Intro
You know ASICS. Big brand. Solid shoes. You’ve probably worn a pair—or five. But here’s the thing: most of their court shoes weren’t built for pickleball. They’re repurposed from tennis and tweaked just enough to get by.
At SQAIRZ, we didn’t tweak. We built XRZ™ from scratch for one thing—pickleball. Every part of it is designed to support faster moves, sharper cuts, and real stability from the first serve to match point. And when we put XRZ™ side by side with ASICS? The difference isn’t subtle.
Let’s break it down.
Why We Win
Let’s start at the toe.
XRZ™ features a roomier toe box that gives your foot the space it actually needs to perform. That means better ground contact, less fatigue, and a more stable base to push off from.
ASICS shoes like the Gel-Renma and Gel-Dedicate are built with a narrower, tapered toe. That might feel secure—until you need to pivot hard, lunge, or push laterally. Then, the tight fit can actually work against you.
XRZ™ is also built on a low-to-the-ground platform with our Smart Traction™ outsole, TPU stability frame, and four lateral outriggers to support side-to-side motion. It’s everything you need for the unique stop-start chaos of pickleball.
ASICS? Still holding on to their tennis DNA. Higher stack height. More midsole foam. Less court feel. And less stability when it counts.
Balance Test
We took it to the lab.
In a clinical motion capture study using the Kinetisense system, players wearing XRZ™ showed a 33% improvement in balance compared to when they wore ASICS. That’s not marketing fluff—that’s actual data.
Why? Because ASICS shoes in the test pushed players into an unstable position with a supination-oriented design and narrow base. That forced compensation up the kinetic chain—hurting stability and increasing injury risk.
XRZ™, with its roomier forefoot and neutral platform, kept players grounded and controlled. It wasn’t close.
Feature Breakdown
Lacing System
We use Sta-Put™ laces that grip and stay tight. ASICS uses basic flat laces that can loosen mid-match.
Edge: SQAIRZ.Set it and forget it.
Grip and Court Feel
Our Smart Traction™ outsole and pivot point give you confident, connected movement. ASICS models can feel higher off the ground and less predictable on sudden stops.
Edge: SQAIRZ. Built for pickleball, not borrowed from tennis.
Toe Box & Comfort
A roomier fit means less pressure, less fatigue, and more control.
Edge: SQAIRZ. Your toes deserve space.
Support Under Pressure
Lateral outriggers. Stability frame. Locked-in feel. XRZ™ has structural support where it counts.
Edge: SQAIRZ. For when the rally goes long.
Conclusion
You could keep playing in a tennis shoe with a different label on the box. Or you could step into something actually made for the chaos, torque, and momentum of pickleball.
XRZ™ is for players who want their shoes to actually show up and hold up when the match gets real.
And Let ASICS sit this one out.