Adidas Pro Bounce 2019 Review: In-Depth Performance Analysis & Takeaways

Today, we’re going to explore Adidas’s budget basketball line and see if $120 can buy you a quality performer that’s on par with 2020’s standards. I present to you my Adidas Pro Bounce 2019 review!

I was personally pretty excited to check these out since honestly, A LOT of my favorite performance hoop shoes in the last few years are in fact Adidas’s. The Crazy Explosive 2017, Dame 3, Dame 5, D.O.N. Issue #2, the list goes on…

My mission today is to uncover for you if the Pro Bounce 2019 belongs to that list of Adidas’s gems and very competitive deals as well. After about 3 months of testing and playing time in the shoe, here are my honest & detailed thoughts, beginning with the main specifications.

SHOW TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. SPEC SHEET

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adidas Pro Bounce 2019 Review: Spec SheetPin

GET THE PRO BOUNCE 2019

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ADIDAS AU

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II. 1-MIN REVIEW ?

For those in a hurry: the Pro Bounce 2019 is a solid shoe for the money, however, it’s simply incompatible with my wide feet so it’s a pass for me.

For someone with more traditionally-shaped feet, you should be good to go in most areas.

It’s got a secure one-to-one fit, decent traction, a very well-balanced Bounce midsole for cushion, plentiful support features and your usual modern upper that’s light but won’t break down on you quickly.

Just be aware that it’s not the most durable option for outdoors (but should get you through a season or two on the blacktop) and SKIP these if you’re a wide footer.

All things considered, in 2022 and beyond, I’d be lying if I said there aren’t better options for the same $$$. The Dame 7 and the D.O.N. Issue #3 are a couple of such examples.

> The full review is below

III. FIT & COMFORT

Do they fit TTS or should you go up/down from your usual choice? What about comfort and other details fit-wise?

Adidas Pro Bounce 2019 Review: TopPin
image source: adidas.com
SIZING GUIDE

Right before getting the shoe myself, I’ve seen reports that the shoe runs slightly long for most and it’s also not the best option for wide footers due to the narrow midfoot section as well as plastic overlays around the laces pressing on the foot pretty hard.

Well, here I am, a very wide footer + my midfoot has a tall bone, making narrow construction shoes (especially compact one-bootie upper ones) a no-go for me.

Knowing that I’ve got a red flag for this one, I’ve gone up half a size just to make sure I go through the review phase as I should. In a nutshell, it’s still not a very pleasant experience.

The Pro Bounce 2019 is simply not a good choice for wide footers I’m afraid. If you’re like me and want to check this one out badly, you can try going up half a size and see where it takes you.

But perhaps you don’t have such problematic feet as I do, and with less of an elevation in the midfoot bone & your foot not being as wide in general, you should feel relatively comfy in these.

So the main takeaway from this is I’d suggest skipping these if you’re a prominent wide footer.

Regular/narrow footers will be fine going true to size but expect a snug fit. Also expect a solid break-in period and the Fuse overlay thing – it might not be as gruesome as it was for me but just know that there’s a chance it might bother you for some time.

Adidas Pro Bounce 2019 Review: SidePin
image source: adidas.com
COMFORT

The Pro Bounce 2019 offered me of the longest break-in periods I’ve had in quite some time. And not solely because of the upper. Mostly because of that dreaded Fuse overlay section around the laces.

I guess I didn’t see that one as much of a red flag but boy it wasn’t pretty.

After the shoe got less rigid, the upper adjusted to my foot (didn’t take long since it’s just a structured textile) – I was still getting pissed off due to that plastic section getting into my foot all the time, and especially during movements with more range of motion.

One time I thought this will never go away but I did. It took about 3-4 weeks to get rid of any pain. But as I’ve said earlier – it’s still not the best experience.

The shoe still feels too tight for me at times, mostly during more aggressive movements when the midfoot flexes, such as cuts or quick take-offs. No slipping issues or dead space though – I don’t have any unwanted room length-wise so at least that’s a pass.

Another thing I noticed is the lack of any major padding in the insides of the shoe. With such an issue from the lace section & the shoe being narrowly shaped in general – you’d think that Adidas would balance this out and at least put some nice pillows for added comfort.

There’s some minimal padding around the ankle area but it’s barely felt. Not that the shoe feels terrible without the padding – perhaps I just expected more, especially when Adidas is typically a huge fan of straight-up excessive padding in some of their shoes. I love that.

Besides all that, the shoe does have some positives – it feels really light & fast, it’s breathable, feels compact in just about every way for a guard or a nimble wing player.

IV. TRACTION

How’s the traction inside & outside? Is dust/debris a determining factor? What about longevity?

Adidas Pro Bounce 2019 Review: OutsolePin
image source: adidas.com
PERFORMANCE

Nothing out of the ordinary from Adidas – classic herringbone taken into 2020 territory and modified & combined with another pattern. For the better or worse.

The forefoot area utilizes a herringbone pattern with deep grooves that aren’t very widely spaced but don’t really cause issues in terms of dust.

The forefoot has good bite, stopping power isn’t out of this world but enough to get the job done & it squeaks like crazy.

And now we look at the heel portion of the outsole which is an even more dense pattern with more shallow grooves & dust being more apparent there.

And that’s exactly what I mean by for the better or worse – herringbone simply wins. All the time. Sure, there are some really good patterns out there that aren’t herringbone but then why those don’t get utilized as much either?

Adidas and other brands are constantly on this thirst to innovate and give consumers something new and also something that looks appealing & “cool” which is, believe it or not, a huge attraction to a lot of potential buyers.

Adidas Pro Bounce 2019 Review: ForefootPin
image source: adidas.com

Overall, the traction wasn’t bad. I had good bite throughout the whole outsole, the pattern covers multi-directional movements well. Wiping was required but not to a crazy, annoying extent.

A few wipes every 15-20 minutes on dirty/medium-condition courts and I’m good.

But I can’t deny the simple fact that it could’ve been even better by either fully utilizing herringbone throughout the outsole or just slapping an already proven to be good new pattern Adidas has used previously on the heel area.

So, grip wasn’t the best in the world but it was good. Dust? Fairly good in keeping that in check.

OUTDOOR DURABILITY

I don’t know about this one. The forefoot area is without a doubt more durable than the heel.

Take a spin outdoors, and the pattern will burn out quicker in the heel while it’ll still look near-perfect in the forefoot – I guarantee you that.

A few months with these while mostly hooping outside (concrete or rubber surfaces) didn’t impact the traction in a drastic way but visually, the heel is already noticeably degrading, so it’s a matter of time when the actual bite catches up.

Not your most durable outdoor shoe but still more durable than today’s average shoe. So props to that at least.

V. CUSHION

How’s the impact protection and how does it spring back? What about ride comfort, height, and stability?

Adidas Pro Bounce 2019 Review: HeelPin
image source: adidas.com

One thing that Adidas never messes up is their implementation of already used trusty cushion compounds.

Bounce is awesome – and it’s equally as awesome on the Pro Bounce 2019. I’d say based on the feel, it’s a thin layer of Bounce. Actually felt EXTREMELY close to the New Balance OMN1’s FuelCell foam.

So, if you’re expecting bounce and lots of spring back – you won’t get much of that here. However, it’s one of my favorite setups for a reason.

Bounce was never extremely bouncy or crazy soft. It never gave you that fun, “walk on clouds” feel but it always delivers in providing a good amount of impact protection while still retaining court feel, responsiveness & keeping you as fast as possible.

I LOVE that. Performance is the one and only factor I care about when I play and Bounce always gives me that – not more, not less.

The ride is fast, responsive, I’m still feeling protected & all discomfort is taken away upon jumps, cuts, drives & landings. And I go through A LOT of jumps, drives, and landings when I play, as I prefer to play explosively.

The midsole carrier cups your foot and also forms what Adidas calls a banking barrier – those TPU plates along the lateral sides of the shoe. This works well and promotes even more stability, even though Bounce as a compound is already pretty stable by nature.

Those looking for a fast & low-to-the-ground setup that suits guards well but also provides impact protection will feel right at home with the PB 2019.

It’s a very low-key, yet balanced ride that guards will love the most but most other players will also find sufficient. Good job!

VI. SUPPORT

How much security does it provide? What about the build’s stability and foot containment? Any trade-offs?

Adidas Pro Bounce 2019 Review: BackPin
image source: adidas.com

Support was sufficient. My feet took a toll in these as I just don’t feel these are compatible with my feet.

But with extreme tightness & a very condensed fit comes undeniably solid lockdown and containment. Support all starts with the fit and even though it’s not my preferred fit, it plays in with the support features well.

We have an internal heel counter & external heel clip for heel lockdown, a traditional lacing system, a high ankle cut which isn’t the sturdiest of ankle collars but it does provide a tad bit of extra confidence for those ankles.

Even though the shoe feels tight and narrow, the frame of it, especially in the forefoot, is wide, so it promotes stability. Lastly, those banking barriers along the lateral areas of the shoe do a good job containing the midsole and further protecting you laterally.

The upper isn’t the most rigid of supportive but that’s not much needed when the shoe fits very securely & has most other vital support checkboxes ticked.

So, if the fit will be less of a chore for you than it was for me – you should feel well-supported & secure in 2019’s Pro Bounce.

VII. THE BUILD

What is the material combination used? Do they perform well? What about long-term durability?

Adidas Pro Bounce 2019 Review: AnklePin
image source: adidas.com
BUILD OVERVIEW

The shoe’s upper is pretty average for today’s trend and standard for the light & synthetic material trend of today.

It’s some kind of textile coated in a more structured synthetic material for proper durability. There’s a Fuse overlay around the lacing system. The outsole is standard rubber and the sidewalls are made from TPU.

The shoe utilizes a standard lacing system along with a traditional lace & tongue construction.

PERFORMANCE & RELIABILITY

From a premium standpoint – these aren’t your $200-level Battleknit found on a LeBron 16. Don’t expect much when it comes to softness, flexibility, or out-of-this-world durability.

But if performance is what you’re looking for, you’ll be a bit better served here. The material is light & feels that way while hooping, it’s breathable, barely takes any time to break in and everything about it just feels minimal. Well, everything except the earlier-mentioned Fuse overlay around the lacing system.

If you can get the fit right, the upper shouldn’t be an issue. Granted, I did experience better synthetic variations of an upper even for a budget shoe but this isn’t bad either.

There are more comfortable shoes, yes. There are many softer uppers, yes. And there are more durable uppers as well.

But for $120 – this isn’t a terrible deal. I’ve played in these outdoors about 40% of the time and I’m only seeing some small frays along the midsole. Merely just visual damage.

Same thing for the outsole. As I’ve mentioned in the traction section, the heel portion of the outsole is looking a bit worse but it still doesn’t feel affected in terms of performance.

So think of it as a fair deal. You won’t win the lottery with this deal but you also won’t throw your money away either. This could be your indoor option or a light outdoor play option.

VIII. OVERALL

Summing up the adidas Pro Bounce 2019 review: are they worth it? How’s the competition for a similar price? Who are they best for?

Adidas Pro Bounce 2019 ReviewPin
image source: adidas.com

The Adidas Pro Bounce 2019 would’ve actually been a solid shoe that I’d still play in going forward. Sadly, it’s kind of a throw-off for me due to the fit. Overly tight is just something that’s not my cup of tea.

But it’s just me though – for regular/narrow footers, the shoe should come off as pretty solid. Nothing special but solid nonetheless.

QUICK RECAP

The traction is fairly good & competent for some outdoor play. Bounce never fails in providing a balanced ride, they’re supportive and don’t break the bank.

Most guards, shooters, or even smaller forwards will find the Pro Bounce 2019 just fine. Let me know how it was if you get the chance to check ’em out!

You can find the final ratings of the shoe below!

? BUY THE PRO BOUNCE 2019

AMAZON

ADIDAS AU

ADIDAS PH


 

IX. ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

Here are a few shoes that do a better job in the same price range, in my opinion

adidas Pro Bounce 2019 Review: AlternativesPin
shoe image source: adidas.com
ADIDAS D ROSE 6 BOOST, $140
FULL REVIEW 🛒 AMAZON

Yep, I’m STILL recommending the now 7-year-old shoe from Derrick Rose’s signature lineup. There’s a good chance I’ll keep doing it since it’s simply tough to find a better option than the banger they built back in 2015.

If you’re in need of an amazingly well-rounded, comfortable adidas sneaker (or a good basketball sneaker in general) and you’re not afraid to spend a bit over retail (since they’re a bit hard to find these days) – there’s still not a better shoe in Roses’s whole lineup than the 6 IMO.

ADIDAS D.O.N. ISSUE #3, $110
FULL REVIEW  🛒 ADIDAS

For those that prefer staying in that 100 dollar range, there are some excellent options from current times as well. One of those is the 3rd installment in Donovan Michell’s adidas hoop shoe lineup – the D.O.N. Issue #3. Although the 1st & 2nd shoes are just as good too.

For 110 bucks, you’re getting a nice Lightstrike midsole that’ll feel quite similar to the older Bounce stuff (just a bit quicker), great traction, and a decent build that’ll definitely get you through multiple seasons. It’s not a flagship by any means, but for the price, it’s an attractive package for the budget buyer.

ADIDAS DAME 7, $110
FULL REVIEW 🛒 ADIDAS

Contrary to D Rose’s lineup of kicks, Damian Lillard has actually managed to keep his stuff fresh AND performing well (maybe except the Dame 6). And with no price increases over the years. That’s purity folks.

The 7th Dame sneaker is once again a superb all-around shoe for just about anyone who values comfort, good bounce in the heel portion, outdoor-ready traction, and a build that won’t exactly turn anyone’s head but will hold itself together for a long time.

X. LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS!

Your thoughts, questions, and suggestions are heavily encouraged! Let’s spark some convos!

adidas Pro Bounce 2019 Review: Your TakePin
shoe image source: adidas.com

Alright, that’s a wrap for the Adidas Pro Bounce 2019 review! I hope you found it informative as always.

If you rep Adidas as I do, I encourage you to check out my other reviews of adidas’s basketball kicks as well as my compiled list of the best adidas basketball shoes to get right now.

I’m looking forward to hearing what you have to say about this one! Have you played in the PB 2019 or perhaps the PB 2019 Low? Do you have any questions?

Leave a comment and I’ll get back to you ASAP!

 

XI. ADIDAS PRO BOUNCE 2019 REVIEW: THE VERDICT

Final ratings, takeaways, and recommendations

adidas Pro Bounce 2019

$120
7.4

Fit & Comfort

7.0/10

On-Court Performance

8.0/10

Value for the Price

7.5/10

Outdoor-Ready

7.0/10

Main Takeaways

  • Not recommended for wide footers
  • Regular/narrow footers can go true to size
  • Midfoot plastic overlay can cause discomfort
  • The rest of the shoe is solid all-around

Recommended For

  • Positions 1-3
  • Bigger guys that are quick
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2 thoughts on “Adidas Pro Bounce 2019 Review: In-Depth Performance Analysis & Takeaways

  1. Hi Julius,

    So glad I stumbled on this review! Your red flag about the narrow construction and the shoe not being as good a fit for wide footers is timely. My son (who is wide footed) and his friends have been raving about this shoe over the past week. Further red flags include its lacking in softness, flexibility and durability. I am forwarding your article to them to read. I have told them there are also other reviews on your site.
    Ceci

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