New Balance Pickleball Shoes 2026: Every Model Ranked (Including the New PKL Line)

Best New Balance pickleball shoe$99.99

New Balance SmashStep PKL

New Balance's middle pickleball shoe and the one we'd point most players to. It has FuelCell foam, a durable Ndurance outsole, and the best review record of the new PKL line (4.4★ from 37 men's reviews and 4.5★ from 26 women's reviews on newbalance.com). At $99.99 it costs $50 less than the CT-Rally v2. On Amazon the women's version also comes in X-Wide.

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New Balance Pickleball Shoes at a Glance

How to read this table: prices are New Balance's list prices, checked on newbalance.com on October 14, 2026. Weights and widths come from New Balance's own product pages, and ratings are the men's version on newbalance.com (review count in parentheses). Amazon prices run within a few cents to a few dollars of these and vary by size and color. The buttons link to the men's version, and the women's links are in each review below.

New Balance Now Makes Shoes Just for Pickleball

For years, "New Balance pickleball shoes" meant New Balance tennis shoes, usually the CT-Rally or the 996. That changed in 2026. New Balance released a three-shoe PKL line built specifically for pickleball:

• EveryMatch PKL ($79.99): the entry shoe for casual players
• SmashStep PKL ($99.99): FuelCell foam for "committed enthusiasts and league players"
• NetRush PKL ($119.99): the competitive shoe, with an extra-padded tongue "for abrupt stops running up to the kitchen" and a toe guard for players who drag their back foot

The PKL shoes aren't just tennis shoes with new paint. New Balance changed the parts that wear differently in pickleball. Points are shorter, you split-step and stop at the kitchen line constantly, and you're on hard courts almost all the time. All three share the Ndurance rubber outsole, which New Balance uses on its most durable court shoes.

New Balance's tennis shoes still matter, though. They have years of review history, and they come in widths the PKL line doesn't, especially 4E (extra-wide). That's why this guide ranks both lines together.

Detailed Reviews

1. SmashStep PKL — Best Overall ($99.99)

The SmashStep sits in the middle of the PKL line, and it's the one we'd buy. It pairs FuelCell foam, New Balance's springier midsole, with the same Ndurance rubber outsole as the $119.99 NetRush. It's also 2.4 oz lighter than the NetRush in the men's version.

What reviewers say: On newbalance.com the men's SmashStep has 4.4★ from 37 reviews, and 90% of reviewers recommend it. The women's version has 4.5★ from 26 reviews (86% recommend). One verified buyer plays 5–6 times a week and says the sole is "holding up extremely well." Another bought a pair for a dad who had been playing in running shoes and getting calf pain. Fit scores average dead center on New Balance's "runs small / runs large" scale, so order your normal size.

The complaints are consistent, though. Several players found it stiff for the first few sessions, and a verified buyer said the 2E "wide" fit narrower than New Balance's usual 2E. On the women's side, one reviewer found the cushioning too firm and felt a pressure point at the base of the big toe.

A note on the reviews: many of the SmashStep's reviews on newbalance.com are marked "incentivized" (the reviewer got the shoe free). The verified-purchase reviews say the same things, but treat the star rating as a little generous.

Best for: Most players who play two to four times a week and want a shoe made for pickleball without paying $150.

2. NetRush PKL — Most Support ($119.99)

The NetRush is New Balance's "competitive player" pickleball shoe, and it's built like one. It has an extra-padded tongue, a durable toe guard, and film overlays on the upper where you drag and pivot. The insole is removable, which matters if you wear orthotics.

What reviewers say: The men's NetRush has the highest rating in the PKL line: 4.6★ from 27 reviews, 96% recommend, and not a single review under 4 stars. Reviewers keep using words like "planted," "locked in," and "a LOT of ankle support."

The catch is the weight. At 14.9 oz (men's), it's 2.4 oz heavier than the SmashStep, and it's the main complaint even in positive reviews. One player said the shoe "went too far down the structural side" and lost the nimbleness a pickleball shoe needs. Two reviewers also said it runs a half to a full size small.

The women's NetRush is a different story. It has 3.4★ from 11 reviews, and the two lowest-rated both say the wide width was "extremely tight." Another said the size 10 was "a full size small." If you're buying the women's version, size up half a size or get the SmashStep instead.

Best for: Men who play competitively, want the most support, and don't mind a heavier shoe. Order a half size up.

3. Fresh Foam X 1007 — Best for Wide Feet ($119.99)

New Balance is known for wide shoes, but on newbalance.com the PKL line only goes up to 2E for men and D for women. If your feet are truly wide, the 1007 is the one to get. It's sold in D, 2E, and 4E for men and B, D, and 2E for women, and on Amazon both versions come in X-Wide.

What reviewers say: The 1007 has more reviews than any New Balance court shoe: 160 on newbalance.com (3.8★) and 292 on Amazon (4.2★) for the men's version. Reviewers like the roomy toe box and the Fresh Foam X cushioning, which New Balance calls its most cushioned midsole.

The negatives are real. It's the heaviest shoe here at 15 oz (men's), and one reviewer returned it for feeling "clunky." The most worrying review comes from a player at three sessions a week who said the traction wore off within two weeks on an indoor court and they started sliding. Another reported the upper tearing below the logo after about a year of light use. Only 69% of reviewers on newbalance.com recommend it, so it's a fit pick, not a performance pick.

Best for: Players with wide or extra-wide feet who couldn't get comfortable in standard court shoes.

4. FuelCell 996v7 — Best for Tennis Converts ($134.99)

The 996 is New Balance's speed shoe for tennis, and the seventh version is the one to look at if you came to pickleball from tennis. New Balance says it has a roomier toe box than earlier versions, an external shank for stability, and a 10mm drop.

What reviewers say: On newbalance.com the men's 996v7 has 4.0★ from 45 reviews (82% recommend). The most useful review comes from a self-described 4.5 player who had worn the CT-Rally v1 and v2 for years. They said the 996v7 felt "faster and as stable as the CT Rally," and "a lot less bulky and more breathable."

The weight on paper (14.2 oz men's) is about the same as the CT-Rally, so the faster feel comes from the shape and foam, not a lighter shoe. Two problems come up in the negative reviews. One player said the 2E "wide" isn't actually wide. Another said the outer edge of the sole separated after less than four weeks of hard-court tennis. Tennis is harder on shoes than pickleball, but it's still worth knowing.

Availability note: Amazon only carries the men's 996v7 so far, in limited sizes. The women's 996v7 (11.4 oz, B and D widths) is sold on newbalance.com for now.

Best for: Former tennis players and fast movers who want a court shoe that doesn't feel like a tank.

5. 696v7 — Best Budget Pick ($79.99)

If you just need a real court shoe that won't roll your ankle and you don't want to spend $100+, the 696v7 is New Balance's answer. It has a FuelCell foam midsole and a multi-court outsole, and the men's version comes in D, 2E, and 4E. That makes it the cheapest New Balance shoe with an extra-wide option.

What reviewers say: The 696 line has years of history. An earlier version, the 696 v4, has over 1,800 Amazon reviews at 4.2★. The new v7 doesn't have much yet, though: 3.6★ from 9 reviews on newbalance.com and 4.1★ from 13 on Amazon for the men's version. The women's 696v7 has only one Amazon review so far.

Why not the EveryMatch PKL? New Balance's own pickleball shoe also costs $79.99, but it only has 3 men's reviews (3.7★) and 7 women's reviews (3.3★), and it isn't on Amazon. The 696v7 is the safer bet at the same price until the EveryMatch has a track record.

Best for: New players who play once or twice a week and want a proper court shoe at the lowest price.

6. Fresh Foam X CT-Rally v2 — Most Cushioned, Hard to Recommend at Full Price ($149.99)

The CT-Rally is the shoe most people mean when they say "New Balance pickleball shoe." It's built for stability, with Fresh Foam X cushioning, a TPU shank for torsional support, and NDure overlays where the upper wears out. It's also New Balance's most expensive court shoe, at $149.99.

What reviewers say: Reviews are split. One verified buyer who says they're a podiatrist and plays pickleball praised the lateral support and heel counter and said they'd recommend it to patients. They noted it's heavier than the 996. But across all CT-Rally v2 reviews on newbalance.com, the shoe has 3.4★ from 120 reviews, and only 52% of reviewers recommend it. The complaints are about durability ("20 days old rubber is worn flat") and a toe box that jams your toes on hard stops.

The CT-Rally isn't a bad shoe. The problem is that the SmashStep costs $50 less, and the 996v7 feels faster for $15 less. The CT-Rally is worth buying on sale, but we wouldn't pay full price.

Width update: New Balance currently sells the CT-Rally v2 in D and 2E for men and B and D for women. If you need a true extra-wide, get the 1007.

Best for: Players who want maximum cushioning and support and can catch it on sale.

Also Considered

• EveryMatch PKL ($79.99): New Balance's entry pickleball shoe. It isn't on Amazon yet, and with 3 men's reviews (3.7★) and 7 women's (3.3★) there isn't enough to recommend it. The 696v7 costs the same and has a longer track record.
• Coco Delray ($109.99): Coco Gauff's lower-priced signature shoe. Reviewers say it's very comfortable out of the box (3.8★ from 95 on newbalance.com), but a player at four sessions a week said the sole was gone in five months.
• FuelCell 796v5 ($99.99): a lighter tennis shoe, but it has 3.3★ from 16 reviews on newbalance.com. The SmashStep is better at the same price.

New Balance Width Sizing, Explained

New Balance labels widths by letter, and the letters mean different things for men and women. Amazon uses "M / Wide / X-Wide" instead, which adds to the confusion:

Two things we noticed while researching this guide:

1. The PKL shoes run small and narrow. Reviewers of the NetRush say it runs a half to a full size small, and several women said the "wide" NetRush felt extremely tight. The SmashStep fits closer to true size, but its 2E is on the narrow side.
2. Not every reviewer trusts New Balance's 2E anymore. Wide-footed reviewers of both the SmashStep and the 996v7 said the 2E felt narrower than they expected. If you normally wear 2E and you're between widths, the 1007 in 4E is the safe choice.

New Balance offers free returns within 45 days on its own site, and free standard shipping for members or on orders of $75 or more. That's a good safety net if you're unsure about width.

Don't Play in New Balance Lifestyle or Running Shoes

Search "pickleball" on newbalance.com and you'll also get the 530, 9060, 574, and Fresh Foam 880 running shoes. None of those are court shoes. Running and lifestyle shoes have soft, rounded, elevated heels built for moving forward, and pickleball is a side-to-side game. Rolling an ankle in running shoes is one of the most common beginner injuries. Every shoe in our rankings above is a real court shoe with a flat, grippy outsole and lateral support.

How We Chose

1. Every current New Balance court and pickleball shoe, checked live: we went through New Balance's full pickleball and tennis lineups on October 14, 2026, including weights, widths, and prices from each product page.
2. Review data from New Balance and Amazon: we read each shoe's star rating, its recommend rate, and its lowest-rated reviews, because that's where durability and fit problems show up.
3. Incentivized reviews flagged: New Balance marks reviews from people who got the shoe free. Many of the new PKL reviews are incentivized, and we say so.
4. Pickleball priorities: lateral stability, outsole durability on hard courts, and width options matter more than looks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does New Balance make pickleball shoes?

Yes. In 2026 New Balance released three shoes built specifically for pickleball: the EveryMatch PKL ($79.99), the SmashStep PKL ($99.99), and the NetRush PKL ($119.99). Its tennis shoes, like the CT-Rally v2, FuelCell 996v7, and Fresh Foam X 1007, also work for pickleball.

What is the best New Balance shoe for pickleball?

For most players, the SmashStep PKL ($99.99). It's built for pickleball, has the best reviews of the PKL line (4.4★ men's and 4.5★ women's on newbalance.com), and costs $50 less than the CT-Rally v2. If you have wide feet, get the Fresh Foam X 1007 instead.

Are New Balance pickleball shoes good for wide feet?

Some are. On newbalance.com the PKL shoes only come in D and 2E for men and B and D for women, and reviewers say they run narrow. (Amazon also lists the women's SmashStep in X-Wide.) For truly wide feet, the Fresh Foam X 1007 comes in men's 4E and women's 2E, and the 696v7 comes in men's 4E for $79.99.

Do New Balance pickleball shoes run small?

The NetRush PKL does. Several reviewers said it runs a half to a full size small, so order a half size up. The SmashStep PKL fits closer to true size.

What's the difference between the NetRush, SmashStep, and EveryMatch?

They're New Balance's three pickleball shoes, from most to least expensive. The NetRush ($119.99) is the heavy-duty competitive shoe, with an extra-padded tongue and a toe guard. The SmashStep ($99.99) adds FuelCell foam for a lighter, springier feel. The EveryMatch ($79.99) is the basic shoe for casual players. All three use the same durable Ndurance rubber outsole.

Is the New Balance CT-Rally good for pickleball?

It's a stable, well-cushioned court shoe, but it's hard to recommend at $149.99. On newbalance.com the CT-Rally v2 has 3.4★ from 120 reviews, and only 52% of reviewers recommend it, mostly because of durability complaints. The SmashStep PKL is a better value.

What Else Do You Need?

• Best Pickleball Shoes (all brands) — how New Balance compares with K-Swiss, ASICS, Mizuno, and Skechers
• Best Pickleball Shoes for Men — men's fits and widths across every brand
• Best Pickleball Shoes for Women — women's fits, verified listings
• What to Wear to Play Pickleball — the rest of the outfit
• Best Pickleball Paddles — what you'll be swinging in your new shoes
• How to Play Pickleball — the rules, if you're brand new