Salming Recoil Ultra review

Full review

Salming, a Swedish brand, is one of the few court-shoe makers that publishes proper specifications, and the Recoil Ultra's numbers tell you what it is for. It weighs 388 g in an EU 42 2/3 (about UK 8.5) and has a 24 mm heel and 14 mm forefoot, giving a 10 mm drop. That is a lot of foam for a squash shoe.

The Recoil+ midsole is designed for soft, bouncy cushioning, which makes it the obvious choice on paper for heavier players and anyone with sore joints. Salming adds structure to the side of the heel and midfoot with its Lateral Movement Stabilizer, and a TPU film over the mesh upper protects against toe drag. The HexaGrip+ outsole has rounded edges and forefoot flex grooves, designed to help the shoe roll into turns.

The obvious trade-off is weight. You will notice the extra grams compared with a speed shoe, and the higher heel puts you slightly further from the floor. For players who are heavier, have knee or heel problems, or play long club nights, that is a fair exchange.

If you need ankle support, the Recoil Ultra Mid adds a higher collar with a built-in sock bootie. A women's version is also sold.