The Nike Air Courtballistec 1.1 and 1.2 shoes are a great alternative to those looking for a solid shoe without breaking the bank. Compared to the Nike Air Courtballistec 1.3, the cost of these shoes are around 30-40% off.

These both have very similar looks and feels to the Nike Courtballistec 1.3, and they really don’t sacrifice much in terms of features and overall performance. They’ve been around for a little longer, so the 1.3 is new and improved, but it gets its foundation from its predecessors.

In the case of the Nike Air Courtballistec 1.2, we found a stable sneaker that gave us a comfortable feel while we played. We’re very competitive players, and by no means did we feel that we were playing down to a lesser sneaker. The toe protection built into these was great too.

The 1.2 shoe, unlike the 1.3, fits your foot exactly as it should. If you’re a size 10, you can order a 10. The 1.3 sneaker also takes a while to break in. These, on the other hand, felt just fine by the end of my first set (I’d still practice in them once beforehand).

The out sole of both Nike Air Courtballistecs follow a modified herringbone tread pattern, great for all court surfaces. The tread was also extremely durable and showed no visible wear after multiple uses.

Looking at the Courtballistec 1.1, these were the first sneakers in the line. As far as looks go, they basically look the same. They wear down a little more, as this was one of the bigger criticisms of the 1.1 when it came out. Nike has obviously tended to this concern with its 1.3, but if you’re a serious player, you might find yourself in need of a new tennis sneaker within 3 months or so.

When trying on the Nike Air Courtballistec 1.1, you want to get a size smaller than you normally would (same thing as the Nike Air Courtballistec 1.3). The shoe on the court feels the lightest out of the three, so maneuverability was not an issue.

The Nike Air Courtballistec 1.3 would definitely be my recommendation for anyone who plays at a competitive level. Anyone who plays once or twice per week, casually in matches, and seeks out a reasonably priced sneaker with high quality performance will be pleased with either the 1.1 or the 1.2.