Our verdict

As the more affordable version of the Nike Challenge 1, the Challenge Pro has a similarly stable and supportive design. Even though it makes small compromises here and there to keep the price down, we haven't found any dealbreakers in the Pro version. The shoe kept us planted and surefooted all around the court and is worth the attention of a beginner player who wants to experience some features of the more expensive tennis shoes.

Grab a closer look at the Nike Dunk Low Brazil below Pros

  • Excellent stability and lateral support
  • men nike air max 97 tn black green
  • Rockered sole smoothens heel-to-toe transitions
  • Nike LeBron Soldier 9 "Sprite" Official Photos
  • Sturdy rubberized drag guard
  • Hard and durable rubber outsole
  • Gusseted tongue enhances foothold
  • Comfortable and padded in-shoe feel

Grab a closer look at the Nike Dunk Low Brazil below Cons

  • Not very breathable
  • Heavier than average
  • Mesh is easily damaged

Grab a closer look at the Nike Dunk Low Brazil below | Audience verdict

76
Good!

Who should buy

We believe that the Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero is a solid option to consider if:

  • Nike FC Barcelona 2019 20 Men's Home Football Jersey
  • Nike Huarache Free White Teal-Orange
  • you need a good amount of lateral support and stability in your tennis footwear

nike gp challenge pro review 21276507 720 

Who should NOT buy

The Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero will not make the best option for players with wide feet. We Red that these folks check out the K-Swiss Hypercourt Express 2 or the Nike X Kasina Air Max 1 Won-ang Grey UK 11.

If you are willing to explore a more enhanced version of this Nike shoe, check out the Nike Sportswear Club Fleece Mens Full-Zip Hoodie.

nike gp challenge pro lab test 21276568 720

Breathability

It looks like Nike prioritized comfort at the grijs of breathability in the Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero. The shoe is lined with soft and padded layers but leaves little room for ventilation.

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Even in our smoke-pumping breathability test, the smoke could only pass through the small gap between the tongue and the upper. The shoe's toebox mesh doesn't provide much airflow.

We turned to our microscope to take a closer look at the mesh.

Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero microscope

Just as we expected, the structure comprises multiple layers of mesh stacked on top of each other. As a result, ventilation pores end up rather small with little ventilation capacity.

nike gp challenge pro microscope upper 21276496 720

All things considered, the Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero earns a lower-than-average breathability score of 3.

Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero 3
Average 3.1
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Nike Air Max 720 Saturn Debuts During All-Star Weekend
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

In tennis shoes, the medial side of the toebox is most prone to abrasion due to toe drags. Nike made sure that the Challenge Pro has enough protection here by covering it with a sturdy rubber guard.

Air Force 1 07 LV8 Coffee Beach Mahogany-Grain DD5227-234.

nike gp challenge pro toe drag guard 21276570 720

However, the shoe's exposed parts turn out to be less wear-resistant. Accidentally slashing them against the court is likely to result in a serious tear.

A quick durability test with a Dremel proved our concerns. Having applied the tool's sandpaper tip to the unprotected part of the shoe's toebox for 12 seconds, we saw significant damage to the fabric.

nike gp challenge pro toebox durability test 21276471 720

Luckily, it was not a see-through hole so this Nike shoe earned a point.

All in all, we rated the Challenge Pro's toebox durability with 3 out of 5. This is lower than average but is fair enough for a more affordable tennis shoe.

Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero 3
Average 4.1
Compared to 23 all court tennis shoes
Nike Air Max 720 Saturn Debuts During All-Star Weekend
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

On the other hand, the shoe's seemingly delicate inner lining showed a higher score in our Dremel tests.

Keeping the speed at 5K RPM, we applied the tool to the back of the collar for 4 seconds. It left a barely noticeable scuffing which convinced us to rate the shoe's heel padding durability with a high score of 4 out of 5.

Looks like the shoe's inner lining is ready for lots of friction!

Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero Heel padding durability test
Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero 4
Average 3.3
Compared to 23 all court tennis shoes
Nike Air Max 720 Saturn Debuts During All-Star Weekend
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

The shoe's outsole surprised us with a very hard rubber compound. Pressing our durometer against it returned a reading of 87.5 HC. That's harder than average!

And from our experience, harder rubbers tend to be more abrasion-resistant too.

nike gp challenge pro outsole hardness 21276480 main
Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero 87.5 HC
Average 85.8 HC
Nike Air Max 1 Light Madder Root DV3196-800 Top.
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Nike Air Max 720 Saturn Debuts During All-Star Weekend
73.4 HC
Outsole hardness
92.0 HC

Outsole durability

But let's test our assumptions with a Dremel.

First, we set the Dremel speed to the demanding 10K RPM and held its sandpaper tip against the shoe's outsole for 22 seconds. For the record, the pressure of the tip remained consistent (3.2N) for the entire test.

After that, we measured the dent which appeared on the outsole with a tread gauge. And this is where we must say "Wow!" It was only 0.6 mm deep, just the same as the average.

Even though this Nike tennis shoe is cheaper than average, its outsole durability is comparable to some of the pricier shoes.

Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero Outsole durability test
Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero 0.6 mm
Average 0.7 mm
Compared to 23 all court tennis shoes
Nike Air Max 720 Saturn Debuts During All-Star Weekend
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

The Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero also has a decent amount of rubber in the outsole. With a caliper measurement of 3.5 mm, it is slightly (but not critically) thinner than average.

But given its impressive abrasion resistance, we expect average longevity from this Nike shoe's outsole.

Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero Outsole thickness
Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero 3.5 mm
Average 4.1 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Nike Air Max 720 Saturn Debuts During All-Star Weekend
3.0 mm
Outsole thickness
5.1 mm

Weight

Having a chunky sole with large outriggers and a generously padded upper, we were not surprised to find that the Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero is a heavier shoe.

Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero Weight

Weighing it in a men's US size 9, our scale showed 14.0 oz (397g) which is over an ounce heavier than the average tennis shoe.

nike gp challenge pro medial side 21276573 720

If you want a similar pack of features in a lighter setup, we Red the Sichern Sie sich den Nike Dunk Low SP City Market bei den besten Sneaker-Händlern der Welt and the K-Swiss Hypercourt Express 2.

Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero 14.00 oz (397g)
Average 12.84 oz (364g)
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Nike Air Max 720 Saturn Debuts During All-Star Weekend
10.30 oz (292g)
Weight
14.71 oz (417g)

Cushioning

Heel stack

Playtesting the Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero, we found it to be rather well-cushioned and protective on hard landings.

Based on our caliper measurements, its heel stack height comes in at 29.7 mm which is an average reading across tennis shoes.

nike gp challenge pro heel stack 21276482 720

Oh, and we can't help but point out the odd rockered shape of this Nike tennis shoe!

This is a new twist that some brands have been putting on their tennis footwear, which is inspired by the running shoe design.

Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero heel rocker

The curved shape works similarly to a rocking chair, helping the foot roll from the heel to the toes much faster and smoother. Even though it felt weird on foot at first, we quickly reaped the benefits of it when dashing forward towards the net.

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Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero 29.7 mm
Average 29.3 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Nike Air Max 720 Saturn Debuts During All-Star Weekend
25.3 mm
Heel stack
33.0 mm

Forefoot stack

We also felt that the balls of our feet sat higher off the ground in the Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero.

Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero flexibility

The shoe's forefoot stack height comes in at 23.4 mm which is a few millimeters than the average. This explains why the court feel isn't as pronounced in this Nike shoe.

If you enjoy a more sensitive connection to the court and better ground feedback, you will appreciate the Nike React Vision White Green much more.

Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero Forefoot stack
Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero 23.4 mm
Average 19.7 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Nike Air Max 720 Saturn Debuts During All-Star Weekend
17.0 mm
Forefoot stack
23.4 mm

Grab a closer look at the Nike Dunk Low Brazil below | Drop

The heel-to-toe difference in the Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero turns out to be lower than average at 6.3 mm.

We believe that many players won't even notice the difference but seasoned athletes may feel as though their feet sit a bit flatter and more parallel to the ground in the Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero.

When their heels are not elevated as high, players get a higher sense of control and stability inside the shoe.

nike gp challenge pro drop 21276483 main
Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero 6.3 mm
Average 9.7 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Nike Air Max 720 Saturn Debuts During All-Star Weekend
6.3 mm
Drop
12.4 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

The Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero uses Nike's basic Phylon foam for its primary cushioning. It is a rather standard EVA foam which is common for the brand's entry-level models.

It is also a firmer type of cushioning with not much energy return.

Using a durometer, we measured the softness of the shoe's Phylon foam at 30.8 HA which is only 5% firmer than average. That is because most tennis shoes have a firmer type of cushioning to keep the player stable and connected during fast multi-directional movements.

But what gives the Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero so much impact protection?

A large Zoom Air unit in the heel. It squishes and bounces back to make sure you land safely on your heels but doesn't compromise the overall stability of the shoe.

Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero Midsole softness
Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero 30.8 HA
Average 29.2 HA
Nike Air Max 1 Light Madder Root DV3196-800 Top.
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Nike Air Max 720 Saturn Debuts During All-Star Weekend
21.5 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
34.0 HA

Insole thickness

The shoe comes with a padded insole to buffer the foot from the firm midsole and the stiff shank. We measured its thickness at 4.7 mm which is slightly thinner than average but just right to feel comfortable in this Nike shoe.

Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero Insole thickness
Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero 4.7 mm
Average 5.3 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Nike Air Max 720 Saturn Debuts During All-Star Weekend
3.9 mm
Insole thickness
8.5 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

The Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero ticks all the boxes of a stable tennis shoe. And the exaggerated blocky outriggers on its lateral side are only the most obvious ones.

Torsional rigidity

Do you know that nasty feeling of rolling your feet over the edge of the shoe? Or the more unfortunate case of an ankle twist?

Well, both are very unlikely to happen in a shoe that has a ton of torsional rigidity. And when a shoe can't be twisted sideways that easily, it won't let your foot roll either.

Checking the Challenge Pro's torsional stiffness in our manual test, we can guarantee a stable footing in this shoe. On a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the stiffest, we rated it with a high score of 4.

This is largely provided by the stiff midfoot shank embedded into the shoe's midsole (the light green component beneath the Swoosh).

nike gp challenge pro shank 21276571 720

We must also add that the shoe felt incredibly supportive throughout our playtest. It kept our feet securely in place even on the most aggressive lateral moves.

Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero 4
Average 4.2
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Nike Air Max 720 Saturn Debuts During All-Star Weekend
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

A game of tennis demands a lot from the shoe's heel hold. It's got to be ready for the most rapid changes or directions as well as abrupt stops both forward and side-to-side.

That's why we assess how stiff and structured the heel counter is on every tennis shoe.

Our manual squeeze-and-push test revealed that the Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero has a fairly rigid heel counter. On a 1-5 stiffness scale, we gave it a solid score of 4.

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Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero 4
Average 3.9
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Nike Air Max 720 Saturn Debuts During All-Star Weekend
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width in the forefoot

When we first saw the Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero, we were immediately struck by its large protruding outriggers on the lateral side. They look (and feel) exactly like brick walls that don't let the foot roll uncontrollably.

Of course, these blocks extend the width of the shoe's platform far above the average.

Measuring the widest part of the forefoot with a caliper, we got 115.8 mm which makes it one of the widest in our roster of tennis shoes.

Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero 115.8 mm
Average 111.7 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Nike Air Max 720 Saturn Debuts During All-Star Weekend
105.3 mm
Midsole width in the forefoot
117.4 mm

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The outrigger in the shoe's heel also protrudes further than the average. With a caliper reading of 93.9 mm in the widest part, it is about 4 mm wider than most tennis shoes.

Having such a broad platform made us feel wonderfully planted whether it was at the baseline or when moving around the court.

nike gp challenge pro midsole width in the heel 21276488 main
Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero 93.9 mm
Average 89.7 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Nike Air Max 720 Saturn Debuts During All-Star Weekend
82.4 mm
Nike Blazer Low 77 Jumbo White Grey-university Red
99.7 mm

Midfoot cage

Last but not least, the Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero features a synthetic midfoot cage to enhance the foothold.

nike gp challenge pro midfoot cage 21276569 720

Placed on both sides of the shoe, these thick and wide overlays are also integrated with the lacing system. Once the shoe is fully cinched up, the side support comes into play as well.

And if you want next-level side support, check out Nike's GP Challenge 1. Nike Hyperdunk Kobe FC Barcelona.

Flexibility

Stiffness

With its burly midsole, high stack, and TPU shank, of course, the Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero is going to be a stiff one!

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To measure its stiffness precisely, we bent the shoe to a 90-degree angle using a force gauge. The reading on the tool (44.8N) showed how much force it took to do that. Based on our lab data, this is a whopping 30% more than it takes a tennis shoe on average!

But there are two sides to the coin: the shoe doesn't flex so easily with the foot but there is a good amount of propulsion for snappier toe-offs.

Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero 44.8N
Average 30.1N
In other Dunk related news.
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Nike Air Max 720 Saturn Debuts During All-Star Weekend
20.6N
Stiffness
44.9N

Grip / Traction

The Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero features a full-length herringbone pattern which showed excellent grip on the court.

Because the shoe's outsole is made of hard rubber, it also has a good give. It took us little effort to pivot and slide out of shots.

Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero outsole

Size and fit

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Like most Nike shoes, the Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero only comes in one standard medium width.

We found that it runs true to size and fit and doesn't require sizing up for a medium-width foot.

nike gp challenge pro fit 21276574 720

Using a caliper, we measured the widest part of its toebox at 100.7 mm. This measurement is within the average of tennis shoes measured in a men's US size 9.

nike gp challenge pro toebox width at the widest part 21276616 main
Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero 100.7 mm
Average 101.2 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Nike Air Max 720 Saturn Debuts During All-Star Weekend
98.2 mm
Nike React Infinity Run Flyknit 3 Hardloopschoenen voor dames straat Zwart
105.0 mm

Nike LeBron 14 Game 2 vs Indiana Pacers

Measuring the toebox width near the big toe, our caliper showed 74.8 mm. This is 1-2 mm Shoeser compared to other tennis shoes but still within the medium range.

There is no aggressive tapering at the shoe's toebox but it comes with a one-to-one fit. It means that players with wide feet are going to feel constricted in this option.

Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero Nike LeBron 14 Game 2 vs Indiana Pacers
Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero 74.8 mm
Average 76.8 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Nike Air Max 720 Saturn Debuts During All-Star Weekend
74.8 mm
Nike LeBron 14 Game 2 vs Indiana Pacers
79.8 mm

Nike Air VaporMax 2020 Flyknit GS Oreo

One big advantage of the Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero is its gusseted tongue. We love how this seemingly minor feature makes a big difference in the shoe's foothold.

We felt securely locked on at all times during the playtest and there was no tongue sliding or bunching whatsoever.

nike gp challenge pro tongue gusset type 21276618 main
Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero Both sides (full)

Comfort

Tongue padding

The Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero has an amazingly comfortable step-in feel thanks to its well-padded interiors. Its tongue is on the thicker side of the spectrum with a caliper measurement of 11.3 mm.

Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero Tongue padding
Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero 11.3 mm
Average 7.8 mm
Compared to 25 all court tennis shoes
Nike Air Max 720 Saturn Debuts During All-Star Weekend
2.5 mm
Tongue padding
13.1 mm

Heel tab

There are no finger loops or heel tabs at the back of the Challenge Pro. However, its collar has a so-called U shape which is specifically designed for easier on-and-off action.

Nike Race Red.

Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero Heel tab
Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero None

Removable insole

This Nike shoe comes with a rather basic insole with no extra features. It is neither contoured nor moisture-wicking. But the good news is that you can easily remove and swap it for an orthotic of your choice.

Nike Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero Removable insole
Test results
Scarpa da golf Nike Air Zoom Victory Tour 2 Nero Yes