ASICS Gel-Resolution X Clay Men's Shoes

ASICS makes the Gel-Resolution X in three versions that share an upper, GEL cushioning and DYNAWALL support and differ underneath. The Gel-Resolution X Padel has a modified herringbone sole made for padel turf. This Clay version has a herringbone sole for loose clay. The Hard Court version has a flatter tread for acrylic, and it's the wrong shoe for a sandy court. Women get the same clay sole on a women's last in the Gel-Resolution X Clay women's. We also list the same 1041A485 shoe in a pink and turquoise colourway.

Clay soles and padel soles are close relatives: both are cut to shed loose material and grip what's underneath. That's why a clay-court tennis shoe works on padel turf and why UK padel shops stock this one. If you play both sports, it saves you buying two pairs. If you only play padel, the purpose-built Padel version has the edge.

This is a lot of shoe. GEL sits under the forefoot and heel, a two-piece midsole adds shock absorption, DYNAWALL runs from the heel to the midfoot to hold the foot over the sole on a sideways push, and DYNALACING locks the midfoot down. Tennis Warehouse weighs it at about 456 g at US 10.5, which makes it the heaviest ASICS court shoe we have a weight for.

The payoff is stability. Players who move hard and change direction a lot, or whose knees and ankles appreciate support, will feel the difference. Lighter players who play once a week may find it more than they need.

Tennis Warehouse lists it as medium width and medium arch and says it runs long, so go half a size down if you're between sizes. On ASICS's chart a UK 9 is EU 44 and a 28 cm foot. Our listing runs UK 5.5 to 12. Measure your foot in centimetres in the afternoon and check the brand table on our padel shoes page before you order.

Knock the sand out of the tread after each session, keep the shoes out of the car boot so the GEL and foam aren't cooked, and replace them when the herringbone has worn smooth under the ball of the foot and you start to slide. A cushioned insole such as the Karakal Performance Insole can freshen up a well-used pair.

For the rest of your kit, a stable racket such as the Head Radical Team suits a controlled game, and padel balls and padel grips cover the basics. Every men's shoe we sell is on men's padel shoes.