keep my feet cool and manageable to wear on the ride home as well.

Slipper tongues are fantastic for comfort, but they simply don’t offer the same lockdown adjustability that a 3 piece tongue offers. With out of the box lacing, I felt my heel rising and moving more than I would like, and I really didn’t want to strap down the entire lace and sacrifice the comfortable fit overall, so I tied a runners knot using the top two eyelets that I would recommend to anyone in a similar position. The runners knot lets you create a tighter top fit for ankle lockdown without cramping your forefoot or midfoot.

The last shape is different. The curved sole is unique to a court shoe, and since my whole foot is not flat on the ground every step, I do not feel as locked into the court as I’m used to with traditional court shoes. I felt like there was a slight loss in stability on heavy side to side movements when I was playing singles, but to the shoes credit, I never once rolled over or felt like my foot was pushing through the sidewall like they would with a running shoe.

On the flipside, without a doubt, these shoes made it easier to stay on the balls of my feet, and for me, that tradeoff is well worth it. As a player who often finds himself on his heels with his knees straight, I really benefitted from it taking less effort to be in my ideal athletic position.

Durability wise, I play 4-6 times a week and am hard on shoes, so I’ve somewhat put these through the ringer. I never really needed the Drift defense on the side of the shoe, which may be an indicator that I have bad footwork, but I definitely appreciate the durable toe piece that has kept me from wearing through the tip of the shoe. Like all shoes for me though, the area under my big toe Is the first to wear away, and the Motion Pro is no exception. I’m pleased with the durability of the outsole overall, but they are not what I would consider to be a “tank” of a shoe.