The short answer
Our overall pick is the New Balance SmashStep PKL Men’s, a shoe New Balance names for pickleball, with FuelCell foam, in medium and wide; our pick for women is the New Balance SmashStep PKL Women’s, the same shoe and the only women’s pickleball model here in medium, wide and extra-wide; and our budget pick is the New Balance 696v7 Men’s (also in women’s sizing), New Balance’s entry-level multi-court shoe.
Our Top Picks: New Balance Shoes for Pickleball
New Balance makes four shoes it names for pickleball: the SmashStep PKL, the NetRush PKL, the EveryMatch PKL and the FuelCell 796v5 Pickleball. Its 996v7, Fresh Foam X 1007 and 696v7 are tennis shoes in its own words. This guide picks nine New Balance shoes sold new on Amazon, five pickleball and four tennis models, with men’s and women’s versions picked separately. For other brands, see our pickleball shoes compared guide and the pickleball shoes hub.
Related guide: Best Basketball Shoes for Pickleball: 8 Picks Compared
Related guide: Best Barefoot Pickleball Shoes: 8 Picks Compared
Find a New Balance court shoe
Pick men's or women's sizing and a price tier. Tiers follow New Balance's US price for each model. The suggestion is our editorial starting point, drawn from the nine shoes below, not a test result.
Tiers are relative to the shoes in this guide; live prices are in the comparison table below.
Compare the 9 New Balance court shoes
The Court column gives the court type New Balance names; court, cushioning and width words are New Balance’s unless a retailer is named. Weights are retailers’ figures at the size shown, so they are not comparable across sizes.
NB SmashStep PKL (men's)Overall pick, men'sPKL pickleball model, cushioning, wide sizesCourt not named by NBMedium and Wide$99.99 Prime
Evidence: one r/Pickleball owner, SmashStep PKL wide; gender not stated
NB SmashStep PKL (women's)Women's pickPKL pickleball model, cushioning, wide sizesCourt not named by NBMedium to X-Wide$99.99 Prime
Evidence: Tennis Express (a retailer), not independent
NB NetRush PKL (men's)Competitive PKL, men'sPKL pickleball model, competitive playCourt not named by NBMedium and Wide$119.97 Prime
Evidence: Tennis Warehouse (a retailer), not independent
NB NetRush PKL (women's)Competitive PKL, women'sPKL pickleball model, competitive play, multi-courtMulti-court outsoleMedium and Wide$119.99 Prime
Evidence: Tennis Warehouse (a retailer), not independent
NB FuelCell 996v7 (men's)Hard-court 996, men'sTennis model, hard courtsHard court tennisMedium on this listing$134.95
Evidence: WearTesters, previous 996v6 on pickleball courts; NB sold the 996v6 in separate pickleball and tennis versions and WearTesters does not say which it tested; the 996v7 has a new last
NB FuelCell 796v5 Pickleball (men's)796v5 Pickleball, men's796v5 Pickleball model, wide sizesCourt not named by NBMedium and Wide$89.99
Evidence: Tennis Warehouse (a retailer), tennis 796v5 (M7962IX), not the Pickleball version linked
NB Fresh Foam X 1007 (women's)Fresh Foam court, women'sTennis model, cushioning, wide sizesHard court or all surfacesMedium to X-Wide$119.95 Prime
Evidence: customer reviews New Balance collected ('Reviewed at New Balance'), shown on Zappos; each owner's gender and width not stated
NB 696v7 (men's)Budget pick, men'sTennis model, multi-court, entry levelMulti-courtMedium to X-Wide$67.96 Prime
Weight (size, source): 13.4 oz (men's 10.5, Tennis Warehouse); 12.9 oz (men's 10.5, Midwest Racquet Sports)
Evidence: Tennis Warehouse (a retailer), not independent
NB 696v7 (women's)Budget pick, women'sTennis model, multi-court, entry levelMulti-courtMedium to X-Wide$68.35 Prime
Evidence: Tennis Warehouse (a retailer), not independent
Does New Balance make pickleball shoes?
Yes. New Balance sells its PKL shoe line, the SmashStep PKL, NetRush PKL and EveryMatch PKL, as “Men’s Pickleball” and “Women’s Pickleball” shoes on its pickleball shoes page. In New Balance’s words, “The NetRush PKL is designed for competitive pickleball players”, the SmashStep PKL “helps show off your love of the sport with pickleball-specific branding on the heel and midsole”, and the EveryMatch PKL is “designed for the casual pickleball player”. The fourth is the FuelCell 796v5 Pickleball, which New Balance’s team store and New Balance Reconsidered, its resale store, list separately from the standard 796v5 tennis shoe.
New Balance’s other court shoes are tennis shoes in its own words: the 996v7 is one of “these hard-court tennis shoes”, the 696v7 is “This lightweight tennis shoe”, and the 1007 sits in New Balance’s women’s tennis range. Whether a tennis shoe suits you is covered in can you wear tennis shoes for pickleball, and our tennis shoes for pickleball guide compares them across brands.
Related guide: Best adidas Pickleball Shoes: 9 Picks Compared
Which New Balance shoe for which player
- You play competitive pickleball: the NetRush PKL, which New Balance describes for competitive players, in men’s and women’s versions.
- You want New Balance pickleball shoes for women: the SmashStep PKL Women’s, NetRush PKL Women’s, Fresh Foam X 1007 Women’s and 696v7 Women’s.
- You want New Balance pickleball shoes for men: the SmashStep PKL Men’s, NetRush PKL Men’s, FuelCell 996v7 Men’s, FuelCell 796v5 Pickleball Men’s and 696v7 Men’s.
- You searched for the New Balance 996: the current model is the FuelCell 996v7.
- You have wide feet: New Balance’s men’s widths run Standard (D), Wide (2E) and X-Wide (4E), and its women’s widths Standard (B), Wide (D) and X-Wide (2E) (New Balance size guide, as shown in Google results on November 3, 2026); Amazon calls them medium, wide and extra-wide. Our men’s wide pickleball shoes and women’s extra-wide pickleball shoes guides cover other brands.
- You want the entry-level New Balance: the 696v7 in men’s and women’s versions, the $ tier here; for other brands see our budget pickleball shoes guide.
Picks: New Balance SmashStep PKL Men’s, New Balance SmashStep PKL Women’s, New Balance NetRush PKL Men’s, New Balance NetRush PKL Women’s, New Balance FuelCell 996v7 Men’s, New Balance FuelCell 796v5 Pickleball Men’s, New Balance Fresh Foam X 1007 Women’s, New Balance 696v7 Men’s, New Balance 696v7 Women’s.
How we sorted New Balance’s court shoes
How this guide was built
built from manufacturer documentation, published third-party reviews and owner reports; we have not tested these products ourselves.
What a New Balance shoe needed to make the list
- A New Balance court shoe, sorted into pickleball and tennis models by New Balance’s own names and descriptions.
- New and in stock on Amazon on November 3, 2026, at or below New Balance’s US price. Eight of the nine were sold by Amazon.com that day; the 996v7 was sold by Tennis Express, a racquet-sports retailer.
- Men’s and women’s versions as separate picks, because New Balance sizes and widths them differently.
- Weight only with its size and source, so we do not rank the shoes by weight.
Where the facts and opinions come from
Where the facts and opinions come from
New Balance’s own words come from its Amazon listings and from its newbalance.com product pages as shown in Google results on November 3, 2026. We found no independent test of any of the nine shoes as linked. For the 996 we cite WearTesters’ review of the 996v6, the previous model, played on pickleball courts. Most other reviews here come from retailers that sell the shoes (Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Express and Road Runner Sports), so they are not independent, and each Evidence line says so.
Owner fit notes come from two r/Pickleball threads, on wide shoes and on the 696; they are a few owners, not a test.
Detailed Reviews
New Balance SmashStep PKL Men’s, Overall pick, men’s
men's 9 · Court not named by NB
A man who wants a New Balance pickleball shoe with FuelCell cushioning, in a medium or wide width.
$99.99 from AmazonAs of Nov 12, 19:55 UTCOur overall pick: a shoe New Balance names for pickleball, with FuelCell foam, sold by Amazon.com in medium and wide. New Balance’s Amazon listing lists “FuelCell foam delivers a propulsive feel to help drive you forward” and “Ndurance rubber outsole is built for increased durability in high wear areas”, and describes it as “A pickleball shoe designed with lightweight support and cushioning for comfort on the court.”
New Balance names no court surface; Tennis Warehouse, a retailer, lists “Hard (all court)” for the men’s 2E, rates its length “True” and lists 12.1 oz for a men’s 9 in that width. In the r/Pickleball wide-shoe thread, one player wearing the SmashStep PKL in wide after the ASICS Gel Resolution 9 in wide wrote that “The PKL runs slightly wider, allowing me to wear normal socks.” and “So far I’m very happy with them.” That is one owner, in the wide version, gender not stated. On November 3, 2026, the men’s 9 we link was sold by Amazon.com at New Balance’s price.
Verdict
A New Balance pickleball shoe with FuelCell foam, for men who want the PKL line in a medium or wide width.
Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. r/Pickleball owner: SmashStep PKL wide, gender not stated.
Specs (men’s 9, medium, Zinc Blue/NB Navy, MHSMA3UK)
- Midsole: FuelCell foam (NB)
- Outsole: Ndurance rubber in high-wear areas (NB)
- Widths: medium and wide (Amazon)
- Weight: 12.1 oz, men’s 9 in the 2E width (Tennis Warehouse, a retailer)
Pros
- FuelCell foam and an Ndurance rubber outsole in a shoe New Balance names for pickleball
- Medium and wide sizes on Amazon
- One owner found the wide version roomier than the ASICS Gel Resolution 9 in wide
Cons
- New Balance names no court surface for it
- Less aimed at competitive play than the NetRush PKL, going by New Balance’s descriptions
- No independent test found; the evidence is one owner’s report on the wide version
Who should buy it
A man who wants a New Balance pickleball shoe with FuelCell cushioning, in a medium or wide width.
New Balance SmashStep PKL Women’s, Women’s pick
women's 9 · Court not named by NB
A woman who wants a New Balance pickleball shoe in a medium, wide or extra-wide width.
$99.99 from AmazonAs of Nov 12, 19:55 UTCThe same model as pick 1, and our pick for women because it is the only women’s pickleball model here that Amazon lists in medium, wide and extra-wide. The women’s listing carries the same New Balance bullets and description: “A pickleball shoe designed with lightweight support and cushioning for comfort on the court.”
Tennis Express, which sells it, writes: “The New Balance Women’s SmashStep PKL B Width Shoe brings pickleball-specific comfort and propulsion to players who want to feel fast on the court without sacrificing support.” New Balance names no court surface, and we found no weight with a size. On November 3, 2026, the women’s 9 we link was sold by Amazon.com at New Balance’s price.
Verdict
A New Balance pickleball shoe for women who want FuelCell cushioning and a choice of three widths.
Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. Tennis Express: women’s SmashStep PKL, B width.
Specs (women’s 9, medium, Light Zinc Blue/Pink Granite, WHSMA8AD)
- Midsole: FuelCell foam (NB)
- Outsole: Ndurance rubber in high-wear areas (NB)
- Widths: medium, wide and extra-wide (Amazon)
- Weight: not published with a size
Pros
- FuelCell foam and an Ndurance rubber outsole in a shoe New Balance names for pickleball
- Medium, wide and extra-wide sizes on Amazon
Cons
- New Balance names no court surface for it
- No weight published with a size
- No independent test found; the review we cite is by a retailer
Who should buy it
A woman who wants a New Balance pickleball shoe in a medium, wide or extra-wide width.
New Balance NetRush PKL Men’s, Competitive PKL, men’s
men's 10 · Court not named by NB
A man who plays competitive pickleball, wants New Balance's PKL line with a toe guard, and will try the length first.
$119.97 from AmazonAs of Nov 12, 19:55 UTCNew Balance writes: “The NetRush PKL is designed for competitive pickleball players.” It lists pickleball-specific mesh and a more padded tongue, and the men’s Amazon listing adds “Durable toe guard adds protection in high-wear areas” and an Ndurance rubber outsole.
Tennis Warehouse, which sells it, writes: “Designed for fast-paced play, the NetRush PKL features enhanced lateral support for aggressive cuts and rapid directional changes.” It lists the surface as “Hard (all court)”, rates the length “Slightly Short”, and lists 14.7 oz for the men’s D in a size 10.5. Tennis Express, another retailer, describes “A full-length FuelCell midsole, waisted and split into two pieces”; New Balance does not name the foam. On November 3, 2026, the men’s 10 we link was sold by Amazon.com, below New Balance’s price.
Verdict
The PKL shoe New Balance aims at competitive players, for men who want a toe guard and can check the length first.
Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. Tennis Warehouse: men’s NetRush PKL, D width.
Specs (men’s 10, medium, Light Zinc Blue/NB Navy, MHNET3YG)
- Outsole: Ndurance rubber; durable toe guard (NB)
- Midsole: not named by NB; full-length FuelCell (Tennis Express, a retailer)
- Fit: length “Slightly Short” (Tennis Warehouse, a retailer)
- Weight: 14.7 oz, men’s 10.5, D width (Tennis Warehouse, a retailer)
Pros
- A pickleball shoe New Balance describes for competitive players, with a durable toe guard
- Pickleball-specific mesh and a more padded tongue, per New Balance
- Medium and wide sizes on Amazon
Cons
- Tennis Warehouse rates the length slightly short
- No independent test found; the reviews we cite are by retailers
Who should buy it
A man who plays competitive pickleball, wants New Balance’s PKL line with a toe guard, and will try the length first.
New Balance NetRush PKL Women’s, Competitive PKL, women’s
women's 8 · Multi-court outsole
A woman who plays competitive pickleball on more than one kind of court and wants New Balance's PKL line.
$119.99 from AmazonAs of Nov 12, 19:55 UTCThe same model as pick 3 in its women’s version. The women’s Amazon listing carries different New Balance bullets: “Multi-court outsole helps with traction” and “Film drag guard enhances protection in high-wear areas”.
Tennis Warehouse, which sells it, writes of the women’s B: “Take your game to the next level with the New Balance® NetRush PKL, a high-performance court shoe engineered for speed, stability, and confident movement.” It rates the length “Slightly Short” and the width “Medium”, and lists the surface as “Hard (all court)” where New Balance says multi-court. On November 3, 2026, the women’s 8 we link was sold by Amazon.com, below New Balance’s price.
Verdict
New Balance’s competitive pickleball shoe for women who want a multi-court outsole and a drag guard.
Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. Tennis Warehouse: women’s NetRush PKL, B width.
Specs (women’s 8, medium, Pink Granite/NB Navy, WHNET2M4)
- Outsole: multi-court (NB); “Hard (all court)” (Tennis Warehouse, a retailer)
- Upper: pickleball-specific mesh; film drag guard (NB)
- Fit: length “Slightly Short”, width “Medium” (Tennis Warehouse, a retailer)
- Widths: medium and wide (Amazon)
Pros
- A multi-court outsole and a film drag guard on a shoe New Balance names for pickleball
- Pickleball-specific mesh and a more padded tongue, per New Balance
Cons
- Tennis Warehouse rates the length slightly short
- No extra-wide size on Amazon, unlike the women’s SmashStep PKL
- No independent test found; the review we cite is by a retailer
Who should buy it
A woman who plays competitive pickleball on more than one kind of court and wants New Balance’s PKL line.
New Balance FuelCell 996v7 Men’s, Hard-court 996, men’s
A man who plays tennis and pickleball on hard courts and wants New Balance's 996 with FuelCell cushioning.
$134.95 from AmazonAs of Nov 12, 19:55 UTCNew Balance calls the 996v7 one of “these hard-court tennis shoes” and writes: “A large external TPU shank in the midsole offers stability, so you can chase down every shot.” Its midsole is FuelCell foam.
WearTesters played the previous 996v6 on pickleball courts, without saying whether it tested the pickleball or the tennis version, and concluded: “Players looking for a functional pickleball shoe that can handle a good chunk wear and tear throughout the year should enjoy the 996v6, especially with multiple width options available.” It also wrote: “Although I’ve observed that New Balance court shoe outsoles tend to wear down slightly more rapidly than outsoles from other brands, the 996v6 remains a viable option in terms of durability and performance.” Tennis Express, a retailer, writes that “New Balance rebuilt the shoe on the same last used in the CT-Rally v2” and that a true-to-size 996v6 wearer should “expect the v7 to feel roomier in the same size”. Tennis Warehouse lists 15.1 oz for the men’s D in a size 10.5.
On November 3, 2026, the men’s 8.5 we link was sold by Tennis Express, a racquet-sports retailer, below New Balance’s price; the listing showed medium sizes only, with a few pairs left in most sizes.
Verdict
New Balance’s current hard-court 996, for men who play tennis as well as pickleball and want FuelCell cushioning with a midfoot shank.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, previous generation. WearTesters: 996v6 (previous model), pickleball or tennis version and gender not stated.
Specs (men’s 8.5, medium, White, MH99651Q)
- Midsole: FuelCell foam; external TPU shank (NB)
- Court: hard court (NB)
- Weight: 15.1 oz, men’s 10.5, D width (Tennis Warehouse, a retailer)
Pros
- FuelCell cushioning with an external TPU shank New Balance says adds stability
- A new last that Tennis Express says fits roomier than the 996v6
- Its predecessor was reviewed on pickleball courts by WearTesters
Cons
- A hard-court tennis shoe in New Balance’s words, with no pickleball outsole named
- Medium sizes only on this listing, with few pairs left in most sizes on November 3, 2026
- The independent review covers the previous 996v6, not this model
Who should buy it
A man who plays tennis and pickleball on hard courts and wants New Balance’s 996 with FuelCell cushioning.
New Balance FuelCell 796v5 Pickleball Men’s, 796v5 Pickleball, men’s
NB FuelCell 796v5 Pickleball (men's)
men's 10.5 · Court not named by NB
A man who wants the pickleball version of the FuelCell 796v5 and has medium or narrow feet (going by the tennis version's fit).
$89.99 from AmazonAs of Nov 12, 19:55 UTCThe colour we link (M7967DO) is the FuelCell 796v5 Pickleball, listed under that name by New Balance’s team store and its resale store. New Balance’s Amazon listing lists “FuelCell foam delivers a propulsive feel to help drive you forward”; the listing page shows the family title “Men’s FuelCell 796 V5 Tennis Shoe”.
Most sources cover the tennis version or do not say which. Road Runner Sports, which sells the 796v5, writes on a page that does not name the version: “If you play pickleball and want a neutral court shoe that balances propulsive cushioning with durable grip, the New Balance FuelCell 796v5 is a strong fit.” Tennis Warehouse, another retailer, describes the tennis version (M7962IX): “Lightweight comfort, featuring FuelCell in the midsole for propulsive cushioning! This is a good option for recreational players seeking comfort and a lightweight feel.” It rates that version “Hard (All-Court)”, length “True”, width “Snug”, and lists 12.9 oz for the men’s D in a size 10.5. In a customer review New Balance collected, shown on Zappos’s 796 V5 review page, one owner wrote that it “Runs a bit narrower than other NB shoes.” On November 3, 2026, the men’s 10.5 we link was sold by Amazon.com, below New Balance’s price.
Verdict
The pickleball version of the FuelCell 796v5, for men with medium or narrow feet, going by fit notes for the tennis version.
Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. Tennis Warehouse: men’s FuelCell 796v5, tennis version (M7962IX), D width.
Specs (men’s 10.5, medium, NB 103 White/Alkaline Green, M7967DO)
- Midsole: FuelCell foam (NB)
- Fit: length “True”, width “Snug” (Tennis Warehouse, a retailer, tennis version)
- Widths: medium and wide (Amazon)
- Weight: 12.9 oz, men’s 10.5, D width (Tennis Warehouse, a retailer, tennis version)
Pros
- Named “FuelCell 796v5 Pickleball” by New Balance’s team store
- FuelCell foam, per New Balance
- Medium and wide sizes on Amazon
Cons
- Tennis Warehouse calls the tennis version’s width snug, and one owner found the 796 V5 narrower than other New Balance shoes
- The weight, court and fit figures we found are for the tennis 796v5
- No independent test found; the review we cite is by a retailer
Who should buy it
A man who wants the pickleball version of the FuelCell 796v5 and has medium or narrow feet (going by the tennis version’s fit).
New Balance Fresh Foam X 1007 Women’s, Fresh Foam court, women’s
NB Fresh Foam X 1007 (women's)
women's 8 · Hard court or all surfaces
A woman who wants a cushioned New Balance court shoe in a medium, wide or extra-wide width.
$119.95 from AmazonAs of Nov 12, 19:55 UTCThe 1007 is in New Balance’s women’s tennis range, with Fresh Foam X foam and, per New Balance, a “Breathable mesh upper; Durable synthetic toe guard and stabilizers.” The sources differ on the court: the Amazon listing says “Hard court specific NDurance rubber outsole”, while Tennis Warehouse describes “NDurance rubber outsole in a non-marking modified pattern for durability and traction on all surfaces”.
In customer reviews New Balance collected, shown on Zappos’s 1007 review page, one owner wrote: “Comfy and supportive for pickleball. Extra wide is very wide!!” and another: “I’ve worn them several times playing pickleball and so far am very pleased with my purchase.” Neither says which gender’s shoe. Tennis Warehouse lists 12.1 oz for the women’s B in a size 8.5. On November 3, 2026, the women’s 8 we link was sold by Amazon.com, below New Balance’s price.
Verdict
New Balance’s Fresh Foam X court shoe for women who want foam cushioning and a choice of widths for pickleball and tennis.
Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. New Balance customer reviews shown on Zappos: Fresh Foam X 1007, gender not stated.
Specs (women’s 8, medium, White/Sea Salt)
- Midsole: Fresh Foam X (NB)
- Upper: breathable mesh; synthetic toe guard and stabilizers (NB)
- Widths: medium, wide and extra-wide (Amazon)
- Weight: 12.1 oz, women’s 8.5, B width (Tennis Warehouse, a retailer)
Pros
- Fresh Foam X cushioning with a synthetic toe guard and stabilizers, per New Balance
- Medium, wide and extra-wide sizes on Amazon
- Two owners, in reviews New Balance collected, report wearing it for pickleball and liking it
Cons
- A tennis shoe in New Balance’s range, with no pickleball outsole named
- The Amazon listing and Tennis Warehouse describe the court surface differently
- No independent test found; the evidence is owner reviews
Who should buy it
A woman who wants a cushioned New Balance court shoe in a medium, wide or extra-wide width.
New Balance 696v7 Men’s, Budget pick, men’s
A man who wants an entry-level New Balance court shoe and can try the size first.
$67.96 from AmazonAs of Nov 12, 19:55 UTCOur budget pick: New Balance’s entry-level court shoe and the $ tier here. New Balance writes: “This lightweight tennis shoe provides breathable comfort, stability and durability for multi-court use.” It lists FuelCell foam and a “Non-marking outsole”.
Tennis Warehouse, which sells it, writes: “Lightweight comfort, with flexibilty and good ventilation, the New Balance 696v7 D is great option for recreational players or those who prefer a casual hit.” It rates the length “True” and the width “Generous Medium” and lists 13.4 oz for the men’s D in a size 10.5; Midwest Racquet Sports lists 12.9 oz for a men’s 10.5. Owners in the r/Pickleball “NB 696” thread wore wider pairs: the original poster found the v7 “way too tight” in an 11 wide after two pairs of the v4, and another returned the v7 in extra wide as tighter than the v6. On November 3, 2026, the men’s 10 we link was sold by Amazon.com, below New Balance’s price.
Verdict
New Balance’s entry-level multi-court shoe, for men who want FuelCell foam at the $ tier and can try the fit first.
Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. Tennis Warehouse: men’s 696v7, D width.
Specs (men’s 10, medium, NB 102 White Munsell/Black)
- Midsole: FuelCell foam (NB)
- Outsole: multi-court, non-marking (NB)
- Fit: length “True”, width “Generous Medium” (Tennis Warehouse, a retailer)
- Weight: 13.4 oz, men’s 10.5, D width (Tennis Warehouse, a retailer); 12.9 oz, men’s 10.5 (Midwest Racquet Sports, a retailer)
Pros
- FuelCell foam and a non-marking multi-court outsole, per New Balance
- Medium, wide and extra-wide sizes on Amazon
Cons
- Owners on r/Pickleball found the v7 in wide and extra-wide tighter than earlier 696 versions
- A tennis shoe in New Balance’s words, with no pickleball outsole named
- No independent test found; the review we cite is by a retailer
Who should buy it
A man who wants an entry-level New Balance court shoe and can try the size first.
New Balance 696v7 Women’s, Budget pick, women’s
A woman who wants an entry-level New Balance court shoe for more than one kind of court.
$68.35 from AmazonAs of Nov 12, 19:55 UTCThe same model as pick 8 in its women’s version, with the same New Balance bullets and the description “A lightweight tennis shoe designed with breathable comfort, stability, and durable traction.”
Tennis Warehouse, which sells it, writes of the women’s B: “Lightweight comfort and dependable support return in the updated New Balance 696v7.” It rates the length “True” and the width “Medium” and gives no weight. The r/Pickleball owners who found the v7 tighter did not say whether their pairs were men’s or women’s. On November 3, 2026, the women’s 8 we link was sold by Amazon.com, below New Balance’s price.
Verdict
New Balance’s entry-level multi-court shoe for women who want FuelCell foam at the $ tier.
Evidence: Retailer review (sells it), not independent. Tennis Warehouse: women’s 696v7, B width.
Specs (women’s 8, medium, NB 102 White Munsell/Black, WH69637Z)
- Midsole: FuelCell foam (NB)
- Outsole: multi-court, non-marking (NB)
- Fit: length “True”, width “Medium” (Tennis Warehouse, a retailer)
Pros
- FuelCell foam and a non-marking multi-court outsole, per New Balance
- Medium, wide and extra-wide sizes on Amazon
Cons
- Owners on r/Pickleball found the v7 tighter than earlier 696 versions
- A tennis shoe in New Balance’s words, with no pickleball outsole named
- No independent test found, and no weight published with a size
Who should buy it
A woman who wants an entry-level New Balance court shoe for more than one kind of court.
Before you buy a New Balance shoe for pickleball
- Pickleball model or tennis shoe? Our how to choose pickleball shoes guide covers what to look for in either.
- Width by its letter: a men’s 2E is New Balance’s wide and 4E its extra-wide; a women’s D is wide and 2E extra-wide.
- Fit notes: the NetRush PKL runs slightly short and the tennis 796v5 snug, per Tennis Warehouse, and owners found the 696v7 in wide sizes tighter than earlier versions.
- Seller: sellers change by size and day; compare with New Balance’s own price before you buy.
For grip across brands, see our shoes for pickleball traction guide; for every brand by gender, our men’s pickleball shoes and women’s pickleball shoes guides; and for other brands, K-Swiss pickleball shoes and Skechers shoes for pickleball.
New Balance shoes we did not pick
- EveryMatch PKL (men’s and women’s): the PKL shoe New Balance designs “for the casual pickleball player”; we found it on New Balance’s site but not on Amazon on November 3, 2026.
- Fresh Foam X CT-Rally v2: New Balance’s Fresh Foam X tennis shoe, reviewed for pickleball in our cushioned pickleball shoes, cushioned shoes for women and tennis shoes for pickleball guides, where it is compared with other cushioned and tennis models.
- Fresh Foam X 1007 men’s and FuelCell 996v6: the men’s 1007 and the previous 996 are reviewed in our cushioned shoes for men guide, and the 996v6 also in our indoor pickleball shoes guide; here we pick the current 996v7 and the women’s 1007.
- 806: New Balance’s leather court shoe, reviewed in our pickleball shoes for older men guide.
- FuelCell 996v7 women’s: we found no women’s 996v7 on Amazon on October 25, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is the New Balance 996 good for pickleball?
WearTesters played the previous 996v6 on pickleball courts and wrote that players looking for a functional pickleball shoe “should enjoy the 996v6, especially with multiple width options available”, while observing that New Balance court shoe outsoles “tend to wear down slightly more rapidly than outsoles from other brands”. The current 996v7 is a hard-court tennis shoe in New Balance’s words, on a new last.
Q. Is the New Balance FuelCell 796v5 a pickleball shoe?
There are two versions: the standard FuelCell 796v5 is a tennis shoe, and the FuelCell 796v5 Pickleball, which New Balance’s team store lists for men (M7967DO) and women (W7965CO), is the pickleball version. We link the men’s 796v5 Pickleball.
Q. Which New Balance pickleball shoes are made for women?
New Balance sells women’s versions of all three PKL shoes and the 796v5 Pickleball. The women’s SmashStep PKL and NetRush PKL are picks here, alongside two women’s tennis shoes, the Fresh Foam X 1007 and 696v7.
Q. Do New Balance pickleball shoes come in wide sizes?
Yes. On Amazon the SmashStep PKL and NetRush PKL come in medium and wide, and the women’s SmashStep also in extra-wide; the 796v5 Pickleball comes in medium and wide, and the 1007 and 696v7 picks in medium, wide and extra-wide. In New Balance’s men’s sizing, wide is 2E and extra-wide 4E. For other brands, see our wide toe box pickleball shoes guide.
Q. What is the difference between the SmashStep PKL and the NetRush PKL?
New Balance describes the NetRush PKL as “designed for competitive pickleball players”, with pickleball-specific mesh, a more padded tongue and, on the men’s shoe, a toe guard. For the SmashStep PKL it lists FuelCell foam and “lightweight support and cushioning”.
Final Verdict
The New Balance SmashStep PKL Men’s (check price) is our overall pick and the New Balance SmashStep PKL Women’s (check price) our pick for women: a shoe New Balance names for pickleball, with FuelCell foam, and the women’s version the only women’s pickleball model here in three widths. The New Balance NetRush PKL Men’s (check price) and New Balance NetRush PKL Women’s (check price) are New Balance’s competitive PKL shoes, and the New Balance FuelCell 796v5 Pickleball Men’s (check price) suits medium or narrow feet, going by fit notes for the tennis version. Among its tennis shoes, the New Balance FuelCell 996v7 Men’s (check price) is the current hard-court 996, the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1007 Women’s (check price) adds Fresh Foam X in three widths, and the New Balance 696v7 Men’s (check price) and New Balance 696v7 Women’s (check price) are the budget pair. For other brands, see our pickleball shoes compared guide.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
