TYROL STRIKER PICKLEBALL SERIES SHOES REVIEW

TYROL STRIKER PICKLEBALL SERIES          SHOES REVIEW
By Joe Palmere Jr.
Certified Profession Pickleball Coach and Skilll Rating Specialist

At 77 years old, with the moniker of "Pickleball Joe," I play three to four games of pickle ball, indoors or outdoors most every day of the week.

As a certified professional pickle ball coach and Skill Rating Specialist, I spend an additional amount of time helping new and experience players improve their game. I depend on the best pickle ball shoes to protect my feet and keep me in the game and on the coaching circuit.  

For the past two (2) months I have been wearing the TYROL Stryker Series Men’s Pickleball Shoe, Model # TYJJ-1010DM, Electric blue to play and coach this sport.

The manufacturer advertises that “the ‘Striker Series Pickleball Shoe’ is designed and constructed for the advanced Pickleball player whose game demands superior cushioning, stability and support. I decided to find out if all this advertising hype was for real.

I used a numerical rating system from 1 to 5 ( 5 being highest) when evaluating the performance variables of the “TYLOR Striker.”

My first concern was the overall comfort and fit on my size 11: 4-E wide feet, with prescription orthotics, and Thorlos Tennis Crew Thick Cushion Socks.

From the first lace-up these shoes were extremely comfortable, requiring no break-in period. This comfort has lasted through out all the many hours of court time I spent playing and coaching pickle ball. I rated “comfort” as a 5.0

Pronation Control is one of my greatest concerns in a pickle ball shoe. Good Pronation control keeps me upright and provides easy lateral movement without ankle stress. The “TYLOR Striker” pronation control in the upper part of the shoe all but eliminated any inward rolling of the foot when my feet hit the ground. I would rate ”pronation control” as a 5.0. 

The next feature to be evaluated was the “midsole.” The midsole is the "floor" of the shoe and helps absorb shock and control foot motion. I found the “midsole” a little softer then I was use to. But it worked very well on shock absorption.  I rated the “midsole” as a 4.5.

The insole is the foundation of the shoe. I prefer a firmer insole for more structure and stability. The “TYROL Striker” insole had good under foot surface grip, heel shock, arch support and toe push off. I rated the “insole” as a 5.0.

The outsole is the outermost layer of rubber on bottom of shoe between my feet and the pounding of the court surface. For me, good outsoles must provide superior on-court traction, stability and safety, to prevent me from slipping or stumbling.

The herringbone design outsoles on the “Striker” performed all the lateral, medial, and diagonal moves common to pickle ball without a slip. I would rate the “outsole” as a 5.0.

One very unique and functional feature of the TYROL Striker was the shoe vented cooling system. Aside from the breathable upper nylon mesh, there were fifty (50) pin size air holes all way through the out sole, insole, midsole and sock liner.  This ventilation system keep my feel cool and dry.  My socks were never damp or moist from sweat.   I would rate this feature as a 5.0.

The one criticism I have of this pickle ball shoe is the laceing eyelets are too small.  These small holes constrict the laces and make the shoe hard to put on and  take off. 

Astatic wise these shoes would be rated at 5.0 on the court fashion scale. The Electric Blue color was a big hit with all my pickle ball cronies.

The overall rating I gave to this pickleball shoe was "4.9."

One suggestion, pickle ball players in general all have fetishes for pickle ball mascots and logos on their court wear.   I would add one of my original art° Pickleball Junkie© Mascot Logos on the upper mid section of the shoe. These copyright mascots are available from the writer of this review at bhdpal@verizon.net. 

Pickleball Players seeking to purchase a pair of these shoes would be best served by the pro racquet sport salespeople at Holabird Sports, 9220 Pulaski Highway, Middle River MD,  21220, 866-860-1416, http://www.holabirdsports.com..

You won't beat the service and you won't beat the price. Tell them "Pickleball Joe" sent you!