At the end of last year, Wilson introduced the second generation of the Rush Pro, their top performance shoe. The new version, appropriately named the Rush Pro 2.0, is similar to its predecessor in many ways, but it's far more than just a minor update to the original. Compared to the original, the Rush Pro 2.0 is about an ounce lighter, with a sleeker upper, and an overall faster feel.
Whenever I try a pair of shoes out for a review, I try not to break them in too much so I can get an accurate read on how they feel right out of the box. With that in mind, I only wore my Rush Pro 2.0's around the office once during the day before I played, and that seemed to be more than enough break-in time. They still felt a little stiff, but I've found that many tennis shoes do, even after an extensive break-in period. Other than that, step-in comfort was excellent right from the start and the shoe's felt just barely short of plush. Wilson opted to up the ante by including an Ortholite insole—which are generally a step up from the cheaper footbeds that usually come with shoes—and I personally thought it made a noticeable difference in the shoe's comfort.
The overall fit of the Rush Pro 2.0 feels true. The one caveat is that the upper design features a semi-attached tongue that makes the midfoot area feel a little snug. It felt great for me, but players with wide feet or players who use orthotics or bulky ankle braces may have issues. If you fall into those categories, just make sure you try the Rush Pro 2.0's on with any additional equipment you'd normally wear on match day.
On court, the Rush Pro 2.0 met and exceeded most of my expectations, in both in terms of comfort and performance. As I mentioned up top, the 2.0 shaved about an ounce off the weight of the previous model, and it shows. The Rush Pro 2.0 just feels sleek and fast. The tradeoff for that lighter weight is, of course, a bit less cushioning underfoot. I personally wouldn't have minded a little bit more cushioning, but I didn't have any issues with comfort and I enjoyed the lightweight, almost running-inspired feel of the Rush Pro 2.0 anyway.
The Rush Pro 2.0 also offered impressive stability. While I typically don't have many issues with stability the Rush Pro 2.0's low-to-the-ground design and nice forefoot stability features will be great for players who are looking for a stable platform.
Traction was fine as well, though I'll admit I was a little surprised with how much grip I had. The Rush Pro 2.0 features a pretty basic-looking herringbone pattern so at first I was a little worried that I'd slip when making really aggressive movements or sharp direction changes. Fortunately, I've had no such issues, even when I've needed to totally change directions and track down a lob.
All-in-all, I'd say that the Rush Pro 2.0 is an excellent all-around performance shoe that's surprisingly lightweight with plenty of cushioning. It is definitely targeted at serious players who are looking for a shoe that can keep up with fast-paced tennis, but it's a great shoe for less dedicated players as well. If you're looking for a new go-to shoe for the upcoming tennis season, give the Rush Pro 2.0 a shot—you won't be disappointed!
Wilson Rush Pro 2.0 Review
