Babolat's popular Propulse line of on-court tennis shoes underwent a complete overhaul for 2023. The brand-new Propulse Fury 3, launching Jan. 19, releases with a new look focused on improved support, comfort and durability.

Worn by French player Benoit Paire, the Propulse Fury 3 loads up on technologies, each designed to achieve improvements across the sneaker.

"We decided to rework the Propulse Fury for different reasons," says Sally Morris, Babolat spokesperson. The main four, according to the brand, include an improvement in the outsole and upper durability, better cushioning and comfort, to respond to the modern players who now slide on hardcourts and to better address the needs of players who want to be fully anchored to the ground to support the body's rotational movements on each stroke.

To make that happen, designers took over.

The main support elements of the Propulse Fury 3 come from three technologies. The line's famed Powerbelt offers a wide strap wrapping the midfoot to help with lateral support. Morris says the design offers something akin to a "tailored fit all around the foot." The newest version comes wider than previous iterations.

S-Block technology features a sturdy material placed between the midsole and the Powerbelt, acting as a reinforcement piece to increase lateral support to help anchor the shoe to the ground. This engineering is meant to give players confidence when quickly changing directions.

In the midsole, a "bucket seat shape," which is a complete reworking of the sole's previous design, helps the heel sit securely in the midsole, instead of above it, for increased stability.

With so much focus on the stability, Babolat didn't want to lose sight of either comfort or durability. Babolat added in what the brand calls KPRS-X technology, an "entire heel zone protected by a soft EVA foam to absorb shocks in any position." Inside, the shoe offers an integrated sock liner.

On the outsole, Babolat worked with fellow French-based brand Michelin to improve durability. "Michelin helps us develop the sole sculpture design and the rubber formulation," Morris says. "The goal is to find the best combination of durability and traction. For the Propulse Fury 3, we have improved sole durability thanks to the new sculpture design."

With such a broad retooling of the Propulse franchise, the Propulse Fury 3 comes with a fresh aesthetic as well, designed to "inspire speed from the heel to the forefoot."

Babolat, the world's first tennis string manufacturer from 1875, added footwear to its portfolio relatively later in the company's growth. The Propulse offering was the brand's first in footwear, launched in 2005. It became known for its Powerbelt technology and was made famous on the feet of American star Andy Roddick. It was also at that time the Babolat-Michelin connection first launched.

Roughly 18 years since the debut, the Propulse Fury 3 highlights the purity of the original now modernized for today's demanding playing style.