Shoe Review: Diadem Court Burst

Diadem Court Burst

• Price: $150
• Size Run: M 3.5 / W 5.0 – M 14.0 / W 15.5 (unisex shoe)
• Weight: 14.5 oz. (men’s 10.5)
• Outsole warranty: None

What’s New

The Court Burst is Diadem’s first foray into the shoe space. It features a 360 Performance Knit upper with a reinforced Max Shield toe guard. Rebound X roll guard and the Pro Stance X shank in the midsole provide stability and support during intense movement. Impact EVA foam cushions landings for comfort. The high-abrasion carbon rubber outsole has a thick tread in high wear zones.

What Works

For those unfamiliar with the brand, Diadem first made inroads in tennis equipment about a decade ago with their high-performance strings (such as Solstice Power). Since then, the company has branched into other areas of the market, including racquets and balls. The Court Burst is their maiden attempt at shoes, and it’s a solid start.

The first thing you notice when taking your opening steps in the shoe is the soft, pliable upper. The combination of the performance knitting and padded tongue gives a pillowy sensation that feels great and broken-in right out of the box. It also has a pronounced heel tab and collar that are both well-cushioned. These features also add to the overall feeling of plushness and comfort.

To add a bit of toughness, the upper also has a plastic drag-guard on the medial side for greater durability for sliders, as well as TPU on the lateral side for extra support. The rearfoot is encapsulated by an external heel counter that helps of the back of the foot feel more supported.

The fit of the shoe is fairly universal. The length is true-to-size and the width should accommodate most foot types. The lacing system is worthy, with a couple of internal outrigger loops that really help cinch the shoes tight for a locked-in feel.

Cushioning is most apparent under the heel. The shoe soaks up contact quite well in the rearfoot. Padding seems less abundant in the forefoot, but the upshot is it relays good court connection. The forefoot can spread out and you feel reactive in and out of cuts. Throw in the lighter weight, and you can definitely get a spry sensation moving around the court.

The lateral support during those movements is respectable. The forgiveness of the upper can be noticeable when you slam on the brakes and reverse course, but it holds up just fine under most situations.

The outsole has a broader herringbone design that has thicker treads with larger channels. On a medium-fast hard court it grips well and has plenty of squeak when making those small adjustment steps. I’m not a natural slider, but it didn’t feel so sticky that it would be an issue for those who do it more habitually.

What Needs Work

The upper is certainly comfortable, but it may be too soft and flexible for players who are particularly aggressive with their lateral footwork. There are times when pushed wide on your edges that you could use a bit more rigidity. The Court Burst is also being aimed at pickleball players—Diadem’s paddles are quite popular—and for the more straight-forward and less side-to-side movement of that sport the support would be more than passable.

It’s a similar story with the forefoot cushioning. For most recreational players and picklers who aren’t covering as much court, or with all-out aggression, it’s probably up to the task. However, when you’re in full sprint mode on a tennis court, the impact of some harder footfalls are felt and heard rather clearly. It would be nice if version 2.0 had just a bit more padding in that part of the shoe.

Bottom Line

The Court Burst is a capable court shoe, scoring high notes for comfort and speed. Add footwear to Diadem’s growing catalog of impressive gear.